Inside the mind of an IT champion

Abstract IT champions have considerable influence on the adoption of a new technology in organisations. A champion engages in a new technology and uses influential tactics to sell and implement it in the organisation. While the importance of IT champions is well documented, very little is understood about how a champion makes sense of a new technology and what sources of beliefs influence the technology commitment of an IT champion. Using an organisation vision lens at the individual level of analysis, this study investigates individuals who championed the adoption of mobile business intelligence (m-BI) in their organisations. Our qualitative analysis suggests that the m- BI organising vision influences IT champions through their m-BI perception and organisational needs perception as they engage in the process of identifying and making sense of the potential of m-BI. Furthermore, an IT champion actively participates and contributes in the organising vision discourse.

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