Impacts of IT Acceptance and Resistance Behaviors: A Novel Framework

Despite the progress that has been made in understanding acceptance and resistance, there remains a need to further clarify into what behaviors they translate and what their impacts are. On the basis of our review, acceptance and resistance are associated with a range of behaviors, which in turn are related to various individual and organizational impacts. We suggest that taking these behaviors at face value is misleading and that a better understanding of their impacts lies in taking organizational intent into account. We develop propositions to provide a theoretical explanation of the impacts of IT-related behaviors associated with acceptance and resistance in light of their conformity with IT terms of use. Generally, acceptance and conformity with terms of use result in positive impacts but may occasionally have adverse consequences. Similarly, resistance and non-conformity typically have negative consequences but may sometimes benefit the organization.