EFFECTS OF USER PARTICIPATION IN SYSTEMS-DEVELOPMENT - A LONGITUDINAL-FIELD EXPERIMENT

This study examines the efficacy of user participation in developing a n accounting application. The research takes place over a 19-month tim e frame, involves 516 clerical-level accounting subjects, and includes experimental manipulations in a field setting. The model of user part icipation and involvement proposed by Hartwick and Barki (1994) provid es the foundation for the research framework. Their model is augmented by the inclusion of concepts from procedural justice and self-efficac y research. Participation is manipulated at three increasing levels: ( 1) no voice, (2) non-instrumental voice, and (3) instrumental voice. R esearch findings suggest that users' pre-experiment level of involveme nt with and attitude toward the present system are positively associat ed with their desire to participate in the development of the new syst em. Study results also indicate that users' a priori self-efficacy bel iefs regarding their perceived ability to effectively contribute to th e development process are positively related to desired participation. Pre-to post-experiment gains in psychological and behavioral variable s are next assessed. In the instrumental voice condition, user involve ment, user attitude, and performance gains are significantly highest; User attitude and involvement gains are significantly higher in the no n-instrumental voice condition than in the no voice condition; however , gains in user performance are not significantly different between th ese treatment conditions. Research findings indicate that user partici pation can be effective, particularly when users perceive a noticeable degree of instrumental control over the decision outcome.