Information and Communications Technology Acceptance by Youth Entrepreneurs in Rural Malaysian Communities: The Mediating Effects of Attitude and Entrepreneurial Intention

Abstract

This study aims to examine information and communication technology (ICT) acceptance among youth entrepreneurs in rural Malaysian communities by employing two tailored technology acceptance models based on attitudes (AT) and entrepreneurial intention (EI) that influence actual use (AU). The study involved 400 rural youth entrepreneurs selected from four states in Malaysia, and both mediating effects were analyzed using bootstrapping procedures through structural equation modeling. The two models were tested, and vary in terms of different conceptualization of the pathways of mediating entrepreneurship latent factors. The models in the present paper are closely related to the model in a prior study that used the same data set [Zaremohzzabieh et al., 2015. A test of the technology acceptance model for understanding the ICT adoption behavior of rural young entrepreneurs. International Journal of Business and Management, 10(2), 158–169.]. The results revealed that the first model is better than the second model. The results also revealed that the confirmatory strength of the two models improved the initial TAM through some form of mediating effects (i.e. AT and EI). The outcomes of this study contribute to our theoretical understanding of variables that influence ICT acceptance, and inform practice by recognizing methods to improve ICT acceptance among rural youth entrepreneurs in the country. The results provide new insights for small rural businesses and help to explain ICT acceptance, which is relatively underresearched in these growing nations.

Keywords:

• youth entrepreneurship
• ICT acceptance
• technology acceptance model
• and rural community

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Zeinab Zaremohzzabieh is the corresponding author of the paper and currently doing PhD program in the field of youth studies at the Institute for Social Science Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia. She obtained her Master of Science in sociology from the Science and Research Branch of the Islamic Azad University. To date, she has completed a number of research studies related to the community development and ICT.

Bahaman Abu Samah started his career as a lecturer at Universiti Putra Malaysia. He served as director at the Institute for Social Science Studies. His teaching focuses on statistics and computer application in Human Resource Development. As a researcher, he is actively involved in different research projects.

Mahazan Muhammad is currently working as a Social researcher at the Institute for Social Science Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia. He is currently doing his Master in the rural development field of study. To date, he has completed a number of research studies related to Entrepreneurship, corporate Social Responsibility, and Social Entrepreneurship.

Siti Zobidah Omar is an Associate Professor and currently working as the Head of Laboratory of Cyber Generation, Institute for Social Science Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia and as a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Modern Language and Communication, Universiti Putra Malaysia. Siti Zobidah Omar gained her PhD in Communication Technology and Culture from The University of Birmingham and most of her research focuses on technology usage among the community.

Jusang Bolong is an associate professor, a senior lecturer and currently acts as the Deputy Dean of Research and Innovation at the Faculty of Modern Language and Communication, Universiti Putra Malaysia. He gained his Ph.D. in Human Communication from Universiti Putra Malaysia and most of his research focuses on technology usage among the community.

Md Salleh Bin Hj Hassan is a professor and a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Modern Language and Communication, Universiti Putra Malaysia. He gained his Ph.D. in Mass Communication, Developmental from Ohio University and most of his research focuses on mass communication for development.

Hayrol Azril Mohamed Shaffril is currently working as a Social Research Officer at the Institute for Social Science Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia. He obtained his Master of Science in Rural Advancement from Universiti Putra Malaysia and is currently doing his PhD in the same field of study. To date, he has completed a number of research studies related to the community development.

Notes

1. Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia (2007), Census of Establishments and Enterprises 2005.