Applying the Technology-Organization-Environment framework to explore ICT initial and continued adoption: An exploratory study of an independent hotel in Hong Kong

Abstract

This exploratory study aims (1) to examine the factors affecting information and communication technology (ICT) initial adoption and continued adoption decisions of an independent hotel, and (2) to develop an overarching framework for unifying those factors applying a Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework for further examination in future research. Drawing on the qualitative data solicited from four managers who were involved in ICT adoption of an independent hotel in Hong Kong, this study shows the complication of ICT adoption in the hospitality context. The current findings are expected to provide scholars, hoteliers, entrepreneurs and other interested parties with timely knowledge and insights on how a newly established independent hotel in a renowned tourist destination with mature tourism markets can strategically embrace ICT. Another contribution of the current study is to empirically verify and expand the applicability of the TOE framework in exploring ICT adoption by independent hotels.

Keywords:

• ICT initial adoption
• ICT continued adoption
• Technology-Organization-Environment framework
• independent hotels

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments on improving an early version of this paper. This project was partly supported by a research grant funded by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Daniel Leung is a Researcher and Lecturer at the Department of Tourism and Service Management, MODUL University, Vienna. His research interest is on technology management in tourism.

Ada Lo is an Associate Professor at the School of Hotel and Tourism Management of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Her research interest lies in the areas of hotel customer relationship management, customer experience, online consumption, hospitality technology adoption, tourist behavior, corporate social responsibility and sustainability.

Lawrence Hoc Nang Fong is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Business Administration, University of Macau. His research interests are in social media marketing, online consumer behavior and tourism marketing

Rob Law is a Professor in the School of Hotel and Tourism Management, Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His research interests are in technology applications to tourism and information management.