Perceived Norms and Organizational Efficacy Drive Automation Adoption in Manufacturing
In manufacturing contexts, the intention to adopt automation technology is significantly influenced by the perceived social norms surrounding its use and the organization's belief in its own capability to implement and manage such technology.
Production Planning & Control · 2019
Key Findings
- 01Perceived norms have a direct and indirect effect on the intention to use automation technology, mediated by perceived usefulness.
- 02Organizational efficacy influences the intention to use automation technology through its mediating effects on perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use.
Application
Design takeaway
Manufacturers should focus on building a culture that values and expects automation, alongside developing internal expertise and confidence in managing these advanced systems, to facilitate successful adoption.
How to apply
When developing strategies for introducing automation, consider communication campaigns to highlight successful implementations by peers and provide robust training and support to build internal confidence.
Project actions
- 01When researching technology adoption, consider both external influences (like industry trends) and internal capabilities (like employee skills and management confidence).
- 02Use established models like TAM, but consider adapting them to organizational contexts rather than just individual users.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Extends technology acceptance models to an organizational level.
- +Investigates a critical aspect of modern manufacturing (automation adoption) in a key economic region (China).
Limitations
The study relies on self-reported intentions, which may not always translate into actual behavior. The specific nature of the automation technologies considered was not detailed.
Reliability & validity
The study's reliability would depend on the consistency of survey responses and the statistical methods used. Validity would be assessed by how well the survey measures the intended constructs (perceived norms, efficacy, intention) and whether the model accurately reflects the relationships.
Think critically
How might the cultural context of China specifically influence the 'perceived norm' factor in automation adoption compared to Western manufacturing environments?
Design Principles
"Technological adoption is a socio-technical process, requiring attention to both the technology itself and the human and organizational factors surrounding its implementation."
Understanding the drivers of technology adoption is crucial for strategic planning in manufacturing. This insight highlights that successful automation integration requires not only technological feasibility but also a supportive organizational culture and a strong sense of collective competence.
What This Means for Your Design
Companies are more likely to adopt automation if they believe it's the norm in their industry and if they feel confident they can successfully use and manage the new technology.
How to use in your project
- 1.This research can inform the 'Context' section of a design project by explaining the broader landscape of technology adoption in a specific industry or region.
- 2.The findings can be used to justify design choices that aim to influence perceived norms or enhance organizational efficacy.
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Quick Cite
(2019). Acceptance of automation manufacturing technology in China: an examination of perceived norm and organizational efficacy. Production Planning & Control. https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2019.1669091 Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/4120ba73-9f97-4d72-b47a-b857adf4dca3/perceived-norms-and-organizational-efficacy-drive-automation-adoption-in-manufacturing
Paragraph starter
This study by Cao, Tao, and Wang (2019) highlights the significant influence of perceived norms and organizational efficacy on the adoption of automation manufacturing technology in China. Their findings suggest that for successful technology integration, designers and strategists must consider not only the technical merits of automation but also the prevailing industry attitudes and the organization's confidence in its capacity to implement and manage these systems, thereby extending individual-focused technology acceptance models to an organizational level.
Source
Production Planning & Control
Acceptance of automation manufacturing technology in China: an examination of perceived norm and organizational efficacy
journal · 2019
View sourceQuestions about this research
- What does the research say about perceived norms and organizational efficacy drive automation adoption in manufacturing?
- Manufacturers should focus on building a culture that values and expects automation, alongside developing internal expertise and confidence in managing these advanced systems, to facilitate successful adoption. Evidence: Production Planning & Control (2019).
- Why does "Perceived Norms and Organizational Efficacy Drive Automation Adoption in Manufacturing" matter for design?
- Understanding the drivers of technology adoption is crucial for strategic planning in manufacturing. This insight highlights that successful automation integration requires not only technological feasibility but also a supportive organizational culture and a strong sense of collective competence.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Manufacturers should focus on building a culture that values and expects automation, alongside developing internal expertise and confidence in managing these advanced systems, to facilitate successful adoption.
- What were the main findings?
- Perceived norms have a direct and indirect effect on the intention to use automation technology, mediated by perceived usefulness.. Organizational efficacy influences the intention to use automation technology through its mediating effects on perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use.
- What research method was used?
- Quantitative survey research with 258 participants.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2019 journal from Production Planning & Control.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When developing strategies for introducing automation, consider communication campaigns to highlight successful implementations by peers and provide robust training and support to build internal confidence.
- What are the limitations?
- The study was conducted in China, and findings may not be directly generalizable to other cultural or economic contexts. The research focused on intention rather than actual adoption.
- Is there evidence that organizational efficacy affects design outcomes?
- The study found that what others in the industry perceive as normal (perceived norms) and the company's confidence in its ability to implement new technology (organizational efficacy) are key factors influencing a manufacturer's decision to adopt automation. Understanding the drivers of technology adoption is crucial f Source: Production Planning & Control (2019).
- Where does this automation research apply?
- Manufacturing sector in China It sits within commercial production research on designdex.org.
Related research topics
organizational efficacy design research · evidence on organizational efficacy · does organizational efficacy improve design outcomes · automation studies for designers · organizational efficacy and automation findings · commercial production research evidence