Technology Acceptance Model in U.S. Extension: CRM Adoption

QUALITATIVE INVESTIGATION OF TAM

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of use, and perceived usefulness. He identifies user buy-in, costs and resources, and perceived

ease of use as criteria for technology adoption. Terrence stated that evaluations were used as pre-

adoption approaches. Additionally, he views perceived usefulness, employee resistance, and data

privacy as adoption barriers. The university currently uses ad hoc systems instead of a CRM.

Terrence states that costs and resources are a potential risk for CRM implementation. He stated

that he perceives CRM technologies as useful, and the implications for outreach, engagement,

and communications include contact and data management, and client insights.

Daniel Lawrence

Daniel Lawrence is an associate director of Extension at a university in the western

region. He currently utilizes the QuickBase CRM system for Extension at his university and

defines CRM as lifecycle contact management. Daniel reported that the benefits of a CRM

system include reporting and evaluation, and contact and data management. Daniel reports a high

level of success of the CRM at his university, serves his colleagues as a local champion, and

reports varied employee acceptance with low employee resistance. The reasons for employee

resistance include change management and efficiency. Daniel states that the critical success

factors include strategic organizational planning and user buy-in. His criteria for technology

adoption include strategic organizational planning, and costs and resources. The pre-adoption

approaches that Daniel reported include communicating across the organization, and training and

support. His reported barriers to adoption include change management, employee resistance, and

perceived ease of use. The current systems being used in Extension at his university include

CRM and other ad hoc solutions. Daniel states that data privacy, data security, and perceived

ease of use are potential risks for CRM technologies. He reports a moderate ease of use of the

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