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

QUALITATIVE INVESTIGATION OF TAM

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organizations would benefit from investing in comprehensive training programs to address

digital literacy concerns that may help mitigate resistance and foster more positivity among CES

users.

Strategic organizational planning was identified as a significant critical success factor

that impacts CRM adoption. CES organizations need to develop clear strategies that align with

organizational goals and know how to communicate those goals within the broader organization

to ensure that they reduce negative perceptions toward CRM usefulness. Additionally, the

planning process should also consider appropriate customizations and interface designs that meet

the needs of various CES programs, with consideration given to user-friendliness, along with

constant feedback and evaluation to better optimize CRM functionalities. Data security and data

privacy were also significant concerns among participants regarding the adoption of CRM

technologies. CES organizations need to prioritize significant data security measures when

implementing CRM systems, and this includes collaborating with IT staff and vendors that

prioritize data protection, encryption technologies, and clear policies and procedures for data

access and usage. Lastly, the perceived difficulty of CRM systems overall by participants

reinforces the need for more comprehensive training and support. The practical implications of

this include investments in training programs that may be tailored to different user roles or to

different Extension programs, user-friendly documentation, and a responsive helpdesk that

fosters greater collaboration with employees to reduce resistance and increases confidence with

CRM technologies.

Delimitations and Limitations

One key delimitation of this research was the geographic focus on CES professionals

from the six regions of the CES. This broad representation helps to better contextualize the

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