Research hypothesizes and model

Base on previous literatures, many prior studies were mainly based on technology acceptance theories and models such as the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), the Theory of Planned Behaviors (TPB), the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and the Diffusion of Innovation theory (DOI), which refers specifically to technology adoption.

Despite the numerous articles, models and constructs used to describe technology adoption, in this particular research, the hypotheses I make will fundamentally base on the Diffusion of Innovation theory (DOI). For Diffusion of Innovation theory, the innovation refers to a new concept or technology. Diffusion refers to the dissemination of an innovation into society. Meanwhile, Diffusion of Innovation theory has five constructs that influence a potential adopter’s decision: relative advantage, complexity, compatibility, trialability and observability. Relative advantage refers to the belief that a new system has benefits above and beyond the current system. Complexity refers to perceptions of difficulty associated with adopting a system. Compatibility posits that one will be more likely to adopt an innovation if it is consistent with his values, views, beliefs, and customs. Trialability posits that one will be more likely to adopt an innovation if it can be tried out before actually committing to it. And observability suggests that one will be more likely to adopt an innovation if its benefits are visible and tangible (Rogers, 2003).

Therefore, firstly, I will use relative advantage as a hypothesis in my research model, because India immigrants are originally from India, India also has its own e-government services, as these immigrants come into New Zealand, they need to learn how to use New Zealand e-government services, which would be beneficial to them. Comparing with New Zealand traditional government and e-government services, I need to find out India immigrants’ use intentions to New Zealand e-government services. Furthermore, another supporting point is that Benbasat and Barki (2007) stated that relative advantage is the only one construct consistently explains a large percent of the variance in use intentions. Therefore, my first hypothesis is that there would be a significant positive relationship between relative advantage and the adoptions and uses of e-government services in New Zealand.

Secondly, in addition to relative advantage, I will include lacks of compatibility in my research model. Base on the definition of compatibility I indicated above, India immigrants have different values, views, beliefs and customs between New Zealand indigenous and Maori peoples. In addition, my research focuses on cultural aspects, if the lacks of compatibility increase in the development of New Zealand e-government services, India immigrants would be less to use these e-government services. Therefore, my second hypothesis is that there would be a significant negative relationship between lacks of compatibility and the adoptions and uses of e-government services in New Zealand.

Thirdly, as New Zealand government increasingly implements different types of e-government services, in this research, I need to consider New Zealanders who have Internet access and computer skills and those who do not, especially for India immigrants. For Internet accessibility, New Zealand has 3 million Internet users nowadays (Internet World Stats, 2009). Meanwhile, I need to consider as India immigrants come to New Zealand, they would use e-government services if they have Internet assess in their home. Therefore, I will include Internet accessibility in my research model, and my third hypothesis is that there would be a significant positive relationship between Internet accessibility and the adoptions and uses of e-government services in New Zealand.

Finally, regarding to computer skills, computer skills is an important factor which influence the adoptions and uses of e-government services. Thomas and Streib (2003) indicated that among Internet users, ethnicity and education are important predictors of which Internet users will also utilize government Web sites. Higher usage rates tend to exist among white citizens and individuals with high education levels. They surmise that government Web sites seem to draw an even more exclusive audience than the already somewhat elite audience for the Internet in general. Meanwhile, Mossenburg et al. (2003) suggested that many people lack the basic skills needed to interact with computer hardware and software. Afterward, another study found that the old, less educated, poor and minority individuals are more likely to need computer assistance, such as help using the keyboard or e-mail (Jackson et al. 2004). Furthermore, Prabhudatt & Ganesh (2008) indicated that low literacy was one of the difficulties in the smooth implementation of e- government in India. Thus, for my research, I also need to consider the computer skills of India immigrants. Also, I will use three potential causes in here to evaluate computer skills factor, and these three factors are gender, age and education level. Therefore, my fourth hypothesis is that there would be a significant positive relationship between computer skill and the adoptions and uses of e-government services in New Zealand.

For the potential future research directions, I think future research should focus on the whole population of new immigrants in New Zealand, through using a comprehensive model to evaluate the factors which influence their adoption and use of New Zealand e-government services. Meanwhile, future research also should need to find out the factors which influence all New Zealand residents’ adoption and use of New Zealand e-government services so that New Zealand e-government services would be beneficial to entire people, including new immigrants in New Zealand. Furthermore, future research should consider cultural and social aspects in e-government adoption research.

For the relevant conferences and journals, 2008 Hawaii international conferences on system sciences is a relevant conference, which implemented Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to an e-government adoption research in a developing country. On the other hand, Information System Front and Journal of Global Information Management are relevant journals, which are very helpful for my research area.