Project Topics
Get Complete Project Material File(s) Now! »
CHAPTER 3: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND RESEARCH MODEL
This chapter discusses the theoretical framework underpinning the research for the study. The hypotheses are then formulated from the chosen research model. The chapter first presents the theoretical background and the details of the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), Diffusion of Innovation (DOI), Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Motivation Model (MM), Combined TAM and TPB (C-TAM-TPB), and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), all of which form part of the theoretical framework for this research.
Theoretical background
TRA, TPB, TAM and UTAUT have been the main theories used in research to explain the phenomena of information systems (IS) success within organisations, and these can also be applied to agile software development projects. Theoretical models have informed IS research studies which have provided valuable evidence for future design and development of information systems. Several researchers believe that these theoretical models capture the significance of IS practise and process, how environment affects the successful practise of IS, and that these factors are consistent and can be applied generally across software development projects (Venkatesh et al., 2003). As each model was developed, several arguments, drawbacks and benefits were discussed in the research community. This inspired Venkatesh et al. (2003) to empirically review eight theories and came up with the UTAUT. UTAUT presents a clear view of why people practise or do not practise technology even after it has been acknowledged. The model comprised of TRA, TPB, TAM, DOI, Motivational Model (MM), Model Combining the TAM and TPB (C-TAM-TPB), Model of PC Utilisation (MPCU) and SCT (Rogers, 1983; Ajzen, 1991).
This chapter discusses the theories that led to the development of UTAUT, which is the conceptual framework which underpins this study.
Application of previously used theorises
Existing theories have mostly been used to examine the usage and acceptance of Information Technology tools. DOI theory, TRA, TPB, UTAUT, and TAM, have been widely used for examining individual’s intentions to adopt IT innovations, such as the World Wide Web and Microsoft Office spreadsheets (Chow & Cao, 2008; Iivari, and Huisman, 2007; Koch, 2005).
Several studies on agile methodologies are based on the practical use of agile methodologies and their costs and benefits, with a couple of studies on the factors affecting the acceptance of agile methodologies as part of their success (Chow & Cao, 2008; Misra et al., 2006; Misra et al., 2009; Chan & Thong, 2009). However, some studies have used the existing theories to explore the use and acceptance of agile methodologies.
Chow and Cao (2008) performed an initial investigation into individual usage and acceptance of agile software development projects using constructs from TAM, TRA, TPB, DOI, and UTAUT. In their research, the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use scales were shown, in general, to be reliable measures in the agile software development context. Misra et al (2009) adapted actual behavioural constructs from TAM, TRA, TPB, DOI, and UTAUT to determine critical success factors for agile software development projects. Further, team environment has been found to be an important factor that would affect the agile professional’s perceptions of agile software development (Chow & Cao, 2008; Iivari, & Huisman, 2007; Koch, 2005).
These studies suggest a number of organisational, people, process, culture, technology and project factors that are crucial to the successful assimilation of agile methodologies. However, these studies have not taken characteristics of performance expectancy, intention, actual success, or characteristics of effort expectancy of individuals into consideration.
Sultan and Chan (2000) discussed the features of the technology such as relative advantage, perceived usefulness, which were non-significant in determining adopters and non-adopters of Object Oriented technology. The results challenged the findings in other studies, possibly because both adopters and non-adopters were fully conscious of the expected paybacks of the technology since they are experienced programmers, and they may differ in their adoption judgments due to other factors, such as features of individual programmers and organisations.
Theory of Reasoned Action
TRA has been used by the various IS researchers in order to explain users’ behaviour (Davis, 1989; Davis, Bagozzi & Warshaw, 1989). This theory is based on the intention, behaviour, subjective norm and attitude of individuals. TRA assumes that a person’s belief regarding a specific behaviour will affect the person’s attitude. Ajzen and Fishbein (1977) found that human attitudes toward the intention to act have a greater effect than attitude toward the actual behaviour. TRA defines attitude as a person’s general favourable or unfavourable feelings about a particular behaviour (Ajzen & Fishbein, 1977). Moreover, the attitude determines the comparative strength of the person’s intention to carry out that behaviour (Rogers, 2008). A person is more likely to carry out that actual behaviour if that person has a higher degree of intention. In addition, Roger (2008) argues that the intention to carry out a specific behaviour is influenced by subjective norms and attitudes. Furthermore, subjective norms are affected by normative beliefs concerning that specific behaviour. Normative beliefs refer to individuals’ beliefs pertaining to the extent to which other individuals who are important to them (for example family and friends) think they must or must not perform specific actions (Ajzen & Fishbein, 1977). According to Ajzen and Fishbein (1975) a subjective norm is the “perception that most people who are important to him, think he should or should not perform the behaviour in question”. TRA’s construct model is illustrated in Figure 3.1.
TRA is extensively used by psychologists to predict and explain human behaviour in particular circumstances (Yeaman, 1988). A review by Hale, Householder and Greene (2002) showed that TRA has been validated by numerous researchers in the field of health, as well as in IS behaviour (Greene, Hale, & Rubin, 1997; Sparks, Shepherd & Frewer, 1995;Koch, 2005). Several researchers have commented that TRA has been used successfully in the domain of consumer behaviour to forecast users’ behaviour and intention even though it has some weaknesses (Sheppard, Hartwick, & Warshaw, 1998).
According to Sheppard et al. (1998), the intention might be affected by a change in activities, time and other external factors that are not linked to the behaviour before a person performs an act. Davis (1989) and Yeaman (1988) argued that subjective norms are irrelevant as an influence on intention when using TRA in the field of IS. Furthermore, scientists have discovered that the behaviour used in TRA is restricted to the behaviour linked to individual volitional beliefs (Ajzen, 1985; Hale et al., 2002; Netemeyer, Ryn, & Ajzen, 1991; Sheppard et al., 1998). Thus, a person will normally perform a given action when they have the intention to do so. Nevertheless, there are a number of instances where the behaviour is out of the person’s control or may even be unconscious. For instance, a behaviour might be involuntary or habitual or the behaviour might need skills and resources that the person does not possess. In addition, Davis et al. (1989) suggested that organisational structure and politics may only influence the person’s behaviour indirectly by influencing attitude or subjective norms. As a result of these limitations TPB was formulated.
Theory of Planned Behaviour
TPB was formulated by Ajzen and Fishbein in 1980 as an extension of Ajzen‘s TRA. TPB added the factor of perceived behavioural control – known as the construct of self-efficiency – as a further determinant of individuals’ actual behaviour and behavioural intent (Madden, Ellen Ajzen, 1992). Following the constructs of TRA, TPB posits that a person’s behaviour is determined by the intention to carry out the behaviour and that the intention is influenced by their subjective norms and attitude toward the behaviour.
Since one of the restrictions of TRA is that behaviour is not under a person’s volitional control or beliefs (Madden et al., 1992). According to Ajzen (1985) some other factors, such as skills, financial status and time, also affect behaviour. Accordingly, several researchers, such as Bandura (1977) and Adams, Nelson & Todd (1992), found that a person’s confidence concerning their capability to carry out a specific behaviour will directly affect their actual behaviour. To address the volitional concerns toward the behaviour, Ajzen (1985) adapted all constructs from TRA and proposed perceived behavioural control as an additional determinant of a person’s intention. Control belief specifically refers to a person’s belief about the availability of factors such as skills, money and time that correspond to specific behaviour (Sheppard et al., 1998).
Therefore, perceived behavioural control refers to a person’s evaluation of the degree of ease or difficulty of carrying out a specific behaviour, focusing on control beliefs (Netemeyer et al., 1991).
1 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Motivation of the research study
1.2 Background of the research study
1.3 Research problem
1.4 Research questions
1.5 Research purpose.
1.6 Objectives
1.7 Delineations
1.8 Layout of the research study
2 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Traditional methodologies
2.2 Agile methods
2.3 Agile methodologies versus traditional methodologies
2.4 Failure factors of agile software project
2.5 Success factors of agile software projects
2.6 Research Gaps
Primary research question
Secondary research questions
2.7 Conclusion .
3 CHAPTER 3: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND RESEARCH MODEL
3.1 Theoretical background
3.2 Theory of Reasoned Action
3.3 Theory of Planned Behaviour
3.4 Diffusion of Innovation
3.5 Social Cognitive Theory
3.6 Technology Acceptance Model
3.7 Motivation model
3.8 Combined TAM and TPB
3.9 Model of PC Utilisation
3.10 Unified theory of acceptance and use of technology
3.11 Comparative survey of constructs in Theories of Technology Acceptance
3.12 Relationship between figures 2.12 and 3.4
3.13 Summary
4 CHAPTER 4: RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
4.1 General research approaches and philosophies
4.2 The current study’s paradigm
4.3 Research Instrument development and design
4.4 Research design
4.5 Research Approach
4.6 Research techniques
4.7 Ethical considerations
4.8 Summary
5 CHAPTER 5: DATA ANALYSIS AND HYPOTHESES TESTING
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Demographic factors of the respondents
5.3 Principal component analysis
5.4 Data screening
5.5 Reliability, validity of the constructs and correlation
5.6 Valuation of the measurement model and confirmatory factor analysis
5.7 The structural model
5.8 Summary
6 CHAPTER 6: THE EFFECT OF MODERATORS
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Procedures for determining the effects of moderating factors
6.3 The South African sample
6.4 Summary
7 CHAPTER 7: DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
7.1 Introductions
7.2 Research discussion of the results and findings
7.3 Findings and discussions in connection to the research questions
7.4 The modified research model (Final research model)
7.5 Summary
8 CHAPTER 8: EVALUATION OF THE RESEARCH
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Evaluation of the methodological contribution …
8.3 Importance of the research
8.4 Research contribution of the study
8.5 Research impact to policy and organisations
8.6 Limitations of the research study
8.7 Recommendations
8.8 Future research of the study
8.9 Conclusion
9 REFERENCE
10 APPENDICES
GET THE COMPLETE PROJECT
Modelling the critical success factors of agile software development projects in South Africa
