Abstract

The phenomenon of resistance to and avoidance of technology represents intricate behaviors often perceived as significant impediments to the successful implementation of information technology. These behaviors manifest in diverse ways, ranging from passive to active, and are observable at various organizational levels. While these behaviors could potentially offer valuable guidance for mitigating challenges associated with organizational change, organizations frequently view them with apprehension rather than as opportunities for learning and tools for effectively managing present and future technological difficulties. Existing research has extensively explored technology resistance and avoidance, along with their associated factors, yet lacks a comprehensive overview or a unified theoretical model encompassing these constructs. This thorough literature review enhances comprehension of the current landscape of technology resistance and avoidance literature. Drawing from the findings, this monograph identifies areas of concern and examines the impact of these behaviors on the advancement of new information technology, proposing strategies for overcoming resistance and avoidance. Additionally, the monograph offers guidance for reconceptualizing technology resistance and avoidance beyond the conventional frameworks shaped by adoption theories and resistance-to-change paradigms. The overarching aim is to inspire future research to conceptualize these phenomena more expansively, moving beyond conventional perspectives found in the existing literature and providing deeper insights in line with the presented arguments and suggestions.

Towards A Unified Understanding of Technology Resistance and Avoidance: A Holistic View on Extant Literature and Agenda for Future Research

In the digital age, Information Technology (IT) and Information Systems (IS) have become essential components of organizational strategies, enabling efficiency, collaboration, and innovation. However, the path to successful IT adoption is burdened with challenges that can undermine even the most promising initiatives. These challenges often stem not from technical inadequacies but from user resistance and avoidance, which remain pervasive and complex barriers to IT success. Despite its significance, the study of resistance and avoidance in the IS domain remains relatively immature compared to research on adoption and diffusion. To date, three major research streams have addressed these phenomena: (1) studies framing resistance and avoidance as opposites of adoption, (2) investigations into resistance to change, and (3) explorations of threat avoidance behaviors. Each offers valuable insights but lacks a unified framework to comprehensively address the complexities of resistance and avoidance.

Towards A Unified Understanding of Technology Resistance and Avoidance seeks to fill these gaps by synthesizing existing literature to present a holistic view of technology resistance and avoidance. By integrating insights from diverse theoretical frameworks, it proposes a comprehensive foundation for understanding these behaviors and highlights critical areas for future research. The aim is to move beyond the conventional paradigms of adoption to offer actionable strategies for addressing resistance and avoidance in organizational contexts. This monograph is organized as follows. First, it reviews foundational theories of resistance and avoidance. Next, it categorizes existing research to identify key factors contributing to these behaviors, examines proposed remedies, and identifies gaps that future research must address. Finally, it concludes with theoretical and practical implications, offering a roadmap for advancing scholarship and practice in this critical area.