Intention to adopt internet protocol version six among information technology staff in higher education institutions, Muscat, Oman

Abstract

An Internet Protocol (IP) address plays an essential role in the structure of the internet by providing a unique address to identify each connected device. A world with continuously evolving modern technologies requires organisations and individuals to keep adapting to the evolved technologies. In this regard, the migration to the IPv6 protocol from the IPv4 protocol has become a critical issue for any organisation. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the key factors that influence IPv6 adoption. Using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT- 2), this research proposed an integrated model incorporating seven key general attributes. Additionally, the UTAUT-2 was expanded by adding trustworthiness factors and resistance to change to the model. The mediating role of resistance to change was also taken into consideration. To achieve the research objectives, an online survey was designed to collect data from 236 IT employees working in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Oman. The data were analysed using structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) with the SmartPLS software. The findings revealed that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, hedonic motivation, trust in government, and trust in technology positively and significantly influence the behavioural intention to adopt the IPv6 protocol. Moreover, it was found that resistance to change has a direct negative impact on behavioural intention but has no mediating effect. Social influence, facilitating conditions, price value, and habit showed no significant effect on the behavioural intention to adopt IPv6. Finally, behavioural intention demonstrated a positive and significant relationship with technology adoption behaviour. The present research has implications for theory and practice. From a theoretical perspective, the study contributes to extant knowledge via theory extension and opens new avenues for future studies. In practical terms, the study provides new inputs for successful technology adoption. Lastly, from a methodological point of view, the study demonstrates the importance of conducting an importance-performance map analysis (IPMA) in examining factors that impact technology adoption behaviour.