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206 Mullany and Lay<br />
resistant than others to the analyst’s new systems. All sets of readings for these<br />
hypotheses tested normal. The results showed no support for these beliefs (at p =<br />
0.100) either, and they are also rejected by this study.<br />
Unfair discrimination of older employees, as suggested by Rosen and Jerdee,<br />
might occur in the IS area to older users. Such discrimination could well be<br />
motivated by studies such as Bruwer’s, which suggest, inter alia, that older and<br />
longer-serving personnel are most resistant to new computer systems. Attention is<br />
drawn to the fact that neither the present study nor A-I theory, nor the literature<br />
survey by Rosen and Jerdee support these beliefs. Unfair discrimination could<br />
certainly cost both individuals and organizations dearly in terms of unnecessary<br />
retrenchment and/ or transfer of experienced staff.<br />
CONCLUSION<br />
Subject to the postulate that the user R-score is a legitimate measure of user<br />
resistance, certain causes and impacts of user resistance have been demonstrated<br />
by this study. It has been shown that matching analysts and users of similar cognitive<br />
styles can minimize user resistance. However, care is suggested in applying such a<br />
policy indiscriminately, since there may be disadvantages in so doing despite this<br />
study’s failure to show any. The high degree of association between user R-scores<br />
and absolute analyst-user KAI score differences permits approximate forecasts of<br />
the former given the latter.<br />
Two phenomena associated with analyst-user dyads where the analyst is the<br />
more innovative, were implied by the results. The first of these is a tendency for the<br />
user to view the analyst as brief and confident, seldom wasting time on side issues.<br />
The second is (less convincingly) that the user may comment on the unexpected<br />
speed with which the analyst comprehends system requirements or specifications.<br />
It is suggested that these features be noted as diagnostic signs of the more innovative<br />
nature of the analyst, especially in situations where formal testing has not or cannot<br />
be conducted. This study finds in favor of the hypotheses that perceived accuracy<br />
and reliability of the system are associated with lower user resistance. Consequently,<br />
further insights may be gained into a given user-analyst dyad by questioning<br />
the user on the accuracy and reliability of a system. For example, the less accurate<br />
and less reliable a user considers a system, the more user resistance can be<br />
expected, and consequently (from hypothesis HI), the greater the analyst-user<br />
cognitive style difference is likely to be.<br />
There is no support for the beliefs that the ages and lengths of service of users<br />
are associated with user resistance: or for the alternative beliefs that users who differ<br />
Copyright © 2003, Idea Group Inc. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written<br />
permission of Idea Group Inc. is prohibited.