Understanding the determinants of adoption and use of information and communication technologies for emergency management: Proposing a research agenda based on existing academic literature

Abstract

Emergency management has been a very important and relevant topic in the 21st century as both urban and rural areas face serious challenges related to an increase of natural disasters as well as man-made emergencies. Advanced information and communication technologies (ICTs) have been one of the key tools to improve action in the different phases of the emergency management life cycle. This study aims to provide an overview of key determinants of ICT adoption and use in emergency management and proposes a research agenda for the future. Based on a comprehensive review of existing literature, this paper identifies multiple determinants at the individual, organizational, and contextual levels that influence ICT adoption and use for emergency management. Overall, the review concludes that specific determinants associated with the unique needs of emergency management and with particular features of rural areas require more attention in future research.