A Theory of Task / Technology Fit for Mobile Applications to Support Organizational Processes

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a theory of task/technology fit for mobile applications to support organizational processes (tasks). We adapt the original concept of task/technology fit as it was developed by Zigurs and Buckland (1998) and Goodhue and Thompson (1995), to account for the fact that mobile applications, as a type of IT infrastructure, potentially cover a wider area of tasks than the specific applications discussed in the earlier papers. Our analysis of the technology reveals a general trade-off between functionality and portability of the underlying devices, which has implications for the development of mobile applications. Our theory suggests that advancements that ensure compatibility between the IS requirements of a task and the IS capabilities of an application might ultimately be more successful. We support our findings with reported case studies, as well as with insights from a project that we conducted in cooperation with Motorola. In our conclusions, we outline how our concept fits into a bigger picture and suggest future research directions.