Theorising about the lifecycle of IT use: An appropriation perspective

This paper argues that theorising about the whole lifecycle of IT use is underdeveloped. Theories that explain one or more phases of lifecycle of IT use are discussed and critiqued and a candidate theory for understanding the whole lifecycle identified: the Model of Technology Appropriation (MTA). The MTA incorporates many of the strengths of the other models but has a shortcoming with respect to explaining the how and why of changes in patterns of use over the lifecycle. To address this weakness, theories of change are examined and incorporated with the MTA. It is argued that the resulting model provides a more complete description and explanation of the IT use lifecycle.