Investigating IoT Adoption in the Face of Organizational Culture and Uncertainty Challenges: The Mediating Role of Information Behaviors on Communication Quality

<p>The successful integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in higher education institutions necessitates agile service deployment, transparent communication, and cultural congruence. Guided by Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) frameworks, this mixed-methods study examines the interconnections between High Uncertainty Avoidance, Organizational Culture, Information Availability, Information-Seeking Behavior, and IoT Service Agility and their collective impact on Communication Quality at the University of Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. Employing a sequential explanatory design, quantitative data from 373 survey respondents was augmented by qualitative insights from seven in-depth interviews with faculty, administrative staff, and IT management. Findings demonstrate that high uncertainty avoidance significantly diminishes IoT agility and adversely affects communication quality, while a supportive organizational culture enhances communication effectiveness. The relationships among cultural characteristics, IoT agility, and communication quality are mediated by proactive information behaviors, specifically information seeking and availability. The study provides practical strategies to overcome cultural and uncertainty-related barriers, including enhancing information transparency, implementing structured training programs, and fostering proactive leadership engagement. These insights offer valuable guidance for Saudi Arabian higher education institutions and similar contexts aiming to optimize IoT technology adoption.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Information Systems and Technology, PhD

Level thesis:degree_level

Restricted to Claremont Colleges Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Center for Information Systems and Technology

Year dc:date.available

2025

Author dc:creator

• Alasmari, Ahmad Ali

Contributors dc:contributor

• Sarah Osailan
• Chinazunwa Uwaoma

• Educational Technology
• Higher Education

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgu_etd/929

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarship.claremont.edu:cgu_etd-1951