Stages of concern of managers about the adoption of satellite systems for training the Defense Finance and Accounting Service

The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) is changing from traditional training methods to satellite delivery systems. According to the Stages of Concern about the Innovation (SoC), one dimension of the Concerns-Based Adoption Model (CBAM), individuals experience concerns during the process of adopting an innovation. Research supports that identification of concerns and appropriate interventions facilitate innovation adoption. However, little research has been published with respect to use of SoC other than in education since the conceptualization of CBAM in 1973. The purposes of this study were : 1) identify the Stages of Concern of the civilian managers employed in the five DFAS Centers toward satellite education and training with the use of the SoC Questionnaire (SoCQ) and the Open-Ended Statement of Concern About an Innovation; 2) explore the utility of the SoC to this population; and 3) draw implications from the expressed concerns of the managers to determine appropriate interventions to assist the managers through the change process. The purposes were accomplished through a census survey with a response rate of 55% (N=370). A modified version of the original SoCQ and the Stages of Concern about the Innovation Open-Ended Statement identified both the managers' SoC and specific concerns. Eighty-four percent (84%) of the respondents reported no experience with satellite education. SoC profiles typified a positive "nonuser" with highest Stages in 0 (Awareness), 1 (Informational), and 2 (Personal). A peaked Stage 5 in each SoC profile suggested "Collaboration" concerns, as would be anticipated from a population of managers. Chi-square showed no association between highest SoC and Center. Pearson r correlations showed no relationship between highest SoC and years of employment in the federal government, the financial management career field, or the number of employees within the managers' scope of responsibilities. Correlational analysis showed a weak relationship, r = .24, between highest SoC and number of courses completed by satellite. SoC group profiles by number of courses completed showed similar "nonuser" patterns. Written comments identified competing concerns between training programs and satellite medium. SoC constructs appeared to be operating throughout the findings which supported previous SoC research.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Adult and Continuing Education

Department dc:contributor.department

Adult and Continuing Education

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1996

Author dc:creator

• Merz, Jacqueline Ann Kern

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Stubblefield, Harold W.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Wiswell, Albert K.
• Lichtman, Marilyn V.
• French, John Lawerence
• Copeland, Frederick L.

• stages of concern

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

etd-06062008-154525

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/38078