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Transforming Healthcare Through Information Systems pp 199–213Cite as

Understanding Digital Inequality: Studying the Use of Mobile Business Supporting Features in China

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Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Information Systems and Organisation ((LNISO,volume 17))

Abstract

Today, the Internet has become an essential part of peoples’ daily lives. With the advance of Internet technology, the phenomenon of digital inequality has received substantial attention. This study extended research on digital inequality to the field of mobile business. The paper aimed to understand the impact of digital inequality in the use of mobile business supporting features in China. To address this, an empirical study with 258 subjects was carried out. The results indicated that perceived ease of use had a significant positive effect on the use of mobile business supporting features, while perceived risk had a significant negative effect on the use of mobile business supporting features. Furthermore, this study also revealed that socio-economically disadvantaged individuals were more likely to be influenced by perceived risks, while socio-economically advantaged individuals were more likely to be influenced by the utilitarian motivations.

A prior version of this paper has been published in the ISD2015 Proceedings (http://aisel.aisnet.org/isd2014/proceedings2015/).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer and Information Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

    Shang Gao

  2. School of Business Administration, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan, China

    Xuemei Zhang

Authors
  1. Shang Gao
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  2. Xuemei Zhang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shang Gao .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China

    Doug Vogel

  2. Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China

    Xitong Guo

  3. Caulfield School of IT, Monash Univ, Caulfield East, Victoria, Australia

    Henry Linger

  4. Cairnes School of Business & Econonomics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland

    Chris Barry

  5. Cairnes School of Business & Economics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland

    Michael Lang

  6. City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong

    Christoph Schneider

Appendix 1. Survey Instrument

Appendix 1. Survey Instrument

Factor

Item

Literature

Perceived ease of use

1. My interaction with the mobile business supporting features is clear and understandable

2. Interacting with the mobile business supporting features do not require a lot of my mental effort

3. I find the mobile business supporting features easy to use

4. I find it easy to get the mobile business supporting features to do what I want it to do

[27]

Hedonic motivations

1. Using the mobile business supporting features is enjoyable

2. Using the mobile business supporting features is pleasant

3. Using the mobile business supporting features is fun

[27]

Utilitarian motivations

1. Using the mobile business supporting features improves my performance for information search in the consumption process

2. Using the mobile business supporting features improves my productivity for information search in the consumption process

3. Using the mobile business supporting features enhances my effectiveness for information search in the consumption process

4. Using the mobile business supporting features is useful for my information search in the consumption process

[27]

Perceived risk

1. I think using mobile business supporting features in monetary transactions has potential risk

2. I think using mobile business supporting features in product purchase has potential risk

3. I think using mobile business supporting features in merchandise services has potential risk

4. I think using mobile business supporting features puts my privacy at risk

[17]

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Gao, S., Zhang, X. (2016). Understanding Digital Inequality: Studying the Use of Mobile Business Supporting Features in China. In: Vogel, D., Guo, X., Linger, H., Barry, C., Lang, M., Schneider, C. (eds) Transforming Healthcare Through Information Systems. Lecture Notes in Information Systems and Organisation, vol 17. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30133-4_14

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