Designing Culturally Appropriate Responses to Culturally Influenced Computer Usage Behaviors

Abstract

Cultural variables impact across a wide range of behaviours when interacting with computers. The Diamond Model provides an organizing structure for these variables and their instances from specific territorial cultures. Instances of cultural factors in Jordan impact at several levels on computer usage. Where such impact is adverse, culturally appropriate responses are required. Such responses need to be at the appropriate level from individual user behaviors, via organizational IT and work policies, national educational and economic policies, and global IT practices. We present examples of adverse interactions between cultural variables and computer users’ behaviors in Jordan and propose a range of culturally appropriate responses at the individual, organizational, national and global level.