Designing Ethics-Based Model of Technology Acceptance in SMEs

Today ethics and related issues have become one of the most important factors in acceptance of technology and its innovations. The aim of this research is to provide a model of ethics-based technology acceptance in small and medium enterprises The present study is a descriptive-survey research. The statistical population of this research includes all managers of small and medium enterprises in Kerman province. The sample size is estimated 291 persons and the random sampling method is used. For fitting the model, structural equations method and also to study the effective factors, a single-sample t-test is used. Friedman test and analytic hierarchy process are used to rank effective factors of ethics-based technology acceptance in small and medium enterprises. The results of this study indicate that seven factors of individual compatibility, organizational compatibility, perceived usefulness, perceived ease, attitude toward use, intent and intention of use and behavior affect the ethical acceptance of technology. It is also found that the attitudes toward use, and intention, had the most impact on the ethical acceptance of technology. Small and medium enterprises are more innovative than the big companies in terms of innovation and the use of technology. On the other hand, observance of ethical principles in the implementation of technology plays an important social and even economic role in the competitive scope of organizations. In this regard, cultural foundations and related ethical education are considered as a good solution for the implementation and acceptance of technology.