Decision-Maker Mindfulness in IT Adoption: The Role of Informed Culture and Individual Personality

This paper investigates the individual, organizational and innovation characteristics that determine decision-maker mindfulness in the adoption of IT innovations. Mindfulness has been defined as both trait-like, i.e., relatively stable and permanent, and state-like, i.e., situation or context specific. Based on a trait-like view of mindfulness, we identify the personality factors – openness to experience and conscientiousness as its determinants. Based on a state-like view, organizational culture, more specifically informed culture is identified as a determinant of decision-maker mindfulness. The moderating role of innovation radicalness is also investigated. The hypothesized relationships are validated using survey research and the findings indicate that decision-maker personality, as well as an informed culture within the organization are important in determining mindfulness, particularly when decision-makers are faced with deciding on the adoption of radical innovations.