The process of RFID assimilation by supply chain participants in China: A technology diffusion perspective on RFID technology

RFID technology is recently an emerging technology that is being used in many echelons of supply chain participants. Most recent IS research on this technology focus on factors which will impact its organizational adoption. However, adoption is just one part of assimilation process which cannot make sure that RFID can be full-scale deployed in an organization. Assimilation theories also suggested that most information technologies exhibit an “an assimilation gap” which means widespread usage tends to lag behind their adoption. Therefore, a stage-based model is necessary for us to understand the assimilation process of RFID technology. In this paper, we will draw on innovation diffusion theory, institutional theory and stage-based model to investigate which innovation factors play significant roles during three assimilation stages: initiation-adoption-routinization. Factors under each category of TOE (technological, organizational, and environmental) framework will be potential antecedents of the stagebased assimilation process and their impacts on each stage will be investigated.