The purpose of this thesis is to identify the major determinants in adapting of the new Unify Communication Technology (UCT) for large and medium enterprises inChinaandHong Kong. Unify Communication Technology is a fusion of Communication and Computer Information Technology which is gaining popularity for the enterprises in China and Hong Kong.
The theoretical framework of this study was developed by applying the Technology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) models. This study employed both qualitative and quantitative methodology. The qualitative approach entailed case study methodology, including review of related materials and in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, targeting six cases in China and five cases in Hong Kong which were selected from various industries. At the same time, a quantitative survey methodology was applied with a total of 133 respondents. Data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics input into the computer software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) to test the normality of the data collected, the proposed hypotheses, the validity and reliability of the survey, the mean differences and significance of test results between China and Hong Kong, Factor Analysis (FA) and Principal Components analysis (PCA).
The finding from the qualitative methodologies showed that the major determinants were: financial return, costs, compatibility, productivity and efficiency, organisational strategy, competitiveness, and pressure from customers. According to the quantitative analysis of the descriptive statistics generated by the survey of respondents, the major determinants were: product reliability, costs, productivity and efficiency, financial return, compatibility, organisational strategy, support from top management, purchasing power, inner needs of the company, technology trend, competitiveness, economic environments, pressure from competitors, and pressure from customers.
Testing of hypotheses confirmed that the technology-related, environment-related, and organisation-related factors were important determinants to the adoption of a new technology. The finding is applicable to the enterprises in China and Hong Kong with some difference in the degree of the importance about the determinants of new UCT adoption. This study concludes with a modified conceptual model built from the implications of the findings for theory and for business practices. The original technology-related factors contain composite factors of product advantages and technology economy. The original organisation-related factors contain composite factors of organisation hardware and organisation software. The original environment-related factors contain the composite factors of competition and macro environment. Moreover, the composite of technology-related factors, organisation-related factors, environment-related factors and the integrated overall TOE factors are highly correlated.