Abstract

As information technology (IT) increasingly intertwines with what we do and who we are, a new construct, IT identity was coined to capture this entanglement. IT identity is defined as the degree to which an individual view an IT use as integral to his or her sense of self (Carter and Grover 2015). Despite its many recognized benefits, little remains known about how IT identity forms. This study uses a grounded theory approach to reveal the process underlying the formation of IT identity. Using the critical incident technique, we interviewed 15 people from different walks of life using different ITs to investigate the process of IT identity formation. Our data analysis revealed the emergence of a Technology-Value Fit (TVF) model which suggests that IT identity forms as a result of fit between the technology characteristics and a person’s value system. The paper concludes with research and practical implications.

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Exploring the Formation of IT Identity: A Technology-Value Fit Model

As information technology (IT) increasingly intertwines with what we do and who we are, a new construct, IT identity was coined to capture this entanglement. IT identity is defined as the degree to which an individual view an IT use as integral to his or her sense of self (Carter and Grover 2015). Despite its many recognized benefits, little remains known about how IT identity forms. This study uses a grounded theory approach to reveal the process underlying the formation of IT identity. Using the critical incident technique, we interviewed 15 people from different walks of life using different ITs to investigate the process of IT identity formation. Our data analysis revealed the emergence of a Technology-Value Fit (TVF) model which suggests that IT identity forms as a result of fit between the technology characteristics and a person’s value system. The paper concludes with research and practical implications.