Determinants of Information and Communication Technology Adoption by Religious Organizations: A case of National Council of Churches Of Kenya (NCCK) member Churches in Nairobi
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2020-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Information Technology.
Abstract
The adoption of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) have drastically changedthewaypeoplework,relateandcommunicateintheworldtoday.Thereligiousinstitutionplaysakey role in shaping the conduct of people and how they relate with one another. Likewise,technology changes how people relate to each other. As such, adoption of technology in religionis critical if the organization is to reach the surging numbers already hooked to various ICTplatforms. This study was necessitated by the fact that technology itself is not value-free. It ispresented to religious societies wrapped with cultural values that compliment, challenge or evenrepelreligiousattitudes.Hence,thepurposeofthisstudywastoinvestigatethefactorsdeterminingadoptionofICTbyreligiousorganizationswithafocusonNationalCouncilofChurchesofKenya(NCCK) member churches in Nairobi. The specific objectives of this study were; to establish thecongregationcharacteristics,leadershipperception,sizeofmembershipandhowethicalconsiderations affect adoption of ICT. Applying the Technology Acceptance Model, the studycarried out a cross sectional survey in which various churches were studied. The sample size was27 NCCK member churches and the target population was 324 church leaders. Simple randomsamplingwasusedtogiveeachelementofthetargetpopulationanequalchanceofbeingselected.Thedatawasanalyzedusingacomputerizedstatisticalsoftwareandresultspresentedinpercentages and frequencies through tables and figures. The researcher conducted a multipleregressionanalysisto determinetherelationshipbetweentheindependentvariableanddependent variable. The study found that the attributes of congregation, leadership perception of ICT, size of church membership and ICT adoption are positively and significantly related, whereas ethical considerations and ICT adoption are positively but insignificantly related. Based on the study findings, it was concluded that these factors influence the adoption of ICT in religious organizations. The researcher recommends that church leaders should take cognizance of their congregation characteristics and develop ICT programmes which serve them best. In addition, the church leadership should take deliberate efforts to change their perceptions on ICT owing to benefits that it may present. These findings may be relevant to both new and existing religious organizations. It will also make pertinent contribution to the existing literature and inspire stakeholders of various faith based organizations to come up with policies and strategies on how to adopt ICT.
Description
Keywords
Congregations’ attributes, Leadership perception of ICTs, Size of membership, Ethical considerations, Adoption of ICTs, and NCCK member churches in Nairobi.
Citation
Kioko, K.J, & Musau, F. (2020), Determinants of Information and Communication Technology Adoption by Religious Organizations: A Case of National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) Member Churches in Nairobi, Journal of Information and Technology. Vol 4(1) pp. 60-80.