Abstract:
The South African mineral mining sector makes significant contributions to the local
economy and participates in social initiatives that benefit employees and neighbouring
communities. In recent years, volatile commodity prices, increased environmental and
sustainability requirements, and deteriorating economic conditions have compelled
global mining organisations to implement innovative technologies to address such
challenges. Successful implementation of such technologies in the South African
context is critical to ensure that the sector remains competitive and provides continued
economic and social value. However, existing qualitative research concerning
technology adoption within the sector has revealed that individuals have a resistive
nature toward change and innovation. Therefore, this quantitative study investigated the
influence of individuals’ technology predispositions and perceptions on usage intentions
in the South African mining context. These facets were examined by extending the
prevalent Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with elements from the Technology
Readiness Index (TRI). The influence of individual differences relating to chronological
age, education level, and organisational roles was also investigated. Primary data was
collected through non-probability snowball sampling of 150 respondents, and nonparametric
statistical methods were used to determine the relationships between the
TRI motivators, TRI inhibitors, TAM perceived usefulness (PU), and TAM usage
intention (UI) constructs. It was found that there was a positive correlation between TRI
motivators concerning PU and UI, with a converse relationship for the TRI inhibitors.
There was a strong positive correlation between PU and UI, which confirmed the findings
of several previous studies involving the TAM. There was no significant difference
between groups of different chronological ages and organisational roles concerning UI,
but there was a significant difference for individuals with different levels of education.
Additionally, and importantly, it was found that the respondents primarily held a positive
perception and linked inclination towards adoption intentions, which contradicted the
findings within the existing literature. The results also indicated a high degree of
predictability concerning adoption based on individuals’ perceptions. Stakeholders and
managers looking to technology to solve business challenges should consider these
perceptions to ensure successful implementation.
