EXAMINING FACTORS INFLUENCING NETWORK EXPERT‟S DECISION WHETHER TO RECOMMEND INTERNET PROTOCOL (IP) MIGRATION (IPV4 to IPV6) OR NOT IN ORGANIZATIONS

Abstract: Findings of this research work provide clear understanding of why organizationaltechnology(Network technology) adoption decision makers decide to recommend or notrecommend an Internet Protocol migration(adoption of the latest protocol), or a migrationfrom Ipv4 to IPv6/ or adoption of IPv6, to their organizations. A meticulous review ofliterature on the practice of various organizations technology adoption process served as abase for developing relevant research questions and corresponding hypothesis. The researchhypothesis was developed to examine organization‟s technology (Network technology)adoption decision maker‟s perception of IPv6: quality of service, auto configurationcapability, security, mobility, address abundance and cost effectiveness and its effect on theirdecision.The study result indicated that network expert‟s decision to recommend a new networktechnology adoption, specifically, internet protocol migration from IPv4 to IPv6 is highlyinfluenced by their perception of the factors listed in the previous paragraph, thereforenetwork expert‟s perception of the aforementioned factors are instrumental for their decisionof recommending whether to encourage the internet protocol migration. It is also implied thatmanagers at top level can make a technology adoption or migration decision based on therecommendation from the experts already knowing that their decision is highly influenced bytheir perception of capabilities and functionality of the new IP (IPv6). In addition to theapparent contribution of this study to organizations that fall in to the category of organization,where this study was conducted, the result of this study also helps different organizationsengaged in other kinds of business activity, such as: network infrastructure manufacturersand application developers by providing essential information regarding which functionalitiesand capabilities are playing a major role for organization‟s choice for a certain networkinfrastructure.