I need to use it, but do I like it? : a study of the attitudes towards using the mobile phone at work in Tanzania.

Abstract:   The aim of this thesis is to find out the attitudes towards using the mobile telephone as a communication tool within the District Education Offices (DEO) in Iringa in Tanzania. This in order to collect an understanding of the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in a work place in a developing country and to develop an understanding of how and why ICT is used.   The theoretical framework which is the base for this study is made up by several theories within the field of development communication. Diffusion of innovations, ICT for developing countries, Technology Acceptance Model and a framework for sustainable ICT are the theories from which factors affecting attitudes have been collected to make up the theoretical framework for this study.   The study was conducted with qualitative interviews with the employees of two out of seven DEOs in Iringa in Tanzania. The interview data was also complemented with data from questionnaires, filled out by employees at the DEOs. The questions in interview guide and the questionnaire were formed with the theoretical framework as the starting point and later also analysed through the same theoretical framework. Four individual interviews and one group interview with five interviewees were conducted and twelve questionnaires were collected.   The compiled data showed that private usage, perceived ease of use, costs of usage, possible side effects of usage and the compatibility of the technology are the factors influencing the attitudes towards using the mobile phone at work and it can be concluded that the employees of the two District Education Offices in general had a positive attitude towards using the mobile phone, but that the technology and the work situation not yet were perfect for them to use the mobile phone without any restrains in their work.