User-Perceived Requirements of Mobile Technology: Results from a Survey of Mobile Business Users

In this paper, we explore (a) the requirements of business users of mobile devices in relation with user tasks and user mobility, and (b) the relationship of the extent to which user-indicated technology requirements are met by user-perceived technology performance (fit), and overall user evaluation of the technology. Based on a survey of 216 business users of mobile technology, we found statistical evidence for a positive association of task difficulty with various functional and non-functional requirements, as well as for a positive association of fit and overall technology evaluation. In addition, our data suggests the relation between fit and overall evaluation to be asymmetric and non-linear, very similar to a typical convex consumption function. While user mobility did not play an immediate statistically significant role, we found indications of an indirect association: The non-functional characteristic of portability that described the availability of the technology in various mobile use situations turned out to be the most important factor to explain and predict technology requirements and overall evaluation in the current research study.