TASK-TECHNOLOGY FIT - Human-Computer Interaction and Management Information Systems: Foundations - page 181

Figure 9.4 TTF as the “Attractiveness” of Various Possible Execution Sequences

Task as Possible Execution Sequences

Sequence A
for Actions to
Meet the Task
Need

Performance
Implications
(Cognitive
Cost Benefit)

T
e
c
h
n
o
l
o
g
y

Task as Problem

Sequence B
for Actions to
Meet the Task
Need

Performance
Implications
(Cognitive
Cost Benefit)

Task
as Underlying
Problem or
Motivation

1

Sequence C
for Actions To
Meet the Task
Need

Performance
Implications
(Cognitive
Cost Benefit) Changing the technology

changes the possible
execution sequences available
for task completion. Task
doers choose a sequence
based on cognitive cost
benefit considerations.

T
e
c
h
n
o
l
o
g
y

Sequence D
for Actions to
Meet the Task
Need

Performance
Implications
(Cognitive
Cost Benefit)

Sequence E
for Actions to
Meet the Task
Need

Performance
Implications
(Cognitive
Cost Benefit)

2

politics. Behavioral decision-making research has shown that, in general, selection of an execu-
tion sequence is sensitive to conditions such as task goals, time constraints, and task complexity
(e.g., Bettman et al., 1998; Payne et al., 1996; Todd and Benbasat, 1999).
Figure 9.5 is a recasting of Figure 9.3 in terms of choices to use a particular execution sequence
rather than choices to use a particular technology. Note that choosing an execution sequence is
often tantamount to choosing a technology, but in this view it is not the technology that is chosen.
Further, to the extent that the task doer takes advantage of a new or changed execution sequence,
a change in technology will lead to differences in the way the task process unfolds, which may lead
to differences in task performance. This is because alternative execution sequences are not neces-
sarily equally effective or efficient. For example, consolidating information from several small
queries avoids having to write a sophisticated query, but creates the possibility of errors in consol-
idation. Guessing at the amount is quicker and easier than writing queries, but not as accurate as
viewing corporate records.

Characterizing Execution Sequences Presented to the Task Doer

To understand the impact of technology on information retrieval performance we need to have
some way of characterizing the relevant differences between execution sequences. First of all,
there is the question of whether different available execution sequences have different performance
outcomes, such as the accuracy of the reported number of “sales less returns and discounts,” and