Behavioural Intention: Mediator of Effort Expectancy and Actual System Usage

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating role of behavioural intention on the relationship between effort and actual system usage. There was a system usage ranging from 20 percent to 30 percent for students and 15 percent to 20 percent for staff, which could be attributed to behavioural intention as a mediator and effort expectancy.  The study employed a cross-sectional research design to provide a snap shot of the relationship between effort expectancy, behavioural intention and actual usage of the system. Quantitative research approach with descriptive and analytical research strategies was used. The study considered a population of 13,922 EIS intended only at the MUBS main campus and the sample comprised of 390 intended EIS users based on the sample determination approach by Yamane (1973). Simple random sampling was used to grant an equal chance for inclusion of each intended EIS user in the sample. It was then analyzed using a Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Pearson’s correlation, regression analysis, Sobel test and Medgraph were used to establish relationship between study variables and to test mediation, respectively. Findings showed that there was a significant positive mediating effect of behavioural intention (BI) on the relationship between Effort Expectancy (EE) and Actual Usage (AU). The type of mediation was partial as EE predicts AU directly and indirectly through BI. There were also significant positive relationships between effort expectancy, behavioural intention to use and actual usage of the system. It was concluded that behavioural intention to use is a mediator of effort expectancy and actual system usage. It was recommended further that organizations pay attention to users’ pre-disposition to use systems as they link their effort expectancy to actual system usage.