Is the 'Technology Acceptance Model' Universally Applicable?: The Case of the Kuwaiti Ministries

This study tests the applicability of the 'Technology Acceptance Model' (TAM) in Kuwaiti ministries. The aim of the study was to understand the usage of Information Systems (IS) in Kuwait in governmental organizations. The study did not find significant statistical evidence for the relationships between the TAM's core concepts, except in the case of the relationship between 'Perceived Ease of Use' (PEOU) and 'Perceived Usefulness' (PU). National cultural differences, the context of public organizations, and the nature/type of IS usage have been examined as possible explanations of why the TAM was not supported by the evidence. Managerial and research implications are also offered.