Exploring the role of perceived ease of use in Web-based information system usage

The user reported interaction difficulties with information systems are because these systems are designed on the basis of developers' perceptions. It is more challenging to address this issue in the context of Web-based information systems where users come from varying backgrounds. Therefore, this paper aims to analyse the interaction of Web-based information systems on the basis of individual users' perceptions of ease of use. The variability in users' backgrounds is quantified in terms of their familiarity with the systems. On the basis of users' familiarity with the system, a conceptual model is proposed. The model identifies several critical perceptual measures at various stages of interaction. The model is tested and validated in a three phase empirical study. Findings demonstrate significant insights into varying users' perceptions of ease of use on the basis of their familiarity with systems. These results have implications for interaction design and usability evaluation processes, among others.