AGE AND THE ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF SELECTED ORGANISATIONAL FACTORS ON THE ADOPTION OF INNOVATIONS

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to determine the relationship between the age of the respondents and their perception of the impact of selected organisational factors in terms of adoption of innovation. Design/methodology/approach: In the study a proprietary survey questionnaire was used. Factors were selected for the questionnaire based on literature research, desk research, opinions of panel participants (experts), and pilot studies conducted in IT companies. Findings: The age of the respondents influenced their perception of the influence of multiple factors at different stages of the innovation process in terms of adoption, as well as their assessment of the shape of this influence. Younger people tended to perceive the influence of individual factors more frequently than older people. At the same time, younger people tended to attribute less influence on the adoption of innovations to individual factors than older age groups (there was often a trend of gradual increase in the above-mentioned evaluations with the age of the respondents). Research limitations/implications: The research presented in this article has some limitations. Firstly, it was conducted only in Poland, secondly only in the IT sector, and thirdly, the age of the respondents was considered in the context of their perception of the influence of only selected factors related to internal and external communication and organisational culture on the adoption of innovation. Practical implications: Demonstrate the approach of diverse age groups of IT employees to the adaptation of innovations in the context of the impact that communication and organisational culture have on the different stages of this process. This will be helpful in verifying which factors need to be improved to have a greater impact on respondents' perception of the topic at hand. Social implications: The results of the research show that companies should focus on creating a coherent communication system, familiar to all participants in the organisation, which will be an integral part of the organisational culture. Then there is a chance that the trend presented in the research will change and increasingly younger employees will recognise the significant impact of both communication and the culture on the adoption of innovations. Originality/value: Determine the relationship between the age of the respondents and their perception of the influence of various factors related to communication (both internal and external) and organisational culture on the adoption of innovations.