Developing a user typology of adopting innovative technologies in social work

Abstract The integration of technology into social work has emerged as a crucial requirement in daily practice. Social workers have gradually acclimated to these technologies through continuous and routine use. This study conducted in Hong Kong proposed a unified approach to understanding the digital transformation of social work practice and concluded that social workers’ use of innovative technologies spanned the entire Levels of Use range from Level 0 to Level VI, namely Nonuse, Orientation, Preparation, Mechanical use, Routine, Refinement, Integration, and Renewal. By adopting a qualitative approach, twenty-three participants were recruited for online, in-depth Zoom interviews during the pandemic. Findings in the study could help human service organizations to plan the development of their services strategically, with implications for better service development and organizational management to embrace digital transformation.