Applying means-end chain theory to eliciting system requirements and understanding users perceptual orientations

This paper discusses how the use of a means-end approach in eliciting user requirements for a system results in a better understanding of the user’s perceptual orientation toward the Web-based document management system under design. Our findings imply that, from an overall perceptive, respondents are most concerned with the sense of being comfortable with the system, while respondents are more aware of the need for a security mechanism. However, none sought a sense of accomplishment or of belonging, self-respect, self-fulfillment, excitement, fun or enjoyment of the system. I provide a model that fuses the attribute–consequence–value (A–C–V) model and technology acceptance model (TAM). This model posits that factors at the consequence level lead to other factors at the value level, which in turn lead to behavioral intention to use the system. The model explains how attribute, consequence, and value factors ultimately lead to system use.