Abstract

Digitalisation represents a major societal trend that drives economic and social trans-formation by increasingly embedding digital information and communication techno-logies (ICT) into processes, interactions, and everyday activities across all domains of life. However, the voluntary sector has yet to fully embrace ICT. The extent to which volunteers integrate digital tools depends on factors such as technical infrastructure and willingness to adopt IT. Research in this area remains limited, and findings are often difficult to transfer across different national contexts. This PhD research addresses the gap in understanding IT acceptance in volunteering, using Germany as a case study. A comprehensive literature review synthesizes multiple research per-spectives, forming a robust theoretical foundation. Employing a mixed-methods ap-proach, the study draws on conceptual frameworks and established models such as the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). Insights from an exploratory study help identify key influencing factors, which are integrated into a novel model and hypothesis framework. To validate the structural model and measurement instruments, a survey methodology was used, incorporating both web-based and paper-based formats. A total of 331 complete datasets were collected and analyzed to ensure the reliability and applicability of the findings. The quantitative study identifies several critical fac-tors influencing IT adoption in volunteering, including performance expectancy, re-source availability, privacy concerns, and personal innovativeness in IT. These empiri-cal findings contribute significantly to IS research and provide valuable practical in-sights for the voluntary sector. Based on the results, four key action areas have been identified, offering a foundation for implementing targeted measures to increase IT acceptance among volunteers. These measures aim to facilitate and support volunteers in their activities, ultimately enhancing the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainabili-ty of volunteering efforts in the digital age.

Awarding Institution(s)

University of Plymouth

Supervisor

Ingo Stengel, Nathan Clarke, Stefanie Regier

Keywords

Technology Acceptance Model, Volunteering, Voluntary Work, NGO, Digital Tools

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Date

2026

Embargo Period

2026-02-10

Deposit Date

February 2026

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