Contributing Factors in the Adoption of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in Companies: A Grounded Theory Approach

Abstract

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are an emerging technology companies can use to improve performance. This study's question is: What factors influence companies to adopt UAVs? Utilizing a grounded theory approach to collect data through semi-structured interviews with managers in the wind energy industry and secondary data from a UAV conference, this study helped explain and understand the adoption of technology by a company's decision-makers. The study's main findings identify factors that influence the adoption, expanding on existing theories of technology adoption, such as the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory, the Technology-Organizational-Environmental framework (TOE), and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by providing insights into the evaluation process and its stages, criteria for evaluation, and the roles of different individuals within the organization. In addition, it helps to understand why companies decide to adopt the technology as a service or with internal resources. The findings contribute to a better understanding of how companies adopt UAVs, and they can assist managers in increasing the integration of UAVs into their operations. The results also have implications for vendors, as they can develop better strategies for planning and anticipating organizations' reactions to this emerging technology.