In the technology acceptance model, what does the social influence process aim to do?

• A. Make technology use relevant to the job
• B. Get opinion leader to adopt technology
• C. Train staff on new features
• D. Evaluate user satisfaction

Answer: (B)

Social influence in technology acceptance refers to how the beliefs and expectations of others shape an individual’s decision to use a new system. The idea is that if respected peers or opinion leaders in a social group adopt the technology, their usage signals to others that it’s valuable and worthwhile, increasing the likelihood that more people will follow suit. This leverages social networks to accelerate adoption.

So the aim is to have opinion leaders adopt the technology first, because their endorsement carries social validation and normative pressure that spread through the group. Making the technology relevant to a job or training staff addresses other aspects like usefulness or capability, and evaluating user satisfaction focuses on post-adoption evaluation, not on driving early uptake through influential voices.