This study employs Rogers’ diffusion of innovation (DoI) theory as its theoretical framework to investigate the salient factors influencing ICT adoption in the Omani cultural context. Three hundred faculty members from Sultan Qaboos University in Oman participated in the study. A hierarchical regression approach was used to examine the contributions of four blocks of predictors on ICT use: (a) adopter category; (2) ICT attributes; (c) individual-level variables including gender, age, academic rank, teaching experience, ICT experience, and ownerships of notebook and mobile phone computers; and (d) job-related factors in terms of the numbers of traditional and blended classes currently teaching. The results showed that adopter category alone significantly predicted 8% of the variance of ICT use. Perceptions of ICT attributes accounted for another 11% of the variance. However, the seven demographic and professional variables only explained additional 5% of the variance. Finally, the two job-related variables contributed another 11% to the variance of ICT adoption. In the final 11-predictor model, the four most significant factors, in the order of importance from high to low, were ICT attributes, number of traditional classes teaching in the negative direction, adopter category, and number of blended classes currently teaching. These findings indicate that Rogers’ DoI theory is generally supported, but needs to be refined and modified for ICT adoption in the Omani higher education context. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings were discussed.

This study employs Rogers’ diffusion of innovation (DoI) theory as its theoretical framework to investigate the salient factors influencing ICT adoption in the Omani cultural context. Three hundred faculty members from Sultan Qaboos University in Oman participated in the study. A hierarchical re...