The measurement of end-user software involvement

User involvement in the design of computer-based information systems is broadly accepted as one of the essential principles of information systems development. The MIS literature has devoted considerable attention to the relationship between user involvement and MIS success. In reviewing this literature, Ives and Olson find that user involvement research is characterized by weak measures and conflicting results. They contend that the lack of a conceptual foundation to guide measurement development and the absence of a rigorous program of measurement validation limit our understanding of the nature and efficacy of user involvement. In the near future, much of the use of computers by non-data processing processionals will be conducted in an end-user computing environment. This paper describes efforts to develop an instrument for measuring end-user involvement in the development of a specific application. A factor analysis reveals three dimensions of end-user involvement identified as systems analysis, implementation, and administration. Discriminant validity of these factors is assessed. Using partial correlation, the relative efficacy of involvement in systems analysis vis-à-vis implementation or administration is examined. The results suggest an eight item involvement scale that focuses on project initiation and systems analysis activities. Evidence of the instrument's reliability and validity by nature and type of application is presented.