Police Field Mobile Computing: Applying the Theory of Task-Technology Fit

Abstract

This research examines the effectiveness of field mobile computing in law enforcement through the theory of task-technology fit. Field mobile computing has been at the forefront of police technology implementations throughout the United States for the past several years. This study measures how well these systems match tasks the field officers must perform and measures the effectiveness of field mobile computing as implemented in a medium-sized Southwestern police department. The authors found statistical support indicating that inquiries to local, state, and national criminal information databases increased with the implementation of mobile computing. The authors also found that field officers recognize the potential benefits mobile computing affords them and that the amount of time required for completing reports increased with the implementation of field mobile computing. Last, administrators, detectives, and records personnel all experienced statistically significant improvements in the tasks they performed, directly resulting from the implementation of mobile computing.

Officer perceptions of the impact of mobile broadband technology on police operations

“…Thus, patrol officers reported less perceived time savings than other personnel. Such findings are consistent with previous research on police mobile computing in which patrol officers felt other personnel within the department would benefit from their increased efforts in mobile computing (Ioimo and Aronson 2004). An example was illustrated during an interview with a patrol sergeant who indicated that patrol officers may feel detectives and analysts are able to more efficiently query information they need, which in turn makes their jobs easier.…”

“…[ Some of the aforementioned results presented in Figure 4 are consistent with previous research finding a lack of improved time efficiency with mobile computing (Chan 2001, Chan et al 2001Ioimo and Aronson 2004). One of the potential pitfalls of enabling more sources of information is "information overload" as well as decreases in job performance and satisfaction.…”

“…Ericson and Haggerty (1997) found an increase, rather than decrease, in paperwork processing and heightened perceptions of police work being more office-oriented rather than less in their in depth examination of Canadian police officer activity. Furthermore, the use of technology may increase 6 productivity without resulting in any gain in efficiency as officers have been found to spend more time reporting when using an information technology system compared to hand-written field reports (Henman and Marston 2008;Ioimo and Aronson 2004). Recent research has demonstrated the potential for lost time as technology learning curves reduce the amount of time available to complete crime enforcement functions (Koper et al 2015).…”

“…Respondents were also asked how MDTs affected the effectiveness, performance, and productivity of their tasks (Davis 1989;Moore and Benbasat 1992). Ioimo and Aronson (2004) concluded that inquiries to local, state, and national criminal information databases increased with the implementation of mobile computing and that field officers recognized the potential benefits mobile computing afforded them. However, field officers also reported that the amount of time required for completing reports increased with the implementation of field mobile computing.…”

Personas in Uniform: Police Officers as Users of Information Technology

“…One instance comprises exploring the distinction between users of information systems for major crime and users of information systems for volume crime (Adderley and Musgrove, 2001). Other studies have investigated the users of field mobile computing systems and how these artifacts match up with the task at hand (Ioimo and Aronson, 2004), the involvement of users in the acquisition of computer aided dispatch systems (Nesbary, 2001), and the potential users of a data warehouse in the Chicago Police Department (Skogan and Hartnett, 2005). It is clear that there is significant variety in the requirements of the different uses and users of IT in the policing context, and there is a need for new methodological approaches to support the design process.…”