Work-related use and positive livelihood outcomes among mobile phone users in Asia

Abstract

This study set out to investigate the effects of psychological mechanisms on using mobile phones for work-related communication, and subsequently to prove that people at the bottom of the pyramid in Asia who use their phones strategically reap positive livelihood-related outcomes. Grounded in the theory of reasoned action and technology acceptance model it looks at the relationship between perceived self-efficacy, usefulness, ease of use, social influence, monetary value and gender on usage for strategic communication, and resultant benefits. Based on the Teleuse4@BoP survey, the study focuses on mobile phone owners only (N=4926), and runs a series of binary logistical regressions and ordinary least-squares regressions to predict hypotheses. I found that the positive relationship between perceived usefulness and strategic usage of mobile phones for work-related communication is stronger among people who have irregular incomes. Social influence is negatively related to strategic usage of mobile phones for workrelated communication. Perceived monetary value is negatively related to strategic usage of mobile phones for work-related communication. The negative relationship between gender and strategic usage of mobile phones for work-related communication is stronger among people who have jobs that require mobile phone use. And strategic usage of mobile phones for work-related communication is positively related to livelihood-related positive outcomes, holding other things constant. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.