User resistance to software migration: The case on Linux

The demand for software has increased rapidly in the global industrial environment. Open source software (OSS) has exerted significant impact on the software industry. Large amounts of resources and effort have been devoted to the development of OSS such as Linux. Based on the technology adoption model (TAM), the development of Linux as the most well-known OSS with a graphical user interface designed for ease of use and a wide range of functionalities is expected to result in high levels of Linux adoption by individual users. Linux, however, currently controls about 1% of the operating system market for personal computers. The resistance of users to switch to a new operating system remains one of the major obstacles to widespread adoption of Linux among individual users. Based on the integration of the equity implementation model and the TAM, this study examines the formation of user resistance, as well as the effects of user resistance, on the migration to Linux for personal computers. This study discusses the role and effect of user resistance based on the equity implementation model in comparison with the two main determinants in the TAM. This study contributes to the advancement of theoretical understanding of Linux migration and user resistance. The findings also offer suggestions for software communities and practitioners, of OSS in particular, to promote the use of new software by individual users.