Integrated software usage in the professional work environment: Evidence from questionnaires and interviews

Abstract

In a field study of use of integrated business software by business professionals, we found several characteristics of the real-world situation leading to the under-utilization of integrated software and being of importance for its human factors. Professionals work in a heterogeneous software environment filled with practical problems, they follow "satisficing" strategies of sub-optimal usage, and they have problems migrating to more advanced uses. Current levels of software integration do not always adequately or easily support the "task integration" requirements of real tasks such as handling many small things.