Most of the research on end-user computing(EUC) has generally been exploratory and descriptive in nature with little theoretical basis. Grounding the research on a firm theoretical base, the main objectives of this thesis are as follows : i) analyzing the relationship between task characteristics and EUC characteristics ii) analyzing the relationship between EUC characteristics and EUC success, and the moderating effect of task characteristics on this relationship. A lack of consistent definition for EUC is apparent in the current literature. In this thesis, EUC is defined as the direct, hand-on use of computers, by non-DP professionals in functional areas, to perform or facilitate job-related tasks and responsibilities. Based on the information processing view, task characteristics were identified as an important determinant of EUC characteristics. And the moderating effect of task characteristics on the relationship between EUC characteristics and EUC success was suggested. A field study was undertaken to test the hypothesized relationships among task characteristics, EUC characteristics, and EUC success. Data were collected from 149 end-users of 19 Korean business organizations. Correlation analyses, Fisher's Z tests, and regression analyses were employed to test the hypotheses, and multiple regression analyses were conducted for further analyses. The major findings of this study were as follows : i) EUC characteristics are positively related to task characteristics ii) EUC success, measured by user satisfaction, is positively related to the diversity of EUC, personal computer(PC) use, PC dependence, and the dependence of general purpose package. But it is not significantly related to mainframe use, mainframe dependence, the dependence of dedicated package, and the level of EUC iii) the relationships between the diversity of EUC and the success of EUC are stronger when task variability is high than low, and the relationship between the intensity and dependence of EUC and the success of EUC are stronger when task analyzability is low than high. Further analyses also supported the moderating effect of task characteristics on the relationship between EUC characteristics and EUC success. Implications and future research directions are drawn for the management of EUC and for further research on EUC.
