Wearable discontinuance: Pathways in the volitional information systems discontinuance process

Abstract

This paper examines the role of contextual factors and negative critical incidents as drivers of wearable discontinuance. We adopt a process perspective to understand wearable discontinuance by collecting data from long-time wearable users who have permanently discontinued their use and have no intention of reusing them. We adopt a multistage research design and collect data through the critical incident technique. Inductive data analysis reveals that both critical incidents and contextual factors impact wearable discontinuance, and the former is tethered to the purpose of wearable use. The study proposes pathways in the volitional information systems discontinuance process model and offers theoretical and practical contributions.