This case study surveyed faculty members and information technology (IT) leaders within the State System of Higher Education (SSHE) and at Southern Regional State University (SRSU) to examine their perceptions of technological innovation, adoption, and diffusion in higher education. The data gathered identified seventeen critical success factors affecting technological innovation, adoption, and diffusion and was used to evaluate how the perceptions faculty compared to those of IT leaders within a single university setting. Examining and comparing the perceptions of these two groups provided insight into elements influencing technological innovation efforts. This insight may be beneficial for enhancing future endeavors and building collaborations.

Rockart’s (1979) Critical Success Factor (CSF) model was used as the theoretical framework for this research and a mixed methods research approach was used to examine the perceptions of faculty and IT leaders. Data collection methods combined web-based surveys for all participants and in-depth follow-up interviews with selected participants. An initial survey was distributed to a peer expert group of 2,091 individuals to solicit feedback regarding CSFs for technological innovation, adoption, and diffusion in higher education. The results and analysis of the initial survey were used to inform the final survey instrument, which was distributed to all full-time and part-time faculty and IT leaders at SRSU. A quantitative analysis was performed to gain a better understanding of the similarities and differences of faculty and IT leaders’ perceptions regarding the research topic.