Advancing conceptual understanding of technology adoption decisions in E-waste urban mining sector

The e-waste urban mining technology adoption at the organizational level remains an underexplored area, with a lack of conceptual clarity, theory development, and a structured research direction. This study aims to bridge this theoretical gap by offering a comprehensive conceptual framework that identifies key determinants influencing technology adoption in e-waste urban mining businesses. Drawing upon the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, and the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory, this study establishes a robust theoretical foundation for e-waste urban mining technology adoption. The proposed conceptual framework incorporated five critical dimensions: knowledge (awareness, technical, and principle knowledge), device competence (relative advantage, complexity, security risk, and compatibility), human readiness (attitude, confidence, and subjective norms), organizational readiness (organizational resources and management support), and external pressure (coercive and competitive pressure). By integrating these dimensions, this pioneering study enhances the predictive accuracy of technology adoption decisions in the e-waste urban mining businesses. Unlike existing e-waste sector research, which primarily focuses on consumer and household perspectives, this study shifts the focus to organizational-level decision-making, offering valuable insights for practitioners and policymakers to promote sustainable e-waste urban mining technologies.