According to a 2016 report by Catalyst, women in the United States make up 46.8% of the workforce and 51.1% of management and professional positions, but only a startling 4% of top leadership positions in S&P 500 companies. There are many reasons for this phenomenon, and this paper will consider the major theories behind it. Through the lens of the financial services industry and using both the qualitative research technique of semi-structured interviews, and quantitative techniques to measure the findings from the qualitative research, this paper endeavors to show which factors impact female leaders’ ability to reach the senior levels of management from their own perspective, and illustrate how these may differ from the challenges their male colleagues experience. The goal of this research is to provide insights to help direct future research and offer guidance to the financial services industry regarding steps to take to ensure women are afforded equal advancement opportunities. The research shows that both harassment and social role conflict impact women to a greater extent than men in the financial services industry. / Business Administration/Interdisciplinary

Ethics is an important issue in persuasive technology. Previous research indicates that the application areas for persuasive technology are many with evidence for use in health, education, e-commerce, and social media, which has further led to deeper research on ethics in these areas. However, in finance there is a lack of research of ethics combined with persuasive technology. This study therefore takes a closer look at which ethical factors the financial sector needs to keep in mind if they were to consider using persuasive technology in their services and/or products, to protect their own and their users’ integrity. Seven participants were invited and participated in a think aloud interview, as well as semi-structured interview and a questionnaire was also shared on social media platforms where responses were received from 41 participants. A thematic analysis was performed that showed contradictions in the participants' perception of persuasive technology that seems to be based on a lack of knowledge about the area rather than the technology itself. Consequently, it became clear that transparency was important and that this in turn could lead to increased trust. Trust was the aspect that the participants considered to be most important in the choice of financial institution and is therefore also the ethical factor that should be valued the most. / Etik är en viktig fråga inom övertygande teknologi, dvs. teknologi som utnyttjar övertygande strategier för att få ut det skaparen vill utav användaren. Tidigare forskning pekar på att applikationsområdena för övertygande teknologi är många med användning inom hälsa, utbildning, e-handel och sociala medier vilket vidare har lett till mer forskning kring etisk användning av övertygande teknologier inom dessa områden. Bristen på forskning inom etik, övertygande teknologi och finans tillsammans indikerar dock att det finns ett glapp mellan forskningsområdena som bör utforskas. Denna studie tittar därför närmare på vilka etiska faktorer finanssektorn behöver ha i åtanke ifall de skulle överväga att använda övertygande teknologi i sina tjänster och/eller produkter, detta för att skydda sin egen och sina användares integritet. Sju deltagare deltog i en ”tänka högt”-intervju samt semistrukturerade intervjuer och en enkätundersökning delades på sociala medier där svar kom in från 41 deltagare. En tematisk analys utfördes som visade på motsägelser i deltagarnas uppfattning av övertygande teknologi som verkar grunda sig i bristande kunskap om området än teknologin själv. Som konsekvens av detta blev det tydligt att transparens var viktigt och att detta i sin tur kan leda till ökat förtroende. Förtroende var den aspekt som deltagarna ansåg vara viktigast i valet av finansiellt institut och är därför också den etiska faktor som bör värderas högst.

The rapid evolution of technology in the modern society have changed the preferences and customer needs in all markets. Industries have over the years moved further towards a more digitalized environment. This fact makes it necessary to study the changes of consumer needsfor companies to successfully convert their business models to fit into a modern era. Financial services are a great example of an industry that have moved from traditional to digital methods and an industry that society depends. Gamification is a growing marketing and learning tool that has been proven effective when it comes to increasing engagement, behaviour and literacythrough the use of game-like elements such as point systems, rewards and leaderboards. This study’s purpose is to expand on previous research to determine the preferences and customer needs that allows for gamification to be a successful tool to engage customers in Swedish financial services. This purpose of the study resulted in the following research question: “What factors influence consumer attitudes towards and acceptance of gamification solutions within the Swedish financial services?” To answers the research question previous research on Self-determination theory, flow theory and social cognitive theory regarding psychological and personal needs were used to reach 9reliable and measurable factors. A questionnaire was sent out with questions measuring these factors as well as four questions serving as dependent variables as a measure of how gamification increases engagement, brand loyalty, financial literacy and attitudes. A total of 97 responses were collected and analysed through multiple regressions to find the effects the factors had on the four dependent variables. The result of this study shows that psychological and personal factors such as Innovativeness, need for uniqueness, Competence, Relatedness, Goals & Feedback, Challenge and Outcome expectations have a significant positive effective influencing consumers attitudes and acceptance of gamified solutions within Swedish financial services. Factors such as autonomyand Observational learning & Self-efficacy were also found significant on their own towards the measured variables but found that in combination with other factors to not be of statistically significance.

Each chapter has its own summary / Each chapter has own summary / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

This research study provides a view of the relationship between organizational leaders and relationship executives of financial institutions and their exchange partners. It does so by analyzing data on the networking efforts of 20 executive directors in qualitative interviews and 124 relationship executives in research questionnaires. Network marketing within the financial services sector is becoming increasingly important. We proposed a model that seeks to offer an explanation of Executive network marketing in financial institutions in LDCs where the market system is underdeveloped. The proposed model identified four categories being: firm characteristics, Executives’ personal contact groups, Executives’ business contact groups and issues of commitment and trust in exchange relationships. Multiple factor analysis established the regression model as significant in establishing a formal relationship between the dependent variable (network marketing) and the independent variables (firm characteristics, business contact, personal contact and commitment and trust). It was confirmed that there are differences in Executives’ level of network marketing among the different age groups. Also there were significant differences in the network marketing of the Executives with regard to their level of education. It was observed that there were significant differences in the network marketing of the Executives with respect of their fields of study. Finally it was observed that owner managers were more involved in network marketing than the professional managers and those in partnerships. Not only did the study confirm the research model, but it also revealed that, to a considerable extent, network marketing is practiced by the Executives in the financial services sector in Ghana. The study concluded that business contact networks are the most effective of the Executives’ network marketing in financial services sector in Ghana. It is therefore important that state policies are directed towards enhancing the business environment within the financial services sector. Government should desist from being a regulator and a player in the same market.

Thesis (PhD (Business Management))—University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / In 2008, retail banking in South Africa is a highly competitive industry with extensive customer bases that expect increasingly more from their banking experience. The retail bank with an appropriate strategic differentiator will gain a sustainable competitive advantage in the changing retail banking environment and add value to all its stakeholders. This study was conducted within the evolving retail banking industry and investigated customer experience as a possible strategic differentiator in this industry. The investigation included a literature study on the evolution of retail banking globally and in South Africa, the concepts strategy, differentiation and sustainable competitive advantage and customer experience. Quantitative and qualitative measurement frameworks were applied to measure the total customer experience and thereby illustrate through the research results the value of understanding the customer experience as differentiator in an organisation. The researcher determined through the investigation that customer experience can be a valuable strategic differentiator in retail banking today as it gives an organisation a competitive advantage through the focus on the total customer experience which includes the previous differentiators in the industry, namely product, price and service. The researcher also indicated that customer experience evolved over time and includes service quality and customer service from which it evolved. The implications of the study focus on management‟s role in developing a differentiated strategy which describes customer experience as the differentiator and implementing such a strategy implies a thorough understanding of customers and their experiences when interacting with the organisation and entrenching a customer experience culture and orientation in the organisation on all levels.

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In recent years the African banking industry has received much attention from international investors. The international attention received by Africa is due to trends such as globalisation and the profit potential that exists at the bottom of the economic pyramid. Within Africa, Tanzania has become a hub of investment for both international and South African banks. Banks such as South African based First National Bank have publically stated that one of their main priorities at the moment is securing the bank as a participator in the Tanzanian financial service industry. The Tanzanian banking market is currently served by fourty-eight banks and the minister of finance encourages further investment and entry into the country. Despite the large number of banks in Tanzania, the penetration rate of banked individuals remains low with approximately nine per cent of the population being members of the formal banking system. The low penetration indicates the Tanzanian population’s reluctance or inability to partake in the banking sector. Research suggests that poor attitudes held by Tanzanians towards the banking industry are a key factor causing the low penetration rate of banking in the country. While consumer behaviour literature has found that attitudes exert a critical influence on consumers’ behavioural intention, attitudes cannot be viewed as the sole predictor of behaviour. The Theory of Planned Behaviour, that evolved from the Theory of Reasoned Action, extends the relationship between attitudes and intentions to include the influence of subjective norms and perceived behavioural control. Thus the Theory of Planned Behaviour states that behavioural intentions are determined by: (1) attitudes, (2) subjective norms and (3) perceived behavioural control. This study was conducted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and utilised the Theory of Planned Behaviour as a guideline to measure the influence of attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control on unbanked consumers’ intentions to open a formal bank account. Unbanked individuals were studied to provide banks doing business in Tanzania with insight into the factors that influence these consumers’ to become banked. The knowledge gained about unbanked individuals can be used to develop marketing strategies to increase the banked population of Tanzania. Research has shown that the average Tanzanian banking client is between the ages of twenty-seven and thirty-four and has a tertiary education. Thus the sample selected for the study was individuals who where studying towards a tertiary education in Tanzania between the ages of eighteen and twenty-seven. These individuals were selected as they are the most likely potential clients of Tanzanian banks. They are also potentially the most profitable clients for banks as they will likely earn more than other individuals once commencing formal employment. The Theory of Planned Behaviour was adapted to account for the unique characteristics of the Tanzanian financial services industry. Exploratory research identified the following dimensions as being possible influencers of intention to open a formal bank account in Tanzania: (1) trust, (2) attitude towards saving, (3) perceived relative advantage, (4) access convenience, (5) perceived value and (6) attitude towards banks. After data collection in Tanzania the model was further revised by conducting an exploratory factor analysis. The exploratory factor analysis identified the following dimensions as influencing intention to open a formal bank account: (1) attitude towards saving, (2) attitude towards banks, (3) self-efficacy, (4) access convenience, (5) reference groups, (6) perceived relative advantage, (7) perceived value, (8) attitudes towards banking, (9) trust, (10) future financial independence and (11) future benefits. Regression analyses were used to test the relationships suggested in the model. Significant relationships were found between the independent variables (1) future financial benefits and (2) reference groups and the dependent variable intentions. Relationships were also found between the independent variable future benefits and the dependent variable attitude towards banking. The empirical findings were used to develop strategies suggesting ways to increase the banked population of Tanzania. By increasing the banked population of Tanzania the Tanzanian economy, Tanzanian citizens and banks doing business in Tanzania will benefit. As banking facilitates economic growth an increase in the banked population of Tanzania would likely lead to increased economic growth in the country. Tanzanian citizens will benefit from the study as by opening formal bank accounts they will experience the many benefits of banking. Lastly banks doing business in Tanzania are likely to experience increased profitability as a result of the increased customer base. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Oor die afgelope paar jaar het die bankbedryf in Afrika baie aandag ontvang van internasionale beleggers. Hierdie aandag is die gevolg van tendense soos globalisering en die winspotensiaal wat bestaan aan die onderkant van die ekonomiese piramide. Binne Afrika het Tanzanië heelwat beleggings van sowel internasionale as Suid-Afrikaanse banke gelok. Banke soos die Suid-Afrikaans gebaseerde First National Bank het amptelik verklaar dat een van hulle vernaamste prioriteite op die oomblik is om te verseker dat die bank ’n rolspeler is in die Tanzaniese finansiëledienstesektor. Die Tanzaniese bankmark word tans deur agt en veertig banke bedien en die minister van finansies moedig verdere beleggings en toegang tot die land aan. Ten spyte van die groot aantal banke in Tanzanië is die persentasie individue wat gebruik maak van formele bankdienste, slegs ongeveer nege persent van die bevolking. Die lae syfer dui op die onwilligheid of onvermoë van die Tanzaniese bevolking om aan die banksektor deel te neem. Navorsing dui daarop dat die negatiewe houdings van die Tanzaniese bevolking teenoor die banksektor ’n deurslaggewende faktor is wat die lae deurdringingskoers van die bankwese in die land veroorsaak. Alhoewel literatuur oor verbruikersgedrag aantoon dat houdings ’n kritiese invloed uitoefen op verbruikers se voorgenome gedrag, kan houdings nie beskou word as die enigste voorspeller van gedrag nie. Die Teorie van Beplande Gedrag, wat ontwikkel het uit die Teorie van Beredeneerde Optrede, brei die verhouding tussen houdings en voornemens uit om die invloed van subjektiewe norme en waargenome gedragsbeheer in te sluit. Die Teorie van Beplande Gedrag stel dit dus dat gedragsintensies bepaal word deur: (1) houdings; (2) subjektiewe norme; en (3) waargenome gedragsbeheer. Hierdie studie is uitgevoer in Dar es Salaam, Tanzanië, en het die Teorie van Beplande Gedrag gebruik as ’n riglyn om die invloed te bepaal van houdings, subjektiewe norme en waargenome gedragsbeheer op die niebankgebruikers se voornemens om ’n formele bankrekening te open. Niebankgebruikers (individue sonder bankrekeninge) is bestudeer om aan banke wat in Tanzanië sake doen, insigte te voorsien oor die faktore wat hierdie individue beïnvloed om bankdienste te begin gebruik. Die kennis wat opgedoen is oor niebankgebruikers kan gebruik word om bemarkingstrategieë te ontwikkel om die getal bankgebruikers in Tanzanië te verhoog. Navorsing het getoon dat die gemiddelde Tanzaniese bankkliënt tussen seween- twintig en vier-en-dertig jaar oud is en tersiêre onderrig ondergaan het. Die steekproef wat gekies is vir die studie, het dus bestaan uit individue wat besig was met tersiêre opleiding in Tanzanië. Hulle is bes moontlik die mees winsgewende kliënte vir banke, want hulle sal waarskynlik meer verdien as ander individue wanneer hulle formeel begin werk. Die Teorie van Beplande Gedrag is aangepas om die unieke eienskappe van die Tanzaniese finansiëledienstesektor in ag te neem. Verkennende navorsing het die volgende dimensies geïdentifiseer as moontlike oorsake van intensies om ’n formele bankrekening in Tanzanië te open: (1) vertroue; (2) houding teenoor spaar; (3) vermeende relatiewe voordeel; (4) toegangsgerief; en (5) vermeende waarde. Na data-insameling in Tanzanië is die model verder hersien deur ’n verkennende faktorontleding uit te voer. Hierdie faktorontleding het die volgende dimensies geïdentifiseer wat die intensies om ’n formele bankrekening te open beïnvloed: (1) houding teenoor spaar; (2) houdings teenoor banke; (3) selfdoeltreffendheid; (4) toegangsgerief; (5) verwysingsgroepe; (6) vermeende relatiewe voordeel; (7) vermeende waarde; (8) houdings teenoor bankdienste; (9) vertroue; (10) toekomstige finansiële onafhanklikheid; en (11) toekomstige voordele. Regressie-ontledings is gebruik om die verhouding, wat voorgestel is in die model, te toets. Betekenisvolle verhoudings is aangetoon tussen toekomstige finansiële voordele en verwysingsgroepe as onafhanklike veranderlikes en intensies oftewel voornemens as afhanklike veranderlike. Daar is ook verhoudings gevind tussen toekomstige voordele as onafhanklike veranderlike en houding teenoor bankdienste as afhanklike veranderlike. Die empiriese bevindinge is gebruik om strategieë te ontwikkel wat maniere voorstel om die getal bankgebruikers in Tanzanië te verhoog. Dit sal tot voordeel strek van die Tanzaniese ekonomie, die Tanzaniese bevolking, asook banke wat besigheid doen in Tanzanië. Bankdienste fasiliteer ekonomiese groei, wat die land se ekonomie bevoordeel. Tanzaniese burgers sal voordeel trek uit die studie, want hulle sal die voordele van bankgebruik beleef wanneer hulle bankrekenings open. Daarbenewens sal banke wat in Tanzanië funksioneer, groter inkomste genereer. Die Tanzaniese bevolking en ekonomie sal egter eers die volle voordele beleef indien die getal bankgebruikers beduidend toeneem.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))-- University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Money laundering is becoming a significant risk to the banking industry. It brings with it negative results such as damage to the banking industry reputation, escalation of prices as money launderers end up having a lot of cash in their hands resulting in high inflation and innocent consumers suffering when they end up having to pay the high prices. This research report will provide the background on money laundering and how the banking industry in Botswana can improve on the controls they have in place to deal with it. As money laundering is a worldwide problem, the study will explore the controls put in place by countries internationally and regionally to discourage money launderers from benefiting from their laundered assets. The study will also do a detailed assessment and analysis of the money laundering controls used by the banks in Botswana and come up with conclusions and recommendations that can help the banks in the fight against money laundering. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geldwassery word ‘n aansienlike risiko vir die bankwese. Dit het negatiewe gevolge soos skade aan die reputasie van die bankwese en prysstygings omdat geldwassers uiteindelik baie kontant in die hand het, wat lei tot hoë inflasie. Onskuldige verbruikers ly daaronder omdat hulle dan die hoë pryse moet betaal. Hierdie navorsingsverslag gee die agtergrond van geldwassery en hoe die bankwese in Botswana verbeteringe kan aanbring aan die beheermaatreëls wat hulle in plek het om geldwassery te hanteer. Aangesien geldwassery ‘n wêreldwye probleem is, ondersoek die studie die beheermaatreëls wat lande internasionaal en in streke gebruik om die geldwassers te ontmoedig om voordeel te trek uit die bates wat hulle op daardie wyse verkry het. Die studie doen ook ‘n gedetailleerde beoordeling en ontleding van die maatreëls vir die beheer van geldwassery wat deur die banke in Botswana gebruik word en kom tot gevolgtrekkings en gee aanbevelings wat die banke kan help in die stryd teen geldwassery

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: is a common misconception that marketing is all about advertising and other promotional activities. These activities are only part of the marketing process which is in fact about identifying the wants and needs of certain customers and satisfying them better than the competition. However, it must also be borne in mind that these needs and wants change over time as customers change positions in the customer lifecycle. The customer lifecycle of a Woolworths Financial Services personal loan customer is not unlike the generic customer lifecycle of acquisition, development and retention and as such aligns with the principles associated with this theory – acquire, develop and retain as many customers as possible at the lowest cost. The current marketing practices of Woolworths Financial Services are not targeted, focusing on the entire base of prospective customers without any differentiation between those who would most likely respond and those who would not. These practices, however, have provided the opportunity to gain valuable information about the characteristics of those who do respond and those who do not. The use of data mining and regression analysis models (developed on this data) can provide the ability to effectively predict the response curve – ranking and assigning probabilities based on customer behaviour. That being said, these probabilities are of little use if they are not used to optimise the structure of marketing campaigns by determining where to differentiate an offer or not. It is here that mathematical science provides a solution through the optimisation process – the process of computing the mix of variables that provides the best result – in this case the highest number of customers acquired, developed and retained within the constraints of a defined marketing budget. Finally, the result of this process culminates in an increase in shareholder value which would not have been achieved through existing marketing products. The risk associated with implementing this process is negligible, based on empirical evidence regarding the impact of differentiated offers on response rates and as such must be implemented wherever possible. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dit is ‘n algemene wanopvatting dat bemarking net oor advertensie en ander reklame aktiwitiete gaan. Hierdie aktiwiteite is slegs ‘n deel van die bemarkingsproses wat eintlik gaan oor die identifisering van die behoeftes van sekere kliënte en om hulle beter as die opposisie te kan bedien. Dit moet egter in gedagte gehou word dat die behoeftes van kliente oor tyd verander as hulle posisies skuif in die kliëntelewenssiklus. Die kliëntelewenssiklus van ‘n Woolworths Finansiële Dienste persoonlikeleningskliënt is nie anders as die gemiddelde kliëntelewensiklus van verkryging, ontwikkeling en retensie nie, en vergelyk dus met die beginsels wat met hierdie teorie geassosieer word – verkry, ontwikkel en behou so veel as moontlik kliënte teen die laagste koste. Die huidige bemarkingsprosesse van Woolworths Finansiële Dienste is nie beperk nie en fokus op die algehele moontlike kliëntebasis sonder om te onderskei tussen dié wat heel moontlik sal reageer en dié wat nie sal nie. Hierdie praktyk het egter die geleentheid geskep om waardevolle inligting te bekom oor dié wat reageer en dié wat nie reageer nie. Die gebruik van dataontleding en regressie analise modelle (ontwikkel op hierdie data) kan die vermoë skep om effektief die reaksiekurwe te voorspel – rangskikking en aanwysing van waarskynlikhede gebaseer op kliëntegedrag. Gegewe dié afleiding, is hierdie waarskynlikhede van geringe belang as dit nie aangewend word om die struktuur van die bemarkingsveldtog te optimeer deur te bepaal of ‘n aanbieding gewysig moet word of nie. Dit is hier waar wiskundige metodes ‘n oplossing bied deur die optimeringsproses – in hierdie geval die meeste kliënte wat verkry, ontwikkel en behou kan word binne die beperkinge van ‘n geïdentifiseerde bemarkingsbegroting. Ten slotte, die resultaat van hierdie proses lei tot ‘n toename in aandeelhouerwaarde wat nie moontlik sou wees deur bestaande bemarkingsprodukte nie. Die risiko met die implementering van hierdie proses is weglaatbaar klein, gebaseer op die empiriese bewyse aangaande die impak van gedifferensieerde aanbiedings op reaksiekoerse en moet dus geïmplementeer word waar moontlik.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 1999. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Neural networks are computer systems that attempt to mimic the operation of the human brain. In contrast to traditional systems these systems can learn and will change their behaviour over time. In the highly competitive business environment of today, neural networks is one of many technologies that can assist organisations in gaining a competitive advantage. Neural networks also find application in the financial services industry. Applications range from corporate distress or failure models to forecasting of stock prices and many others. Generally speaking, neural networks often offer an exciting alternative to traditional methods of forecasting and classification in this industry. Neural networks must be implemented with care and judgement, as their performance is sensitive with respect to their construction and architecture. Neural networks, as with other technologies, rarely operate in isolation. Neural networks can be integrated with expert systems, genetic algorithms, data mining and even traditional statistical and operational research techniques. Integration produces systems in which the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Neural networks are also researched and applied in the South African financial services industry, both at an academic and commercial level. Indications are that South Africa is not far behind the international community in exploring the benefits of neural networks. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Neurale netwerke is rekenaarstelsels wat poog om die werking van die menslike brein na te boots. In kontras met tradisionele stelsels, leer neurale netwerke en verander dus hul gedrag met verloop van tyd. In vandag se hoogs kompeterende besigheids omgewing, is neural netwerke een van vele tegnologieë wat organisasies kan gebruik om ‘n mededingende voordeel te bekom. Neurale netwerke het ook toepassing in die finansiële dienste industrie. Toepassings wissel van korporatiewe mislukkings modelle tot die vooruitskatting van aandele pryse en vele ander. Neurale netwerke bied ‘n opwindende alternatief tot tradisionele modelle vir vooruitskatting en klassifikasie. Toepassings van neurale netwerke moet egter met oorleg plaasvind, aangesien hul prestasie sterk afhanklik is van hul konstruksie en argitektuur. Soos met ander tegnologie, word neurale netwerke selde in isolasie geïmplementeer. Neurale netwerke kan met sukses geïntegreer word met ekspert stelsels, genetiese algoritmes, data ontginnings metodes sowel as tradisionele statistiese of operasionele navorsings metodes. Integrasie bied stelsels wat meer bied as die som van die onafhanklike komponente. Neurale netwerke word ook in die Suid-Afrikaanse finansiële industrie nagevors en toegepas. Alle indikasies dui daarop dat, met betrekking tot die navorsing van voordele van neurale netwerke, Suid Afrika nie ver agter die internasionale gemeenskap is nie.