The mobile banking is an increasingly popular service for customers of the traditional banking industry. On the surface, China has the highest adoption rate of this new technology, yet many users do not remain active or they only use mobile banking for the simplest tasks such as checking their balance. This research was designed to uncover the reasons for these two issues by identifying the major factors influencing users' intention to continue using mobile banking (continuance intention) as well as their behavioural intention to try new mobile banking functions. To do so, an integrated model was developed on the basis of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model (UTAUT), task-technology fit model (TTF) and expectation confirmation model (ECM). Empirical data were collected from China's mobile banking users and the integrated model was tested using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) approach. The results indicate that the main factors which positively influence the continuance intention include satisfaction, performance expectancy and effort expectancy. Continuance intention, in turn, influences behavioural intention to try new functionality, together with social influence, facilitating conditions and confirmation. Moreover, some mediating effects were discovered. For example, task-technology fit may indirectly affect the continuance intention through users' satisfaction. The research results have a number of theoretical contributions. Firstly, this research discovers that the impact of task-technology fit on users' continuance intention towards mobile banking is fully mediated by users' satisfaction. This enriches the extant literature that is mostly focused on the technology perceptions (e.g. performance expectancy and effort expectancy) of users. Secondly, this research identifies that satisfaction also mediates the impact of confirmation of expectations on continuance intention, also extending the literature on the continuance usage of information systems. Thirdly, this research fills the gap in extant research regarding users' intention to try new mobile banking functions, by proposing a new integrated model using constructs from UTAUT, TTF, and ECM, and demonstrating that continuance intention itself fully mediates the impact of performance expectancy and effort expectancy on behavioural intention. The new model has a high explanatory power than each individual model offers. The research results also have management implications in terms of how to improve the task-technology fit to support continuous use and extended the use of mobile banking. For instance, to improve continuance intention banks can improve satisfaction by optimising task-technology fit. This in turn will require better understanding of users' different task requirements in specific market segments. In addition, banks can also attract users' behavioural intention to try new functionality by timely updating corresponding technology and launching marketing campaigns to keep users informed of any new functions of their mobile banking application.

Consent for the research study was obtained from the divisional executive of the financial services division being researched and all ethical factors were clarified. All potential participants were engaged in a divisional communication session where participation was advised to be voluntary and anonymity and confidentiality was assured. The results of the study revealed that there was no statically significant relationship between intention to quit and organisational commitment but a statically significant relationship between organisational commitment and age, tenure, marital status and staff with dependants respectively were revealed. Further to that, a statistically significant relationship between intention to quit and age, tenure, marital status was also revealed. Therefore, based on the understanding gained, and the relationship it had with respect to the biographical factors used in the study, it presents organisations with the insight and opportunity to better retain staff. Clear understandings of the limitations of the findings presented are also discussed and additional recommendations for future research are also provided.

Abstract In accordance with several scholars in the field of human resource management, developing employee commitment towards the employing organization is valuable due to the assumption that it increases their satisfaction, productivity and adaptability. By taking a pedagogical perspective focusing on impact processes, the aim of this master thesis is primarily to identify the constructions and functions of interpretive repertoires, of a few employees, in their descriptions of how the experience of Nynas’ Corporate Group Induction has influenced their commitment to Nynas, but also to categorize the constructions and functions of interpretive repertoires in a booklet underlined during the Corporate Group Induction, which I refer to as “This is Nynas”. In addition, the aim is to identify if other employees at Nynas share similar experiences, regarding the influence of the Corporate Group Induction. Moreover, the primary methodological approach used and theoretical perspective taken in this study is discursive psychology, based upon the premises of social constructionism. The empirical material is mainly consisting of interviews with six employees at Nynas, as well as of an analysis of the booklet “This is Nynas”. Additionally, the empirical material consists of a web-survey, based upon a five-point Likert scale, containing a sample of 25 employees. The study has identified two main interpretive repertoires in the booklet “This is Nynas”, explicitly the identity and the internalize repertoires, as well as subversions of these repertoires. In relation to this, the study has found that the interviewees in their language use to a large extent emphasize the interpretive repertoires constructed in “This is Nynas”. Furthermore, this master thesis have identified that the interviewees constructed certain interpretive repertoires when describing the experience of the Corporate Group Induction, and its influence on their commitment to Nynas, namely: the enhancement, the involvement, the development, the reciprocity and the constancy repertoires. Moreover, the study illustrates that the interviewees generally highlighted the Corporate Group Induction as having a strengthening influence on their commitment to Nynas, especially in relation to feelings of being a part of the company, due to the fact that they experienced themselves as active participants during the program. Furthermore, the result shows that the interviewees perceived the Corporate Group Induction as a sign of reciprocal dedication between themselves and Nynas, particularly on the subject of their integration into the company. Finally, the study has found that the experience of those who participated in the survey corresponded to a high extent with the interviewee’s experience of the Corporate Group Induction, and its influence on their commitment.      Keywords: induction program, Corporate Group Induction, social constructionism, discourse analysis, discursive psychology, discursively constructed, reflexivity, commitment, affective, continuance, normative, Likert scale, late modernity, strategic sampling.

Employees¡¦ perception of organizational political level will influence employees¡¦ decision whether to get involved with organizational politics or to isolate from organizational behaviors, it will reflect significantly on the working attitude directly and will influence the organizational commitment level and performance of employees indirectly, further more, it will decrease the organizational productivities. This research was conducted to focus on that whether employees¡¦ organizational political perception will influence their organizational commitments and performances, also to discuss the connection between each other. The research method this study used was group segmentations. After empirical analysis, we found out: 1. In the organizational political perception, ¡§boss¡¦s and colleague¡¦s behaviors¡¨ dimension has a significant negative correlation with affective commitment and normative commitment; ¡§the differences between policies and realities¡¨ dimension presents the same result as well. ¡§Boss¡¦s and colleague¡¦s behaviors¡¨ dimension has a significant positive correlation with continuance commitment. 2. There is only ¡§the differences between policies and realities¡¨ dimension reaching a significant positive correlation with task performance and contextual performance in organizational political perception. 3. By using K-mean ¡§Cluster analysis¡¨, we got four different types of group representing four different categories of ¡§organizational political perception¡¨. We named them by their characters, the names and characters are described as follow: 3-1 Slow: employees in the type do not react fast enough regarding political behaviors and working environment atmosphere due to the employees¡¦ insensitivity. 3-2 The perception of Complies in public but opposes in private: employees can sense that organization does not behave the same way in terms of policies and operations; they do nothing with this scenario. 3-3 The perception of keen actions: The members of perceptional organization are more sensitive with the interpersonal relationship, and they response the working environment with positive and active attitudes. 3-4 The perception of silence and waiting: Employees can sense that organization behaves in the same way in terms of policies and operations; they have a concept that ¡§Silence is gold¡¨. 4. In ¡§slow¡¨ type, the perception dimension of ¡§keeping silence and waiting for benefit¡¨ has a negative correlation with ¡§task performance¡¨; the perception dimension of ¡§the differences between policies and realities¡¨ has a negative correlation with ¡§affective commitment¡¨ and ¡§task performance¡¨. 5. In ¡§The perception of complies in public but opposes in private¡¨ type, the perception dimension of ¡§boss¡¦s and colleague¡¦s behaviors¡¨ has a positive correlation with ¡§continuance commitment¡¨, but has a negative correlation with ¡§contextual performance¡¨; the perception dimension of ¡§keeping silence and waiting for benefit¡¨ has a positive correlation with ¡§contextual performance¡¨. 6. In ¡§The percept of keen and action¡¨ type, the percept dimension of ¡§boss¡¦s and colleague¡¦s behaviors¡¨ has a negative correlation with ¡§affective commitment¡¨, but has a positive correlation with ¡§continuance commitment¡¨ and ¡§contextual performance¡¨. 7. In ¡§The perception of silence and waiting¡¨, the perception dimension of ¡§boss¡¦s and colleague¡¦s behaviors¡¨ has a negative correlation with ¡§normative commitment¡¨; the perception dimension of ¡§keeping silence and waiting for benefits¡¨ has a positive correlation with ¡§contextual performance¡¨; the perception dimension of ¡§the differences between policies and realities¡¨ has a negative correlation with ¡§affective commitment¡¨ and ¡§contextual performance¡¨.

Consent for the research study was obtained from the divisional executive of the financial services division being researched and all ethical factors were clarified. All potential participants were engaged in a divisional communication session where participation was advised to be voluntary and anonymity and confidentiality was assured. The results of the study revealed that there was no statically significant relationship between intention to quit and organisational commitment but a statically significant relationship between organisational commitment and age, tenure, marital status and staff with dependants respectively were revealed. Further to that, a statistically significant relationship between intention to quit and age, tenure, marital status was also revealed. Therefore, based on the understanding gained, and the relationship it had with respect to the biographical factors used in the study, it presents organisations with the insight and opportunity to better retain staff. Clear understandings of the limitations of the findings presented are also discussed and additional recommendations for future research are also provided.

The aim of this study was to evaluate employee commitment to achieve the primary objective, which was to evaluate employee commitment towards product and process quality. Employees who are engaged in their work and committed to their organisations give companies crucial competitive advantages – including higher productivity, better quality products and lower employee turnover. A thorough literature study was conducted by using the views of different authors and combining them. The concept of quality was defined by making use of the five quality gurus; Deming, Juran, Feigenbaum, Crosby and Ishikawa. The fourteen principles of quality, developed by Deming, were presented in Table 2.1. These principles had the goal of increased productivity, with less rework, less waste of manpower and material resources, resulting in a reduction of costs, to in turn give the organisation greater market share and ultimately better competitive position, by improving the overall quality of an organisation’s work processes. The concept of employee and organisational commitment was defined, and from this study it is evident that employee commitment towards the company is positive and therefore should have a positive effect on their operating environment. The product process flow for this manufacturing concern were discussed to give an overall view of the production processes used in this organisation. An empirical study was completed using a questionnaire survey to determine employee commitment at a manufacturing concern in Gauteng. The questionnaire used for this study was designed to focus on commitment towards internal quality only, to specifically evaluate employee perspective towards product quality, as well as the commitment towards the organisation. Analysis of the responses showed the questionnaire to be reliable and valid. Respondents indicated that they are committed towards the organisation in general across all constructs, but a lack in management trust was a predominant sentiment. The quantitative analysis showed that after a factor analysis was done on the two sections of the questionnaire, four factors for each section were considered as meaningful. These factors were: Affinity, quality awareness, autonomy and corporate image (employee commitment - section B) and employee commitment, task performance, job satisfaction and contextual performance (company relationship – section C). This indicated strong employee commitment towards the organisation. The qualitative results had four areas that all respondents felt needed some attention, and loaded negative towards the organisation. These were HR (trust in management, competency, communication and company culture), skills development, employee development and BBBEE. Thus, drawing conclusions from quantitative results alone could give a company a false sense of employee commitment towards the company and therefore overlook the importance of the roles that employees play in executing strategic plans. Conclusions regarding the findings of the research study were presented and recommendations for this organisation were made. These recommendations are merely a guideline that correlates directly to the empirical analysis made. The research study was evaluated against the primary and secondary objectives with the conclusion that both were achieved. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The aim of this study was to evaluate employee commitment to achieve the primary objective, which was to evaluate employee commitment towards product and process quality. Employees who are engaged in their work and committed to their organisations give companies crucial competitive advantages – including higher productivity, better quality products and lower employee turnover. A thorough literature study was conducted by using the views of different authors and combining them. The concept of quality was defined by making use of the five quality gurus; Deming, Juran, Feigenbaum, Crosby and Ishikawa. The fourteen principles of quality, developed by Deming, were presented in Table 2.1. These principles had the goal of increased productivity, with less rework, less waste of manpower and material resources, resulting in a reduction of costs, to in turn give the organisation greater market share and ultimately better competitive position, by improving the overall quality of an organisation’s work processes. The concept of employee and organisational commitment was defined, and from this study it is evident that employee commitment towards the company is positive and therefore should have a positive effect on their operating environment. The product process flow for this manufacturing concern were discussed to give an overall view of the production processes used in this organisation. An empirical study was completed using a questionnaire survey to determine employee commitment at a manufacturing concern in Gauteng. The questionnaire used for this study was designed to focus on commitment towards internal quality only, to specifically evaluate employee perspective towards product quality, as well as the commitment towards the organisation. Analysis of the responses showed the questionnaire to be reliable and valid. Respondents indicated that they are committed towards the organisation in general across all constructs, but a lack in management trust was a predominant sentiment. The quantitative analysis showed that after a factor analysis was done on the two sections of the questionnaire, four factors for each section were considered as meaningful. These factors were: Affinity, quality awareness, autonomy and corporate image (employee commitment - section B) and employee commitment, task performance, job satisfaction and contextual performance (company relationship – section C). This indicated strong employee commitment towards the organisation. The qualitative results had four areas that all respondents felt needed some attention, and loaded negative towards the organisation. These were HR (trust in management, competency, communication and company culture), skills development, employee development and BBBEE. Thus, drawing conclusions from quantitative results alone could give a company a false sense of employee commitment towards the company and therefore overlook the importance of the roles that employees play in executing strategic plans. Conclusions regarding the findings of the research study were presented and recommendations for this organisation were made. These recommendations are merely a guideline that correlates directly to the empirical analysis made. The research study was evaluated against the primary and secondary objectives with the conclusion that both were achieved. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Dans la présente thèse, nous proposons une grille de lecture – ancrée dans la théorie du don de Marcel Mauss – et permettant de comprendre les échanges effectués dans le cadre des réseaux sociaux numériques (RSN). Cet éclairage que nous présentons, nous amène à définir et à conceptualiser « le lien social virtuel » qui explique la continuité d’utilisation de ces plates-formes de socialisation en ligne. Il nous permet également d’effectuer une taxonomie des utilisateurs des RSN en fonction de leurs comportements de « donneurs » et de « receveurs » sur ces sites. C’est ainsi que nous avons pu identifier quatre profils : « les connectés » et « les réseauphiles » (catégorie de continueurs) puis « les désenchantés » et « les déconnectés » (catégorie de discontinueurs). Nous suivons une démarche de recherche mixte puisque nous adoptons à la fois des méthodes quantitatives et qualitatives qui s’enrichissent mutuellement et nous permettent de répondre à notre problématique de recherche / In this dissertation, we propose a reading grid of interactions within social networking sites, which is rooted in the theory of the gift developed by Marcel Mauss. This lighting allows us to conceptualize the “virtual social tie” which explains the continuance of usage of these online platforms. It also leads us to develop a taxonomy of social networking sites’ users based on their behavior as “donors” and “receivers” on these websites. Thus, we have identified four groups which are: “connected” and “network-aholics” (category of continuers) then “disenchanted” and “disconnected” (category of discontinuers). We follow here a mix-method research approach as we adopt both quantitative and qualitative methods so as to get data and be able to answer to our research question

This research explores the relationship between job insecurity, organisational commitment and work engagement amongst staff in a tertiary institution. The research was conducted through computer-aided telephone interviews and self-completion techniques. Of the total population (N=4460), a proportion of survey participants (n=260) were selected using a two-stage stratified probability sampling technique, proportional to size, across the different departments. Three instruments were administered among the survey participants, namely the Job Insecurity Scale (JIS), the Organisational Commitment Questionnaire (OCQ) and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES). On the basis of the outcome of the study, a theoretical relationship was determined between job insecurity (JIS), organisational commitment (OCQ) and work engagement (UWES). An empirical study provided evidence on the relationship that exists between the three concepts. The results revealed that a statistically significant relationship exists between JIS and OQC as well as UWES, although the relationship is positive and weak (r=.286** for OCQ; r=.270** for UWES). These results are incongruent with previous studies and might suggest that previous studies failed to examine whether the nature and strength of the relationships between job security and its outcomes are different in situations with different levels of insecurity or threat. However, further analysis revealed a statistically significant relationship between some of the subscales. For instance, a positive statistically significant relationship was observed between perceived powerlessness and affective commitment (r=.304**), vigour (r=.346**), dedication (r=.350**) and absorption (r=.279**). The results imply that as participants feel insecure about the various job features and the job as a whole, they simultaneously express their commitment and energy as well as dedication to their work responsibilities and the organisation. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial & Organisational Psychology)

Magister Commercii - MCom / Consent for the research study was obtained from the divisional executive of the financial services division being researched and all ethical factors were clarified. All potential participants were engaged in a divisional communication session where participation was advised to be voluntary and anonymity and confidentiality was assured. The results of the study revealed that there was no statically significant relationship between intention to quit and organisational commitment but a statically significant relationship between organisational commitment and age, tenure, marital status and staff with dependants respectively were revealed. Further to that, a statistically significant relationship between intention to quit and age, tenure, marital status was also revealed. Therefore, based on the understanding gained, and the relationship it had with respect to the biographical factors used in the study, it presents organisations with the insight and opportunity to better retain staff. Clear understandings of the limitations of the findings presented are also discussed and additional recommendations for future research are also provided. / South Africa