published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

The thesis concerns a critical analysis of Section 5 of the Council Regulation (EC) No. 44/2001.  Section 4 concerns the matter of ‘jurisdiction over consumer contracts’ and is one of the protective rules of jurisdiction in respect of consumer protection.  The thesis will divide the Articles of Section 4 into three categories: ‘who can sue’ (specifically, ‘who can invoke the consumer protection provisions to sue his supplier); ‘who can be sued’ (specifically, ‘who can fall within the consumer protection provisions) and ‘where to sue’ (specifically, the places where the consumer protection provisions allow the parties to litigate). The thesis will also approach the problems of the consumer protection provisions by evaluating those amendments to Section 4 between the Convention and the Regulation.  What changes to the scope of the application of Section 4 were made by the amendments? How would these changes impact upon the exercise of Arts.16 and 17? Moreover, would these changes be of any benefit to the rights of consumers or be of damage to the exercise of e-commerce? Criticisms of the rules of the Regulation will be offered, because these rules do not make any substantial changes to the scope of application of the consumer protection provisions.  Even though a purpose of the amendments was to make the protection provisions clearly applicable to e-commerce, they have not yet made anything easier to be exercised in the e-commerce environment or brought any benefit in terms of the rights of consumers.  Therefore, the thesis will make further suggestions as to how the law should be developed.

In dieser Arbeit soll aufgezeigt werden, wie das Beratungs- und Dienstleistungsgeschäft mit Hilfe eines elektronischen Marktes effektiver und effizienter gestaltet werden kann. Hierbei geht es nicht darum, neue Electronic Commerce-Ansätze zu verfolgen, sondern die Projektierung der Einführung von Softwarebibliotheken über einen Adaptionsmarktplatz zu realisieren. D. h. die bei der Implementierung Beteiligten werden durch Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie zusammengeführt und bei ihrer Arbeit unterstützt. Die Weiterführung geht hin zu einem Dienstleistungsmarktplatz, der ein erweitertes Angebot an Diensten und Services beinhaltet, die mit IuK-Technologie realisiert werden und über die Unterstützung bei der Einführung von Standardanwendungssoftware hinaus gehen. Innerhalb des Beratungsmarktes im SAP R/3-Umfeld wird der Fokus auf die Anbieter gesetzt. Folgende Anforderungen an die Projektarbeit der Beratungsunternehmen sollen durch einen Adaptionsmarktplatz basierend auf IuK-Technologie unterstützt werden: - transparente Vorgehensweise durch jederzeit zugängliche Dokumentationen und Statusberichte im Projektteam, - teamorientiertes Arbeiten (Gruppenarbeit) wird durch Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie, z. B. durch Ressourcen- und Information-Sharing, unterstützt, - Methodenkompetenz wird durch strukturierte, transparente Vorgehensweise mit Hilfe von Referenzmodellen und Tooleinsatz erzeugt, - Themen-, Fach-, Produkt- und Branchenkompetenz wird durch Templates und entsprechendes Wissensmanagement gesichert, - Standardisierung ermöglicht die Interoperabilität heterogener IuK-Infrastrukturen, - eine schnelle und kostengünstige Abwicklung mit hoher Qualität der Beratung wird durch das Nutzenpotential der Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie gewährleistet. / In dieser Arbeit soll aufgezeigt werden, wie das Beratungs- und Dienstleistungsgeschäft mit Hilfe eines elektronischen Marktes effektiver und effizienter gestaltet werden kann. Hierbei geht es nicht darum, neue Electronic Commerce-Ansätze zu verfolgen, sondern die Projektierung der Einführung von Softwarebibliotheken über einen Adaptionsmarktplatz zu realisieren. D. h. die bei der Implementierung Beteiligten werden durch Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie zusammengeführt und bei ihrer Arbeit unterstützt. Die Weiterführung geht hin zu einem Dienstleistungsmarktplatz, der ein erweitertes Angebot an Diensten und Services beinhaltet, die mit IuK-Technologie realisiert werden und über die Unterstützung bei der Einführung von Standardanwendungssoftware hinaus gehen. Innerhalb des Beratungsmarktes im SAP R/3-Umfeld wird der Fokus auf die Anbieter gesetzt. Folgende Anforderungen an die Projektarbeit der Beratungsunternehmen sollen durch einen Adaptionsmarktplatz basierend auf IuK-Technologie unterstützt werden: - transparente Vorgehensweise durch jederzeit zugängliche Dokumentationen und Statusberichte im Projektteam, - teamorientiertes Arbeiten (Gruppenarbeit) wird durch Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie, z. B. durch Ressourcen- und Information-Sharing, unterstützt, - Methodenkompetenz wird durch strukturierte, transparente Vorgehensweise mit Hilfe von Referenzmodellen und Tooleinsatz erzeugt, - Themen-, Fach-, Produkt- und Branchenkompetenz wird durch Templates und entsprechendes Wissensmanagement gesichert, - Standardisierung ermöglicht die Interoperabilität heterogener IuK-Infrastrukturen, - eine schnelle und kostengünstige Abwicklung mit hoher Qualität der Beratung wird durch das Nutzenpotential der Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie gewährleistet.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (in the field of ICT Policy and Regulation). 9th August 2016. / Digital transformation on a national level is a framework that has been applied to a number of different contexts. Studies in both developed and developing countries have exhibited digital transformation in a manner that reflects its applicability across contexts and scenarios. However, this research explored what happens when the same is applied to organizational contexts in a developing country. The research did not divert too far from the national application of a digital transformation framework, but merely sought to incorporate the organizational perspective, and the different considerations that arise in commercial banks in Kenya; an area which was previously under-explored. A conceptual framework was developed to study only particular elements of digital transformation from qualitative analysis and different sources of data. The findings of this study illustrated that there is a huge uptake of technologies in these commercial banks, but also notes a significant number of limitations that currently exist. The report concludes with proposals as to how these limitations can be addressed through various recommendations, and also considers other avenues for improvement, and future research that can later be applied other contexts. / GR2017

Online bidding is gradually becoming a popular shopping behavior among modern consumers. The combination of traditional auctions and Web technology has drawn substantial research interest. Bidder behavior in online auctions, including online bidding strategies, has been a focus of scholars. Previous studies have discovered and described different bidding strategies in online auctions. However, there is a dearth of research that examines the determinants of bidding strategies using theoretical frameworks and multiple data types. Hence, online bidding behavior requires further investigation. / This study aims to fill the research gap by systematically exploring the factors that influence bidding strategies. It summarizes previous literature on bidding strategies and proposes an integrated model derived from behavioral decision theories, motivational theories, and literature on online auctions. The proposed determinants of bidding strategies and their effects are validated empirically using both subjective and objective data. Results confirm the validity of the proposed integrated model. Three bidding strategies-ratchet bidding, agent bidding, and snipe bidding-are identified in online single-unit auctions. These strategies are influenced by determinants such as starting price, bid increment, perceived utility, network effect, bidding agent effectiveness, bidding experience, risk preference, time availability, and utilitarian motivation. / Cui, Xiling. / Advisers: Xiande Zhao; Siu King Vincent Lai. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-03, Section: A, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 131-140). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest dissertations and theses, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese; appenidx B in Chinese.

Business-to-Customer electronic commerce presents substantial opportunities to businesses even after the recent downturn in the dot-com business. However, the usage rate of online shopping in Hong Kong and worldwide is still very low. Risk perceptions and lack of trust have been identified as two major obstacles to the adoption of online shopping. However, there is paucity of research that investigates the complex relationships among these variables. There are even fewer studies examining the effectiveness of various trust building mechanisms and their interactions. In this thesis, this issue is addressed by developing an integrative research model based upon insights from a number of theoretical perspectives, including the Triandis Model, social exchange theory, Sitkin and Pablo's model of risk behavior, and the risk-return framework, to understand the factors affecting the intention to use online shopping. Some of the previously overlooked variables and relationships, such as risk propensity of customers, facilitating conditions, trust in the transaction medium, and the mediating role of perceived risks, were included in the model. This model elucidates the adoption process of electronic commerce. / Regression results show that all three trust building mechanisms have significant positive effects on trust in the online vendor. Their effects are not simple ones; the different trust building mechanisms interact with one another to produce an overall effect on the level of trust. Path analyses, via structural equation modeling, provide support for the validity and usefulness of the research model in explaining the intention to use online shopping. Seventy-five percent of the variance of the intention is explained by its antecedents. Most of the relationships posited in the model gain support from the data. / The scenario survey method was used for data collection. 463 usable questionnaires were collected from respondents with diverse backgrounds. The validity and reliability of the newly developed scales for perceived process risks were demonstrated using factor analysis. / Three trust building mechanisms (i.e., third-party certification, reputation, and return policy) and a new construct, perceived process risk, were proposed and examined in this study. / Chang Man-Kit. / "August 2003." / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 64-09, Section: A, page: 3376. / Supervisor: Waiman Cheung. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest dissertations and theses, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

No description available.

Zugl.: Lüneburg, Universiẗat, Diss., 2005.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2006. / Full text release at OhioLINK's ETD Center delayed at author's request

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Florida, 2001. / Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 68 p.; also contains graphics. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 64-67).