Yes / This study aimed to examine the key factors predicting Jordanian consumers’ intentions and usage of three types of self-service banking technologies. This study also sought to test if the impacts of these main predictors could be moderated by channel type. This study proposed a conceptual model by integrating factors from the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), along with perceived risk. The required data were collected from a convenience sample of Jordanian banking customers using a survey questionnaire. The statistical results strongly support the significant influence of performance expectancy, social influence, and perceived risk on customer intentions for the three types of SSTs examined. The results of the X2 differences test also indicate that there are significant differences in the influence of the main predictors due to the moderating effect of channel type. One of the key contributions of this study is that three types of SSTs were tested in a single study, which had not been done before, leading to the identification of the factors common to all three types, as well as the salient factors unique to each type.

Several models have been developed for understanding and predicting innovation adoption in organizations and literature has identified several factors that impact the adoption and implementation of Information Technology (IT). This research examines the process of adoption of IT innovations in organizations. The study explores the processes involved in the adoption of IT and verifies the key factors that influence IT innovation adoption in organizations. Using a systematic literature review, the study developed a conceptual model of IT innovation adoption in organizations. The model is a theoretical combination of Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory, Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and a framework which contains characteristics of innovation, organization, environment, chief executive officer (CEO) and user acceptance. The model represents IT innovation adoption as a stage-based process, progressing from initiation to adoption-decision to implementation. The study aggregated findings of past research on IT adoption to identify key factors that influences IT adoption in organizations. The study performed a meta-analysis of innovation, organization, environment, CEOs and user acceptance determinants to assess the magnitude and the strength of these factors on IT innovation adoption. Results confirmed that relative advantage, compatibility, cost, observability and trialability are strong determinants of IT innovation adoption. In terms of organizational context, IS department size, top management support, organizational size, IT expertise, product champion, IS infrastructure, information intensity, resources and specialization was found influential in the adoption of IT. As for environmental characteristics, the meta-analysis verified the significance of external pressure, government support and competitive pressure. Meta-analysis results verified that CEO‟s innovativeness, attitude and IT knowledge as key determinants. The findings confirmed the importance of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, subjective norm and facilitating conditions for the user acceptance of IT in organizations.

Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2005.

Higher education institutions across the globe have been confronted with a series of complex changes. These include changes in management style and structure, increased competitveness, mergers with other institutions, changes in working conditions, increases in student numbers in the context of decreased expenditure per student, higher student-staff ratios, modularization of courses, and the introduction of quality monitoring systems. Tertiary institutions in South Africa are experiencing a similar transformation that is necessary because of changes in the political, economic, technological and social environments. As a result of these transformations support staffs operating within such environments are likely to experience a sense of powerlessness, to report feelings of anxiety and insecurity, including a lack of confidence in their abilities and uncertainty about their future in their organisations, resulting in occupational stress and strain. Possible uncertainties that these same employees may be faced with are lack of job security, decreased career prestige and professional recognition, scarcity of resources, difficulty in understanding the changing values of the organisation, increased centralisation of authority, increased bureaucracy and an increased demand for accountability. Many tertiary education support staff will now be involved in greater interaction with other people, either students or co-workers and would therefore be more vulnerable to occupational stress and strain. Furthermore the workload of support staff is increasing and the nature of the support work is changing. Support personnel groups are being asked to take on more duties and do work for a greater number of people. They are also required to use new technology, sometimes without adequate training, resulting in high stress levels. It is well documented that high levels of occupational stress, if left unchecked and unmanaged, undermine the quality of employees' health, wellbeing and morale, as well as a reduction in productivity and creativity. Therefore the objectives of this research are to determine the levels of occupational stress and strain of support staff at a higher education institution in the North-West province, to investigate possible demographic differences and to determine whether perceived organizational commitment moderates the effect of occupational stress and strain. A stratified sample (N= 3 15) of support staff at a higher education institution in the North-West province was taken. The ASSET Organisational Stress Screening Tool was used as measuring instrument. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the results. The results of the study showed that the support staff has fairly poor physical and psychological health indicating that support staff experience stress-related strain which could be mainly attributed to their work relationships and job characteristics respectively. The levels of the stress were relatively low, while high levels of both individual commitment to the organisation and perceived commitment from the organisation were found. Furthermore, differences in terms of occupational stress levels were found for different biographical groups. Practically significant positive relationships were found for job security, job characteristics and control. This means that in order for employees to feel secure about their jobs, they need to have perceived control over the aspects of their jobs. Work relationships were significantly related to job characteristics, overload and control which means that employee's relationships with others depended to a large extent on the element of control that they have of their jobs and the amount of work that they have. Contrary to the findings in the literature, organisational commitment did not moderate the occupational stress-strain relationship of support staff in the present study. Organisational commitment was significantly negatively related to occupational stress, while occupational stress was significantly positively related to ill-health (strain). Occupational stress explained 18% of the variance in ill-health (strain) and 23% of the variance in organisational commitment. Recommendations for the organisation and future research are made. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2005.

Higher education institutions across the globe have been confronted with a series of complex changes. These include changes in management style and structure, increased competitveness, mergers with other institutions, changes in working conditions, increases in student numbers in the context of decreased expenditure per student, higher student-staff ratios, modularization of courses, and the introduction of quality monitoring systems. Tertiary institutions in South Africa are experiencing a similar transformation that is necessary because of changes in the political, economic, technological and social environments. As a result of these transformations support staffs operating within such environments are likely to experience a sense of powerlessness, to report feelings of anxiety and insecurity, including a lack of confidence in their abilities and uncertainty about their future in their organisations, resulting in occupational stress and strain. Possible uncertainties that these same employees may be faced with are lack of job security, decreased career prestige and professional recognition, scarcity of resources, difficulty in understanding the changing values of the organisation, increased centralisation of authority, increased bureaucracy and an increased demand for accountability. Many tertiary education support staff will now be involved in greater interaction with other people, either students or co-workers and would therefore be more vulnerable to occupational stress and strain. Furthermore the workload of support staff is increasing and the nature of the support work is changing. Support personnel groups are being asked to take on more duties and do work for a greater number of people. They are also required to use new technology, sometimes without adequate training, resulting in high stress levels. It is well documented that high levels of occupational stress, if left unchecked and unmanaged, undermine the quality of employees' health, wellbeing and morale, as well as a reduction in productivity and creativity. Therefore the objectives of this research are to determine the levels of occupational stress and strain of support staff at a higher education institution in the North-West province, to investigate possible demographic differences and to determine whether perceived organizational commitment moderates the effect of occupational stress and strain. A stratified sample (N= 3 15) of support staff at a higher education institution in the North-West province was taken. The ASSET Organisational Stress Screening Tool was used as measuring instrument. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the results. The results of the study showed that the support staff has fairly poor physical and psychological health indicating that support staff experience stress-related strain which could be mainly attributed to their work relationships and job characteristics respectively. The levels of the stress were relatively low, while high levels of both individual commitment to the organisation and perceived commitment from the organisation were found. Furthermore, differences in terms of occupational stress levels were found for different biographical groups. Practically significant positive relationships were found for job security, job characteristics and control. This means that in order for employees to feel secure about their jobs, they need to have perceived control over the aspects of their jobs. Work relationships were significantly related to job characteristics, overload and control which means that employee's relationships with others depended to a large extent on the element of control that they have of their jobs and the amount of work that they have. Contrary to the findings in the literature, organisational commitment did not moderate the occupational stress-strain relationship of support staff in the present study. Organisational commitment was significantly negatively related to occupational stress, while occupational stress was significantly positively related to ill-health (strain). Occupational stress explained 18% of the variance in ill-health (strain) and 23% of the variance in organisational commitment. Recommendations for the organisation and future research are made. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2005.

In spite of the prevalence and strategic importance of diversification for US hospitality firms, research on the effects of diversification has been insufficient in the hospitality literature. Especially, examination of the moderating effect of product or brand diversification on the relationship between geographic diversification and performance of US hospitality firms has been lacking in the hospitality field thus far. This study aims to investigate the effect of each diversification strategy on firm performance for US casino, restaurant, and lodging industries. Further, to investigate effects of diversification comprehensively by incorporating interactions between different diversification strategies, this study attempts to examine the moderating effect of product diversification on the relationship between geographic diversification and performance of US casino firms, and the moderating effect of brand diversification on the relationship between geographic diversification and performance of US restaurant and lodging firms. To accomplish study purposes, this study employs fixed effects and fixed effects instrumental variable regressions analyses, which strictly address the endogeneity problem, thereby enhancing causality between diversification and firm performance. The sample of this study consists of 336 observations of 43 casino firms, 176 observations of 36 lodging firms, and 952 observations of 132 restaurant firms over the period 1993-2010. The study's results indicate a positive and significant effect of geographic diversification on firm performance in the US casino and lodging industry, but an insignificant effect of geographic diversification in the US restaurant industry. For the effect of product and brand diversification, the study's analyses show no significant effect of product diversification on firm performance in the US casino industry, a negative and significant effect of brand diversification in the US restaurant industry, and an insignificant effect of brand diversification in the US lodging industry. Regarding moderating effects, while this study finds an insignificant moderating effect of product diversification on the relationship between geographic diversification and firm performance in the US casino industry, the analyses show a negative and significant moderating effect of brand diversification in the US restaurant industry and a positive and significant moderating effect of brand diversification in the US lodging industry. Findings of this study recommend more prudent decision-making for diversification strategies for US casino firms, brand concentration strategies for US restaurant firms, and acceleration of both geographic and brand diversification for US lodging industry. This study fills a research gap in the hospitality literature by exhaustively examining the effect of diversification strategies on firm performance in the hospitality field by providing evidence for the moderating effects of product and brand diversification on the geographic diversification-firm performance relationship in three US hospitality industries. Further, this study enriches the whole body of diversification theory and literature by providing context-specific empirical findings for diversification's effects and investing the moderating role of brand diversification in the diversification strategy context. / Tourism and Sport

Purpose – The purpose of this master thesis is to examine factors influencing green consumption and to explain the moderating effect of market maturity on these factors in developed and emerging markets.Design/methodology/approach – In this research the pragmatism epistemology was employed as the scientific perspective of the current research. Deductive reasoning has been selected as scientific approach. The formulation of hypotheses, the collection and analysis of the data were based on and derived from existing theories. In line with deductive approach the collected data was analyzed quantitatively within cross-sectional time horizon. SSPS program was applied to process the collected research data and present the research results. The data was collected via online survey (Google Forms) in Russia and Sweden as well as credible and reliable secondary resources.Findings – Based on correlation and multiple regression analysis it was found that factor perceived consumer effectiveness positively (Beta=0.227) and significantly (Sig.<0.05) influences green consumption among young people in Sweden. Price is determined to affect negatively (Beta=-0.279) and significantly (Sig.<0.05) green consumption among young people in Sweden. Perceived consumer effectiveness positively (Beta=0.225) and significantly (Sig.<0.05) influences green consumption among young people in Russia. The presence of moderating effect of market maturity was not revealed within the conducted research. That means the level of development of countries (in case of Sweden and Russia) does not make a significant influence on the association between studied factors and green consumption among young people. Perceived consumer effectiveness is determined to be the main driving factor which pushes the younger generation toward sustainable consumption both in Sweden and Russia.Research limitations – the first limitation relates to the size of the sample. Although the sample of 100 respondents for each country (Sweden and Russia) was considered adequate, still a larger sample size could have provided more heterogonous findings and might have led to a different conclusion. Another limitation considers geographical and industrial boundaries. The research applies the theoretical model to the context of only two particular countries, namely, Sweden and Russia by focusing on consumption of green products from FMCG industry. With this regard, the findings of the study might not be fully suitable for other emerging and developed countries or other industries. Also, the application of non-probability sampling limited the authors to add more validity to the research. The last limitation is such a phenomena as socially desirable responding or response biases that means a tendency to choose the desirable response or the most moderate response.Practical implications – The findings ensure a better understanding of the content of moderating effect of market maturity and explain more in details how particular factors influence green consumption in emerging and developed markets. The model conceptualized by the authors is supposed to be a good basis for future researches aimed at examining moderating effect of market maturity on relationship between green consumption and factors influencing it in other emerging and developed markets besidesRussia and Sweden. In practice a special emphasis on perceived consumer effectiveness by the companies which market green products and target young consumers could helpthem to supply their products more successfully both in developed and/or emerging countries. Particularly, they need create a perception among potential consumers that buying green products contributes to sustainability and solution of environmental problems by elaborating particular strategies. As the research revealed a negative and significant relation between price and green consumption on the developed market it is important that managers consider price policy while marketing green products among young generation in developed countries.

Le trouble déficitaire de l'attention/hyperactivité (TDA/H) est une problématique qui touche un nombre important de jeunes Québécois. Un lien entre le TDA/H, plus particulièrement la composante inattention, et l’apparition de difficultés scolaires a été démontré à maintes reprises. Quelques études suggèrent que la pratique d'activités sportives pourrait influencer le lien entre l'inattention et les difficultés scolaires et augmenter ainsi la probabilité de perséverer dans les études et, conséquemment, d’obtenir un diplôme scolaire. La présente étude vise à examiner le lien entre l’inattention durant l’enfance et l’obtention du diplôme d’études secondaires, puis à vérifier si la pratique d'activités sportives durant l’adolescence influence ce lien. À cette fin, 1043 jeunes ont été suivis de 6 à 23 ans. Une analyse de régression logistique binaire de type hiérarchique a été utilisée pour tester les hypothèses proposées. D’une part, et tel que prévu, une forte association négative entre l’inattention et la diplomation est observée. Cette association demeure satistiquement significative après contrôle de différentes variables (hyperactivité, symptômes intériorisés, Q.I. et l’adversité familiale). La relation inattention-diplomation n’est toutefois pas modérée par la pratique d’activités sportives. Cette étude souligne l’importance de mettre en place des mesures efficaces pour permettre aux jeunes souffrant d’inattention d’avoir de meilleures chances de diplômer. / Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health issue that many youths have to deal with. It is of great concern as many authors report a link between ADHD and academic problems. It has been shown that inattention levels contribute more to academic problems than hyperactivity levels per se. On the other hand, the results of few studies suggest that sport activities could influence the link between inattention and academic problems. The aims of this study was to investigate the link between inattention at the end of childhood and high school graduation and to examine the hypothesis that sport activities during adolescence could moderate that relation. To this end, 1043 youths were followed from 6 to 23 years old, as part of the Montreal longitudinal and experimental stud. Binary logistic regression analysis was conduct to test the proposed hypotheses. The results indicate a strong association between inattention and high school graduation. This relation remained statistically significant after controlling for associated problems (hyperactivity, internalized symptoms), I.Q., and familial adversity. The relation inattention-high school graduation was not moderated by sport activities, however. This study emphasizes the importance of implementing measures that could help youths with inattention problems achieving academic success.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

La majorité des adolescents québécois auront consommé une substance psychoactive avant la fin de leurs études secondaires. Parmi les facteurs ayant une influence sur cette consommation, on retrouve les normes sociales, dont les normes descriptives. Ce mémoire vise à évaluer l’impact des normes descriptives du milieu scolaire sur les comportements d’usage de cannabis chez les adolescents québécois, ainsi que sur les méfaits attribués à cette consommation. Cette étude examine les liens entre l’écart de perception de prévalence de consommation de cannabis au sein d’une école et la consommation ainsi que les conséquences attribuées à cet usage par les élèves. De plus, elle examine le rôle modérateur des écarts de perception de la prévalence de consommation sur la progression de la consommation, ainsi que sur le lien entre la consommation de cannabis en secondaire 4 et des conséquences attribuées à cette consommation un an plus tard. Provenant de la Stratégie d’Intervention Agir Autrement, l’échantillon de cette étude est constitué de 1601 élèves suivis de secondaire 2 à secondaire 5. Des analyses de régression logistique multinomiale ont été conduites et ont montré que plus les élèves surestiment la prévalence de consommation de cannabis au sein de leur école, plus ils ont de chance de consommer du cannabis et d’attribuer des conséquences négatives à leur consommation un an plus tard. Les résultats ont également montré un effet modérateur positif de l’écart de perception de la prévalence sur la progression de la consommation de cannabis de secondaire 4 à 5, spécifiquement chez les élèves ayant une faible consommation en secondaire 4. Finalement, les résultats ont montré un deuxième effet modérateur de l’écart de perception de prévalence, celui-ci sur le lien entre la consommation de cannabis en secondaire 4 et l’attribution de conséquences négatives à cette consommation un an plus tard. Précisément, les élèves ayant une faible consommation et qui surestiment la prévalence de consommation de cannabis au sein de leur école auront plus de chance d’attribuer plusieurs méfaits à leur consommation en secondaire 5 que d’en attribuer aucun. Par contre, les élèves ayant une consommation de cannabis élevée en secondaire 4 ne rapportent pas plus ni moins de conséquences selon leur estimation de prévalence. Les implications de ces résultats sont discutées. / Substance use in adolescence is a relatively common behavior. By the end of high school, a majority of Quebec teenagers will have experimented with psychoactive drugs or alcohol. Among the multiple factors influencing substance use are the social norms, namely the descriptive norms. This study evaluates the impact of the misperception of descriptive norms within the school context on marijuana use and its related consequences. Specifically, this study examines the relationship between the misperception of prevalence of cannabis use within a high school and the actual use of marijuana and its attributed related consequences. It also examines the moderating role of misperception of cannabis use prevalence on the progression of marijuana usage, and on the relationship between cannabis use in 10th grade and its attributed consequences a year later. Using data from the New Approaches, New Solutions intervention strategy, 1601 high school students were followed from grade 8 through grade 11. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted and have indicated that the more the students overestimate the prevalence of cannabis use, the more chances they have to use marijuana themselves and attribute negative consequences to their cannabis use a year later. Results have also shown a moderating effect of the misperception of prevalence of cannabis use on the progression of marijuana use from grade 10 to 11, particularly with the students using marijuana occasionally in grade 10. Results also indicate a moderating effect of the misperception of prevalence of school wide cannabis use on the relationship between marijuana use in grade 10 and attributed consequences a year later. Specifically, students using marijuana occasionally and who overestimate the prevalence of cannabis use by their school peers will have more chances of attributing more than three consequences to their drug use in grade 11 than to attribute no harm to it whereas students who use marijuana frequently in grade 10 do not attribute consequences in accordance with their estimation of the prevalence of cannabis use by their school peers. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.