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The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers
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Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
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Showing 11 to 17 of 17 (0.019 seconds)| 11 |
Exploring consumer intentions to use the M-pesa financial service: a comparative study of low-income communities in Kenya and South AfricaOsah, Olam 15 March 2013 (has links)
Abstract
Recent times have witnessed increasing availability of mobile technology-based products/services in developing regions such as Africa. However, the extant literature has not traditionally focused on understanding the adoption and use of these technologies by consumers in these parts of the world. This gap cannot be ignored and the need to investigate consumer intention to use mobile based-technology in this region is becoming paramount to their successful implementation. One such mobile-based technology is the M-pesa financial service.
The current study merged appropriate theories that could predict consumer intention to use this M-pesa service in two African countries, Kenya and South Africa. First, the two countries were compared in an attempt to provide an explanation of why the launch of the M-pesa service has been more successful in Kenya than in South Africa. It then examined the effects of the Technology Acceptance Model variables (perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use), subjective norm from the Theory of Reasoned Action, self efficacy from the Social Cognitive Theory, and six dimensions of Switching Costs, on consumers intention to use M-pesa. To measure the study’s variables, validated scales from the IS literature, social psychology literature, and economics literature were identified and adopted. Data were collected using paper based survey instruments from individuals residing in low-income communities in Kenya (N=265) and South Africa (N=150), thus a total of 415 responses. The results indicate there are correlations between all variables and intention to use, however, only perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and subjective norms have a direct influence on intention to use M-pesa. The model explained 33.1% of the variance in intention to use M-pesa.
The results suggest that while switching costs do not have a direct influence on intention to use, some of their effects are mediated in predicting intention to use. Thus, this study has paved the way for future testing and enhancement of the study’s model. The study’s contribution to theory and practice are also presented.
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Financial freedom in mobile money: the role of the central bank in ZimbabweNduna, Chipo 19 April 2020 (has links)
Magister Legum - LLM / This paper analyses how the Zimbabwean economic history has led to the perception and attitude of the population towards the financial industry. It has been blighted by extremes to the extent that in 2008 the Zimbabwe economy had one of the highest hyperinflation rate in the world.1 Pettinger sums up the hyperinflation journey of Zimbabwe as having begun in the 1990s shortly after the disastrous land reform.2 This is where private farms were grabbed from landowners and re-allocated to mostly peasant farmers who had no technical know-how in farming. It was also a time when the country was involved in an unbudgeted and unsolicited second Congo civil war necessitating that the Government increase salaries to cater for soldiers and other officials assigned to the Congo.3 Earlier on the government had buckled under pressure from former war liberators (war veterans) and paid out unbudgeted bonuses.4
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The “bi-directional” influence between technology and society: how M-PESA is shaping and being shaped by society in KenyaGebregziabher, Sosina Abraha 17 February 2012 (has links)
M-PESA (a mobile banking service in Kenya) was introduced to offer a person-to-person money transfer service. Its extensive adoption and appropriation for purposes other than person-to-person transfers has influenced the technology providers (Safaricom) to widen their services beyond their original intentions. M-PESA provides a wide range of financial services including services for people who were previously unbanked. Users of M-PESA can now pay different utilities, those without credit cards can purchase products online, others can repay loans to microfinance institutions, pay insurance premiums, withdraw money from ATMs, use it as Point of Sale Payment and open savings accounts. This research examines the existence of “bi-directional” influences between technology and society by taking M-PESA business users as a case. It specifically investigates how M-PESA as a technology has influenced the business environment in Kenya and how the design of M-PESA has in turn been influenced by its adoption. The research adopts the Adaptive Structuration Theory as the theoretical framework and interpretive case study research as a methodological approach. Interviews with different stakeholders in the industry were used to collect data. Data was analyzed using Diachronic Analysis. The results of the research show that there is a “bi-directional” influence between technology and people as they affect each other over time. Mobile technologies shape the way businesses operate, allowing them to provide new services and improve existing ones. At the same time, usage and adoption trends affect the design of mobile technologies. Over time, technology is adapted to accommodate the new needs of businesses and other needs in the wider community. This research shows that the impact of technology depends not only on its functionality but also on its use and appropriation in society. / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Informatics / unrestricted
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Implementace tvarování anténních příjmových svazků radaru v FPGA / Radar receiver beamforming implementation in FPGABárta, Jakub January 2019 (has links)
This thesis deals with design and implementation of digital beamformer for 3D radar. The text of this thesis contains derivation of beamforming algorithm and detailed description of it’s implementation on development kit with Cyclone V circuit. At the end of the thesis the beamformer design is verified and it’s further usage is discused.
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Towards an ICT artefact for financial inclusion in Ghana: a critical realist perspectiveAgyepong, Stephen 02 1900 (has links)
Financial exclusion is a major developmental problem. Perception has it that financial
exclusion emanates from the lack of access to banking and financial services, and the
general understanding is that ICT-based access to such services is the solution. In this
research, which was undertaken in Ghana, Critical Realism (CR) revealed deeper
causes (generative mechanisms) that underlie financial exclusion. The research
followed a mixed-method approach. The CR approach guided the research to create an
initial model from which hypotheses were deduced and tested; the design science
approach, guided the research to create the design theory and an instantiation of an
application that uses the design theory; and the quantitative method, was used to
evaluate the hypotheses.
CR revealed how, in a credit economy, people have a need for credit to pursue
business or education opportunities. The generative mechanisms identified have
revealed how the credit market for the unbanked includes the reality that a wellfunctioning
credit market is self-sustaining with two mechanisms: signalling and
adoption. The signalling mechanism facilitates users’ access to credit, which they in turn
are able to spend on more services. On the other hand, the adoption mechanism
enables the development of more services making the market more valuable, thus
attracting more users in a self-feeding loop. The key findings suggest that being banked
does not necessarily lead to financial inclusion and financial wellbeing. Transactional
banking only serves as an "enrichment agenda for the banks", with minimal benefit to
the people. There are also other non-financial technologies such as sharing and social
technologies that have an effect on the provision of credit; in addition to their main
purpose of saving and/or earning income, for the unbanked, by sharing resources. In
Ghana, despite having bank accounts, most of the banked do not use them, because of
cost and inappropriate services. This research reveals that the unexamined notion of
being banked as a fundamental requirement for financial inclusion may require further
investigation. The research has found that the unbanked keeping to themselves and the
use of cash creates anonymity and makes them invisible to formal financial institutions,
who prefer identity over anonymity, thus contributing to their financial exclusion.
The following design needs were identified: inexpensive credit and value-added
services such as saving groups, financial accounting services, service to report
delinquent customers and education. The research offers a conceptualization of a
financial inclusion ICT artefact to draw attention to the multifaceted and complex
environment financial inclusion effort is immersed. This calls for an integrated approach
since the issues with financial exclusion extend beyond financials and have an effect on
the broader society. The research, therefore, proposes a substantive framework for
improving the design and development of financial inclusive systems, which helps build
trust using obligation transactions. It offers an approach to computing an individual’s
financial inclusiveness, which also helps safeguard his/her financial wellbeing.
The thesis makes a contribution to Information Systems theory in proposing a
framework on financial inclusion using ICT. The contribution to practice is the design of
an ICT artefact. / School of Computing / Ph. D. (Computer Science)
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Legal and regulatory aspects of mobile financial servicesPerlman, Leon Joseph 11 1900 (has links)
The thesis deals with the emergence of bank and non-bank entities that provide a range of unique
transaction-based payment services broadly called Mobile Financial Services (MFS) to unbanked,
underserved and underbanked persons via mobile phones.
Models of MFS from Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), banks, combinations of MNOs and banks, and
independent Mobile Financial Services Providers are covered. Provision by non-banks of ‘bank-type’
services via mobile phones has been termed ‘transformational banking’ versus the ‘additive banking’
services from banks. All involve the concept of ‘branchless banking’ whereby ‘cash-in/cash out’ services
are provided through ‘agents.’
Funds for MFS payments may available through a Stored Value Product (SVP), particularly through a
Stored Value Account SVP variant offered by MNOs where value is stored as a redeemable fiat- or mobile
‘airtime’-based Store of Value.
The competitive, legal, technical and regulatory nature of non-bank versus bank MFS models is discussed,
in particular the impact of banking, payments, money laundering, telecommunications, e-commerce and
consumer protection laws. Whether funding mechanisms for SVPs may amount to deposit-taking such that
entities could be engaged in the ‘business of banking’ is discussed. The continued use of ‘deposit’ as the
traditional trigger for the ‘business of banking’ is investigated, alongside whether transaction and paymentcentric
MFS rises to the ‘business of banking.’
An extensive evaluation of ‘money’ based on the Orthodox and Claim School economic theories is
undertaken in relation to SVPs used in MFS, their legal associations and import, and whether they may be
deemed ‘money’ in law.
Consumer protection for MFS and payments generally through current statute, contract, and payment law
and common law condictiones are found to be wanting. Possible regulatory arbitrage in relation to MFS in
South African law is discussed.
The legal and regulatory regimes in the European Union, Kenya and the United States of America are
compared with South Africa. The need for a coordinated payments-specific law that has consumer
protections, enables proportional risk-based licensing of new non-bank providers of MFS, and allows for a
regulator for retail payments is recommended. The use of trust companies and trust accounts is
recommended for protection of user funds.
| vi / Public, Constitutional and International Law / LLD
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Legal and regulatory aspects of mobile financial servicesPerlman, Leon Joseph 11 1900 (has links)
The thesis deals with the emergence of bank and non-bank entities that provide a range of unique
transaction-based payment services broadly called Mobile Financial Services (MFS) to unbanked,
underserved and underbanked persons via mobile phones.
Models of MFS from Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), banks, combinations of MNOs and banks, and
independent Mobile Financial Services Providers are covered. Provision by non-banks of ‘bank-type’
services via mobile phones has been termed ‘transformational banking’ versus the ‘additive banking’
services from banks. All involve the concept of ‘branchless banking’ whereby ‘cash-in/cash out’ services
are provided through ‘agents.’
Funds for MFS payments may available through a Stored Value Product (SVP), particularly through a
Stored Value Account SVP variant offered by MNOs where value is stored as a redeemable fiat- or mobile
‘airtime’-based Store of Value.
The competitive, legal, technical and regulatory nature of non-bank versus bank MFS models is discussed,
in particular the impact of banking, payments, money laundering, telecommunications, e-commerce and
consumer protection laws. Whether funding mechanisms for SVPs may amount to deposit-taking such that
entities could be engaged in the ‘business of banking’ is discussed. The continued use of ‘deposit’ as the
traditional trigger for the ‘business of banking’ is investigated, alongside whether transaction and paymentcentric
MFS rises to the ‘business of banking.’
An extensive evaluation of ‘money’ based on the Orthodox and Claim School economic theories is
undertaken in relation to SVPs used in MFS, their legal associations and import, and whether they may be
deemed ‘money’ in law.
Consumer protection for MFS and payments generally through current statute, contract, and payment law
and common law condictiones are found to be wanting. Possible regulatory arbitrage in relation to MFS in
South African law is discussed.
The legal and regulatory regimes in the European Union, Kenya and the United States of America are
compared with South Africa. The need for a coordinated payments-specific law that has consumer
protections, enables proportional risk-based licensing of new non-bank providers of MFS, and allows for a
regulator for retail payments is recommended. The use of trust companies and trust accounts is
recommended for protection of user funds.
| vi / Public, Constitutional and International Law / LL. D.
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