Thesis (M. Com.)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, School of Economic and Business Sciences, 2015 / The South African petroleum industry is well-known to be a significant contributor to the country’s GDP. The industry is also known to employ close to 60000 employees in South Africa making it one of the most essential industries that is helping to uplift the country’s economy. However, like most industries in the country, the petroleum industry is not immune to strikes and go-slows which have increasingly become more pronounced over the years. This situation has consequently caused a number of problems for service stations as most service stations do not have complete control of the environment that they operate in, making it difficult for these fuel service stations to meet set targets and be able to ensure that greater profit margins are realised over time. This research sought to determine motorists’ perspectives on the adoption of self-service fuel stations in Johannesburg. The research focused on the adoption of these self-service fuel stations by assessing the general attitudes and perceptions of motorists on the innovation and findings have revealed that motorists generally accept the adoption of such an innovation provided that they understand and benefit from the functionality of adopting such innovations should they be introduced. The research was primarily a quantitative study and a five point likert scale questionnaire was distributed to potential respondents who were Johannesburg motorists above the age of 18 based on the motor-vehicle type they used. Results from the study revealed that motorists are more likely to consider adoption of Self-Service Fuel Stations provided they perceive such facilities to be useful and enhance their service experience at service-stations. Another interesting finding was that security and safety were a concern for most motorists who felt the variable will go a long way in influencing their decisions and attitude to consider adopting these facilities should they be introduced within the South African market. Marketers should therefore ensure that they consider the functionality and potential benefits that Self-Service Fuel Stations may have to Johannesburg motorists as this may go a long way in ensuring their wide adoption within the city should they be introduced.

<p> </p><p>This study firstly examines the current literature concerning the electronic banking problems during implementation of electronic problems in Pakistan and causes that hinders this process. To investigate in the real-time scenario we have taken the case study of Muslim Commercial Bank Limited in Pakistan in order to understand “why” and “how” the electronic banking could not be implemented successfully.</p><p>The data was collected via interviews, surveys and bank website. Both qualitative and quantitative research approach has been used to investigate and have proper understanding of current e-banking issues. We have sent questionnaire to bank employees and interviews were conducted by the bank mangers. The response of interviews and surveys shows that there are certain issues that hinder the use of e-banking in Pakistan. In-spite of the fact that internet banking has been started in Pakistan, people are still using the old manual system to do the banking transaction, popularity of cash system, waiting in long queues for hours and lacking of proper computer education and trust etc are the major problems that are hurdles in electronic banking. On the other side there are a lot of reasons that the banks did not concentrate on internet banking and cash flow is still popular in banks and internet banking was used by the banks for the limited services.</p><p>Last years a lot of changes has been done and a greater understanding have been developed and now banks are offering various online banking services but banks are facing the problem of customer awareness regarding security and privacy of using Internet banking services as still customers are reluctant to use the online banking services so they prefer to come to banks and deposit the money by hand. So we have investigated these hindrance in our research and also we put some light on what are the advantages in using electronic banking and the how the customers are getting benefit by using e-banking in Pakistan.</p><p>We have developed our own model based upon the prior research. The results were presented in detail based upon the interview and questionnaire and later on we have given recommendations so that e-banking concept can be implemented in Pakistan and suggestions which can be very helpful for the future research</p>

Even though the development of business intelligence is moving forward rapidly, a substantial number of organizations are yet to implement business intelligence. Therefore, this thesis aims at investigating what internal organizational obstacles that could be hindering the implementation of business intelligence and how these obstacles could be overcome. In order to answer this, the Technological Acceptance Model combined with the notion IT identity, is used as the theoretical framework. This thesis is of an interpretivist nature and data was collected through qualitative, semi-structured interviews with six experts within the field of business intelligence, consisting of consultants and business intelligence managers. The identified obstacles could be connected to employees’ perceived usefulness being too low in relation to the perceived non-pecuniary cost. The proposed solutions aims at raising the perceived usefulness and lower the non-pecuniary cost through different methods presented in this thesis.

Abstract Background: Around 45% of Swedish consumers canceled their online purchase in 2018, due to too high delivery fees and issues concerning payments. This research is focusing on e-payments by utilizing the Technology Acceptance Model 3 and its determinants perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, and how they contribute to the e-payment method decision. Additionally, the relevance of online trust and online security are examined in relation to purchasing cancellations due to trust and security issues in e-payment methods.   Purpose: The purpose of this research paper is to understand how Swedish millennial consumers’ perceptions of online security and online trust of e-payment methods effect on online purchasing cancellation. Furthermore, this paper examines how perceptions of usefulness and ease of use contribute as determinants in choosing between e-payment methods according to Swedish millennial consumers.   Method: The research is carried out in a qualitative manner by conducting a series of semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Fifteen Swedish millennials contributed to the empirical study. The gathered primary data is analyzed and then presented in chapter 4 and connected to the existing literature in chapter 5.   Conclusion: For the Swedish millennials, both online trust and online security are perceived as important determinants when evaluating whether or not the e-payment method could be used. When choosing between different e-payment methods, perceived ease of use seemed to be more important. Additionally, the decisions are made based on which e-payment method is secure, trustworthy, and easy to use. The presence of those determinants also increases perceived usefulness. When making purchases online domestically it appears that perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness weight heavier. While trust and security are given more importance if the purchase is made from a foreign website.

Organizations invest sizable amounts of financial and human capital toward developing and implementing innovative technology solutions that will help them achieve organizational objectives. Professionals are now able to use online social networking technology to maintain and grow their network of business contacts virtually, resulting in increased efficiency and the ability to foster relationships with colleagues who otherwise would not be accessible. Organizations can use the benefits of online social networking to their strategic advantage if they understand the nature of the technology and how it is used. The Technology Acceptance Model is often used to explain the acceptance of new technology at work, and can predict which workers are likely to adopt a newly-implemented technology as it was intended to be used. It is not clear, however, if the model can predict the acceptance of social networking technology, and it does not account for experience the user might have had with similar systems. Five hundred students completed a questionnaire about their prior usage of online social networking systems as well as an assessment of their perceptions of the technology in terms of ease of use and usefulness, and the social forces influencing usage decisions. Findings suggest the Technology Acceptance Model is a reasonable model of the acceptance of online social networking systems, but the subjective norm component was not predictive of acceptance.

Adverse drug events, resulting in preventable patient harm or death, are of great concern. To keep patients safe, hospitals have implemented barcode medication administration (BCMA) technology for RNs who have accepted this technology with varying levels of satisfaction. When nurses are dissatisfied with a BCMA system, they may find alternative methods to complete their work. Framed by the Technology Acceptance Model (Davis, 1989), this analytic, cross-sectional study aimed to understand the relationship between BCMA satisfaction and workarounds, perceived ease of use (PEOU) and perceived usefulness (PU) of a BCMA system by 80 hospital-based RNs in northeastern US. Data were collected using the Workaround Usage and Satisfaction with Barcoding Instrument for Nurses (WUSBIN), which was adapted from Hurley's (2006) Medication Administration System-Nurses Assessment of Satisfaction Scale (MAS-NAS) Halbesleben and Rathert's (2010) Workaround Assessment. Results suggested that RNs who were more satisfied with the BCMA system were less likely to use workarounds than nurses who were less satisfied (r2(78)= -.681, p &lt; .05). Significant relationships were noted among BCMA Satisfaction and PEOU (r2(78) = -.725, p &lt; .05), Workaround Usage and PEOU (r2(78) =.943, p &lt; .05) and Workaround Usage and PU (r2(78)=.501, p &lt; .05). RNs perceived the BCMA system to be easy to use (PEOU), but not very useful (PU). BCMA Satisfaction was significantly related to the use of six workarounds, while Workaround Usage was significantly related to five. Significant relationships were also noted among both BCMA Satisfaction (r2(78) = -.393, p &lt; .01), and Workaround Usage (r2(78) = .423, p &lt; .01) with the total number of workarounds used. Significant relationships were found among demographic variables, BCMA Satisfaction, and Workaround Usage. Since admitting to the use of workarounds may be a sensitive matter for RNs, measuring BCMA satisfaction may help understand the state of patient safety related to medication administration. Based on high satisfaction scores and low workaround usage, a profile may be developed to identify nurse champions to improve quality of care. Further research is indicated to fully understand these possibilities. / School of Nursing / Nursing / PhD / Dissertation

This study firstly examines the current literature concerning the electronic banking problems during implementation of electronic problems in Pakistan and causes that hinders this process. To investigate in the real-time scenario we have taken the case study of Muslim Commercial Bank Limited in Pakistan in order to understand “why” and “how” the electronic banking could not be implemented successfully. The data was collected via interviews, surveys and bank website. Both qualitative and quantitative research approach has been used to investigate and have proper understanding of current e-banking issues. We have sent questionnaire to bank employees and interviews were conducted by the bank mangers. The response of interviews and surveys shows that there are certain issues that hinder the use of e-banking in Pakistan. In-spite of the fact that internet banking has been started in Pakistan, people are still using the old manual system to do the banking transaction, popularity of cash system, waiting in long queues for hours and lacking of proper computer education and trust etc are the major problems that are hurdles in electronic banking. On the other side there are a lot of reasons that the banks did not concentrate on internet banking and cash flow is still popular in banks and internet banking was used by the banks for the limited services. Last years a lot of changes has been done and a greater understanding have been developed and now banks are offering various online banking services but banks are facing the problem of customer awareness regarding security and privacy of using Internet banking services as still customers are reluctant to use the online banking services so they prefer to come to banks and deposit the money by hand. So we have investigated these hindrance in our research and also we put some light on what are the advantages in using electronic banking and the how the customers are getting benefit by using e-banking in Pakistan. We have developed our own model based upon the prior research. The results were presented in detail based upon the interview and questionnaire and later on we have given recommendations so that e-banking concept can be implemented in Pakistan and suggestions which can be very helpful for the future research

Because of technology and the Internet, books have greatly transformed into e-books. In accord with the trend toward digital content, libraries start to purchase e-books for extending the volumes, and expect to give readers more reading choices. Whether e-books can be accepted or not relies on cognition of the readers. The purpose of this research is to understand the intentions of using e-books among college students. Due to their technological characteristics, this research utilizes the Diffusion of Innovation and Technology Acceptance Model to construct the framework of the research. Based on the related bibliography, this research uses questionnaires to collect data for descriptive statistics, test and verify the research hypotheses, and explain the intentions of using e-books. According to the research results, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use can affect intentions, and between the two independent variables, perceived usefulness has a greater effect. Therefore, libraries can enhance the intentions of using e-books by perceived usefulness. For example, providing the e-books which college students need; on the other hand, teachers can request students for using e-books, and form the habit of using e-books.

In the recent years, the mobile phone from analog era to the 2G era and more to 3G, mobile phones is not only a single kind of communication products, but also it became an integral part in daily life. Advances in hardware and the popularity of telecommunications providers to provide 3G network service, makes smart phones became convenience and functional. It brings consumers a new experience. In June 2007, Apple led the launch of the iPhone. Its intuitive touch interface, multi-application software, and humanness designs, coupled with value-added services to mobile carrier model, and combined Internet community effect, creates a leading mobile company. Consumers still demand for the smart phones, and drive to the multi-function in the compound-oriented. Thus, a powerful portable devices become a must need. However, in varied mobile phone manufacturers, the most representative product is iPhone. In order to understand the niche market, we have to study the customer loyalty. And, we create literature related subject and conceptual framework for the iPhone users. In the study, the main structures are how customer satisfaction, brand identity and customer lock-in affect the customer loyalty. And, we will discover the co-related factors of the main frame. However, the point of view for the iPhone user will be also considered if the customer satisfaction (affection) will influence in customer loyalty. The affection factors will be considered as perceived usefulness, ease of use, compatibility and enjoyment. Last, w will reveal the analysis result and implication management.

Companies providing digital news are today struggling with low purchase intentions among their consumers. Over the years, the Internet has become a vital part of how people consume news, and the growth in online consumption has led to a decline in printed circulation. Newspapers all around the world are earning only the minor share of their total revenue from digital operations. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of perceived ease-of-use, perceived usefulness, trust, reputation, word-of-mouth, and willingness to customize on consumer´s purchase intentions for digital news. This study aims to answer to the following research question:   What kind of effects do perceived ease-of-use, perceived usefulness, trust, reputation, word-of-mouth, and willingness to customize have on consumers purchase intentions for digital news?   In order to answer our research question, we have conducted a quantitative survey that was directed towards the subscribers of Resumé, the leading Scandinavian business magazine in the area of marketing and advertising. Currently, Resumé is struggling with earning money from their digital content and their practical problem provided us with a great opportunity to contribute to the field of research about digital purchase intentions.   Purchase intentions are an indicator of a consumer´s approach towards a purchase and prior studies demonstrates that perceived ease-of-use and perceived usefulness, which constitute the Technology Acceptance Model (Davis, 1989), are cornerstones in order to predict online consumer behavior. In our study, we also consider willingness-to-customize, which has been found to be an important decision-making factor regarding digital purchase intentions. People’s perceptions of the trust and reputation of a company are also proven to be relevant factors when predicting online consumer behavior, which in turn can be influenced by the word-of-mouth from other consumers, friends and family. Based on our literature review, we can conclude that there is a research gap related to the examination of the effects of these specific factors on consumer´s purchase intentions for digital news.   The findings of our regression analyses, based on 234 responses we received through the survey, demonstrate that perceived ease-of-use, perceived usefulness, and word-of-mouth have positive significant effects on consumer´s purchase intentions for digital news. Based on these results, we have developed a revised conceptual model that includes the three factors that were proven to affect digital purchase intentions. Our study makes a theoretical contribution to the research field about digital purchase intentions and online consumer behavior. The study also provides managerial implications concerning how companies can enhance the digital purchase intentions among their consumers. We suggest the practical recommendations directed towards managers in the digital news business in general, and for the managers of Resumé in particularly.