ABSTRACT Date: 2024 Level: Bachelor Thesis in Business Administration, 15 cr Institution: School of Business, Society and Engineering, Mälardalen University Authors: Tatiana Bernard, Alexia; Parvin, Maryam; Ram, Mahabad Title: Beyond the Click: Unveiling the Influence of AI Personalization on E-commerce Impulse Buys Supervisor: Emre Yildiz Keywords: AI personalized recommendations, impulsive buying behavior, perceived value, perceived scarcity, perceived positive emotions. Research question: How does AI-powered personalized product recommendations influence impulsive buying behavior in e-commerce, potentially mediated by underlying psychological mechanisms? Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the link between AI-powered personalized product recommendations and consumers’ impulsive buying on e-commerce platforms. The research explores how these personalized recommendations might influence customers towards impulsive purchases through perceived value, scarcity, and positive emotions as mediating factors. Method: This study utilized a quantitative research methodology, employing online surveys to collect data from active online shoppers. To ensure a comprehensive sample, both convenience and purposive sampling techniques were implemented, aiming to represent a broad spectrum of online shopping behaviors. Conclusion: This study reveals that AI-powered personalized product recommendations significantly influence impulsive buying behaviors on e-commerce platforms. By examining the mediating effects of perceived value, scarcity, and positive emotions, the research highlights how personalized recommendations can drive impulsive purchases. The findings underscore the importance of sophisticated recommendation systems in enhancing consumer engagement and satisfaction while raising important ethical considerations about consumer manipulation and long-term satisfaction. This study provides valuable insights for businesses looking to balance effective marketing strategies with ethical consumer practices.

Den här studien fokuserar på mediers bilder av alkohol och hur dessa framställs språkligt i svensk morgontv. Specifikt studeras dryckesinslagen i två avsnitt av SVT:s Gomorron Sverige respektive TV4:s Nyhetsmorgon. Studiens syfte är att undersöka hur alkohol som fenomen konstrueras i dessa program och därigenom öka förståelsen för det fenomenet samt bidra till teoretiseringen av mediers bilder av alkohol. För att komma åt dessa konstruktioner används multimodal kritisk diskursanalys (MCDA) både som teori och metod. Studiens teoretiska ramverk utgår även från morgontv-genrens programformat och dess journalistiska approach samt en teori om mediers legitimerande verkan. Studiens tillvägagångssätt grundar sig i analysbegrepp hämtade från MCDA vilka möjliggör en kvalitativ kritisk studie av programmens språkanvändning. Språk inom MCDA innefattar verbalt och skriftligt språk samt visuella tecken. Utifrån de språkliga resurser som framkommer i dekonstruktionen av avsnittens språkanvändning delas studiens material in i fyra diskursiva teman. Temana existerar i en vardaglig och familjär kontext utifrån tv-studiornas utformning och programledarnas journalistiska approach. Det första och mest grundläggande temat är att alkoholhaltiga drycker konstrueras som det normativa. Avsnittens tittare konstrueras som konsumenter, och då främst som alkoholkonsumenter. Vidare konstrueras dryckestipsen i programmen som folkbildning som tittarna måste ta del av. Det avslutande temat tar upp hur alkohol konstrueras som ett exklusivt fenomen. / The focus of this study is media’s images of alcohol and how language is used to portray them in Swedish breakfast television. Items on beverages are studied in two episodes of Gomorron Sverige and two episodes of Nyhetsmorgon. The purpose of the study is to investigate the constructions of alcohol as a phenomenon in these programs as well as to increase the understanding of the phenomenon and accumulate to the theorizing on the media’s images of alcohol. To be able to examine these constructions the study uses multimodal critical discourse analysis (MCDA) as a theory as well as a method. The theoretical framework of the study will also be based on the setting within, and the journalistic approach of, the genre of breakfast television as well as a theory on media as a legitimating actor. The procedure of the study is based on multiple concepts of analysis gathered from MCDA which enable a qualitative critical study of the language used within the programs. MCDA regards language as spoken and written language as well as visual signs. Through the linguistic resources, exposed by the deconstruction of the language used in the programs, it is possible to distinguish four thematic discourses within the material of the study. The thematic discourses exist within a familiar context based on the styling of the studios and the journalistic approach of the hosts. The first and most essential thematic discourse is the fact that alcohol is constructed as a norm. Secondly, the viewers are constructed as consumers of alcohol. Furthermore the beverage recommendations are constructed as mass education, mandatory for the viewers to take part of. The final thematic discourse regards alcohol as an exclusive phenomenon.

本研究欲探討分析師推薦對管理當局所釋出資訊量之關聯性，當分析師越強力推薦公司時，公司的管理當局將願意提供較多的資訊給分析師做為預測的依據，則分析師對公司盈餘的預測也越準確。研究結果發現給予公司較佳推薦的分析師，預測準確性確實比給予公司較差推薦的分析師高。 之後再利用台灣證券暨期貨市場發展基金會設立的資訊揭露評鑑系統，探討資訊較為透明的公司，因為管理當局自願提供較多的資訊，即便分析師強力推薦，可能也無法得到額外的資訊，所以分析師推薦的效果應比資訊揭露較不透明的受評公司差。實證結果發現資訊揭露較透明的受評公司，分析師的推薦效果確實比資訊訊揭露較不透明的受評公司差。 / This thesis examines directly whether that managers provide more (less) information to analysts with more (less) favorable stock recommendations, based on the Barron et al. model (1998). Prior study documents the relative forecast accuracy of analysts before and after a recommendation issuance under the assumption that increases (decreases) in management-provided information will increase (decrease) analysts’ relative forecast accuracy. In contrast, this paper directly measure amount of information based on Barron et al. model (1998), and examine whether amount of information varies between pre- and post- a recommendation. Contrary to our prediction, the results show no significant difference in amount of information after and before recommendation issuance. However, we do find that analysts issuing more favorable recommendations experience a greater increase in their relative forecast accuracy compared with analysts with less favorable recommendations. In addition, we also find that the association is smaller for firms with higher information transparency than those with lower information transparency. The information transparency is measure by whether firms are listed in Taiwan Securities & Futures Information Center’s Information Disclosure and Transparence Ranking System (therefore TSFIC).

L'ensemble de mon travail a été réalisé grâce a l'utilisation de logiciel libre. / La demande d'applications pour les plateformes mobiles a explosé ces dernières années. Chaque compagnie souhaite maintenant offrir pour ces nouveaux appareils les mêmes services que ceux offerts traditionnellement sur internet. Cependant, ces entreprises n'ont bien souvent que peu ou pas de connaissances concernant le développement et le déploiement de tels services. Généralement, la solution choisie consiste à externaliser ce travail en le sous-traitant à une autre compagnie. Dans ce contexte, il est souvent compliqué de s'assurer d'une part que le sous-traitant respecte le cahier des charges et d'autre part que le travail fourni est conforme aux recommandations émises par les fabricants des plateformes mobiles. Afin de pallier au second problème, nous avons créé un système de listes de vérification interactives pour plateformes mobiles. Ce système permet d'évaluer le niveau de conformité des différents composants de l'interface d'une application développée pour une plateforme mobile avec les recommandations du fabricant de cette plateforme. La solution retenue permet de se concentrer sur certains éléments particuliers de l'interface et pallie ainsi aux limites des listes de vérification classiques qui sont souvent trop longues et peu pratiques. La solution retenue offre de plus la possibilité de comparer facilement les caractéristiques des plateformes mobiles entre elles. Pour réaliser ce système, nous avons consulté de nombreux documents portant sur l'univers des plateformes mobiles afin de mieux appréhender leurs spécificités. Suite à l'étude de différentes plateformes, deux d’entre elles, soit iOS et BlackBerry, ont été retenues (il faut noter que la compagnie où s'est effectuée la recherche disposait déjà d'applications pour ces plateformes). Nous avons ensuite analysé plus finement la documentation technique fournie par chacun des fabricants afin d'en extraire les points importants. Afin que les données soient comparables, nous avons créé une nomenclature commune regroupant les composants de l'interface graphique en grandes familles (ex. : barres, saisie d'information, …) en tenant compte également du type d'interaction avec l'appareil (ex. : écran tactile). Nous avons ensuite conçu une solution permettant d'évaluer le niveau de conformité d'une application. L'idée retenue se base sur des listes de vérification permettant de systématiser le processus d'évaluation. Pour pallier aux limites de ces listes, souvent trop longues, nous permettons à l'utilisateur, via un ensemble de filtres, de se concentrer sur un sous-ensemble de composants de l’interface qu'il souhaite évaluer. L'implémentation de cette solution a été réalisée en totalité grâce à des technologies libres et de standard ouvert. De cette façon, nous nous sommes assurés de la portabilité de la solution développée et de l’absence de coûts supplémentaires liés à l'achat de licences. Le système utilise les standards web et repose sur une architecture basée sur le système d'exploitation GNU/Linux, le serveur web Apache, la base de données MySQL et le langage de scripts PHP. Ces logiciels ont déjà fait leurs preuves aussi bien pour les entreprises que pour les particuliers. De plus, la communauté très active qui s'est constituée autour de ces logiciels assure un bon support et une grande stabilité. Après avoir fait le choix de l’environnement de développement, la phase d'implémentation s'est ensuite déroulée en plusieurs étapes. Tout d'abord, l'information a été structurée selon la nomenclature mentionnée plus haut afin de créer le schéma de la base de données. Ensuite, toutes les pages ont été codées avec le langage à balises HTML et les scripts PHP pour le côté serveur et avec JavaScript pour le côté client. Enfin, l'information peut être affichée grâce aux feuilles de style en cascade (CSS), une technologie web permettant de séparer le fond de la forme en matière de mise en page. Nous avons choisi un modèle de développement itératif qui a impliqué les principaux utilisateurs dès les premières étapes de la conception du système. Cette implication s’est poursuivie jusqu’à la fin du projet afin de s'assurer que les fonctionnalités mises en place répondaient aux attentes. L’architecture modulaire qui a été retenue permet également d’adapter facilement le système aux besoins futurs. Afin de mieux comprendre comment on utilise le système, on passe en revue les différentes étapes nécessaires à la réalisation d'une évaluation. Enfin, on a réalisé une étude avec quatre utilisateurs pour évaluer l'utilisabilité du système et recueillir leur niveau de satisfaction. / The need for mobile platforms has increased in the last decade. Companies offering traditional internet services now want to move their applications on these new devices. But, most of the time, these companies do not really have the knowledge to create such applications and often ask a third party company to do the job for them. In this context, it is difficult to evaluate if the solution developed follows the recommendations of the device maker. A system based on interactive check lists has thus been created for this purpose. This system enables the evaluation of the conformity level of an application with the recommendations of the device maker, thanks to numerous filters that let the user focus on specific parts of the graphic interface. The idea behind the project was first to address some problematic issues with classical check lists and to enable the comparison of several mobile platforms with regard to specific interface components. To create this system, a lot of information about mobile platforms has first been collected. After reviewing many mobile platforms, it was decided to focus on iOS and BlackBerry, since the company where the research was performed had already applications running on them. For each platform, the major recommandations to be satisfied were identified. Also, to be sure that the extracted recommendations could be compared, a common nomenclature has been created, where the recommandations are grouped by interface components (ex: bars, data input,…) and by the type of interaction (ex: touch screen). After these preliminary steps, a solution for evaluating the level of compliance was created. We favored a check list approach because it offers a systematic evaluation process. To avoid lists of excessive length, filters were introduced in the system to allow the user to focus on particular aspects of the interface. The implementation was totally realized with open source technologies and open standards. This choice was motivated by the portability of the developed system and by the absence of licence fees. The system relies on web standards and runs on an architecture made of the CNU/Linux operating system, Apache web server, MySQL database and the script language PHP. This software has already proven its reliability for enterprises and for home users. Furthermore, the community evolving around this software offers a good support and ensures a high level of stability. After setting up the development environment, the implementation phase was engaged and took place over a number of phases. The first phase was the creation of the database structure, using the aforementioned nomenclature. The next phase was dedicated to the coding of the different web pages, thanks to the tag language HTML and the PHP scripts on the server side and JavaScript on the client side. Finally, the web page setting was developed using the cascading style sheet (CSS), a web technology that segregates the substance from the style of the web content. We chose an iterative development model where the end users were involved from the early stages of the project. This approach provides a guarantee that the user requirements are fulfilled and that any new developments will be in accordance with the expectations. Furthermore, the system is such that it can be easily modified to tackle future needs. To be able to understand how we use the systeme, we are reviewing the different steps needed to realise an evaluation. Finally, we have made a study with four users to evaluate the usability of the system and to gather their satisfaction level.

Ce mémoire traite des concepts et de l'implantation du Web sémantique et du Web de données au sein d'institutions documentaires. Une analyse et une définition des technologies caractérisant ces concepts sont d'abord présentés dans l'objectif de les clarifier et d'assurer une bonne compréhension des différents enjeux qui en découlent pour les acteurs du domaine. Ensuite, les éléments démontrant la pertinence et les défis pour les professionnels de l'information sont décrits. Puis, l'objectif est d'analyser le processus de mise sur pied d'un projet de Web de données au sein de la Bibliothèque nationale de France pour proposer une transposition possible au contexte de Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, en vue d'une application. La liste des treize étapes pour l'implantation d'un projet de Web de données en bibliothèque ainsi que la proposition de l'application d'une méthodologie de développement de logiciel à ces pratiques sont ensuite présentées. Suite à cette analyse, des recommandations quant aux différentes étapes d'implantation sont proposées. / This dissertation discusses the concepts and implementation of Semantic Web and Linked Data within libraries. Analysis and definition of technologies characterizing these concepts are first presented with the objective to clarify and ensure a good understanding of the various issues arising for actors in the field. Then, the elements demonstrating the relevance and challenges for information professionals are described. The objective is to analyze the implementation process of a Linked Data project with the Bibliothèque nationale de France to propose a possible transposition to the context of Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, for an application within the latter. A list of thirteen steps for the implementation of a library Linked Data project and the proposal for applying a software development process on these practices are presented. Following this analysis, recommendations regarding these various stages of implementation are proposed.

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

This diploma thesis deals with Moravian Duets op. 32 written by Antonín Dvořák. Including comparsion of manuscript and contemporary edition of notation and comprehensive chapter which analyse recordings of this piece. Recordings are from different types of choirs. They are represented by children's choirs, women choirs and by female component of mixed choirs. Next chapters focus on analysis of each duet from perspective of interpretation, draw attention to difficult parts and gives recommendations for the interpretation. The analysis is mainly focused on the difficulty of interpretation in terms of vocal technique. The final chapter describes vocal exercises and recommendations for easier practicing and more convincing interpretation of this piece.

This thesis deals with nutrition and diet, especially at a young age. The aim of this thesis is to investigate and compare the dietary habits of selected pupils from the Czech Republic and Denmark. It is divided into theoretical and practical parts. The theoretical part deals with the basic elements of nutrition, proper eating and water intake, general nutritional recommendations for children and adults, and nutrition of children. In addition the theoretical part of the thesis is focused on a catering in the Czech Republic and Denmark. The practical part contains results of a research concentrated on eating habits of a selected group of school children in the Czech Republic and Denmark. As a method of data collection was chosen the written form of an anonymous questionnaire. As part of the survey were compared to partial aspects of eating. These were mainly the consumption of fruits, vegetables, sweets, soft drinks, dairy products and fast food. The survey shows that a selected group of Danish children in selected aspects eat better. A group of Danish children consume more vegetables and fruits and consume more whole grain dark bread instead of light. In contrast, a group of Czech children consume more sweets and drink more soft drinks. Daily diet Czechs and Danes are very different. The survey...

No presente trabalho serão apresentadas as diretrizes e os testes necessários para a implantação de um programa de controle de qualidade para o Eclipse 7.3.10 da Varian no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP, de acordo com a mais recente publicação da AIEA o TRS 430. Os testes recomendados pelo TRS 430 são basicamente divididos em testes de aceitação, comissionamento (testes dosimétricos e não dosimétricos), e testes rotineiros. O documento da AIEA está sendo implementado para o Eclipse no HC para os feixes de fótons de dois aceleradores lineares da Varian, Clinac 600C e Clinac 2100C. Os testes de aceitação verificaram parâmetros de \"hardware\"; integração do sistema \"network\"; transferência de dados, e \"softwares\". Os resultados obtidos mostraram boa concordância com as especificações do fabricante. Para os testes dosimétricos de comissionamento, foram realizadas medidas de dose absoluta para diversos arranjos experimentais. Esses valores foram comparados com os valores de dose gerados pelo SPTC. A grande maioria dos testes apresentou cerca de 90% a 80% dos pontos comparados, dentro dos níveis de tolerância, ou seja, uma boa concordância entre os valores experimentais e os valores gerados pelo SPTC. Somente arranjos de campos assimétricos apresentaram discordâncias grosseiras, mostrando a necessidade de uma investigação mais apurada para esses casos. Os testes de comissionamento não dosimétricos também apresentaram resultados excelentes, com praticamente todas as ferramentas e desempenho geral do sistema de acordo com as recomendações estipuladas no TRS 430. Foram aplicados também critérios de aceitabilidade para a comparação entre os valores de UMs gerados pelo sistema e os valores de UMs calculados manualmente. Os feixes no Eclipse foram caracterizados com dados transferidos do CadPlan e com dados provenientes do recomissionamento dos aceleradores, assim sendo, para esses testes encontrou- se uma diferença de até 3% para campos conformacionados para os dados de feixe provenientes do recomissionamento dos aceleradores, e de até 4% para os dados de feixe transferidos do CadPlan, sendo que o nível de tolerância estabelecido pelo TRS 430 para o arranjo era de 3%. / This work presents the guidelines and necessary tests tom implement a quality assurance program for Eclipse 7.3.10 from Varian at Hospital das Clinicas, Sao Paulo University School of Medicine - Brazil, in accordance with the new IAEA publication TRS 430. The recommended tests for the TRS 430 air mainly classified into acceptance tests, commissioning (dosimetric and non-dosimetric tests), and routine tests. The IAEA document\'s recommendations are being implemented at the hospital for two Varian linear accelerators - Clinac 600C e Clinac 2100C. The acceptance tests verified \'hardware\', integration of network systems, data transfer and \'software\' parameters. The results obtained are in a good agreement with the manufacturer\'s specifications. Measurements of absolute dose in several set-ups were made for the commissioning dosimetric tests. These data were compared to the absolute doses determined by the TPS. The great majority of the tests showed 90% to 80% of the analyzed data in acceptance levels, with a good agreement between the experimental data and the data determined by the TPS. Only settings with asymmetric fields presented significant discords, showing the need for a more detailed inquiry for these settings. The non-dosimetric commissioning tests have also presented excellent results, with virtually all the system tools and general performance in compliance with TRS 430. The acceptance criteria have been applied for a comparison between the values of MUs generated by TPS and the calculated manually ones. The beams have been characterized for Eclipse with data transferred from CadPlan and with data from recommissioning of accelerators, so for these tests it was found a difference of at least 3% for the conformal field shape for the data originated in the beams of recommissioning and at least 4% for the data proceeded from CadPlan. The tolerance level established by TRS 430 for this setting was 3%.

Submitted by Maicon Juliano Schmidt (maicons) on 2015-04-17T12:18:58Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Maíse Soares Pereira.pdf: 1072154 bytes, checksum: 1d57ed3cafa138c0d99a0265873c519b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-17T12:18:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Maíse Soares Pereira.pdf: 1072154 bytes, checksum: 1d57ed3cafa138c0d99a0265873c519b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-07-16 / Nenhuma / Até algumas décadas visto como fenômeno sociológico, o boca-a-boca tem sido utilizado como tática de marketing para disseminação de informação, persuasão e conquista de novos clientes. De forma crescente, uma das estratégias que as empresas estão descobrindo para melhor aproveitá-lo se traduz na construção de programas de marketing boca-a-boca, que nada mais é do que a gestão de recomendações provocadas pela organização, via incentivo a um grupo de participantes. Essas iniciativas suscitam novas abordagens e questionamentos, considerando possíveis problemas éticos sobre a credibilidade deste tipo de recomendação, bem como trazendo o foco dos estudos sobre boca-a-boca para seu receptor, ao contrário do extenso corpo de pesquisa sobre seus antecedentes. Para tentar preencher estas lacunas de conhecimento do que faz alguém aceitar uma recomendação e qual o impacto dela fazer parte de um programa incentivado de marketing boca-a-boca é que esta tese se apresenta. Objetivando conhecer e mensurar as fontes de influência para a aceitação de uma recomendação boca-a-boca, este estudo, após revisão de pesquisas sobre o tema, propôs um modelo capaz de relacionar e mensurar o impacto de um conjunto de elementos influenciadores para a aceitação de uma recomendação, bem como o efeito específico da participação em programa incentivado de marketing boca-a-boca. Após investigação qualitativa, com 12 entrevistas em profundidade para compreensão e refinamento dos elementos, uma survey foi aplicada a 350 participantes, público em geral. O instrumento de coleta de dados aplicado continha uma abordagem retrospectiva - inquirindo sobre recomendações passadas recebidas - e uma apresentação de cenário hipotético - inquirindo sobre a participação da recomendação em programa incentivado de marketing boca-a-boca. Como resultados do modelo, destaca-se a expertise de quem recomenda, bem como a similaridade que este possui com quem recebe a recomendação, os elementos mais relacionados à mensagem recomendada e sua consequente predisposição a aceitá-la. Ainda, foi possível identificar que o incentivo não anula a predisposição de aceitação da recomendação, no entanto, provoca sua redução, sugerindo cautela em sua utilização. Outros resultados do estudo ainda foram discutidos, bem como suas implicações para a academia e comunidade empresarial. / Considered over the last decades as a sociological phenomenon, word-of-mouth (WOM) has been used as a marketing tool for information diffusion, persuasion and customer winning. One of the growing company strategies due to these activities are the word-of-mouth marketing programs, which offer a group of current customers incentives to talk positively about their products/services to others. Such initiatives raise new approaches and concerns, considering possible ethical dilemmas about WOM credibility and also changing its focus from WOM givers to those who receive it. Hence, this dissertation is presented in order to fulfill the knowledge gaps of what makes someone accept a WOM recommendation and the impact of it coming from a company organized marketing program. Aiming to identify and measure sources of influence for WOM recommendation acceptance, the present study proposes, after literature review, a relational model able to correlate and measure the impact of a group of elements on WOM acceptance willingness as well as the particular effect of it being part of a company designed marketing campaign. So as to identify new and refine theoretical elements, a qualitative inquiry of 12 in-depth interviews was held which results conveyed input to a survey applied to 350 interviewees. Data collection questionnaire presented a retrospective design – inquiring about past received recommendations – and also a hypothetical scenario presentation – implying the recommendation being part of a company designed marketing program. Main model results indicate provider’s expertise as well as its similarity with receiver most related elements to WOM message and its resultant acceptance willingness. Still, findings could show company incentive does not annul recommendation acceptance willingness, however causes its reduction, suggesting caution on its usage. More detailed findings were discussed in the study, as well as its implications to academy and business community.