The essence of online group-buying is to lower the price by gathering orders However, the process is filled with uncertainty and risks, such as the number of joining members, the final price, the quality of products, and even the trustworthiness of the initiators. Generally speaking, consumers tend to reduce risks by searching more information. The more uncertainties there are, the more information seeking should be. Online feedback mechanism is often adopted as a strategy to lower risks and uncertainties. Both e-Bay and Yahoo provide such feedback mechanisms. In addition, the larger the number of accumulated orders is, the higher possibilities to lower the price and risk will be. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to explore how the online feedback mechanism and the number of accumulated orders impact consumers¡¦ perceived risk and trust in the initiator and furthermore, how the perceived risk and trust impact consumers¡¦ behavior in online group buying. The study shows that the content of the online feedback mechanism has significant impact on consumers¡¦ perceived financial risk, performance risk, total risk and the trust in initiator as well. The more negative the content is, the more risks the consumers perceive and the less trust in the initiators the consumers have. Furthermore, different contents will result in different kinds of risks perceived by consumers. With larger number of accumulated orders, consumers have more trust in initiators. Additionally, consumers have higher intentions to join group-buying when they perceive lower risk and more trust in initiators. Therefore, consumers¡¦ intentions to join group-buying have significant impact on their actual behavior.

Online shopping involves more uncertainty and risk than traditional shopping. These phenomena are even obvious in online group-buying. One of the main factors causing the uncertainty and risk is the role of the initiator. Since it is quite often that the initiators themselves are consumers, the initiators are not as huge and professional as the sellers. Clearly the trust in initiator becomes a major concern when joining the online group-buying. Based on the theory of planned behavior, the purpose of this research is to understand how initiator¡¦s reputation, interactions with initiator, consumers¡¦ perceived risk and personal characteristics impact consumers¡¦ trust in the initiators and then how the consumers¡¦ perceived trust in the initiators, subjective norm and familiarity with online group-buying together impact the consumers¡¦ behavior in group-buying. The study result indicates that the perceived initiator¡¦s reputation, interaction with initiator, perceived risks in online group-buying, and subjective norm impact the trust in initiator. Moreover, based on TPB, the trust has significant effects on consumer¡¦s intention to join online group-buying. Subjective norm has impacted the consumer¡¦s intention to join online group-buying not only directly but also through the trust in initiator indirectly. However, the familiarity with online group-buying has no significant effects on consumer¡¦s intention to join online group-buying.

Os investimentos em Tecnologia da Informação (TI) precisam ser estudados com maior cautela. No entanto, a decisão de compra deste tipo de bem passa por uma série de reflexões, algumas destas vão além de uma avaliação puramente racional. As etapas e a relação existente entre os agentes envolvidos em um processo de compra tornam a decisão bastante complexa e baseada fundamentalmente em percepções. Assim, é objetivo desta dissertação identificar atributos que influenciam na decisão de compra corporativa de software. Para tanto, dividiu-se o estudo em duas etapas principais. Em um primeiro momento, foram realizadas entrevistas em profundidade junto a 7 executivos da área comercial de 6 empresas de TI, selecionadas em função da variedade de clientes e das políticas de comercialização. Neste estágio, tratou-se sobre a condução de negociações e sobre a forma como estes executivos identificavam atributos levados em consideração pelos seus prospectos/clientes. Posteriormente, foi realizado um estudo de caso em uma das empresas fornecedoras consideradas na primeira etapa, ocasião na qual foi possível investigar negociações específicas mantidas com 7 clientes. Baseou-se, para tanto, em entrevistas em profundidade, análise dos materiais e documentos trocados e sondagens com vendedores responsáveis. Como resultados, foram elencados atributos relevantes na decisão de compra de software (na visão de clientes e fornecedores), os quais contribuíram, para a definição de um modelo de decisão de compra. Ao final, são feitas algumas considerações sobre a aplicação do modelo, bem como são tecidas algumas considerações sobre a abrangência do estudo e suas limitações. / It is well known that investments in Information Technology (IT) need to be studied carefully. However, the acquisition decision for this kind of product comes through several reflections, some of which go beyond a pure rational evaluation. The steps and relations between the actors involved in an acquisition process make the decision complex and based fundamentally in perceptions. In this context, the goal of this research is to identify aspects that influence the decision of software buying in corporative acquisitions. To achieve this purpose, the study was divided in two main stages. At first, in-depth interviews with 7 executives from the commercial areas of 6 IT companies were carried out. The companies were chosen based on the variety of clients and commercial policies. At this stage, the focus was kept on negotiation process and on the ways that these executives identified aspects considered by their prospects and clients. Later, a case study was developed in one of the IT companies considered in the first stage of this study, occasion in which it was possible to investigate specific negotiations carried out with 7 clients. This part was based on in-depth interviews, material and document analysis and contact with the sales team. As results, relevant aspects of software adoption decision (from seller and buyer’s point of view) were found. These aspects contributed the conception of the decision of adoption model. At the end, some considerations were made about the application of the model and about the study’s field and limitations.

Os investimentos em Tecnologia da Informação (TI) precisam ser estudados com maior cautela. No entanto, a decisão de compra deste tipo de bem passa por uma série de reflexões, algumas destas vão além de uma avaliação puramente racional. As etapas e a relação existente entre os agentes envolvidos em um processo de compra tornam a decisão bastante complexa e baseada fundamentalmente em percepções. Assim, é objetivo desta dissertação identificar atributos que influenciam na decisão de compra corporativa de software. Para tanto, dividiu-se o estudo em duas etapas principais. Em um primeiro momento, foram realizadas entrevistas em profundidade junto a 7 executivos da área comercial de 6 empresas de TI, selecionadas em função da variedade de clientes e das políticas de comercialização. Neste estágio, tratou-se sobre a condução de negociações e sobre a forma como estes executivos identificavam atributos levados em consideração pelos seus prospectos/clientes. Posteriormente, foi realizado um estudo de caso em uma das empresas fornecedoras consideradas na primeira etapa, ocasião na qual foi possível investigar negociações específicas mantidas com 7 clientes. Baseou-se, para tanto, em entrevistas em profundidade, análise dos materiais e documentos trocados e sondagens com vendedores responsáveis. Como resultados, foram elencados atributos relevantes na decisão de compra de software (na visão de clientes e fornecedores), os quais contribuíram, para a definição de um modelo de decisão de compra. Ao final, são feitas algumas considerações sobre a aplicação do modelo, bem como são tecidas algumas considerações sobre a abrangência do estudo e suas limitações. / It is well known that investments in Information Technology (IT) need to be studied carefully. However, the acquisition decision for this kind of product comes through several reflections, some of which go beyond a pure rational evaluation. The steps and relations between the actors involved in an acquisition process make the decision complex and based fundamentally in perceptions. In this context, the goal of this research is to identify aspects that influence the decision of software buying in corporative acquisitions. To achieve this purpose, the study was divided in two main stages. At first, in-depth interviews with 7 executives from the commercial areas of 6 IT companies were carried out. The companies were chosen based on the variety of clients and commercial policies. At this stage, the focus was kept on negotiation process and on the ways that these executives identified aspects considered by their prospects and clients. Later, a case study was developed in one of the IT companies considered in the first stage of this study, occasion in which it was possible to investigate specific negotiations carried out with 7 clients. This part was based on in-depth interviews, material and document analysis and contact with the sales team. As results, relevant aspects of software adoption decision (from seller and buyer’s point of view) were found. These aspects contributed the conception of the decision of adoption model. At the end, some considerations were made about the application of the model and about the study’s field and limitations.

Os investimentos em Tecnologia da Informação (TI) precisam ser estudados com maior cautela. No entanto, a decisão de compra deste tipo de bem passa por uma série de reflexões, algumas destas vão além de uma avaliação puramente racional. As etapas e a relação existente entre os agentes envolvidos em um processo de compra tornam a decisão bastante complexa e baseada fundamentalmente em percepções. Assim, é objetivo desta dissertação identificar atributos que influenciam na decisão de compra corporativa de software. Para tanto, dividiu-se o estudo em duas etapas principais. Em um primeiro momento, foram realizadas entrevistas em profundidade junto a 7 executivos da área comercial de 6 empresas de TI, selecionadas em função da variedade de clientes e das políticas de comercialização. Neste estágio, tratou-se sobre a condução de negociações e sobre a forma como estes executivos identificavam atributos levados em consideração pelos seus prospectos/clientes. Posteriormente, foi realizado um estudo de caso em uma das empresas fornecedoras consideradas na primeira etapa, ocasião na qual foi possível investigar negociações específicas mantidas com 7 clientes. Baseou-se, para tanto, em entrevistas em profundidade, análise dos materiais e documentos trocados e sondagens com vendedores responsáveis. Como resultados, foram elencados atributos relevantes na decisão de compra de software (na visão de clientes e fornecedores), os quais contribuíram, para a definição de um modelo de decisão de compra. Ao final, são feitas algumas considerações sobre a aplicação do modelo, bem como são tecidas algumas considerações sobre a abrangência do estudo e suas limitações. / It is well known that investments in Information Technology (IT) need to be studied carefully. However, the acquisition decision for this kind of product comes through several reflections, some of which go beyond a pure rational evaluation. The steps and relations between the actors involved in an acquisition process make the decision complex and based fundamentally in perceptions. In this context, the goal of this research is to identify aspects that influence the decision of software buying in corporative acquisitions. To achieve this purpose, the study was divided in two main stages. At first, in-depth interviews with 7 executives from the commercial areas of 6 IT companies were carried out. The companies were chosen based on the variety of clients and commercial policies. At this stage, the focus was kept on negotiation process and on the ways that these executives identified aspects considered by their prospects and clients. Later, a case study was developed in one of the IT companies considered in the first stage of this study, occasion in which it was possible to investigate specific negotiations carried out with 7 clients. This part was based on in-depth interviews, material and document analysis and contact with the sales team. As results, relevant aspects of software adoption decision (from seller and buyer’s point of view) were found. These aspects contributed the conception of the decision of adoption model. At the end, some considerations were made about the application of the model and about the study’s field and limitations.

Recently, online group-buying has been a popular business model. It was observed that many characteristics of online group-buying are potential stimuli of impulse buying. Therefore, we target traditional online group-buying and e-coupon group-buying and try to explore the characteristics of online group-buying stimulating impulse buying. Based on the literature review and empirical data collection, we identified five characteristics of online group-buying which may stimulate impulse buying. They are group-buying discount, time pressure, social interaction, perceived shopping convenience and consumption deadline. The data were collected through online questionnaire. The analysis result shows that the five characteristics of online group-buying indeed cause impulse buying. Further, we also explored whether the impulse buying behavior will be moderated in different situations. These moderators include group-buying model (traditional online group-buying vs. e-coupon group-buying), transaction price level, relationship with the group-buying initiator, product type and group-buying experience. The result indicates that the impulse buying behaviors are easier to be stimulated in the following situations: traditional online group-buying, lower transaction price, familiar with the traditional online group-buying initiator, non-food product and more experienced consumers of online group-buying.

The purpose of this study is to determine the manner in which a number of business concerns have dealt with the problem of reciprocity and how they are presently dealing with it.

Group number:         2838 Research Questions:  Does the country of origin influence Thai consumers’ buying decision towards beer purchasing?  What are the consumers’ attitudes and perception towards beer consumption? Purpose: The authors aim to explore the effect of COO towards beer purchasing behavior of Thai consumer. The research study examines the attitudes of Thai consumers in terms of the beer purchasing based on two aspects: foreign and domestic brands. Method: Qualitative approach and quantitative approach was used in order to get the primary data. Questionnaire online were sent out 247 forms to the respondents and get the response 240 forms that could answers the question effectively. Interviews also were conducted with ten beer drinkers. Furthermore, several articles, researches, and literatures were used to strengthen reliability of the paper and improve the validity as well. Conclusion: Based on the study results, country of origin does not affect much in consumers’ buying decision in term of low-involvement products. Also country of origin showed that can influence consumer first purchasing activity. The research also portrayed when consumers have more knowledge or experience other cues such as price and taste have definitely effects in their buying decision more than Country of Origin factors.

Tvångsmässig shopping, compulsive buying, är en störning som innebär att individen har svårigheter att motstå shoppingimpulser. I huvudsak är det kvinnor som uppvisar tvångsmässig shopping och genomsnittsåldern är 30-31 år. Det finns dock forskningsresultat som tyder på att genus- och åldersskillnaderna minskar (Dittmar, 2005). Tvångsmässiga shoppare har också framträdande materialistiska värderingar och/eller svårigheter att reglera känslor visar separata studier. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka relationen mellan tvångsmässig shopping, materialistiska värderingar och emotionsregleringsförmåga i en och samma studie. Tre etablerade mätinstrument användes i studien. Deltagarna, 136 varav 94 kvinnor,var huvudsakligen studenter vid Mälardalens högskola. Resultatet visade dessutom att kvinnor tvångsshoppar mer. Det fanns inget signifikant samband mellan tvångsmässig shopping och ålder. Studien visade att tvångsmässig shopping var signifikant relaterat till både materialistiska värderingar och bristande emotionsregleringsförmåga oberoende av varandra. Framtida forskning bör testa ytterligare hur emotionsreglering och materialistiska värderingar tillsammans eller var för sig producerar tvångsshopping.

Convenience and price are the main considerations of the consumers on internet shopping. "Group buying" is a consumption pattern emerging in recent years; it can be used in many places and has become a mainstream. The consumer now through the ¡§group buying¡¨ to reduce their living expenses. The earlier group buying was focus on the products of foods, and physical goods. But through the development of internet, the new internet group buying has been different. It¡¦s not only focused on the foods and physical goods, but also includes all kind of entertainment (cosmetology, outdoor events¡Ketc.). In this study, we regarded the consumers who were ever participated in the new online group shopping as our main target. Through this research, we can understand the consumer¡¦s lifestyle, personality and involvement of new online group shopping. It also can provide a direction for online shopping industry in the future.