The research sought to investigate the Critical Excellence Factors (CEFs) that drive Excellence in banking industry. Moreover, it examines whether customers perceive the service of an excellent bank differently from a less-excellent bank. Three hypotheses were formed then tested through case study and survey strategy (triangulation), within the Saudi banking industry context. The study combines the EFQM excellence model as an internal assessment tool (case studies), with the SERVQUAL gap model for external assessment (questionnaires). Analysing and contrasting the two sets of results allowed the study to achieve its main objective. Based on the empirical work, the study identifies several CEFs that must be carefully considered when driving excellence in banking. These factors were proposed in a generic integrated model for driving Excellence in Banking.

People play a major role in the marketing of services, due to the fact services are intangible, and customers look for ways to determine the quality of services. Since services differ from physical goods, service providers need to understand how they affect their organizations. Furthermore, the criterion for satisfaction is different and the customer participates in the process, hence the interest to study this more thoroughly.

Online banking systems have become more common and widely used in daily life, bringing huge changes in modern banking transaction activities and giving us a greater opportunity to access the banking system anytime and anywhere. At the same time, however, one of the key challenges that still remain is to fully resolve the security concerns associated with the online banking system. Many clients feel that online banking is not secure enough, and to increase its security levels, many banks simply add more identity-checking steps or put on more security measures to some extent to give users the impression of a secure online banking system. However, this is easier to be said than done, because we believe that more identity-checking steps could compromise the usability of the online banking system, which is an inevitable feature in design of usable and useful online banking systems. Banks can simply enhance their security level with more sophisticated technologies, but this does not seem to guarantee the online banking system is in line with its key usability concern. Therefore, the research question raised in this thesis is to establish the relationships between usability, security and trustworthiness in the online banking system. To demonstrate these relationships, three experiments were carried out using the simulation of an online banking logon procedure to provide a similar online banking experience. Post questionnaires were used to measure the three concepts, i.e. usability, security and trustworthiness. The resulting analyses revealed that simply adding more identity-checking steps in the online banking system did not improve the customers? perceived security and trustworthiness, nor the biometric security technique (i.e., fingerprints) did enhance the subjective ratings on the perceived security and trustworthiness. This showed that the systems designer needs to be aware that the customer?s perception of the online banking system is not the same as that conceived from a technical standpoint.

The research sought to investigate the Critical Excellence Factors (CEFs) that drive Excellence in banking industry. Moreover, it examines whether customers perceive the service of an excellent bank differently from a less-excellent bank. Three hypotheses were formed then tested through case study and survey strategy (triangulation), within the Saudi banking industry context. The study combines the EFQM excellence model as an internal assessment tool (case studies), with the SERVQUAL gap model for external assessment (questionnaires). Analysing and contrasting the two sets of results allowed the study to achieve its main objective. Based on the empirical work, the study identifies several CEFs that must be carefully considered when driving excellence in banking. These factors were proposed in a generic integrated model for driving Excellence in Banking.

The aim of this thesis is to explore consumer perceptions regarding the emerging trend among traditional clothing stores in Gothenburg, Sweden, where a section of their retail space is dedicated to reselling pre-loved clothing. Additionally, it seeks to investigate the factors influencing consumers' preference for these sections over conventional thrift stores. Employing a qualitative approach, the study conducts 10 shop-along sessions comprising semi-structured interviews and unstructured observations in four traditional clothing stores, each featuring an integrated pre-loved section. The theoretical framework encompasses consumer value theory, supplemented by the Means-End Chain Theory, which is utilized to analyze the findings. Results reveal a positive response from participants toward pre-loved initiatives, indicating an overall favorable perception. Findings show that consumers perceive pre-loved initiatives as multiple valuable, including economic savings, functional quality, social value, and an enjoyable, empowering, and satisfying experience. Furthermore, various factors such as curated pieces, well-organized sections, unique garments, and diverse assortments influence consumers, leading to different consequences and values such as feeling efficient, self-fulfillment/self-expression, and enjoyment, thus favoring pre-loved initiatives over conventional thrift stores. In conclusion, the study sheds light on the growing preference for pre-loved initiatives among consumers in traditional clothing stores.

Syftet med denna kandidatuppsats i informatik är att undersöka vad som påverkar kundernas uppfattning av servicekvalitet vid införandet av ett affärssystem hos fallföretaget Askk AB. Genom intervjuer med fallföretagets kunder har studien identifierat flera faktorer som bidrar till kundernas upplevelse av servicekvaliteten. Kunderna uppskattade konsulternas proaktiva och engagerade tillvägagångssätt, snabba och effektiva kommunikation, samt deras lösningsorienterade inställning och tillgänglighet. Dessa faktorer bidrog till att skapa en positiv upplevelse av servicekvaliteten, tillsammans med systemets tillförlitlighet och användarvänlighet.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the Degree of Master of Technology: Marketing, Durban University of Technology, 2012. / The aim of this study is to investigate service quality at retail banks, such as Standard Bank, ABSA Bank, First National Bank and Nedbank in Durban. The four objectives of this study are set as: Firstly, to identify the level of satisfaction with customer service received from different retail banks in Durban; Secondly, to identify customers’ expectations in terms of quality services provided by retail banks; Thirdly, to ascertain the perceptions of customers towards the service provided by retail banks in Durban; Fourthly, to measure the gaps between customer expectations and perceptions of service quality, using a modified version of the SERVQUAL model. The instrument used to assess the retail bank customer’s expectation and expectations of service quality, was the SERVQUAL questionnaire, measuring expectations and perceptions according to five quality dimensions. A total of 448 students were surveyed. Quota sampling was used in this study, in order to improve representativeness. Using quota sampling involves selecting the characteristics that are required in the sample and then sampling until enough representatives of each category are achieved. Although this is a form of non-probability sampling, a quota sample can provide a good approximation to a probability sample. It means that distributing questionnaires to a certain group would be stopped after the prescribed quota is reached. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. Conclusions and recommendations were thereafter drawn from the literature and the findings of the study. The study shows that retail bank customer expectations of service quality exceeded their perceptions in the five service quality dimensions used in the SERVQUAL questionnaire. This study is also important because it will assist bank managers to convert negative perceptions to positive impressions. Consequently, customers will benefit from the improved, outstanding customer service.

[pt] O correto posicionamento de produtos e serviços no mercado competitivo é fator fundamental para que as escolhas estratégicas sejam feitas a fim de proporcionar à empresa uma vantagem competitiva. A qualidade da decisão está intrinsecamente ligada à qualidade das informações que a suportam. Modelos de marketing melhoram a qualidade dessas e proporcionam rapidez na tomada de decisões. O ponto central desta pesquisa foi compreender como os indivíduos visualizam produtos e serviços e em vista disso encontrar um procedimento capaz de representar a imagem que os consumidores formam, de modo que se pudesse desenvolver um modelo que auxiliasse os gestores na tomada de decisões. Para atingir os objetivos traçados, foram pesquisados que tipos de modelos seriam capazes de representar estas percepções. Estes são chamados de mapas de percepção. Entre as diferentes metodologias encontradas, optou-se por escolher a análise de fatores como técnica para geração desses mapas. Utilizando os cursos de mestrado em administração da cidade do Rio de Janeiro como objeto de pesquisa e como amostra os candidatos a esses cursos, foi possível avaliar o modelo proposto chegando-se à conclusão de que ele é capaz de atingir os objetivos traçados. Apesar do modelo, após a redução de fatores, ter explicado apenas 58,7% de variância, os resultados obtidos foram relevantes a ponto de fornecer informações importantes para compreensão deste tipo de serviço. Além do mais, se mostrou adequado, podendo ser utilizado como uma ferramenta robusta para auxiliar os gestores no processo decisório em outros tipos de bens e serviços. / [en] The correct positioning of products and services in the competitive market is crucial to the firm to define its strategic choices in order to provide a competitive advantage. The quality of the decision is linked to the quality of the information that supports it. Marketing models improve this quality and speed up the decision process. The main stream of this research was to comprehend how consumers visualize products and services and finding a procedure able to represent this image in a model capable to assist the decision maker. To accomplish the proposed objectives, many models that represent consumer perceptions were studied. They are called perception maps. Among the different methodologies, factor analysis was chose to generate them. Using Rio de Janeiros MBAs courses as object of study and a sample of candidates to these schools, the model was evaluated and the conclusion was that it was good to accomplish the goals set previously. Despite the model, after the factor reduction, have explained only 58,7% of the variance, the results were relevant to provide significant information to understand how the segment studied saw these courses. Besides that, the methodology seemed to be a powerful tool to be applied in other services and products in order to support managers in their decision process, diminishing the environment uncertain.

Background - For the retail industry, the increasing adoption of e-commerce solutions have brought opportunities, but also challenges. As physical stores have to varied extent lost their importance, they can no longer solely compete on price or quality but can instead benefit from adopting an experiential marketing strategy. Experiential marketing acknowledges the consumer as rational and emotional, and focuses on how to engage the customer through value adding experiences. Swedish retailers face these challenges right now as an increasing share of all Swedish retail sales are made online. The body cosmetics industry makes up the second largest segment of Swedish e-commerce sales, but also holds some of the most prominent brands in offering store experiences, making it a competitive and interesting industry to explore from an experiential marketing perspective. Purpose - The purpose of this thesis is to explore how experiential marketing strategies impact customers’ perception of value within the body cosmetics retail industry in Sweden. The research fills a gap since no previous qualitative study has been made connecting experiential marketing with customer perception of value within this industry. Method - An exploratory study with and inductive research approach has been conducted to answer the research question. A multi-method qualitative research design, where the methodological triangulation builds on company and customer interviews, as well as observations to explore the topic and fill the research gap. The findings were analysed with an thematic analysis, in which the authors identified four themes. Findings and Conclusion - The findings result in four themes essential when using experiential marketing strategies to impact the customer’s perception of value; staff interaction, value co-creation, a unified strategy and a higher purpose. It is concluded that experiential marketing is a way in which companies positively can impact customer perception of value.

Los cambios tecnológicos se han dado a pasos agigantados en los últimos 20 años impactando a las personas en la vida cotidiana, principalmente en la forma de interrelacionarnos con los otros y en adquirir productos y servicios. La banca no es ajena a estos cambios, a lo largo de la historia, la forma tradicional de banca como se le conocía ha ido mutando y pasando por procesos tecnológicos ante un crecimiento inminente de la competencia en mercados globalizados con la finalidad de acercarse más al cliente y brindarle herramientas prácticas y rápidas ante cualquier situación relacionada al servicio. Hoy en día, los bancos buscan retener al cliente la mayor cantidad de tiempo a través de la satisfacción del mismo. Un cliente satisfecho es leal, adquiere los productos financieros y es mensajero de la marca. Uno de los principales puntos de contacto que tiene la banca con sus clientes es la banca móvil, sistema que permite realizar diversas operaciones relacionadas a servicios financieros desde un teléfono móvil. Para cumplir las expectativas los bancos trabajan en la e-satisfacción (satisfacción electrónica) de la banca móvil y se trata de estudiar la variable y su relación o no con los factores de uso propios de la misma. Según evidencias por parte de diversos autores, los principales factores de uso relacionados son: utilidad percibida, facilidad de uso percibida, la compatibilidad con el estilo de vida y la innovación personal hacia las tecnologías ayudando a determinar el marco de trabajo de la presente investigación. / Technological changes have taken huge steps in the last 20 years, impacting people’s lives, mainly in the way that we relate with others and acquire products and services. This also applies to the banking industry; historically, the traditional way of banking as we knew it has been mutating and going through technological changes in light of the imminent growth of the competition in globalized markets with the purpose of getting closer to the customer and provide him of practical and fast tools in front of any situation related to the service. Nowadays, most of the time, banks seek to retain customers as long as they can through customer satisfaction. A satisfied customer is loyal, it acquires financial services and is a brand messenger. One of the main contact points that the bank industry has with their customers is the mobile banking, which is a system that lets the customer do several operations related to financial services from a mobile device. To meet the expectations of the customers, banks work on their e-satisfaction of their mobile banking and the idea is to study this variable and its relation, or if it does not have a relation, with the usage factors of the mobile banking. According to evidence given by several authors, the main related usage factors are: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, compatibility with lifestyle and personal innovation of technology, helping to determine the framework of this investigation. / Trabajo de investigación