Retail banking service providers are facing challenges such as continuous changes in consumer expectations and escalating global competitiveness. The banking sector is characterised as an extraordinarily competitive and regulated sector. As a result, it is essential that retail banking service providers reassess the level of their service quality and recognise the important factors that influence customer satisfaction, intention and loyalty. As pointed out by the literature, there is a fundamental need for studies on customer intention and behaviour which will show whether customer attitudes provide significant evidence of how customers act and feel. Furthermore, there is a lack of theoretical modelling and empirical studies on the relationships between customer satisfaction, service quality and variables in other areas of service experience, such as price, reputation and complaint intention, in the retail banking context. Thus, the current study adopted the expectation confirmation theory because its aim is to develop a framework that advances the understanding of customer satisfaction, intention and loyalty in the retail banking sector, which can be best achieved by choosing a theory whose main target is to measure customer satisfaction and post-purchase behaviour. The proposed framework enhances our understanding by expanding ECT theory. To clarify, the conceptual framework introduces three constructs, price, reputation and complaint intention, which had not previously been brought together into one framework with the rest of the present study constructs, a practice which is considered to offer a highly valuable contribution. Additionally, the outcomes from this study have many implications for managers and decision-makers in the banking service sector. It is essential for marketing managers in the banking sector to understand the importance of all of the components of service quality as well as price and reputation, in order to understand fully customer satisfaction and intentions. The primary aim of this study is to examine how customer intention and loyalty are affected by service quality dimensions, price and reputation, using the intermediation role of confirmation and customer satisfaction. This study has developed a theoretical framework that integrates a set of essential variables to evaluate the impact of service quality dimensions, price and reputation on customer's intentions and loyalty, using Expectation Confirmation Theory. Consequently, hypotheses are created to examine the association between the framework variables. This study employs a quantitative method alongside a positivist approach to examine the hypothetical associations within the conceptual framework. Of the online surveys distributed to retail banking consumers, 923 were valid. To validate and analyse the data, the research study employs structural equation modelling using AMOS SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). The final results illustrate that tangibles, assurance, responsiveness, empathy and price have a significant impact on confirmation and customer satisfaction. On the other hand, reliability has no significant impact on confirmation and customer satisfaction in the Saudi retail banking sector. In addition, reputation has a significant impact on customer satisfaction. Furthermore, confirmation also has an important influence on customer satisfaction and customer satisfaction has a significant relationship with customer intentions and loyalty. Customer satisfaction also has a significant relationship with customer loyalty. Indeed, the overall results of this study reveal the impact of service quality, price and reputation on customer intention and loyalty through customer satisfaction, along with confirmation of customer expectations. Finally, the outcomes of this study have practical and theoretical implications which advance the knowledge in this area.

I ett samhälle som blir allt mer beroende av Internet har även e-handel fått en mer framträdande roll. Då detta innebär att säljare ersätts av teknologi är det av vikt att företaget anstränger sig för att skapa en tillförlitlig miljö där kunden känner sig trygg. Här påverkar inte bara strukturen och utseendet på e-handeln, utan också företagets val av marknadsföring. Kunden skapar sig en förväntan av företaget och vad det har att erbjuda. Denna förväntan baseras på kundens tidigare erfarenheter och upplevelser, där en förväntan som inte uppnås kan resultera i en negativ upplevelse. I denna studie har expectation-confirmation theory använts som ett ramverk för att undersöka kundens förväntan inför e-handel överlag, men också i synnerhet inför uppdragsgivaren xplore.se:s e-handel. Användarupplevelse har använts för att få en djupare förståelse för kundens känslor och uppfattningar, där även användbarhet undersökts då detta påverkar användarupplevelsen. Fem potentiella framtida kunder inkluderades i intervjuer och användartest i två iterationer, den första baserad på deras erfarenheter och förväntningar inom e-handel överlag där deltagarna fick utforska xplore.se:s nuvarande gränssnitt. De ombads även utföra ett antal uppgifter för att undersöka graden av användbarhet. Resultatet visade ett stort behov av ny design då deltagarna upplevde att e-handeln var oattraktiv med låg tillförlitlighet. Därefter skapades ett designförslag i form av en interaktiv prototyp, vilken användes som underlag för den andra iterationen. I denna iteration ombads deltagarna berätta hur mycket de mindes av det tidigare användartestet. Detta gjordes för att människan inte kan minnas alla detaljer utav en upplevelse, varför det skapade förståelse för vad deltagarna mindes starkast. Sedan ombads deltagarna utforska designförslaget, även här med ett antal uppgifter att utföra för att undersöka användbarheten i det. Deltagarna upplevde att designen var mycket attraktivare med en högre grad av tillförlitlighet. Slutsatsen som kunde dras från resultatet var att design har stor påverkan på både användarupplevelse och kundens vilja att känna tillit. Kunden förväntar sig att e-handel ska vara bekvämt där något som inte stämmer överens med denna förväntan har negativ påverkan på upplevelsen. Här förväntar sig kunden även en design som påminner om andra e-handlar, vilket innebär en högre grad av användbarhet. Webbsidan bör ha en tydlig struktur med visuella blickfång som hjälper kunden få en snabb överblick över nivån av tillförlitlighet. Företaget bör exempelvis överväga att investera i certifieringar såsom trygg e-handel, medan marknadsföringen som används ska vara i enlighet med vad kunden kan förvänta sig. Då kunden till stor del förlitar sig på omdömen från andra kunder rekommenderas även en funktion för recensioner. / In a society growing more dependent of the Internet, e-commerce has also been given a more prominent role. Since this means that sellers are replaced by technology, it is of importance that the company tries to create a reliable environment where the customer can feel safe. Not only the structure and appearance has an influence, but the company’s choice of marketing can have an effect as well. The customer creates expectations based on former experiences of both the company and overall e-commerce, where expectations that cannot be met could result in a negative experience. This study has used expectation-confirmation theory as a framework to examine the customers’ overall expectations in e-commerce, but also for xplore.se:s e-commerce, the constituent for this study. User experience has been used to gain a deeper understanding of the customers’ emotions and perceptions, whereas usability has been examined as it affects the user experience. Five potential future customers were included for interviews and user tests for two iterations, the first based on their general experiences and expectations regarding e-commerce where the participants also explored the current interface of xplore.se. In order to examine the level of usability they were asked to execute a number of tasks. The results showed great need of a new design since the participants found the e-commerce to be unattractive with low reliability. A design proposal in the shape of an interactive prototype was made, which was used as a foundation for the second iteration. In this iteration the participants were asked to share their memories of the former user test. Since humans cannot recall every single detail of an experience this created an understanding for what the participants remembered most. They were then asked to explore the design proposal, also with a number of tasks to execute to examine its usability. Their experience was that this design was more attractive with a higher level of reliability. The conclusion that could be drawn from the result was that design has a big effect on user experience and the customers trust. The customer expects e-commerce to be convenient, where something that does not meet this expectation has a negative impact on the experience. Another expectation is that the design should look like other e-commerces, as the resemblance implies a higher level of usability. The website should have a clear structure with visual elements capturing the customers’ attention, which helps the customer get a quick overview of the level of trustworthiness. For instance, the company should consider investing in certifications for secure e-commerce, whilst the marketing that is being used should be designed according to what the customer can expect. As the customer also largely relies on other customers’ opinions, it is recommended to implement a function for reviews as well.

E-learning is something that has grown very fast for many years as today's technology is constantly evolving and gives us new opportunities. E-learning enables distance education in many ways and does this regardless of time and space. It represents a large part of today's education and therefore quality is important. If distance studies are facilitated properly, it gives students the opportunity to effectively balance their private life together with their studies. Although it simplifies education for many, it comes with its own difficulties and challenges. This can be a big factor as to why distance studies have a higher dropout rate than regular campus studies. In this thesis, the areas course design, interaction and the teacher’s impact are investigated to examine student satisfaction in distance education. In previous findings, these areas were highlighted as crucial factors for student satisfaction. With the expectationconfirmation theory as a base, a qualitative method, consisting of interviews with distance students at Linnaeus University was conducted. The collected data was transcribed and analyzed with the use of themes and codes. The results show that interaction is something that is hard to achieve at a distance. The universities should promote student interaction as it is something the students struggle with, suggestively through "icebreaker" exercises. The interaction between teacher-students is something that was valued high, but depending on how well the course was structured, the teacher-student interaction was not needed as much. Teachers should avoid scattered communication as this turned out to have a negative impact on the student satisfaction. The teacher was shown to be important in different ways, where their pedagogical ability and the ability to handle and share information through digital tools was shown to be very impactful. The course design was found to affect the students' satisfaction the most. Structure and availability of all relevant material and segments of a course proved to be extremely important, this gives the student the opportunity to plan their studies. To improve and naturally include interaction amongst students, discussion proved to be an important segment of a course. / E-lärande har under åren vuxit i ett mycket högt tempo. Dagens teknik utvecklas ständigt och ger oss nya möjligheter att genomföra saker på. E-lärande möjliggör distansutbildning på många sätt, oavsett tid och rum. Det representerar en stor del av dagens forskning inom utbildning och därför har kvalitén blivit viktigare. Om distansstudier genomförs ordentligt ger det studenter möjlighet att effektivt balansera deras privat liv tillsammans med studier. Även om det förenklar utbildning för många så kommer det med sina egna svårigheter och utmaningar. Detta kan vara en faktor till varför fler distansstudenter väljer att hoppa av sina studier jämfört med de som studerar på campus. I den här studien granskas områdena kursdesign, interaktion och lärarens påverkan för att undersöka studenters nöjdhet vid distansstudier. I tidigare forskning framhölls dessa områden som avgörande för studenternas nöjdhet. Med expectation-confirmation teorin som bas genomfördes en kvalitativ metod, bestående av intervjuer med distansstudenter vid Linnéuniversitetet. Den insamlade informationen transkriberades och analyserades med hjälp av teman och koder. Resultaten visar att interaktion är något som är svårt att uppnå vid distansstudier. Universiteten bör främja interaktion eftersom det är något som studenterna kämpar med, suggestivt genom övningar som “bryter isen”. Interaktionen mellan lärare och studenter är något som värderades högt. Beroende på hur väl en kurs är strukturerad så är behovet av interaktion mellan studenter och lärare inte lika högt. Lärare bör undvika spridd kommunikation eftersom det visade sig ha en negativ inverkan på studenternas tillfredsställelse. Läraren visade sig vara viktig på olika sätt, där deras pedagogiska förmåga och förmågan att hantera och dela information genom digitala verktyg visade sig vara högt värderade. Det visade sig att kursdesignen påverkade studenternas tillfredsställelse mest. Struktur och tillgänglighet av allt relevant material visade sig vara oerhört viktigt, vilket ger studenten möjlighet att planera sina studier. För att förbättra och naturligt inkludera interaktion mellan studenter visade sig diskussion vara ett viktigt segment av en kurs.

Social network site (SNS) has been very popular with global Internet users since 2008, the amount of social network users grew very much. Based on some reasons, users enjoyed using social network site. However, whether the current users or new users will continue to use social network site or not is an issue today. To assure social network site¡¦s company could develop and run well in the future, we must realize the factors that can increase and retain the user to use. This study based on expectation confirmation theory (ECT) and through literature review to explore the factors that can influence the user¡¦s satisfaction. Successfully, we integrated perceived utilitarian benefit and perceived hedonic benefit into original ECT model. In this study, an empirical survey methodology with eight hypotheses was applied to verify this model. Covariance-based structural equation model (SEM) was used to analyze data and evaluate the model. The results pointed out that past ECT model with only one aspect can be extended from utilitarian and hedonic dimensions. It indicated that confirmation of utilitarian benefit, perceived utilitarian and hedonic benefits have significant influence on user¡¦s satisfaction. Lastly, user¡¦s satisfaction will positively influence the continuance intention. In sum, this study integrated utilitarian and hedonic dimensions into original ECT model, and proposed a more comprehensive framework to explain the continuance usage of social network site. This study also provided a reference model for future continuance intention research and some suggestions for social network site practitioners.

Since the advent of the Internet, online shopping has grown substantially across the globe. Understanding how to increase customers¡¦ loyalty through lifting up the level of satisfaction has been emphasized by both researchers and practitioners. Through integrating expectation-confirmation theory and IS success, this study attempts to examine how consumers¡¦ expectation, perception and confirmation and satisfaction on information quality, system quality, and service quality affects their continuance intention toward online shopping. Different from prior research focusing on overall satisfaction and continuance intention, this study proposed an extended model to examine consumers¡¦ satisfaction and continuance intention. The model and relationship were tested and validated by using data collected from 368 full- and part-time students in four universities in Taiwan. The results showed that confirmation and satisfaction are strongly affected by perceived quality but not expectation. However, the impact of satisfaction on continuance intention is not as strong as expected. The implication for research and practice are also discussed.

The graphical modelling of processes is of growing popularity and high relevance to organisations that seek to document, analyse and improve their business operations. This research investigates the phenomenon of continued user acceptance of the grammars that are used to build process models. It develops and tests a theory that can be used to explain and predict why users would opt to continue working with certain grammars in their process modelling efforts. This study builds on established theories, including the Technology Acceptance Model, Expectation-Confirmation Theory, Task-Technology Fit Theory and Representation Theory. These theories suggest that end users typically strive for tools that are useful and easy to use, which confirm their expectations through firsthand utility, and which match task requirements and individual abilities. Representation theory suggests that modelling grammars should be complete and clear in their capabilities to represent real-world domains. The research model has been designed by combining conceptual studies of acceptance and continuance theories with a representational analysis of the BPMN grammar, which is a recently ratified industry standard for process modelling and thereby of high practical relevance to process modelling practice. It further incorporates findings from nineteen semi-structured interviews with process modellers in Australia. The research model has been tested and validated by means of a web-based survey with 590 process modellers world-wide. This thesis contributes to the body of knowledge in a number of ways: First, it presents an empirically validated model of the factors determining a user's intention to continue using a process modelling grammar. Second, it measures the impact that grammar characteristics as well as user and task characteristics have on user evaluations of a process modelling grammar. Third, it presents empirical evidence on the consequences that perceived representational deficiencies entail on user perceptions of a process modelling grammar.

Amongst production industries, the fashion industry is one of those with the most negative impact on the environment. Globalization has driven consumption of contemporary fashion products, such as clothes, to the highest quantities ever recorded in history. Where, to globally maintain a lifestyle based on the Swedish population alone, at least four earths would have been needed. Post-purchase behaviour is an influencer on future consumer decision-making and therefore a potential driver of collaborative consumption, yet little research has focused on this field in the second-hand clothing setting. The purpose of this study is therefore to examine the post-purchase behaviour of the Swedish second-hand clothing consumer. The research extends expectation confirmation theory into the new scope of double hybrid business models, where consumers make second-hand clothing purchases within a mesh of both online and offline services, from a mixture of C2C and B2C transactions. The study utilizes a qualitative method, and the result is collected from eight in-depth one-on-one interviews with Swedish consumers. The findings show that expectations, when purchasing second-hand clothes, may differ between online and offline platforms. Subsequently the concepts of post-purchase behaviour are also experienced differently depending on the purchase having been made in a physical store or from an online seller. Practical implications are connected to the risk minimizing strategies that consumers adopt when trying to avoid disappointing and regretful purchases. The study provides new information about the differences in expectations and post-purchase behaviour between online and in store purchases of second-hand clothing and examines the Swedish consumer from a collaborative fashion consumption perspective.

There is currently a digital revolution in the real estate industry. Property technology, or PropTech is seeing new startups emerge in a rapid rate. The management of real estate assets is an area that PropTech is currently digitalizing, and part of it is facilitating tenant communication and property maintenance. This includes the digitalization of the existing process of issue reporting for tenants and the subsequent delegation of property caretakers to issues. A part of successfully digitalizing the issue reporting process is decreasing the amount of phone calls and email to the service reception, and instead diverting traffic to the web-based issue reporting service. A startup providing such services has identified that a considerable amount of communication to the service reception is concerning ongoing issue reports. This was recognized even with issues that were reported digitally, tenants make follow- up correspondence about an issue they have reported. An exploratory research study was therefore conducted to discover why and when tenants inquire about an ongoing issue, and to determine in what ways a confirmation process of a web- based issue reporting service can be developed, such that it appeases tenants’ concerns about their ongoing issue report. The results of the study show that tenants make a follow-up inquiry about their issues when the following factors are not met: expectation, transparency in communication, and assurance. These same factors should be considered in designing a confirmation process. A web-based issue reporting service should have a confirmation process that meets the tenant’s expectations on how their issues should be addressed, allow property managers to be transparent to their tenants in order to frame said expectations, and provide adequate assurance to the tenants that their issue report has been received by a service representative. / Det finns för närvarande en digital revolution inom fastighetsbranschen. Fastighetsteknologi, eller PropTech ser nya startups växa i snabb takt. Förvaltningen av fastighetstillgångar är ett område som PropTech för närvarande digitaliserar, och en del av det underlättar hyresgästkommunikation och fastighetsunderhåll. Detta inkluderar digitaliseringen av den befintliga processen för rapportering av problem för hyresgäster och den efterföljande delegeringen av arbetsorder till fastighetsskötare. En del av att framgångsrikt digitalisera felanmälningsprocessen är att minska antalet telefonsamtal och e-post till servicemottagningen, och istället att omdirigera trafik till den webbaserade felanmälningstjänst. En startup som tillhandahåller sådana tjänster har identifierat att en betydande mängd kommunikation till servicemottagningen gäller pågående rapporter. Detta erkändes även med felanmälan som rapporterades digitalt, hyresgästerna följer upp korrespondens om ett problem de har rapporterat. En undersökande forskningsstudie genomfördes därför för att upptäcka varför och när hyresgäster frågar om en pågående fråga, och för att avgöra på vilket sätt en bekräftelseprocess för en webbaserad problemrapporteringstjänst kan utvecklas, så att den lugnar hyresgästens oro över deras pågående utgivningsrapport. Resultaten av studien visar att hyresgäster gör en uppföljningsfråga om sina felanmälan när följande faktorer inte är uppfyllda: förväntningar, öppenhet i kommunikation och försäkran. Samma faktorer bör beaktas vid utformningen av en bekräftelseprocess. En webbaserad problemrapporteringstjänst bör ha en bekräftelseprocess som uppfyller hyresgästens förväntningar på hur deras frågor ska hanteras, tillåta fastighetsförvaltare att vara transparenta för sina hyresgäster för att inrama förväntningarna och försäkra hyresgästerna att deras fråga rapporten har tagits emot av en servicerepresentant.

Rapid diffusion and use of smartphones in Africa are challenging, given the state of its infrastructural facilities. The problem addressed was a lack of information on the adoption behavior and the sociodevelopmental effect of smartphone acceptance among rural and urban users in Nigeria. The purpose of this study was to examine the adoption behavior and the sociodevelopmental effect of smartphone acceptance among rural and urban residents. Research questions examined the relationship of performance expectancy, social influence, price value, and habit on adopters' intentions to use smartphones, continued use of smartphones, and the sociodevelopmental effect on smartphone users lives and standard of living. The theoretical foundation of the study was based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology, and expectation confirmation theory. A nonexperimental cross-sectional survey design was used to collect and analyze data obtained from the target population of approximately 14 million with a sample size of 385 based on 95% confidence level. Survey data were collected using a research instrument developed by Bhattacherjee, Venkatesh, and others and analyzed via multivariate regression. Findings indicated that the positive effect of performance expectancy on intent to use smartphones was stronger among urban than among rural dwellers. No other location-moderated relationships were found. There was a strong positive correlation (β = .761, p < .001) between intent to use smartphones and continued use of smartphones. The findings of this study may promote social change by providing valuable data to service providers and regulators for realignment of investment strategies and the reevaluation of national policies on communication technology development.

There was a lack of knowledge about the user’s acceptance of smart devices as ubiquitous learning (u-learning) tools at higher education institutions in Sweden. As the mobile technology grows, the demand for mobile devices, particularly smart devices increases as well. With the increase in the usage of smart devices, the higher education institutions provide mobile learning platforms to attract more customers in the competitive industry of education. Thus, understanding the key factors from the perspectives of end-users is important for the institutions to survive in the competitive market. This study explores and explains Behavioral and Continuance intentions of students regarding the acceptance and usage of smart devices (Smartphones and Personal Digital Assistants or PDA) as u-learning tools. Key factors related to the users’ intentions to accept and continue using smart devices as u-learning tools were identified and hypothesized in the Swedish context. Ten hypotheses were suggested based on TAM, UTAUT, and ECT. To achieve the aim and objective of this study, a quantitative approach was chosen, and a survey strategy based on purposive and convenience sampling techniques were used. A web-based questionnaire on five-points Likert Scale was designed to collect the required data. 115 (96 valid) students answered the questionnaire. The collected data were used to conduct statistical operations in SPSS. Five hypotheses were supported, and the other five were not. The findings suggest that Performance Expectancy, Perceived Mobility value, Confirmation, and Satisfaction positively influence both Behavioral and Continuance Intentions of students to accept and continue using smart devices as u-learning tools. According to the findings, Confirmation and Satisfaction from ECT can be included as separate constructs in UTAUT and UTAUT2. Higher education institutions planning to have (and those that already have) learning platforms, compatible with smart devices, can benefit from the findings. Higher education institutions can also design their u-learning platforms according to the Performance Expectancy, Perceived Mobility value, Confirmation, and Satisfaction of the students. / Master program in Strategic-IT Management