The objective of this study was to determine the factors which can affect the adoption of e-banking in Cameroon. To conduct that research, we tried to understand how demographic characteristics, attitudes and social influences impact on the customer’s decision to adopt e-banking; to investigate barriers and challenges with regard to the adoption of e-banking; to identify the differences in perception regarding e-banking between e-banking users and non-users; and to determine whether or not e-banking offers more opportunities in comparison with the traditional banking system used in Cameroon. Through an in-depth interview and questionnaires filled by bank’s customer, the factors influencing the adoption of e-banking in Cameroon were identified. These were demographic factors such as age, income, educational level and occupation. Psychological factors such as perceptions of relative advantage, compatibility, complexity and perceived cost were also identified. Perceived risk was found to have a negative impact on e-banking adoption. A measure of the relationship between the factors and the adoption of e-banking was determined. Negative perceptions and attitudes influence the decision-making process, resulting in negative consumer behaviour outcomes. Social influences, including the opinions of friends, parents and colleagues, were found to have an influence on e-banking adoption. With regard to the research objectives that identified factors discouraging customers from using e-banking, the lack of trust, lack of information, lack of knowledge and perceived risk by non-users hindered the adoption of e-banking. Challenges and barriers with regard to e-banking adoption were also identified, namely resistance to change by bank employees, lack of knowledge, absence of e-laws and legislation for e-banking, absence of a proper telecommunications infrastructure and shortage of IT training. This research is especially valuable for the Cameroon banking industry, as the findings will provide insights for banks interested in implementing e-banking strategies. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A wet-cooling tower fill performance evaluation model developed by Reuter is derived in Cartesian coordinates for a rectangular cooling tower and compared to cross- and counterflow Merkel, e-NTU and Poppe models. The models are compared by applying them to a range of experimental data measured in the cross- and counterflow wet-cooling tower test facility at Stellenbosch University. The Reuter model is found to effectively give the same results as the Poppe method for cross- and counterflow fill configuration as well as the Merkel and e-NTU method if the assumptions as made by Merkel are implemented. A second order upwind discretization method is applied to the Reuter model for increased accuracy and compared to solution methods generally used to solve cross- and counterflow Merkel and Poppe models. First order methods used to solve the Reuter model and crossflow Merkel and Poppe models are found to need cell sizes four times smaller than the second order method to obtain the same results. The Reuter model is successfully implemented in two- and three-dimensional ANSYS-Fluent® CFD models for under- and supersaturated air. Heat and mass transfer in the fill area is simulated with a user defined function that employs a second order upwind method. The two dimensional ANSYS-Fluent® model is verified by means of a programmed numerical model for crossflow, counterflow and cross-counterflow. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: ‘n Natkoeltoring model vir die evaluering van pakkings werkverrigting, wat deur Reuter ontwikkel is, word in Kartesiese koördinate afgelei vir ‘n reghoekige koeltoring en word vergelyk met kruis- en teenvloei Merkel, e-NTU en Poppe modelle. Die verskillende modelle word vergelyk deur hulle op ‘n reeks eksperimentele data toe te pas wat in die kruis- en teenvloei natkoeltoring toetsfasiliteit by die Universiteit van Stellenbosch gemeet is. Dit is bevind dat die Reuter model effektief dieselfde resultate gee as die Poppe model vir kruis- en teenvloei pakkingskonfigurasies sowel as die Merkel en e-NTU metode, indien dieselfde aannames wat deur Merkel gemaak is geїmplementeer word. ‘n Tweede orde “upwind” metode word op die Reuter model toegepas vir hoër akkuraatheid en word vergelyk met oplossingsmetodes wat gewoonlik gebruik word om kruis- en teenvloei Merkel en Poppe modelle op te los. Eerste orde metodes wat gebruik is om die Reuter model en kruisvloei Merkel en Poppe modelle op te los benodig rooster selle wat vier keer kleiner is as vir tweede orde metodes om dieselfde resultaat te verkry. Die Reuter model is suksesvol in twee- en driedimensionele ANSYS-Fluent® BVD (“CFD”) modelle geїmplementeer vir on- en oorversadigde lug. Warmte- en massaoordrag in die pakkingsgebied word gesimuleer mbv ‘n gebruiker gedefinieerde funksie (“user defined function”) wat van ‘n tweede orde numeriese metode gebruik maak. Die tweedimensionele ANSYS-Fluent® model word m.b.v. ‘n geprogrameerde numeriese model bevestig vir kruis-, teen- en kruis-teenvloei.

Thesis (MComm.)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In recent years the importance and number of users of electronic commerce and its medium, the Internet, have grown substantially. Despite this, the Business-to- Consumer sector has shown slow expansion and limited growth, with the majority of consumers slow to adopt the Internet as a medium for purchase. A probable factor affecting the purchasing behaviour of individuals is the perception of risk of a breach in (credit card) security and/or a violation of privacy. The research discussed here indicates that two closely related constructs, namely perceived privacy risk and perceived security risk exerts an influence on the Internet purchasing behaviour of Internet users, and more importantly, the intention to purchase. In addition, the role of social pressures regarding the provision of personal and credit card information is indicated to be of considerable importance. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die afgelope aantal jare het die belangrikheid en gebruik van eletroniese handel en die Internet aansienlik toegeneem. Ongeag hierdie groei het die sektor gemoeid met die handel tussen besighede en verbruikers egter beperkte groei getoon. 'n Waarskynlike rede vir die tendens in Internet aankoop gedrag is die persepsie dat daar 'n risiko is van misbruik van 'n krediet kaart sowel as misbruik en skending van privaatheid. Die studie wat hier bespreek word toon aan dat twee nou verwante kostrukte, naamlik persepsie van sekuriteits- en persepsie van privaatheidsrisiko 'n rol speel in die bepaling van Internet aankoop gedrag, sowel as die intensie om te koop. Verder is die rol van sosiale druk rakende die verskaffing van persoonlike en krediet kaart inligting uitgelig as 'n faktor van uiterste belang.

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / Perhaps the African equivalent to the industrial revolution is the mobile revolution we’ve witnessed over the past decade. Specifically the innovation and extraordinary growth of mobile money, mobile technology platforms and ongoing service offerings to millions of otherwise mostly precluded people. The potential for these technologies coupled with latent untapped user demand across sub-Saharan Africa to catalyse investment, crowd in competition and financial service providers and as a result push financial inclusion through access and use, is vast. Link these reasons with the ever sought after global demand for ‘increase in shareholder value’ and it can easily be seen why mobile operators are continuously expanding, partnering with banks and predominantly expanding in emerging and frontier markets in sub-Saharan Africa. This research report explores MTN MobileMoney in Uganda as the case in point; possibly one of the most exciting and rapidly growing platforms in Africa. The research reveals that whilst profitable, it is a very competitive business with tight margins. Continuous education is critical if people from all walks of life are truly to benefit and scale is to be reached to make it even more profitable when servicing the ‘unbanked’ and bottom of the pyramid. Uganda and other countries too, should think strategically about introducing national identity documents, or equivalent, to ensure they maximise the potential ease and reach of technology that can have real and relevant development benefits to people – especially the under-served and poor. Not doing so merely serves as disadvantageous. Broader benefits of mobile money and mobile transactions go far beyond purely the individual user, and include the country’s economy as a whole, providing convenience to corporate as well as small businesses and individuals – the anywhere, anytime factors. Benefits accrue to businesses, and to government, in terms of cost efficiencies and paying large numbers of staff, increased safety and security in a less cash dependent economy. There is significant local and international demand for innovation and new product offerings, driving mobile operators globally and in emerging and frontier markets in particular. There are a number of key factors that make mobile money a commercial success; it’s not just about churn reduction. These factors are explained and explored in this research report. Specifically when data was gathered from MobileMoney users there were no immediate or unexpected surprises. However, what was striking and reassuring was the positive attitude and experience of users, as well as what appears to be latent demand for more services and users’ trust in MTN to provide these.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa‟s hydrological and geographical characteristics, coupled with the location of a large part of its mineral endowment, required the development of the complex Vaal River Supply System, including inter-basin water transfer (IBT) projects which have been in operation for over twenty-five years. This research compares the actual water transfers of two such IBTs with their original, appraisal stage, predictions. Transfers are shown to be significantly less and also more variable than predicted. Further research reveals that the state of the receiving system has a large bearing on year-to-year decisions regarding transfers. Past appraisals, following what is called the Incremental Approach, do not adequately consider the likely future inter-basin transfer operating regime. Examination of six case studies, four South African, one Chinese and one Australian, shows that the Incremental Approach is still in general use – despite tools available for an improved approach. A new approach is proposed to upgrade estimations of variable costs associated with water transfers – often substantial life-cycle cost components of IBTs. The generally used unit reference value (URV) measure for appraising and ranking water resource projects in South Africa is also rooted in the economic theory of cost-effectiveness. This shows that the current approach is conceptually flawed; it fails to distinguish between water transfers and effectiveness outputs. The determination of the URV equation is expanded and improved. The upgraded appraisal approach, inclusive of the improved URV methodology, is named the Comprehensive Approach. A step-wise demonstration of the Comprehensive Approach is provided. Uncertainty regarding future water transfers and associated variable costs are provided for by stochastic simulation modelling. Decision analysis theory is applied to obtain the appropriate input value of variable costs. It is shown that the Comprehensive Approach can lead to an outcome significantly different from the Incremental Approach. The research provides new insights, placing water resource planning practitioners in a better position to recommend appropriate IBTs in future. These insights can also be transferred to the design of institutional and financial models related to IBTs, as well as the configuration and operation of supply systems including sea-water desalination projects. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika se hidrologiese en geografiese eienskappe, gekoppel aan die ligging van 'n groot deel van sy minerale bates, het gelei tot die ontwikkeling van die komplekse Vaalrivier Voorsieningstelsel, insluitend tussen-bekken oordragskemas waarvan sommige al vir meer as vyf-en-twintig jaar in werking is. Hierdie navorsing vergelyk die werklike wateroordragte van twee sulke oordragskemas met die oorspronklike vooruitskattings tydens die beplanning-stadium. Daar word getoon dat oordragte noemenswaardig minder en ook meer onreëlmatig was as wat voorspel is. Verdere ondersoek toon dat die stand van die stelsel, aan die ontvangskant, die besluitneming rakende die jaar-tot-jaar oordrag beïnvloed het. Historiese evaluerings het 'n “Inkrementele Benadering” (soos hier genoem) gevolg, wat nie voldoende die toekomstige bedryfsomgewing ten opsigte van tussen-bekken oordragte inagneem nie. Ondersoek van ses gevalstudies, vier Suid-Afrikaans, een Sjinees en een Australies, toon dat die Inkrementele Benadering nog algemeen in gebruik is, ten spyte daarvan dat hulpmiddels vir 'n verbeterde benadering beskikbaar is. 'n Nuwe benadering word voorgestel vir die verbetering van vooruitskattings van veranderlike koste wat met wateroordragte geassosieer word – dikwels 'n aansienlike gedeelte van die lewenssiklus-koste van sodanige skemas. Die Eenheidverwysingswaarde (EVW) maatstaf, wat algemeen in Suid-Afrika gebruik word om waterbronprojekte te beoordeel en in rangorde te plaas, word ook geanker in die ekonomiese teorie van koste-effektiwiteit. Daarmee word getoon dat die huidige gebruik van die EVW konsepsioneel gebrekkig is; dit tref nie 'n onderskeid tussen wateroordragte en effektiwiteitsuitsette nie. Die bepaling van die EVW vergelyking is verbreed en verbeter. Die opgegradeerde benadering, met insluiting van die verbeterde EVW metodiek, word die Omvattende Benadering genoem. 'n Stapsgewyse uiteensetting van die Omvattende Benadering word voorsien. Onsekerhede ten opsigte van wateroordragte en geassosieerde veranderlike koste word deur middel van stogastiese modellering aangespreek. Besluitnemingontledingsteorie word ingespan om die toepaslike insetwaarde van die veranderlike koste te bepaal. Daar word getoon dat die Omvattende Benadering tot 'n resultaat kan lei wat aansienlik verskil van wat met die Inkrementele Benadering verkry word. Die navorsing verskaf nuwe insigte wat die waterbronbeplanner in 'n beter posisie sal plaas om gepaste tussen-bekken oordragskemas voor te stel. Hierdie insigte kan ook oorgedra word na die ontwerp van institusionele en finansiële modelle rakende oordragskemas, asook die uitleg en bedryf van voorsieningstelsels, insluitend seewater-ontsoutingsaanlegte.

The Old Age Pension (OAP) program for elderly South Africans puts a significant cash transfer in the hands of many poor households. This dissertation investigates its impact on labor force participation and consumption of selected household items. In the first half of the dissertation, we take advantage of a policy reform that lowered men's OAP eligibility age from 65 to 60 for men to match that of women for estimation identification. Using the General Household Survey data, we first demonstrate that both men and women respond to the eligibility age by dropping from labor force participation at the eligibility age, as expected. Using a difference-in-difference-in-difference estimator, we estimate that at the median predicted wage, age eligibility reduces men's probability of labor force participation by approximately 6.14 percentage points. Previous studies show that not only is the OAP take-up rate high among the age-eligible, but its value is sufficiently high to generally make it a significant component of total household income for the majority of pensioners and their households. Other studies add that it is a dominant source of income in older households, such that it is often the sole source of income in these households, especially those in rural areas. In the second half of the dissertation, therefore, we examine the impact of age-eligibility status on a number of selected household outcomes, such as food security, sanitation, source of drinking water, and ownership of consumer durable goods. We also examine the extent to which gender influences its impact on household outcomes. We find positive effects on a select number of outcomes; however, we note this is more associated with females' age-eligibility status, but not that of males.

Thèse réalisée en cotutelle avec l'Université Paris-Sorbonne et l'Université de Montréal. Composition du jury : M. Laurent Cugny (Université Paris-Sorbonne) ; M. Michel Duchesneau (Université de Montréal) ; M. Philippe Gumplowicz (Université d'Evry-Val d'Essonne) ; Mme Barbara Kelly (Keele University - Royal Northern College of Music) ; M. François de Médicis (Université de Montréal) ; M. Christopher Moore (Université d'Ottawa) / Cette version de la thèse a été tronquée de certains éléments protégés par le droit d’auteur (exemples musicaux et iconographie). Par conséquent, ces éléments n'apparaissent pas dans le document. / Ce travail envisage les appropriations musicales et discursives du jazz dans le monde musical savant français. Fondé sur la méthode des transferts culturels, il propose une histoire croisée de la musique savante française, de la diffusion des répertoires de jazz en Europe et de leur perception. La réflexion s’appuie sur un corpus systématique des œuvres savantes influencées le jazz et des textes que lui consacrent compositeurs et critiques. La réflexion se fonde sur l’établissement d’un corpus systématique des œuvres savantes influencées le jazz et des textes que lui consacrent compositeurs et critiques. Une analyse informée par des données issues de l’esthétique et de l’histoire culturelle montre que ces œuvres contribuèrent à différentes entreprises de redéfinition d’une identité française de la musique. Les appropriations du jazz remettent également en cause une conception de la musique populaire propre au XIXe siècle. Elles valorisent des sujets auparavant considérés comme triviaux et proposent un son nouveau, tantôt associé au modernisme mécaniste des États-Unis, tantôt à l’énergie débridée attribuée au primitivisme nègre. Enfin, elles participent à la remise au goût du jour d’un classicisme protéiforme. Ces différents aspects font l’objet d’une périodisation et d’une thématisation. Si les premiers cake-walks des années 1900 sont mis au service d’un exotisme « nègre », les emprunts au jazz à la fin des années 1910 relèvent d’un geste avant-gardiste au service d’un projet nationaliste de rétablissement de l’identité française de la musique. À partir du milieu des années 1920, suite aux efforts fructueux de Jean Wiéner pour légitimer le jazz aux yeux du monde musical savant, un discours spécialisé émerge. De nouveaux compositeurs s’y intéressent, dans la perspective d’un classicisme désormais plus cosmopolite. Tout en faisant émerger différents paradigmes de l’appropriation du jazz (cocteauiste, stravinskien, ravélien, entre autres), ce travail vise à jeter un éclairage nouveau sur la production musicale savante dans la France de l’entre-deux-guerres et sur les rencontres entre différentes traditions musicales. / This thesis deals with the musical and discursive appropriations of jazz in the French musical world. Inspired the approach of cultural transfers and crosses the history of French art music in France and the history of its diffusion and perception in Europe. To do so, it draws upon a corpus of art music pieces influenced by jazz and of texts written by composers and critics. This corpus contributes to different redefinitions of an alleged French musical identity. What is more, appropriations of jazz renew a conception of popular music that goes back to the beginning of the 19th century. They also valorize topics previously considered as trivial, and they display a new kind of sound, evoking Anglo-saxon modernism or « negro » primitivism. The different aspects mentionned above are presented in a chronological and thematic fashion. In the 1900s, the first cake-walks contribute to a tradition of « negro » exoticsm. Ten years after, borrowing to jazz has become an avant-gardist gesture, and a response to nationalist motivations. Thanks to Jean Wiéner’s efforts in order to legitimize jazz, a new group of composers and critics take an interest in it. Jazz then becomes a means to assert a more cosmopolitan classicism. This thesis identifies different paradigms of the appropriation of jazz in France. More broadly, it sheds new light on musical creation in the French art music world between 1900-1930, and on musical encounters between different musical traditions.

We investigate the effect of general-purpose transfers on different expenditure categories and tax rates in the municipalities of Saxony (eastern Germany) and North Rhine-Westphalia (western Germany). Findings from the panel data analysis suggest the existence of the “flypaper effect” – municipalities use transfers to increase expenditures but do not reduce taxes. For most expenditure subcategories the estimated coefficients are alike, suggesting similarity of spending priorities in the two federal states despite the differences in the transfer dependency. Targeted support of eastern municipalities could potentially explain few identified differences in the spending behavior.

Oportunidades is a Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) that uses a proxy means-test targeting model to select eligible households for the programme. According to the Income and Expenditure Household Survey of 2008, approximately two in every three eligible rural households participate in Oportunidades, whereas only one in every three eligible urban households receives the Oportunidades cash transfer. This research explores the factors behind this lack of take-up, the costs of participation and the implications of targeting inefficiency on the programme’s impact on income poverty. It argues that a sample selection model is a pertinent tool of analysis as it informs on the distribution of cash transfers conditional on household eligibility. This conditional distribution is also used to understand the costs of participation as a latent variable. Eligible households are less likely to invest in human capital and neither the cash transfer nor the income forgone by children and teenagers are sufficient to overcome these costs of participation. By identifying a method to quantify behavioural change of households, I associate the costs of participation to the difficulties of inducing health-related behavioural change among recipients and eligible non-recipients. At an aggregate state level, targeting inefficiency is not fully explained by only looking at the budget constraints of the programme. In fact, targeting efficiency is positively associated to aggregate behavioural change and negatively associated to aggregate costs for participation at state level. Yet, targeting efficiency does not guarantee impact on income poverty and Oportunidades’ highest impact on income poverty also associated with the inclusion of non-eligible households in the programme. This research reconsiders the importance of the context in which CCTs are implemented and informs on the conflicting aims of CCTs: providing income poverty relief via cash transfers and incentivizing behavioural change by conditioning the cash transfer in health and education investment.

Cette thèse a été effectuée en cotutelle entre l'Université Paris-Ouest-Nanterre-La Défense et l'Université de Montréal. Elle a été réalisée avec le logiciel LateX. / Cette thèse se donne pour ambition d'éclairer un aspect méconnu de l'oeuvre et de la pensée de Sergueï Eisenstein, en se concentrant sur la relation privilégiée qu'il entretient durant toute sa vie avec l'art de Daumier. Tout en traversant l'oeuvre graphique, théâtrale, cinématographique et théorique d'Eisenstein, cette recherche entend également révéler Daumier sous un nouveau jour, en faisant découvrir la réception dont il jouit en Russie et en U.R.S.S. Il s'agira par la même occasion d'exposer et d'interroger le regard stimulant et original qu'Eisenstein porte sur l'art de Daumier. Ce parcours se voudra nécessairement transdisciplinaire. / The aim of this PhD thesis is to cast a new light on Eisenstein's work and thought, by focusing on his privileged relationship with Daumier's art. As we will come across Eisenstein's graphic, theatrical, cinematographical and theoretical work, we will unveil Daumier's still unknown reception in Russia and in U.S.S.R. By the same token, we will expose and discuss Eisenstein's challenging and modern vision of Daumier. The methodology chosen here is necessarily transciplinar.