Alter ego, state of the art on user profiling: an overview of the most relevant organisational and behavioural aspects regarding User Profiling.

This report gives an overview of the most relevant organisational and\ud behavioural aspects regarding user profiling. It discusses not only the\ud most important aims of user profiling from both an organisation’s as\ud well as a user’s perspective, it will also discuss organisational motives\ud and barriers for user profiling and the most important conditions for\ud the success of user profiling. Finally recommendations are made and\ud suggestions for further research are given

Research in multi-cultural relationship building

This study aims to explore the ‘missing gap' between the values of an Accounting firm and the preference shown by Maaori on how they would like to be approached when wanting to build a trusted relationship within a business sense. This study makes use of qualitative approaches in which data is collected primarily through interviews and analysed to produce results and recommendations. The study found that Maaori would like to be approached in a way that makes sense to them and also identifies with their cultural proceedings. It also provides insight into how important trust is when establishing a relationship with Maaori. The study recommends that further studies conducted should interview a wider variety of focus groups to add different elements to this research and that FIRM A's small business department's offerings do not align with what Maaori want so need to be rethought to adapt to Maaor expectations

Expanding the education role to narrow the audit expectation gap: exploring the expectation gap’s existence among accounting students

Society perceives and expects more from auditor’s than what auditors can actually achieve. Society has been found to misperceive the role of an auditor, in particular, in regards to fraud, internal controls and going concern issues. Society’s differing perceptions and expectations of the auditing profession is known as the audit expectation gap. This study aims to explore the audit expectation gap’s existence among Wintec accounting students and the effect that education has on the audit expectation gap. This research intends to answer two research questions. First, does an audit expectation gap exist among Wintec accounting students? Second, what is the effect of education on the audit expectation gap? To answer these research questions, 20 Wintec accounting students have been interviewed. Ten students who have received an audit education, and ten students who have not received audit education. Qualitative data was collected from these interviews and analysed using a mixed methods approach. This study found that an audit education exists among Wintec accounting students. This study also found that education reduced the audit expectation gap, in particular, the deficient performance gap and the communication gap. However, while education did reduce the audit expectations gap, it was not eliminated. This study recommends that Wintec provides a more basic auditing education during introductory accounting papers, educating students on the role of an auditor. This study also recommends that education focuses on the practical use of an audit report, to increase student’s understandings of the information in the audit report, and how this information is communicated. Thus, the researcher believes that these recommendations will help to further reduce the audit expectation

Analysis and optimization of distribution logistics for Just Water Company

This report details the various factors that affect the operational efficiency of distribution logistics. The research aimed at studying the existing components involved in the distribution logistics of Just Water. Distribution logistics begins at the end of the production line where the finished product is emerged until it reaches the customers. The literature review explains the key components of distribution logistics in an organisation. This research analyses the existing components of the distribution logistics of Just Water and discusses possible improvements that can be adapted to increase the overall efficiency of the distribution logistics operation. The background of the research is that Just Water faces difficulty with delivering its products on time during peak seasons. The research tries to unveil the reason for this delay and finds that the demands for extra water-out deliveries are interfering with the normal runs of the trucks, therein delaying their regular schedule. One another cause was found to be the shortage of supplies due to slow or less return logistics. The research suggests a change in the existing drop shipping distribution model and recommends the adaptation of intermediary or multi-stage distribution networks, possibly the ‘Last Mile Delivery’ configuration in order to reduce delivery lead-time, reduce transportation costs and improve customer satisfaction

Internet auctions in marketing: The consumer perspective

Internet auctions for consumer are among the most popular and most successful business models in electronic commerce. Research so far, however, has focused on prerequisites and consequences of auctions as a marketing intstrument of suppliers. Even though it is a key success factor from a marketing perspective, the demand side has not inspired similar attention. This paper focuses on the attitudes, motives, and behavior of auction customers. It shows why ccurrent beliefs about bidder characteristics are myths. Taking these misconceptions as a starting point, the existence of an experiential and a pragmatic type of auction customer is proposed. An explorative empirical study looking for the characteristics of both types of auction customers is described. Results indicate that less than half of auction shoppers in the sudy are experiential oriented. Except substantial additional demand concerning technological and emotional qualities of auctions these shoppers do not differ dramatically from pragmatic oriented shoppers. Both types are open-minded towards further development of consumer auctions to commercial marketplaces. Business models of auctioneers and suppliers should concentrate on the basic utility of the auction algorithm by facilitating individual matchmaking instead of pursuing costly additional utility by promoting the entertainment value of auctions. --

Integrating information systems success and overall trust

Tam, C., Loureiro, A., & Oliveira, T. (2020). The individual performance outcome behind e-commerce: Integrating information systems success and overall trust. Internet Research, 30(2), 439-462. [Advanced online publication on 22 october 2019]. https://doi.org/10.1108/INTR-06-2018-0262Purpose: While most e-commerce studies focus on the understanding of online customer behaviour, mainly adoption and purchase behaviours. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between e-commerce and individual performance. The authors test the role of systems, information and service quality in e-commerce use and user satisfaction. Trust may become an important aspect for a consumer’s decision making, based on this the authors identify the effect of the role of trust on e-commerce use, user satisfaction and its impact on individual performance. This research has theoretical and managerial implications, since the protagonism of e-commerce is increasing in both academia and industry. Design/methodology/approach: The authors apply a research model that integrates information systems success dimensions and user behaviour in the form of trust. The empirical approach was based on an online survey questionnaire of 437 individuals from Portugal. Findings: The results reveal that overall quality and overall trust are important to explain use and user satisfaction in the context of e-commerce, which further leads to individual performance. The findings indicate that a higher level of use and user satisfaction increase individual performance. Originality/value: The authors integrate information systems success dimensions and overall trust to understand the significance of e-commerce individual performance. The authors expect the results to enrich the understanding of the importance of considering both technological and behavioural factors to increase the success of e-commerce.authorsversionpublishe

Assessing the impact of e-commerce on individual performance : integrating information system’s success measures and overall trust

Dissertation presented as the partial requirement for obtaining a Master's degree in Information Management, specialization in Marketing IntelligenceE-commerce is changing the way we buy. From amazing flow experience to outstanding customer support, all with integrated security and payment systems, shopping online has never been so easy. But what exactly are the benefits for individuals within these magic 3-click distance purchases? This study aims to fill in the extant gap in the literature about the relationship between ecommerce and individual performance, as well as contributing to a new consistent research model that integrates information systems success dimensions and user behaviour in the form of trust. Data collected from 437 questionnaires provide strong support for the research model. Results show that overall quality and overall trust are important to explain use and user satisfaction in the context of ecommerce, which further leads to individual performance. Our findings indicate that a higher level of use and user satisfaction increase individual performance. We expect that this study can enrich the understanding of the importance of considering both technological and behavioural factors to increase the success of e-commerce. Implications for theory and practice and suggestions for future research are also discussed

What are the factors influencing the use of discount websites by businesses in a shopping mall? A case study of four shopping malls in Durban, South Africa.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.The inception of the Internet has introduced new forms of marketing, which increase awareness of sales promotions to consumers. Consumers are offered great opportunities through discount websites. Discount websites allow consumers to search for promotions through convenient internet access. The websites, referred to as online discount intermediaries (ODIs) in this study, act as a ‘link’ between the consumer and the business through online systems. The questions that arise then are whether current business practice encourages the use of discount websites. This is followed by understanding the factors that will influence businesses to use discount websites. Furthermore, it looks at the possibilities and challenges that arise from businesses using discount websites to extend savings to the consumer, while deriving various business benefits. The study examines the factors in the context of businesses in shopping malls. It set out to explore the factors influencing the use of discount websites where such websites could increase the foot traffic into a shopping mall. In achieving the objectives of this dissertation, a quantitative study was conducted with four shopping malls in the KwaZulu-Natal region. Businesses within these shopping malls were engaged to participate using a questionnaire to obtain responses. The respondents are the business owners or store managers. There were 140 stores (businesses) in total that were approached with a 75% response rate. Data was analysed using various methods of analysis such as descriptive, factor, chi-square and correlation analysis. The study was underpinned by the Diffusions of Innovations Theory which showed applicability for ODI adoption in a South African business context. Overall findings show that discount websites could be perceived as drivers in improving the customer base and competitive position of the business. It can extend convenience to the customer and help them make more informed purchasing decisions. Discount websites can offer businesses the potential to increase revenue and extend their customer base. This can have positive implications on increasing brand exposure. Compatibility of the websites can influence the decision on whether or not to adopt new technology. Financial and technical resources can be limiting factors in businesses successfully integrating discount website usage in their current business practice. However, management could still favour the adoption of discount websites as the benefits are potentially significant

E-Commerce

E-commerce is a business model that allows organizations to explore global markets. The objective of this study is to identify all the key points involved in e-commerce business, along with several sub-themes related to e-commerce, namely the concept of e-business and e-marketing. Next, it was noted that e commerce could express the connections between many purchase actors but is mainly used through the B2C model. The adoption of e-commerce is linked to different internet techniques and tools, which has several advantages and risks. This study also highlights the connections of e-commerce with globaliza tion, e-marketplaces, and platforms. Finally, the authors present the KPIs in terms of sales, marketing, and customer service that the e-sellers should take into account when they are defining the e-commerce strategy and the age segmentation criteria that must be used to create homogeneous groups of e-buyers.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The First 25 Years of the Bled eConference: Themes and Impacts

The Bled eConference is the longest-running themed conference associated with the Information Systems discipline. The focus throughout its first quarter-century has been the application of electronic tools, migrating progressively from Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) via Inter-Organisational Systems (IOS) and eCommerce to encompass all aspects of the use of networking facilities in industry and government, and more recently by individuals, groups and society as a whole. This paper reports on an examination of the conference titles and of the titles and abstracts of the 773 refereed papers published in the Proceedings since 1995. This identified a long and strong focus on categories of electronic business and corporate perspectives, which has broadened in recent years to encompass the democratic, the social and the personal. The conference\u27s extend well beyond the papers and their thousands of citations and tens of thousands of downloads. Other impacts have included innovative forms of support for the development of large numbers of graduate students, and the many international research collaborations that have been conceived and developed in a beautiful lake-side setting in Slovenia