The Influence of Utilitarian and Hedonic Consumption Values on Consumer Attitude Towards Online Shopping and Purchasing Intentions

Motivation: Online shopping is increasingly becoming a global phenomenon. In marketing literature, utilitarian and hedonic values are well-known consumption values that explain consumer behaviour and consumer decision-making. The purpose of this study is to determine the influence of utilitarian and hedonic consumption values on consumer attitude towards online shopping that, in turn, influences online purchasing intentions. In doing so, the study aims to deepen the understanding of consumer behaviour in an online environment, which marketing practitioners may find useful as the phenomenon of online shopping gains momentum in the 4th industrial revolution. Methodology and Methods: This study followed a descriptive research design, and a quantitative research method. Data (sample, n = 215) was collected using a self-administrated questionnaire from consumers with diverse socio-economic backgrounds through Survey Monkey. The well-known utilitarian and hedonic scales were adapted to suit the online shopping context, and utilised to collect empirical data for the study. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and structural equation modelling were applied to address the research objectives, and to test the hypothesised research model. Data and Empirical Analysis: The study found that four attributes/values, namely wider selection, efficiency, convenience and cost saving are determinants of consumers’ utilitarian motivation towards online shopping, while another set of four attributes/values, viz. adventure/explore, gratification, social and idea constituted consumers’ hedonic motivation towards online shopping were found. Furthermore, the study found that utilitarian and hedonic motivations are determinants of consumer attitude towards online shopping, while, in turn, consumer attitude was found to be a predictor of online purchasing intentions. Novelty: The study contributes to the literature on the contemporary online shopping phenomenon. Conducted in an emerging economy (South Africa), it provides a deeper understanding of, and an insight into how consumers behave and make decisions in an online environment. Policy Consideration: At a practical level, the paper has devised a tool (framework) for marketing practitioners to utilise in influencing consumer attitude towards online shopping and purchasing intentions, and ultimately conclude a sale through online transaction

IMPLEMENTASI PROGRAM HAND CRAFT SEBAGAI UPAYA PEMBENTUKAN KARAKTER PADA ANAK BERKEBUTUHAN KHUSUS DI SMP NEGERI 28 SURABAYA

Pendidikan adalah kebutuhan semua orang, tidak terkecuali anak berkebutuhan khusus (ABK). Keterbatasan yang dialami menjadikan anak berkebutuhan khusus memerlukan layanan layanan pendidikan yang sesuai dengan kebutuhan dan karakteristik anak. Mengingat karakteristik ABK yang berbeda-beda sehingga SMPN 28 Surabaya perlu memanage peserta didik dengan baik agar semua kebutuhannya dapat terpenuhi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan mengenai implementasi program hand craft dalam membentuk karakter anak berkebutuhan khusus. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan metode deskriptif dan rancangan penelitian studi kasus. Teknik pengumpulan data menggunakan wawancara, observasi, dan studi dokumentasi. Data dianalisis dengan melakukan reduksi data, penyajian data, dan verifikasi data. Pengecekan keabsahan data dilakukan dengan kredibilitas, transferabilitas, dependabilitas, dan konfirmabilitas. Hasil dari penelitian ini yaitu: (1) kegiatan asesmen dilakukan pada saat ABK pertama kali masuk selain dapat mengetahui karakteristik ABK lebih jauh juga dapat mengetahui bakat minatnya walaupun hanya dasarnya saja; (2) tindak lanjut yang dilakukan sekolah setelah mengetahui bakat minat ABK adalah dengan mengikutkan ekstrakurikuler, lomba-lomba, memasukan kedalam jadwal terapi masing-masing ABK serta mengarahkan siswa masuk ke sekolah lanjutan; (3) program hand craft dilaksanakan setiap hari jumat selain itu pelaksanaannya juga dimasukkan kedalam jadwal pelajaran/jadwal terapi masing-masing ABK; (4) proses penanaman karakter pada anak berkebutuhan khusus dilakukan secara continue, serta adanya komitmen dari seluruh pihak sekolah untuk menanamkan karakter pada anak berkebutuhan khususKata Kunci: sekolah inklusi, bakat minat, karakte

Positive and Negative Antecedents of Consumer Attitude towards Online Shopping

The internet has enabled businesses to make a wide range of products available for consumers to shop online, conveniently, anytime from anywhere in the world. While online shopping has shown tremendous growth over the recent past, literature indicates that consumers do cite some serious risks in transacting through the internet, and show reluctance in engaging in such activities. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to identify positive and negative antecedents of consumer attitudes towards online shopping in an emerging economy, South Africa. Primary data through a survey method was collected from a sample of 215 consumers in Gauteng, South Africa, in early 2018. The study utilized descriptive, correlation and multivariate regression analysis to achieve its stated objective. The study identifies convenience, better deals/competitive pricing, a wider selection of products and online atmospherics as positive antecedents of consumer attitudes towards online shopping, while trust/reliability issues, financial risk, product risk, non-delivery risk and return policy issues are identified as negative antecedents of consumer attitudes towards online shopping. Online retailers are therefore encouraged to building on the positive antecedents by offering value for money (i.e. competitive pricing), offering a wide range of goods and services in their web pages, providing valuable information to customers, and designing visually appealing websites. Similarly, online retailers should try as much as possible to reduce the real and/or perceived risks related to financial risk and product risk by building trust with their customers

IMPACT OF FRICTION TEST SCALE ON BRAKE FRICTION PERFORMANCE

It is well known that the friction performance is a system property. The coefficient of friction and its stability, wear rate and the propensity to vibration and noise are always characteristics of a system and it is not easy to predict their performance based on smaller scale friction tests. This paper discusses the relation between performances of different-scale testers and possibility to model the friction performance of real systems in small simpler testers. It addressed the application of “scaling laws,” the application of typically adopted scaling strategies in friction industry and the testing strategies based on understanding of phenomena on the friction surface and in the friction systems. Full scale AKM standard dyno test and small tester (Bruker UMT) are related and the testing strategy is suggested. It is concluded that in spite of the fact that the scaling and simulations do not allow for a perfect prediction of performance (friction is a system property), it is still possible to make educated decisions on the research and development stage, when proper testing strategy on a smaller scale is adopted

Attitudes towards Online Shopping: Application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour

A wide-range of products are available for consumers to shop online conveniently, anytime from anywhere in the world. While e-commerce has shown exponential growth over the past decade, there is evidence in literature that suggests consumer resistance and reluctance in engaging in online shopping, mainly for privacy and security reasons. Using the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), this paper aims to investigate consumer attitudes towards online shopping in an emerging economy, South Africa. This study followed a descriptive and quantitative research method. Primary data was collected from a sample of 215 consumers in Gauteng, South Africa. Correlation analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM) were used to analyse the data. The results of the study indicate that trustworthiness, privacy and security concerns determine consumer attitude toward online shopping, which, in turn, influences online shopping behaviour. Beliefs about self-efficacy in conducting online transactions influenced consumers’ perceived behavioural control, which ultimately influenced the online shopping behaviour of consumers. Furthermore, the study found that normative beliefs are the immediate antecedent of subjective norms, which, in turn, influence online shopping behaviour. Marketing practitioners need to address the issues of real and perceived privacy issues and the security concerns of current and potential online shoppers if they are to fully benefit from the spoils of the internet

Agronomic Performance of Integrated Use of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Tselemti District of North-Western Tigray, Ethiopia

A variety of biological and economic interactions between crop and livestock make crops-livestock integration appealing to the Ethiopian farmers. The decline in soil fertility is widespread in Tigray, Ethiopia, and is threatening food security. The ever-increasing price of inorganic fertilizers (IF) is becoming a main problem for majority of farmers. Hence there is a need for alternative low cost soil fertility enhancing technologies. Farmyard manure (FYM) can be an alternative but its shortage limits its use as organic fertilizer. In addition  to  its  nutrient  supply,  farmyard  manure  improves  the physicochemical  conditions  of  soils due to its residual effect in the soil’s fertility status. Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) which implies combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers and helps to overcome the problems associated with single application of either source for enhanced crop productivity. Based on this fact, a 2 factorial asymmetric experiment was conducted, in 2011/12, to evaluate the effect of integrated application of inorganic fertilizers and FYM on yield and yield components of upland rice. A 4x3 factorial experiment consisting of four levels of inorganic fertilizers (0, 25, 50 and 75 kg/ha) and three levels of FYM (0, 6 and 9 t/ha) was laid out in RCB Design with three replications. Rice (variety: NERICA-3) was used as an indicator crop and planted in rows. The results revealed that application of 9t/ha FYM with 75 kg/ha of IF resulted in grain yield of 44.4Ql/ha (p< 0.05) and delayed flowering and maturity by about 14.67 days and 20.33 days respectively. However, more such studies need to be conducted at various soil and agro-climatic conditions to generate more detailed information. Keywords: DAP, Fertilizers, FYM, INM, NERICA, Rice, Urea, Tigray, Yield

Evaluating the Effects of Integrated Use of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Socioeconomic Performance of Upland Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) in Tselemti Wereda of North-Western Tigray, Ethiopia

As agriculture is a livelihood, the social and economic outcomes are of paramount importance. A variety of biological and economic interactions between crop and livestock make crops-livestock integration appealing to the Ethiopian farmers. The ever-increasing price of inorganic fertilizers (IF) is becoming a main problem for majority of farmers. Hence there is a need for alternative low cost soil fertility enhancing technologies. Based on this fact, both field experiment and survey were conducted during 2011/12 cropping season to evaluate the effect of integrated application of inorganic fertilizers and FYM on socioeconomics of upland rice. For the field experiment, a 4x3 factorial experiment consisting of four levels of inorganic fertilizers (0, 25, 50 and 75 kg/ha) and three levels of FYM (0, 6 and 9 t/ha) was laid out in RCB Design with three replications. Rice (variety: NERICA-3) was planted in rows. The results revealed that the higher agronomic yield (4440 kg/ha) did not brought highest profit because the value of the increase in yield is not enough to compensate for the increase in costs. The highest MRR (2018%) was between treatments 1 and 9 and use of 6t/ha of FYM with no inorganic fertilizer. Hence, FYM could be used instead of inorganic fertilizers to get higher net economic benefit but due to the problem of unavailability of FYM in excess amount, farmers could use the third highest MRR which is 1356%. Hence, it would be reasonable to conclude that integrating FYM along with inorganic fertilizers would be the best alternative because this not only increased the rice yield but also improved the fertility status of the soil, and could save part of the money that would have been paid for the greater doses of the chemical fertilizer and is socially acceptable. The perception of the respondent farmers to inorganic fertilizers showed that 76% of the respondents had no willingness to use inorganic fertilizers at full dose. Keywords: FYM, Inorganic fertilizers, ,Integrated Nutrient Management, Marginal Rate of Return, Farmers’ perception, Sustainability, Upland Rice, Ethiopia

Mediating Effect of Switching Cost on Generation Y Customers’ Bank Commitment

Committed customers who value their relationship with their bank are a great asset for a bank. As such, the purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating effect of switching costs on the influence of service quality, bank image and customer satisfaction on Generation Y customers’ commitment to their bank. A descriptive research design and a quantitative research approach were employed in the study. Using self-administered questionnaires, data was collected from a sample of 271 Generation Y banking customers registered at two public university campuses in Gauteng, South Africa. The analysis included descriptive statistics, reliability measures, correlation analysis and multivariate regression and mediation analyses. The results indicate that high switching costs directly influence Generation Y customers’ commitment to their bank, and partially mediate the impact of service quality and bank image on their commitment to their bank. In addition, high switching costs played a full mediating role on the influence of satisfaction on Generation Y customers’ commitment to their bank. The findings of the study provide empirical evidence of the mediating effects of high switching costs on the influence of service quality, bank image and customer satisfaction on Generation Y customers’ commitment to their bank, a field largely under-researched within the South African context