Impact of Social Networking Websites on Business Today

A social networking website is a social structure build-up of individuals or organizations called “nodes”, which are connected by one or more specific types of mutuality, such as friendship, common interest, financial exchange, dislike relationships of beliefs, knowledge, prestige and information. This article focuses on social networking websites and their impact on business. It aims to identify opportunities and ways to be effective as promoters of businesses to internet users all over the world, 24 hours and 7 days, creating unlimited possibilities for advertising potential. This article reviews the best social networking websites currently used as well as examples of ways in which business can use these types of websites to expand their target markets. This article also gives insight about the threats and challenges associated with social networking websites, as well as things for businesses to watch out for if they determine to use these types of websites. Social networking websites will continue to shape the ways in which businesses collaborate and communicate, both inside and outside of enterprise

A Research Model for Mobile Wallet Adoption Based on Bank and Customer Factors of The Private Banking Sector in Myanmar

This paper aims to study the factors affecting the intention to use a mobile wallet of the private bank in Myanmar based on the bank and customer factors. The consequences of service quality and bank reputation among the bank customers were examined in this study. The investigation of the role of word-of-mouth of the mobile wallet adoption is another objective of the study. The research hypotheses were examined using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique from data collected from 250 customers of Kanbawza (KBZ) Bank.The analysis results indicated that the word-of-mouth was found to be the major factor affecting the intention to use the mobile wallet of the private bank, followed by trust. The study also confirmed that service quality is an antecedent of bank reputation, trust and word-of-mouth. The bank reputation has a positive significant effect on the word-of-mouth, however, there is no significant impact on trust. Marketing managers and business development managers of private banks should pay more attention to improve the service quality to develop the bank reputation, trust and positive word-of-mouth which will lead to acquiring more mobile wallet users

Confirmation of Skywalker Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock tianxing) in Myanmar extends known geographic range of an endangered primate

Characterizing genetically distinct populations of primates is important for protecting biodiversity and effectively allocating conservation resources. Skywalker gibbons (Hoolock tianxing) were first described in 2017, with the only confirmed population consisting of 150 individuals in Mt. Gaoligong, Yunnan Province, China. Based on river geography, the distribution of the skywalker gibbon has been hypothesized to extend into Myanmar between the N’Mai Kha and Ayeyarwaddy Rivers to the west, and the Salween River (named the Thanlwin River in Myanmar and Nujiang River in China) to the east. We conducted acoustic point-count sampling surveys, collected noninvasive samples for molecular mitochondrial cytochrome b gene identification, and took photographs for morphological identification at six sites in Kachin State and three sites in Shan State to determine the presence of skywalker gibbons in predicted suitable forest areas in Myanmar. We also conducted 50 semistructured interviews with members of communities surrounding gibbon range forests to understand potential threats. In Kachin State, we audio-recorded 23 gibbon groups with group densities ranging between 0.57 and 3.6 group/km2. In Shan State, we audio-recorded 21 gibbon groups with group densities ranging between 0.134 and 1.0 group/km2. Based on genetic data obtained from skin and saliva samples, the gibbons were identified as skywalker gibbons (99.54–100% identity). Although these findings increase the species’ known population size and confirmed distribution, skywalker gibbons in Myanmar are threatened by local habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation. Most of the skywalker gibbon population in Myanmar exists outside protected areas. Therefore, the IUCN Red List status of the skywalker gibbon should remain as Endangered

An Investigation of Factors Influencing Intention to Use Mobile Wallets of Mobile Financial Services Providers in Myanmar

Abstract. Mobile wallet is becoming an innovative financial product in the globe and is well expanding quickly into developing countries. This empirical study proposes a comprehensive research model in an amalgamated way consisting of beliefs, social, quality, and trust aspects, to fill up the gaps of previous research studies in similar contexts. The quantitative research is employed to investigate six factors with behavioral intention to use a mobile wallet. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique was applied to analyze data and formulate the results. Survey data were collected from 234 potential mobile wallet users in Myanmar. The results of the study indicated that trust and perceived usefulness factors are significantly influencing behavior intention to use a mobile wallet in Myanmar. But service quality, user satisfaction, facilitating conditions, and social influence are statistically insignificant. The result of this study can be utilized by user acquisition managers, marketing managers, and business development managers to formulate the strategies and approaches for positioning their mobile wallet among a suitable user base, thereby acquiring more mobile wallet users.Keywords: Mobile wallet, mobile financial service, financial technology, behavioral intentio

Female Users’ Behavioral Intention to Purchase in Social Commerce through Social Networking Sites

The present study aims to discover the relationship among social influence, verbal influence, easiness, trust, enjoyment, and intention to purchase in social commerce (S-Commerce), particularly by female users of social networking sites (SNS). A total of 280 responses were collected from female SNS users through an online survey. The obtained data were further examined for normality, construct validity, reliability, and model fit, using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to test the hypotheses. This study confirmed that social influence had a significant effect on verbal influence and trust; meanwhile enjoyment was influenced by trust and easiness. The results also revealed that trust and enjoyment had a positive effect on intention to purchase products or services from social commerce by the female SNS users. Moreover, verbal influence provided an impact on trust and easiness; while the relationship between social influence and enjoyment, easiness, and trust was not significant. These results contribute to offering fruitful insights for sellers and vendors of social commerce in attracting and acquiring the attention of female customers; as a result, it leads to achieving higher profits and flourishing business activities in social commerce

A Conceptual Framework on Intention to Use Mobile Banking Service of Private Banks: A Myanmar Perspective

The number of mobile users in Myanmar israpidly growing since four main mobile operators(MPT, Telenor, Ooredoo, MyTel) launcheddistributing SIM card in lowest rate compare to past afew years ago. With the reforming of nationaleconomic policy, private banks sectors are growingand expending its services including mobile banking(MB). There is lack of research studies regarding MBservice in Myanmar due to there is no maturity in MBcontext. Therefore, a conceptual framework will beproposed to investigates risks, net benefits, customersatisfaction and quality of MB service such as systemquality, information quality and service quality are thefactors influence on users intention to use MB. Trustfactor is also considered as necessary factor todetermine the intention to use MB service

Building A Theoretical Research Model for Trust Development: The Case of Mobile Financial Services in Myanmar

Research Aims: This research study focuses on the factors affecting customer trust in mobile financial services (MFS) in Myanmar by developing a research model that incorporates six different factors: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, social pressure, enabling conditions, service quality, and satisfaction.   Design/Methodology/Approach: Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were employed to analyse the data. Subsequently, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was utilised to examine hypotheses. An analysis was performed on the survey data collected from 250 mobile phone users who are likely to use or currently using MFS in Myanmar.   Research Findings: The results indicate that trust in MFS is significantly influenced by enabling conditions, service quality and satisfaction. The study also found that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and social pressure have statistically insignificant effects on trust-building in the MFS context.   Theoretical Contribution/Originality: A finalised trust-development theoretical research model was formulated and proposed for utilisation in the investigation of customers' trust in future research within a similar context.   Managerial Implication in the South East Asian Context: The findings of this study are beneficial and valuable for Mobile Financial Services Providers (MFSP) in the ASEAN countries, enabling them to create suitable marketing strategies, business approaches and service infrastructures regarding their customers, thereby developing customer trust.   Research Limitations and Implications:  The conclusion is limited to the mobile financial services sector in Myanmar, and the opinions of non-adopters and rejectors are excluded