Why choose South Africa? Insights from international undergraduate students

The South African government in conjunction with its institutions of higher education has taken many deliberate measures aimed at attracting international students. This study was aimed at investigating factors that influence international students’ choice of the country as their study destination. Data used in the analysis was collected using an online structure questionnaire from 88 international undergraduate students studying at the University of Witwatersrand. The results show that the most important influencing factors relate to quality of education offered, lower costs associated with studying in the country and geographical proximity of the country to home countries of most of the students hosted. Available promotional information on study opportunities in South Africa was found to have had influenced the least number of students in their decision to study in the country. The findings have wide implications on the marketing of a country as an international study destination and these have been highlighted in the paper

Online Store Service Convenience, Customer Satisfaction and Behavioural Intentions: A Focus on Utilitarian Oriented Shoppers

The paper investigates, using transaction cost theory, the concept of service convenience and its influence on utilitarian customer satisfaction and behavioural intentions to repurchase from an online store. Data used in the analysis was collected from utilitarian oriented online shoppers from Gauteng, South Africa using a structured questionnaire. According to the findings search, evaluation, order and possession convenience were identified as unique,reliable and valid dimensions of service convenience in the context of online shopping. The four dimensions were all found to exert significant direct influence on utilitarian customers’ level of satisfaction as well as on intentions to repurchase from specific online stores. The findings further showed that service convenience can be conceptualised as a second order factor made up of all the identified four dimensions and that when conceptualised this way the explanatory power of service convenience on both customersatisfaction and repurchase intentions is greatly enhanced. Additionally, the results show thatoverall satisfaction on the relationship between service convenience and behavioural intentions to repurchase from an online store plays a significant mediating role when service convenience is considered at the dimensional level but not at the overall level. The findings in this study validate the transaction cost theory in the context of online shopping and contribute to a better understanding of the concept of service convenience and its influence on utilitarian oriented online customers. The findings have wide managerial implications on use of convenience as a source of value creation for online store managers and these have been outlined in the paper

Factors affecting adoption of e-government services : a conceptual model

Many African governments have invested significant amounts of capital in e-government initiatives. This is mainly due to recognised potentials of e-government to help improve public service delivery and accountability. While the majority of e-government services in the continent are targeted at citizens in general, not many studies have been done to help understand factors that impact on citizen’s willingness to adopt e-government services. The objective of this paper is to explore factors that can help explain adoption of e-government services in general and using the findings to develop a conceptual model that shows how the various factors work together to influence adoption of egovernment services. The proposed model builds on the constructs of the Technology acceptance model (TAM) as proposed by Davis in 1986. The proposed model will assist governments to understand factors that need to be managed in order to ensure adoption of e-government services by ordinary citizens

Willingness to reciprocate in virtual health communities : the role of social capital, gratitude and indebtedness

Abstract: Virtual health communities have become popular social environments where patients and carers are able to receive advice and support from other members of the community. However, not much is known of factors that influence willingness to share personal health information. Using the resource exchange theory and the affect theory of social exchange, this paper examines the role of social capital, gratitude and indebtedness in explaining levels of willingness to reciprocate in virtual health communities. Data was collected from 361 users of virtual health community sites in a cross-sectional survey conducted in Gauteng, South Africa. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the data. The findings show that willingness to reciprocate is directly influenced by social capital, emotions of gratitude and indebtedness. The results also show that gratitude and indebtedness mediate the influence of social capital on willingness to reciprocate. The findings can be used by managers of virtual health communities to inform strategies aimed at stimulating more knowledge sharing on their sites

Cognitive absorption and behavioural intentions in virtual health communities : a focus on posters

Abstract: Purpose - This paper aims at providing a conceptual model that elucidates the role of cognitive absorption in explaining behavioural intentions in virtual health communities. Design/methodology/approach - Data was collected from 361 contributing members of virtual health communities from Gauteng, South Africa using a structured questionnaire. Structural equation modelling using AMOS software was used to analyse the data. Findings - The findings show that cognitive absorption has significant direct positive influence on members’ intentions to continue participating on virtual health community platforms. Cognitive absorption was also found to have indirect influence on behavioural intentions through its influence on members’ attitude. It was also found to play a mediating role on the influence of perceived usefulness and behavioural intention. Research limitations/implications - The study shows the value of linking the flow theory and the technology acceptance model to provide a comprehensive understanding of behavioural intentions in virtual health community forums. Practical Implications - Managers of virtual health communities need to pay attention to experiential aspects of their sites. Success in ensuring that community members are cognitively absorbed is key to the development of positive attitude and intentions towards virtual health community forums. Originality/value - Virtual health communities play a new and growing role in the way health-related information and support is offered and accessed by those in need. Despite their importance, not much research has been done to explain the role of consumer experience on member behaviour on such forums. The study contributes to this understanding by demonstrating the value of cognitive absorption..

Perceived ease of use : examining its influence on personal use of the tax e-filing system

This paper examines the influence of perceived ease of use on personal use of the tax e-filing system in South Africa. Data was collected using in-depth interviews and a structured questionnaire. The findings show that higher levels of perceived ease of use are associated with personal use as well as behavioral intentions to make use of the system. The results also indicate that computer self-efficacy and access to information have positive influence on perceived ease of use. These findings point to the need for equipping people with skills and information that can enable them to make use of the system

Understanding online repeat purchase intentions: A relationship marketing perspective

This study investigates online customers’ repeat purchase intentions from a relationship marketing perspective. Data was collected from 201 online customers from Gauteng, South Africa, using a structured questionnaire. The findings show that online repeat purchase intentions are strongly driven by customers’ satisfaction with an online retailer. Customer satisfaction with an online retailer was found to be positively influenced by a number of relationship building related factors, including personalization, ease of communication as well as assurance of customer privacy. Relationship cultivation efforts were, however, found not to have a significant influence on online customer satisfaction. The online environment makes it difficult for retailers to differentiate themselves on the basis of traditional elements of the marketing mix. Online retailers can, however, improve their chances of retaining customers by focusing on relational issues. The findings in this study highlight some important relationship-related factors that online retailers can work on in order to retain customers

Perceived benefits and barriers to export involvement : insights from non-exporters

Many governments have in place measures aimed at stimulating many of their firms to get involved in exporting. This paper aimed at investigating perceived benefits of and barriers to exporting among small and medium sized non-exporting firms in Malawi. An investigation was also made into the extent to which managers regarded the achievement of some common business goals as important to their firms. Data was collected from 100 owner-managers of non-exporting small and medium sized firms in Malawi using a structured questionnaire. The findings of the study showed that managers regard steady growth of their firms, increased sales and profitability as well as development of new markets as very important. The managers agreed to the fact that exporting can significantly help their firms achieve their business goals. They however perceived many barriers to export involvement. The most important barrier was related to personnel problems, in that they felt that they lacked sufficient knowledge about export opportunities and personnel knowledgeable in exporting. Significant differences were found in the extent to which firms in the three industries studied, regarded different barriers as important. The findings of the study have wider implications on promotion of exports and these have been highlighted in the paper

An Investigation Of Perceived Service Quality In Online Shopping: A Hierarchical Approach

Online retailing is a new but fast growing phenomenon in many countries around the world.  The fast pace at which it is growing is resulting in stiff competition on the online market space.  Many firms now realise that they cannot only rely on low prices as a source of competitive advantage and are looking for other effective ways of differentiating themselves so as to attract more customers and enhance their satisfaction with their online stores.  This paper investigates online store service quality as a source of competitive advantage for online stores.  Data was collected from a total of 201 online shoppers from Gauteng South Africa using a structured questionnaire.  The findings show that online store service quality as reflected by platform quality, interaction quality and outcome quality has significant influence on customers’ attitude towards online stores as well as their behavioural response in terms of engagement in positive word of mouth.  The findings also show that attitude is not a significant mediator of the relationship between online store service quality and customers behavioural response of positive word of mouth.  The findings have wide implications of management of online retail stores and these have been highlighted in the paper