Sight: The Last Bastion Of The Brick And Morter Retailer To Survive?

The physical brick and mortar retail environment has been the bastion of survival for retailers over the years. With the developments in technology and the changing shopping patterns of consumers, apparel retailers are facing competition from alternative channels, such as the internet where consumers browse, compare and ultimately purchase products. Faced with this evolution, it has become critical for brick and mortar retailers to reconsider the principles and practices of in-store consumer engagement. They need to understand how their physical in-store environments can be used optimally in order to ensure sales optimisation, consumer satisfaction and sustainable profitability.This state of affairs has led to this study, which focuses on sight and its influence on consumers’ buying behaviour. The primary research question that was posed in this study was to explore the influence of sight on consumers’ buying behaviour in apparel retail stores. The type of research design used in this study was exploratory in nature, making use of a qualitative approach and a communicative technique of focus group interviews and naïve sketches. The data gathered was analysed by means of Tesch’s inductive descriptive coding technique, better known as thematic analysis. It was found that sight has the ability to influence consumers in either a subconscious or a conscious way. This has a direct influence on the amount of time that consumers will spend in-store and ultimately influence their buying decisions and behaviour, either positively or negatively

Exploring the influence of store atmospherics on consumers' buying behaviour in apparel retail stores : an exploratory study in Tshwane

This research study aims to obtain a holistic view of the area of store atmospherics, which forms part of the retail industry. A consumer-centred response approach was followed. Store atmospherics and its influence on consumers’ buying behaviour has received very little attention in the literature to date. Consumers’ views on in-store atmospheric elements and the influence of these elements on their buying behaviour were obtained. The primary research aim that was derived from the preliminary literature was therefore to explore the influence of store atmospherics on consumers’ buying behaviour in apparel retail stores in the Tshwane region. The type of research design used in this study was exploratory, making use of a qualitative approach and a communicative technique of interviews. The selected method was focus group interviews and naïve sketches. The data gathered was analysed by means of Tesch’s inductive descriptive coding technique, better known as thematic analysis. It was found that atmospheric elements have the ability to influence consumers in either a subconscious or a conscious way. This has a direct influence on the amount of time that consumers will spend in-store and ultimately influences their buying decisions and behaviour either positively or negatively. This had a direct influence on the amount of time that consumers will spend instore and ultimately influences their buying decisions and behaviours either positively or negatively, meaning that the consumers’ will display either an approach- or avoidance behaviour.Business ManagementM. Com. (Business Management

Open Distance Learning Students Perception Of The Use Of Social Media Networking Systems As An Educational Tool

Students in tertiary institutions have become more and more adapted to the use of technology, which is especially important for the businesses that hire graduates. Students are increasingly expected by employers to be proficient in the use of social media and therefore expect their institutions to make use of similar technology in the delivery of educational materials. The main aim of this study was to investigate students perceptions of the use of social media networking systems during their time of studying at an open distance learning (ODL) tertiary institution. The study also investigated whether students feel at ease when using social media networking systems, whether they will be able to find information on these social media networking systems, and whether they believe it will be an effective and easy way to study course content. These were tested by making use of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) constructs namely; Perceived ease of use, Perceived usefulness, Attitude towards using, and System accessibility. A survey was distributed to students, and it was found that students regarded Perceived ease of use as being the most important factor to consider when they are using social media networking systems

Perceptions Of Lecturing Staff On Social Media Networking Systems And Their Use Of It

The advent of technology has led to a major change in the delivering of knowledge and lecturers are in the forefront of this.  No longer can projectors or black boards solely be used as a means of communication, as the student of the new millennia is an astute user of technology.  Lecturers and students are both therefore expected to make use of technology in the transfer of knowledge and academic interaction.  Students have a right to expect their lecturers, and the institution that they study at, to incorporate the latest technology in the delivery of their qualifications.  The main aim of this study was to determine lecturers’ perceptions on social media networking systems and their use of it in an academic context.  The study also focussed on whether lecturers make use of, and believes in, social media networking systems as an effective tool to use in teaching and in providing study content and material to students.  These were tested by making use of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) constructs namely; ‘Perceive ease of use’, ‘Perceived usefulness’, ‘Attitude towards using’, ‘Intention to use’, and ‘System accessibility’.  A survey was distributed to lecturers, and it was found that social media is being used by the majority of lecturers, but more for social purposes than educational purposes.  It was also found that Facebook is the most popular social media networking system to use

Perceptions And Uses Of Social Media Networking Systems By South African Students

The purpose of this study was to determine South African students’ perceptions and uses of social media networking systems. The study further determined whether students are making use of social media networking systems, the purpose of making use of social media networking systems, and whether the students’ believe that it can be an effective and easy tool to use in order to study the course content. The reason for this study was the fact that students now a days are more familiar with social media networking systems, as more technology mediums are available today to communicate on a more flexible and timely manner. The study made use of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) constructs in order to test the objectives. These constructs are; ‘Perceive ease of use’, ‘Perceived usefulness’, ‘Attitude towards using’, ‘Intention to use’, and ‘System accessibility’. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to students, and it was found that social media is mostly being used by students for social purposes rather than for educational purposes, and that Facebook is the most popular social media networking system to use

Determining student perceptions regarding the most important service features and overall satisfaction with the service quality of a higher education institution

Today, there is a greater focus on worldwide academic excellence and quality of tuition. The industry can be more selective nowadays, because there is a wide range of graduates due to a variety of institutions offering many qualifications of different standards and quality. In order for a higher education institution to be successful and profitable, quality products and services need to be ensured and delivered. It becomes evident that many higher education institutions are ignorant towards the level of service they provide, which implicates the students’ attitudes towards the institution. It is, therefore, important that higher education institutions know what level of service students expect from them. The study aimed to identify the most important service feature of student administration, according to students. A quantitative study was conducted among 200 students at a South African university. The results indicated that students’ perceptions regarding service quality, as well as the overall level of satisfaction of the service are only slightly above average

Business not as usual: how multisectoral collaboration can promote transformative change for health and sustainable development.

• We present a model of enabling fac-tors for effective multisectoral collabo-ration for improvements in health and sustainable development. • Drive change: assess whether desired change is better off achieved by mul-tisectoral collaboration; drive forward collaboration by mobilising a critical mass of policy and public attention. • Define: frame the problem strategi-cally and holistically so that all sec-tors and stakeholders can see the benefits of collaboration and contri-bution to the public good• Design: create solutions relevant to context, building on existing mecha-nisms, and leverage the strengths of diverse sectors for collective impact. • Relate: ensure resources for multi-sectoral collaboration mechanisms, including for open communication and deliberation on evidence, norms, and innovation across all components of collaboration. • Realise: learn by doing, and adapt with regular feedback. Remain open to redefining and redesigning the collaboration to ensure relevance, effectiveness, and responsiveness to change. • Capture success: agree on success markers, using qualitative and quan-titative methods to monitor results regularly and comprehensively, and learn from both failures and successes to inform action and sustain gains

Le bénéfice du doute

Assimilating work of art and the shield, Bédard discusses contemporary art and its relationship to the world. Van Veelen (text in Dutch and French only) questions the role of art in a hyper-mediated world and criticizes trends leading to fascism and local particularism within the context of the European Unification. The works of 13 artists from Québec and Europe are presented. Includes an excerpt from a text by Baudrillard and artists' statements. Biographical notes. 6 bibl. ref