Browsing by Author "Cloete, Eric"

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    An analysis of factors affecting the adoption of business-to-consumer e-commerce by SMEs in developing countries: case study Zimbabwe
    (2012) Mashanda, Precious R; Cloete, Eric
    Most researchers indicate that electronic-commerce (e-commerce) offers viable solutions for businesses trying to meet the challenges of a changing environment. However, the few available studies concerned with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries show evidence of delays, and failure to adopt e-commerce solutions in those countries. In the past, little research has been done to identify the reasons for this. This study seeks to explore the factors that influence a decision to adopt Business-to-Consumer (B2C) e-commerce by SMEs in developing countries, using Zimbabwe as a case study.
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    Engaging customers and the public profile via social networking and micro-blogging websites
    (2013) Joshua, Garth Robin-Carl; Cloete, Eric
    Online social networks and micro-blogs are becoming increasingly important to organisationswithin the marketing process enabling business to conduct marketing research, marketingcommunications and customer service. There remains paucity in the body of knowledge as tohow organisations in South Africa are using specific social media technologies to conductsocial media marketing. This research report takes a specific focus on the micro-blogging andsocial networking phenomena and addresses the problem: What are the differences betweenorganisations utilizing social networking and those utilizing micro-blogging, to conductmarket research, marketing communications and deal with customer complaints in SouthAfrica?A review of the literature informed the research study that organisations use a variety of toolsand techniques in researching customers on social media platforms. Micro-blogging andsocial networking services were found to be valid channels for organisations to communicatemarketing information as well as deal with customer complaints due to product/serviceproblems. The study design allowed the collected data to be quantitatively analysedmeasuring independence between organisations using micro-blogging and social networkingservices within the marketing process.
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    Mobile banking : a comparative study of South Africa and Nigeria
    (2010) Bankole, Omolola Ola; Cloete, Eric
    Mobile banking (m-banking) is an innovative technology application, which has made available different value-added applications in both commercial and business processes. South Africa and Nigeria are reported to have high mobile applications usage in Africa, one of which is m-banking. This study identifies the factors that influence the user acceptance of m-banking in both countries. The aim of this research is to examine the relative differences/similarities of m-banking in South Africa and Nigeria. Several studies on the acceptance of m-banking have produced various results across different countries. This can be accredited to the dissimilar socio-cultural composition of such countries. The user acceptance of m-banking in a country is determined by distinct characteristic factors which are unique to that country. This research takes on a positivistic epistemology. This is an exploratory and deductive study which explains the factors that influence the acceptance of m-banking in two African countries by the use of a conceptual model.This study employed quantitative and qualitative data gathering and analysis processes. A crosssectional survey was conducted.. A total of 451 valid questionnaires were collected and analysed using Statistica 9 - analytic research software. The interviews were analysed using selective coding techniques. In this study, several factors such as cost, trust, satisfaction, social factors, utility expectancy (usefulness) and effort expectancy (ease of use) were identified from literature, and a conceptual model was formulated to test hypotheses generated from previous related studies. The dimensions of national culture – power, distance, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity and individualism were also integrated into the model. The result showed that SMS alert for account transactions is the most used m-banking service in both countries. The hypothesised relationships were validated by using regression tests, supported with responses from the interviewees. It was found that culture has an indirect effect on the user acceptance of m-banking. Security risk was the major disadvantageous factor while ubiquity and immediacy were the most advantageous factor. Additional factors such as awareness, convenience and literacy level were also revealed to influence the acceptance of m-banking in both countries.