Tsz‐kit Cheng, Domenic Sculli and Fiona Shui‐fun Chan
Questions the universality of theories of management and organizational behaviour on the ground that they have not adequately addressed the factor of culture. Traditionally, these…
Abstract
Questions the universality of theories of management and organizational behaviour on the ground that they have not adequately addressed the factor of culture. Traditionally, these theories consider political, regulatory, social, economic, and technological forces on behaviour, without taking into account the cultural context within which such forces operate. Neglecting the culture factor may be traced to an ideological bias that there is regularity or invariance in human behaviour regardless of cultural variation. Another issue concerns the ideology of methodological individualism. The inadequacy of existing literature and research directions is reviewed first. In conclusion, it is suggested that the traditional research paradigm, which relies on the methodological individualism, employed in decades of management and psychological research should be balanced by a more holistic approach, such as methodological relationalism, which recognizes the individual’s embeddedness in the social network.
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W.C. May So, T.N. Danny Wong and Domenic Sculli
To investigate web‐shopping behaviour in Hong Kong: identification of the general attitude towards web‐shopping; relationships between past web‐shopping experience, attitude…
Abstract
Purpose
To investigate web‐shopping behaviour in Hong Kong: identification of the general attitude towards web‐shopping; relationships between past web‐shopping experience, attitude towards web‐shopping, adoption decisions, search behaviour and web‐shopping intentions; and influences of promotional offers and product categories on web‐shopping intentions.
Design/methodology/approach
Relevant hypotheses were constructed and a web‐based questionnaire survey was than conducted using technically educated subjects. The proposed hypotheses were statistically tested and principal components analysis and structural equations were used to produce a structural model.
Findings
Web‐shopping intentions are directly affected by web‐search behaviour and web‐shopping adoption decisions, and are indirectly affected by web‐shopping attitudes, past web‐shopping experiences and past experience with the web. Web‐search behaviour was a stronger factor than adoption decision in terms of influencing web‐shopping intentions. The presence of promotional offers had a positive effect on web‐shopping intentions, and web‐shopping intentions were different for different product categories.
Research limitations/implications
The sample employed was composed of technically educated undergraduates and graduates and thus limiting generalizations to a higher levels.
Practical implications
Experienced internet users and experienced web‐shoppers are more likely to be potential future web‐shoppers. Those who have a general dislike for shopping and who tend to buy in a great haste when the purchase becomes absolutely necessary may eventually be another group to become web‐shoppers.
Originality/value
The primary value of this paper lies in extending the understanding of Hong Kong web‐shopper behaviour, and in developing an empirical model that can partly explain the processes leading to web‐shopping intentions.
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May W.C. So and Domenic Sculli
Risks and uncertainties inherent in the Internet often deter consumers from using it as a shopping channel. Companies usually assume that advanced technologies will solve such…
Abstract
Risks and uncertainties inherent in the Internet often deter consumers from using it as a shopping channel. Companies usually assume that advanced technologies will solve such problems. This paper argues that many of these problems require non‐technical solutions: solutions that are associated with good business practice. Customer feedback may not only raise technical issues such as security and privacy, but also non‐technical issues such as guaranteed delivery time and the ability to talk live to customer services representatives for help. This paper analyses four aspects of running a business – trust, quality, value, and risk – in an Internet setting and offers three solutions. While there is no complete guarantee of sustainability and profitability in any business, the careful consideration of the issues discussed will help shield the business from pitfalls, which if not detected and dealt with, can cause the closure of an otherwise healthy business.