Ziqi Liao

Internet-based e-shopping and consumer attitudes an empirical study

This paper analyses consumer attitudes towards Internet-based e-shopping. It aims to provide a theoretically and empirically grounded initial reference position, against which later research can explore and interpret the effects of changes in variables representing consumer preferences and shifts in these preferences on the success or failure of B2C e-commerce over the Internet. Because of the opportunity to sample at the outset and of ceteris paribus conditions following from the tendency for other factors such as e-transactions cost to remain small and constant, Singapore data were employed. Regression analysis shows that the life content of products, transactions security, price, vendor quality, IT education and Internet usage signi®cantly affect the initial willingness of Singaporeans to e-shop on the Internet. Generalising, we suggest that Internetbased B2C e-commerce can pro®tably be introduced or promoted along similar dimensions in socio-geographically and technologically similar situations. # 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Measuring consumer satisfaction in internet banking: a core framework

What service-quality attributes must Internet banks offer to induce consumers to switch to online transactions and keep using them?

Real-time taxi dispatching using Global Positioning Systems

Hailing a taxi in Singapore now employs the latest positioning technology for matching passengers with the nearest available cabs, thus achieving greater productivity and customer satisfaction.

Challenges to Internet e-banking

The extension of money and banking to the cyberspace is an inevitable development in the information age. Over the past few years, many financial institutions have launched e-retail banking over the Internet. Given the requirements of matching marginal gains against marginal costs, evaluating the profitability of market development along specific dimensions and segments, and determining whether the new technology would be accepted, it is imperative that this decision is continually re-evaluated. Commercial banks face significant challenges on both the supply side and demand side, associated in particular with competition, product-service quality and differentiation, transaction security, cost efficiency, and demographic change. As is generally the case in financial innovation, competition is the driving force behind the introduction of Internet e-retail banking. Primarily, commercial banks viewed it as a competitive strategy to retain existing customers, attract additional business, increase market share, and support business re-engineering. Since many of the products and services are newly emerged from R&D departments, supply must be adapted to demand and consumer acceptance. In oligopolistic markets, it is necessary for the e-bank to compete in the first place through the sub-strategy of product-service differentiation. The financial products and services supplied over the Internet must not only be tailored to fulfill wants, preferences, and quality expectations at the present time, but are also required to induce consumers to demand their technological progeny in the future. Expertise in marketing and the ability to anticipate changes in market conditions are therefore crucial to the success of Internet e-retail banking. In particular, strategic priority must be assigned to the establishment of brand name and brand identification. The Internet is exploited as a channel to build, maintain, and develop long-term client relationships through ready access to a broad and increasing array of products, services and low-cost financial shopping, rapid response to customer inquiries, and personalized product-service innovation. Success in this endeavor would enhance product-service differentiation, which would in turn strengthen customer loyalty, promote cross-selling, increase repeated purchases, and attract new business. An

Consumer perceptions of internet‐based e‐retailing: an empirical research in Hong Kong

Purpose – This paper aims to explore consumer perceptions of Internet‐based e‐retailing in a highly concentrated retail market environment.Design/methodology/approach – The present research incorporates market and social factors to examine consumer attitude and behavioral intention to use internet‐based e‐retailing based on the survey data collected from individuals in Hong Kong.Findings – The empirical results suggest that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use have positive impact on consumer attitude towards e‐retail business. The easily accessible local retail market and the concern about risk in the virtual environment significantly affect consumer attitude and behavioral intention to use e‐retailing. However, consumers may consider using e‐retailing if they are influenced by particular social groups.Research limitations/implications – Future research can be carried out along similar contextual dimensions to explore consumer behavior and critical success factors of e‐retail business in differ...

The determinants of customer interactions with internet-enabled e-banking services

This paper empirically explores the major considerations associated with Internet-enabled e-banking systems and systematically measures the determinants of customer interactions with e-banking services. The results suggest that perceived usefulness, ease of use, security, convenience and responsiveness to service requests significantly explain the variation in customer interactions. Exploratory factor analysis and reliability test indicate that these constructs are relevant and reliable. Confirmatory factor analysis confirms that they possess significant convergent and discriminatory validities. Both perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use have significant impacts on customer interactions with Internet e-banking services. Perceived security, responsiveness and convenience also represent the primary avenues influencing customer interactions. In particular, stringent security control is critical to Internet e-banking operations. Prompt responses to service requests can encourage customers to use Internet e-banking services. The findings have managerial implications for enhancing extant Internet e-banking operations and developing viable Internet e-banking services.

Do competitive strategies drive R&D?: An empirical investigation of Japanese high-technology corporations

Abstract This paper is an empirical study of the effects of competition strategy on research and development (R&D). Analysis of survey data from Japanese high-technology firms in consumer electronics, communications, precise machinery, and pharmaceuticals showed that the competitive strategies directed toward higher added-value and product differentiation exerted more impact on R&D than that aimed at cost leadership, and that strategies with broad market ambits were more important. We also found R&D to be fairly well integrated with strategic management. In sum, to enhance competitive advantage, Japanese high-technology companies tend to exploit R&D to create differentiated products with high added-value to supply a broad range of markets.

The synergy of corporate r&d and competitive strategies: An exploratory study in australian high-technology companies

Abstract This project examines how Australian high technology companies approach the synergy between corporate R&D and strategic management. Research hypotheses are tested empirically using the data collected from a number of Australian firms in three selected industrial sectors: information technology, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. The results suggest that the responding firms have been aware of the importance of integrating R&D decision making with corporate strategic management as well as the consistency between R&D and competitive strategies. In particular, the development of higher value-added products with a focus on a particular market segment has been stressed in directing corporate R&D programs and projects.

The impact of generic competitive strategies on corporate R&D: an empirical study in Japan

This project sought to explore the impact of generic competitive strategies on corporate research and development (R&D) in Japanese technology-based companies through an extensive survey. It results in the generation of information on how Japanese firms approach the integration of R&D and corporate strategic management. Research hypotheses are empirically tested on the basis of the feedback provided by R&D managers from eighty-five leading companies in Japan. The results suggest that both cost leadership and differentiation have considerable impact on corporate R&D. However, Japanese managers particularly place great emphasis on the overall differentiation, because the strategy enables companies to satisfy the increasing demand of customers from a broad range of market segments. We also find out that Japanese managers in different types of industries and different sizes of firms tend to perceive each generic strategic alternative similarly important. Finally, we conclude that consistency with a firms competitive strategy is considered essential for strategic R&D management.

Inter-firm dependence, inter-firm trust, and operational performance

Advance the understanding of e-business integration in the supply chain context.Examine the effect of relational governance on e-business integration.Reveal the mediating effect of e-business integration on operational performance.Make contributions to research and practice in e-business and supply chain management. The objective of this paper is to examine the relationships of relational governance, e-business integration, and operational performance in a supply chain context. We operationalize relational governance with inter-firm dependence and inter-firm trust to build a structural model. The empirical analysis of our survey data collected from manufacturing firms reveals that e-business integration significantly mediates the effects of inter-firm dependence and inter-firm trust on operational performance. The present work justifies the mediating mechanism of e-business integration and advances the understanding of the impact of relational governance on operational performance. The findings contribute to research and practice in e-business and supply chain management.