Digital Commons Network^™

Virtual World Commerce Adoption (Vwca) : A Case Study Of Second Life Investigating The Impacts Of Perceived Affordances, Trust, And Need Satisfaction, Kamolbhan Olapiriyakul

Dissertations

Virtual worlds are computer-simulated worlds in which multi-players can simultaneously interact in a rich graphical environment. The development of virtual worlds, along with the massive growth of users, creates opportunities for business organizations. This dissertation involves many studies regarding virtual world adoption in business by virtual consumers.

Most of the research in Information Systems (IS) was conducted investigating factors influencing technology adoption, such as ease of use and usefulness, subjective norms and behavioral controls, self-efficacy, performance and effort expectancy, flow, etc. However, most of these research studies focused neither on design aspects related to affordances nor users' goal-oriented behaviors, such …

Supplier Partnerships : Dimensions, Antecedents, And Outcomes, Dewan Rezaul Karim

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Firm vertical relationships have received considerable attention in recent years in the relational and embeddedness approaches, yet pervasive confusion and uncertainty exist over the conception, conditions, and the benefits accrued from such linkages. The research is also known to be too diverse and scattered to provide any definitive explanations. Drawing on across the board literature reviews and extensive conversation with supply managers, I develop a conceptual model to study the concept of close ties between the manufacturers and their first-tier suppliers, identify their antecedent conditions and outcomes. I also investigate the variables that best predict the relationship formation and firm …