Research Publications

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Author: search.filters.author.Wisenthige, KStart date: 2020

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 25
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    From AI Assistance to Critical Thinking: Exploring Cognitive Offloading and Metacognition as Mechanisms within Personalized Learning Environments
    (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2026) Gunathilake, N; Gamage, A; Rajapakshe, D; Jayasooriya, M; Wisenthige, K; Yapa, C.G
    The rapid adoption of AI-assisted learning tools in higher education has completely transformed the undergraduate study system, but empirical evidence on their impact on deep cognition and learning processes is limited. This study investigates the effects of AI-assisted learning tool usage on metacognition, cognitive offloading, personalized learning, and critical thinking among Sri Lankan undergraduates. Using positivism philosophy and a deductive quantitative approach, data were collected from 379 students in computing, management, and engineering subjects through a 35-items, five-point Likert scale questionnaire, and analyzed using PLS-SEM. The findings reveal significant direct, indirect, and moderating relationships among key variables, suggesting that the use of AI-assisted learning tools influences students’ learning regulation, reliance on external support, and development of higher-order thinking. This study provides empirical evidence for the cognitive and psychological effects of AI-assisted learning tools, and helps address an important research gap, and offers practical insights for educators, curriculum developers, and policymakers to use balanced and effective AI integration in higher education.
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    E-commerce success redefined: integrating information systems and customer empowerment for e-customer engagement
    (Emerald Publishing, 2026-03-17) Boyagoda, G; Thalagala, S.M; Pathirana, S.L; Jeewantha, S; Wisenthige, K
    Purpose – This study aims to explore the impact of system quality, information quality, service quality and customer empowerment on customer satisfaction and e-commerce success in Sri Lanka, focusing on Millennials and Generation Z. By integrating the DeLone and McLean Information Systems Success (D&M ISS) model with customer empowerment theory, the research seeks to provide insights into the key drivers of e-customer engagement in e-commerce. Design/methodology/approach – A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 413 respondents employing the purposive sampling technique. The data collection instrument comprised 32 questions related to system quality, information quality, service quality, customer empowerment and customer satisfaction, as well as demographic questions. The data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Findings – The results revealed that the system quality, information quality and service quality significantly influence customer satisfaction and intention to use the system in the context of e-commerce, which leads to higher customer engagement. Furthermore, the findings substantiate the crucial role that customer empowerment plays in terms of increasing customer satisfaction. Research limitations/implications – This study focuses on Millennials and Generation Z e-customers in Sri Lanka. It provides insights into this demographic, but does not capture the diverse cultural and technological landscape of the entire country. The study examines Information System (IS) dimensions and customer empowerment, excluding other significant variables like overall customer engagement. Self-reported data may introduce biases, and future research with larger sample sizes and different methods could improve the validity. Focusing on four selected online shopping platforms may limit the applicability as the e-commerce landscape is continuously evolving. Practical implications – The findings offer guidance to e-commerce businesses and policymakers to enhance their digital services and customer satisfaction. Businesses can improve their system quality with intuitive designs, offering accurate information to boost engagement and deliver excellent service quality. Initiatives such as interactive tools, loyalty programs and tailored support can empower customers, fostering a stronger impact. Policymakers can support e-commerce growth by improving regulations and providing training programs. These measures contribute to a more efficient and satisfying online shopping experience, driving long-term customer loyalty and business growth. Social implications – The research emphasises the role of customer empowerment in fostering customer engagement, contributing to the growth of the digital economy and enhancing online shopping experiences. Originality/value – This research enhances the academic understanding of e-commerce success by strengthening the DeLone and McLean Information Systems Success model by adding the concept of customer empowerment. This unique improvement is applied in the context of Sri Lanka, an emerging market with its own socio-economic characteristics. This addition provides new insights into key factors affecting e-customer engagement in the e-commerce sector.
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    Focus on Middle East and Central Asia: rationale of IMF assistance seeking
    (Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2026-03) Wisenthige, K; Pathiranage, H. S.K; Jayathilaka, R
    This study delves into the rationale behind the tendency of nations in the Middle East and Central Asia (MECA) to seek aid from the IMF. The IMF supports global financial stability, aiming to foster economic growth and prosperity across its member countries by promoting policies that encourage monetary cooperation and financial resilience. The study employs a conditional fixed-effects logit model, the analysis spans 22 years of data from twenty-five MECA countries to identify the factors driving these nations to seek IMF assistance. It focuses on six determinants: Current Account Balance (CAB), Inflation (INF), Corruption (CORR), General Government Net Lending and Borrowing (GGNLB), General Government Gross Debt (GGGD), and Gross Domestic Product Growth (GDPG). The fixed-effects logit shows that slower GDP growth raises the odds of an IMF programme, while short-run changes in corruption control and public debt ratios are not significant once country and year effects are absorbed. Inflation is weakly positive; the current account balance is still insignificant. A post-GFC and an income-group robustness check confirm the pattern. Furthermore, the study identifies Lebanon, a lower-middle-income country, as a leading example of seeking IMF assistance during the study period. Overall, this research highlights the importance of policymakers understanding the dynamics and rankings within the MECA region to effectively address economic challenges, provide financial support, and foster a more sustainable economic structure.
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    Assessing the influence of diverse skills on employability outcomes for IT undergraduates
    (Public Library of Science, 2026-04-10) Senadheera, D; Wisenthige, K
    Rapid technological advancements have reshaped the global job market, emphasizing the importance of specialized competencies such as user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design, alongside technical and interpersonal skills.. This study examines how UI/UX skills (UIUX), soft skills (SS), and technical skills (TS) influence the employability (EP) of IT undergraduates in Sri Lanka, addressing a notable gap in existing literature that often examines these competencies in isolation and predominantly within Western contexts. The current study offers a detailed examination of employability determinants in Sri Lanka’s IT sector by incorporating gender as a moderating factor and investigating the mediating roles of self-efficacy (SE) and proficiency levels (LP). The collection of data involved 345 IT undergraduates participating in structured surveys, which were subsequently analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The results demonstrate that gender significantly affects the relationship between soft skills and technical skills with employability, underscoring differences in the assessment of these competencies among different genders. Moreover, the degree of proficiency influences the connection between technical skills and employability, yet it does not play a significant mediating role in the relationship between soft skills and UI/UX employability. Self-efficacy has proven to be a significant mediator across various skill categories UI/UX, soft, and technical highlighting its essential function in converting competencies into career success. This work seeks to add to existing knowledge by tackling the main significant gap of examining the combined effect of UI/UX, soft, and technical skills on employability. This study contributes to the theoretical understanding of employability by presenting an integrated model that elucidates the complex interactions among skills, mediators, and gender within the Sri Lankan IT sector. The results provide actionable insights for educators, policymakers, and industry leaders, advocating for curriculum alignment with industry needs and the promotion of self-efficacy through mentorship and experiential learning.
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    The Influence of IT Infrastructure and Supply Chain Flexibility on Supply Chain Performance in the Apparel Manufacturing Sector
    (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2025) Kulasekara, D; Sandaruwan, D; Ekanayake, T; Perera, A; Wisenthige, K; Aluthwala, C
    In a developing country, the apparel manufacturing sector needs to improve their performance, reduce costs, and satisfy the demands of a highly competitive global market. Thus, Supply Chain Management (SCM), particularly the influence of IT Infrastructure (ITI) and Supply Chain Flexibility (SCF) in driving Supply Chain Performance (SCP), focuses on their combine within the Sri Lankan apparel manufacturing sector. These relationships were evaluated using a quantitative research approach, with data gathered from Supply Chain (SC) professionals in apparel manufacturing companies. The study reveals that SCF mediates the relationship between ITI and SCP, indicating the importance of a flexible SC in moving ITI investments into functional performance improvements. Considering the current environment, apparel manufacturers should apply methods that relate ITI capabilities to the SC ability to respond to changing demands. Technological foundation influences SCF, enabling organizations to respond effectively to market demand and operational challenges. Consequently, SCF significantly contributes to SCP by improving flexibility, reducing costs and enhancing customer satisfaction. Some of the practical implication include the usage of advanced IT systems including prophetic analytics and enterprise resource planning tools to enhance SC responsiveness. In addition, development of collaborative relationship with suppliers and partners can enhance the effect of SCF and SCP, making Sri Lanka apparel manufacturers more competent to perform international standard. Future studies are encouraged to take these findings to other sectors and regions to explore the influence of new technologies and other external factors. In this way, it would be possible to achieve more advancements in the SCM practices in response to the current global market challenges.
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    How E-commerce Succeeds: The Role of Information Systems in Boosting Customer Satisfaction
    (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2025) Pathirana, S.L; Pathirana, S.J; Boyagoda, G.S.B; Thalagala, S.M.K; Wisenthige, K; Aluthwala, C
    The rapid growth of e-commerce has revolutionized consumer behavior, especially among Millennials and Generation Z, who increasingly rely on online platforms for their purchases. This paper shows the impact of information systems success on individual performance outcomes in e-commerce, focusing on the DeLone and McLean information system success model and its three key dimensions: system quality, information quality, and service quality. A quantitative survey method was employed to gather data from e-commerce users in the western province of Sri Lanka, which is an economically developed region where Millennials and Generation Z are highly engaged with international and local e-commerce platforms. The study uses PLS-SEM to identify that system, information, and service quality significantly increase customer satisfaction and thereby improve individual performance in e-commerce. The study will address the significant research gap in Sri Lanka, where the rapid growth of e-commerce has not been adequately studied in terms of the impact of information and individual outcomes
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    PublicationOpen Access
    How social media impact social entrepreneurial intentions: the serial mediation roles of risk propensity and entrepreneurial self-efficacy
    (Cogent OA, 2025-08-20) Gomes, C; Wisenthige, K
    As societies around the globe experience various social problems with a rising population and an ever-changing political and economic landscape, scholars have been paying much attention to social entrepreneurship. Social entrepreneurship possesses the ability to address many social problems, especially in developing nations such as Sri Lanka. In this light, this study was carried out to find the impact that social media has on social entrepreneurial intentions among undergraduate students in Sri Lanka, while exploring the mediation effects of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and risk propensity. A sample of 252 students was taken from a Sri Lankan university, and a telephone-based survey was used to collect data. Partial least squares structural equation modelling was used to analyze data, using the SmartPLS4 software. The results from the analysis showed that social media significantly impacts social entrepreneurial intention, while entrepreneurial self-efficacy and risk propensity had a serial mediation effect on the impact. This study makes many novel contributions to social entrepreneurial intention research, as it explores how social media impacts social entrepreneurial intentions and the serial mediation effect of risk propensity and entrepreneurial self-efficacy in a single theoretical model. Policymakers and educational institutions are heavily encouraged to use social media platforms to diffuse social entrepreneurial concepts among undergraduate students. Finally, the study offers limitations and directions for future research.
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    Driving performance in the digital nomad era: the mediating roles of well-being and job satisfaction
    (Emerald Publishing, 2025-12-07) Peiris, P; Kavindya, S; Mandodari, A; Jayasinghe, Y; Wisenthige, K; Rajapaksha, V; Suraweera, B
    Purpose – Despite the growing academic focus on digital nomadism, there is a lack of studies on the job performance of digital nomads, which compounds an essential theoretical and empirical gap. Informed by this, the study explores the role of nomadic work drivers in job performance, with well-being and job satisfaction acting as mediators, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the job performance of digital nomads. Design/methodology/approach – Adopting a quantitative approach, this study used an online survey disseminated to digital nomad Facebook groups, collecting data from 226 participants through systematic sampling. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings – The findings revealed that well-being and job satisfaction significantly mediate the relationships between nomadic work drivers (destination, technology and work preferences) and job performance. Conversely, the relationship between work-life balance and job performance through both mediators was found statistically insignificant. Practical implications – The study contributes to the growing body of literature on digital nomadism, clarifying how work drivers influence job performance through well-being and job satisfaction, while offering practical insights to create supportive work environments that boost productivity, a priority in today's era of global remote work. Originality/value – This research is unique to the extent that it explores the dual mediating effects of well-being and job satisfaction in the relationship between nomadic work drivers and job performance, an approach that has been significantly absent in previous studies.
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    Determinants of student satisfaction in private universities: examining the impact of academic staff quality
    (Emerald Publishing, 2025-02-14) Wisenthige, K; Pathirana, U; Perera, B; Wijesinghe, K; Wijethunga, A
    Purpose: The study utilized a quantitative approach to investigate student satisfaction, focusing on the lecturers’ knowledge, quality of delivery, student support and evaluation. The population included second- to fourth-year undergraduates, data from a sample of 600 were collected through a structured questionnaire using stratified random sampling and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Design/methodology/approach: The aim of this study is to examine the various dimensions of academic staff quality that affect student satisfaction within a selected private higher educational institute in Sri Lanka, providing a clear understanding of the dimensions of academic staff quality and recognizing the important role of the said dimensions in shaping the educational experience of the students. Findings: Results revealed that effective support for students, lectures’ broader knowledge, quality of delivery and quality of evaluation were significant predictors of student satisfaction and that they are crucial indicators of how strong the impact of the academic staff is in contributing to overall undergraduate student satisfaction. Originality/value: This study filled a gap in higher education research in Sri Lanka by offering empirical evidence on the impact of academic staff quality on satisfaction among students in private universities. It serves as a valuable reference for those exploring higher education concepts, providing a novel understanding of the influence of the key component of academic staff quality.
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    Focus on Middle East and Central Asia: rationale of IMF assistance seeking
    (Springer Science and Business, 2025-11-08) Wisenthige, K; Pathiranage, H.S.K; Jayathilaka, R
    This study delves into the rationale behind the tendency of nations in the Middle East and Central Asia (MECA) to seek aid from the IMF. The IMF supports global financial stability, aiming to foster economic growth and prosperity across its member countries by promoting policies that encourage monetary cooperation and financial resilience. The study employs a conditional fixed-effects logit model, the analysis spans 22 years of data from twenty-five MECA countries to identify the factors driving these nations to seek IMF assistance. It focuses on six determinants: Current Account Balance (CAB), Inflation (INF), Corruption (CORR), General Government Net Lending and Borrowing (GGNLB), General Government Gross Debt (GGGD), and Gross Domestic Product Growth (GDPG). The fixed-effects logit shows that slower GDP growth raises the odds of an IMF programme, while short-run changes in corruption control and public debt ratios are not significant once country and year effects are absorbed. Inflation is weakly positive; the current account balance is still insignificant. A post-GFC and an income-group robustness check confirm the pattern. Furthermore, the study identifies Lebanon, a lower-middle-income country, as a leading example of seeking IMF assistance during the study period. Overall, this research highlights the importance of policymakers understanding the dynamics and rankings within the MECA region to effectively address economic challenges, provide financial support, and foster a more sustainable economic structure.