Recent Submissions
Impact of Terminal Handling Charges on the Performance of Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers with Special Reference to the 2013 Government Regulation
(SLIIT,Business School, 2022-12) De Silva,M; Vilasa,S; Bandara,A; Weerasekara,H; Karunarathne,N; Galappaththi,K
Before the imposition of the regulation, terminal handling charges for containerized cargo were included in the all-inclusive freight listed in the bill of lading and were recovered from consumers at discharging ports. Since the regulation's implementation in 2013, terminal handling charges for containerized cargo can only be recovered from the contractually obligated party to pay them, not from the consumers. In this study, the researchers argue that the former is easier to execute because even though the government has implemented these regulations to secure the consignees and shippers, there are many negative impacts of the regulations on the non-Vessel operating common carriers, as well as indirect impact on the whole shipping industry and the economy of the country. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data gathered through semi-structured interviews, and thirteen initial codes were identified under three themes during the analysis. Through the findings, the researchers have examined the impact of terminal handling charges in the Colombo port on the non-Vessel operating common carriers after enforcing the 2013 government regulations, analyzed the functions of non-Vessel operating common carriers and their relationship with the major shipping lines, and last suggested the strategies to overcome the negative impact on non-Vessel operating common carriers after enforcing 2013 government regulations. This study can guide future researchers and business sectors to construct their plans and processes to ensure that organizations run smoothly and consistently.
Effect of Social Media Influencers’ Attributes on Customer Purchasing Behavior in Sri Lankan Context (Special References to Facebook and Instagram)
(SLIIT,Business School, 2022-12) Bandara,G; Jayasuriya, N; Nimnajith,M; Withanage,N; Fernando,K; Jayawardana,S
This study aims to identify how social media influencer’s attributes can be useful to tune the customer purchasing behavior. Since social media influence highly affects the day-to-day life of people, he/she highly impacts on decision making of customers to purchase products in the market. Therefore, it is essential to identify how these significant attributes support him/her to influence customer purchasing behavior. Through the literature, attractiveness, expertise, prestige, follower base, and trustworthiness are identified as major attributes and are considered as independent variables, while customer attitude and customer mimicry desire act as the mediating factors of the relationship between these attributes and customer purchasing behavior. The research is designed as a quantitative study and primary data were collected from a sample of 405 participants through questionnaire. All the Facebook and Instagram users in the country are considered as the population. Reliability and validity of data are ensured through pilot test and data were analyzed through factor analysis, correlation analysis developing multiple regression models and hypothesis testing. Considering the findings, all the attributes show positive correlation, and all the correlations are significant at the point of P = 0.001. The conceptual framework is acceptable since all the hypotheses are supported. The conclusion is that there is a positive and significant impact of social media influencer’s attractiveness, expertise, prestige, follower base, and trustworthiness on customer purchasing behavior while customer attitude and customer mimicry desire act as mediators. Policy implication of the study is to identify the suitable social media influencer and determine the criteria for selecting the social media influencer for social media marketing. The selected influencer will highly support the company by marketing its products and ensuring the customer attraction. He can apply these results and improve his follower base earning more through effective marketing campaigns. Hence, he can ensure high demand for the product, maintain competitiveness, and contribute to profit maximization. Novelty of the study is that it shows the significance of social media influencer’s attributes on social media marketing. By utilizing these attributes, he can attract new customers, retain existing customers, change customer perception towards the brand. Eventually, he will cause the brand to become the market leader.
The Role of Green Supply Chain Practices on Environmental Sustainability
(SLIIT,Business School, 2022-12) Dassanayake,A; Gamaarachchi,T; Ranathunge ,I; Karunarathna,N
In the past decade environmental sustainability is one of the major considerations in supply chains all around the world. With noticeable environmental changes, companies couldn’t look past the negative environmental impact of their supply chains. Many customers expect companies to adhere to these sustainable practices to achieve sustainability, not only in the environmental aspect but also in the social aspect as well. The main purpose of the study was to conduct an in-depth analysis on Green Supply Chain Practices (GSCP) and how this environmental sustainability can be achieved through this concept and how Sri Lankan companies embed GSCP into their supply chain to reduce environmental impact. For this, supply chain phases such as procurement, manufacturing, transportation, warehousing, and reverse logistics were considered when developing the framework for the study. In each of these stages it focuses on how the companies can use GSCP to reduce energy consumption, water usage, reduce waste and emissions of the supply chain. The data were collected from Sri Lankan manufacturing companies by referring to secondary sources. Gathered data were analyzed using the narrative analysis method and furthermore the study findings indicated that there is a positive effect on environmental sustainability by the implementation of GSCP.
Challenges of Mobility and Access to Transport for People with Visual Impairment and Blindness: An Exploratory Study
(SLIIT,Business School, 2022-12) Suraweera, T.; Bandara, S.; Wickramaarachchi, C.; Perera,D.
The ability to move around to get things done to fulfil one’s wants, and needs is critical for independent living, irrespective of his or her age or existence of impairments or disabilities. Safe and efficient mobility with confidence is widely recognized as influential factors of the positive wellbeing of persons with visual impairment and blindness. Inability to confidently move around pushes persons with visual impairment and blindness to a risk of social exclusion. Even though research into this area is significant, such research in developing countries like Sri Lanka is quite limited. While aiming at bridging the said knowledge gap, this research intended to explore challenges and obstacles of mobility and transport experienced by people with visual impairment and blindness in Sri Lanka. This study adopted a qualitative method through in-depth interviews. Fifteen persons with visual impairment and blindness were purposively chosen to represent a wide range of social and economic boundaries and interviewed in May-August 2021. With the prior consent of respondents, interviews were recorded and transcribed. The interview transcriptions were analyzed using a thematic approach. Data triangulation was done through focus group discussion and observation methods. The results confirmed that persons with visual impairment and blindness confronted challenges and obstacles in mobility and transport that is discussed in six themes: deficient infrastructure, access to information, improper attitudes of sighted persons, service provider issues, personal attitudes, and support. The findings urge the importance of implementing the existing provisions while introducing relevant public policies and social awareness.
Impact of Psychosocial Factors on Sustainability of Stock Investors’ Inclination: A Case of the South Pacific Stock Market
(SLIIT,Business School, 2022-12) Saliya, C. A
Previous research has documented that psycho-cognitive resources and socioeconomic status have significant influences on investment behavior in financial assets. Drawing from the positive psychosocial perspective, I hypothesized that positive enterprising personality mediates the influence of individual characteristics on investment behavior. I tested this hypothesis in the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) framework using a purposive sample of potential stock investors in Fiji. The theoretical framework and analytical procedures, I introduce here, can also be used to discover additional factors influencing investment inclination and then estimate the predictors of stock market investments in other developing countries with similar socioeconomic contexts, for example, Sri Lanka. The results revealed that four latent factors (Intuition, Education and knowledge, Sociocultural norms, and Enterprising personality) are distinct dimensions of investment inclination together with the maturity factor (Age) towards stock investments. The findings could broaden our understanding about the direct and indirect impact of psychosocial characteristics on stock market participation through positive, personal resources such as an enterprising personality. The findings will be useful for financial service providers and regulators in designing educational programs for different levels of maturity, knowledge, and education, to enhance enterprising personality qualities amongst people generally, and inculcate positive attitudes towards stock investments in the young through high school curricula and mass-awareness programs.
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The collection comprises the research output of SLIIT staff and postgraduate research students, including research publications, conference and symposium papers, books, book chapters, theses, and other scholarly materials. Access to full texts may be restricted depending on the access and licensing terms.