Constraints to Internet Use for Public Relations Functions by Selected Kenyan Organizations (Published)
Public Relations has gained increasing organizational importance in recent times, as it has been emphasized in various platforms. A review of current literature shows that the use of the Internet for PR in organizations has been empirically investigated mainly in other contexts – especially in Europe and America – but not in Africa. However, most of these investigations focused on specific components of Internet and not the holistic use of the Internet for PR. The study examined the constraints to the use of Internet as a PR platform in organizations. It adopted a relativist-interpretivist research paradigm and a qualitative approach utilizing the multiple case study method. A total of 45 participants was sampled comprising nine respondents each from a financial, telecommunications, insurance, PR Agency and online shopping business. In each category of business, one person in management, two PR and communications experts (or customer care services marketing and advertising in some organizations), one ICT expert and five key stakeholders (key publics-internal/external customers) was selected. The PR organizations involved in the study were sampled purposively. In-depth interviews, observation and document analysis were used to generate data. Data analysis was done thematically. Among the constraints of Internet as a PR platform in organizations were security and trust concerns, content mismanagement, lack of tools of monitoring and evaluation, ineffective utilization of the platforms, lack of expert knowledge, experience and poor role specification. Evidently, numerous constraints impair the utilization of Internet for PR functions in most organizations. As such, it was recommended that PR practitioners should develop internet plans to bolster interactivity and utilize social media services fully to produce effective messages to strengthen organisation-public relationships.
Keywords: Constraints, Internet Use, Kenya, Organizations, Public Relations Functions
Determinants of Self Service Banking Technology in Kenya (Published)
Advances in technologies have allowed service providers to incorporate many different technologies into the delivery of their services to improve their competitiveness and performance. The study focused on establishing determinants that influence consumer towards the usage of self-service banking technologies. It is believed that the successful usage of self-service banking technologies will be cost and convenience beneficial for all stakeholders in the financial sector enhance improving their performance. The research model purposes an extension to the technology acceptance models and the Unified theory of acceptance and use of technology that will represents a shift from fragmented view of information technology acceptance to a unified integrated single theory that will account for use of self service banking technology. The target population for the study was users of selected commercial banks in Kenya, utilizing a sample size of 325 respondents. Reliability and validity of the data collection instrument was tested using Crobach Alpha and Average Variance Extracted respectively. Descriptive and inferential statistical data analysis was carried out while regression analysis was used to predict the effect of selected determinants of self-service banking technology on its usage. The domains in which subjects were tested for were ease of use, facilitating condition, need for interaction, and perceived risk. The domains were significantly associated with use of self service banking technology exception of ease of use. Taking into account the importance of innovation and technological advancement studies should be carried to establish the effect of technological usage and organization commitment on firm performance.
Keywords: Kenya, Self-service, Self-service banking technology, Use of Self-service banking technology