Browsing by Author "Raza, Ali"

The social media is being considered an important source in the perspective of academic learning in the educational sector. The scope of learning through the social media encompasses broadening information sharing through collaborative approach with the help of web-based social networking sites as the means to enhance the knowledge of co-workers, colleagues and others. Due to large scale penetration of social media among youngsters, it is being perceived as one of the futuristic approaches for next generation’s knowledge sharing and academic learning. On one hand, learning through the social media has attained an important value in developed economies but on the other, real benefits and future implications have not been interpreted and realized in developing economies like Pakistan. Educational institutes in Pakistan need to evaluate and understand the importance and the usage of social networking for the sake of its valued role in academia. Although research communities in the developing countries are paying attention towards the development of this sector in academia Pakistan has a long way to go in this regard. This study explores the significant factors which affect the delayed acceptance and usage of the social media for academic learning purpose. This research proposes an integrated framework including some widely accepted technology models such as Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Innovation Diffusion Theory (IDT) to determine significant factors. This research used the network analysis approach to observe the users’ behavior towards different social media application usage. The proposed conceptual model was determined by seven factors, which included intention to accept social media in education, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, relevance, self-efficacy, compatibility and complexity. The model was tested on a sample of 350 students using social media in higher education institutions. Using SPSS, AMOS and R-project software data analysis show considerable support for the extended hypothesized model. The consideration of factors that have significant influence on the acceptance of the social media in higher education institutions of Pakistan and the network analysis show that few applications are being used heavily compared to all other applications. As identified in this research, it is important for the students in the educational sector, especially in developing countries, to increase wider acceptance and use of the technology which provide benefits for both faculty and students.

In the recent times advancement of technology has given an edge towards the real time processing of data and information. The widespread use of smartphones in business development has transformed the way we make payments for our purchases, eventually leading into a cashless society. Smartphones are primarily used as the communication devices, entertainment tool, gadgets for internet access, and now most commonly as a method for payment. People have started making payment for purchase of goods and service using mobile based Quick Response (QR) code technology. QR code Mobile Payment system (MPS) acceptance tendency in developing country such as Pakistan is at slow pace comparing to other developing countries where people are using smartphones as a wallet. The purpose of this study is to investigate and identify the significant factors that affect consumer‘s behavioural intention to use QR code MPS. This study proposed a model to measure the behavioural intention to use QR code MPS in Pakistan. In this study, constructs such as Performance Expectancy (PE), Personal Innovativeness in Information Technology (PIIT), Effort Expectancy (EE), Habit (HA), Social Influence (SI), Compatibility (CO), Facilitating Conditions (FC), Hedonic Motivation (HM), Risk (RK), and Trust (TR) are measured. The hypothetical relationships were examined through Structural Equation Modelling using Smart-Partial Least Squares software. Quantitative methodology is used to investigate the correlational paths between constructs. Using a cluster sampling approach, a total of 401 responses were collected from users. Research findings show that 12 out of 13 hypotheses were found to be statistically significant, only one as insignificant. The findings revealed that 53% variance in behavioural intention (BI) is explained by PE, PIIT, EE, HA, SI, CO, FC, TR, RK and TR. Similarly, 23.2% variance in use behaviour (UB) is explained by HA, FC and BI. Furthermore, this study expands the use of Extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) in Information System research, extends and validates the UTAUT2 model within the QR code MPS context. Moreover, the findings of this research are valued to the stakeholders interested in developing and implementing QR code MPS. Potential stakeholders would benefit from an improved and revised understanding of these aspects. The identification of important factors influencing QR code MPS in this study will assist them to develop and implement their system to ensure the full acceptance and use of the QR code MPS particularly in Pakistan.