PurposeThis paper seeks to test the factors that can influence adoption of mobile banking among current users of internet banking in Singapore and gender as a moderating variable.Design/ methodology/ approachA sample of more than 600 current users of electronic banking provided opinions about their intention to use mobile banking, perceptions of relative advantage of the mobile device, perception of risk, social norms, ease of use and usefulness of the device for banking purposes. The data were submitted to LISREL for structural equation modeling.FindingsUsefulness, social norms and social risk, in this order, are the factors that influence the intention to adopt mobile banking services the most. Ease of use has a stronger influence on female respondents than male, whereas relative advantage has a stronger effect on perception of usefulness on male respondents. Social norms (or the importance of others in the decision), also influence adoption more strongly among female respondents than male.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample is biased towards people who are currently using internet for banking. However, mobile banking innovators may not come mainly from current users of internet banking.Practical implicationsSince gender plays a moderating role in the perception of ease of use, social norms and relative advantage, companies are advised to target their communication tactics according to gender. Social norm is more important to females than males as well as ease of use, whereas, relative advantage is more important for males.Originality/ valueThe study purposefully uses gender as a moderator and risk as an independent variable not often considered in previous studies.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand the factors that influence attitudes toward counterfeits, and the intention to purchase these illegal products in a Muslim country.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 401 participants completed a questionnaire that contained 41 statements related to beliefs about counterfeited products such as risks, ethics and social norms. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling were performed to test the measurement and structural models.FindingsValue consciousness, performance risk (negative relationship), norms (subjective and descriptive) and ethical consciousness influence attitude. Previous purchase moderates attitude and intention. Attitude explains a considerable percentage of the variance of intention to purchase counterfeits. Beliefs explain attitude to a large extent.Research limitations/implicationsThere is a lack of product specification; also respondents were more educated than the population (73.3 per cent have a university degree).Practical implicationsPeople do not see themselves as being unethical in buying counterfeits, even in a religious environment and do not perceive prosecution risks. Government enforcement is important to alter these perceptions. Finding the right price that preserves a premium price for the brand and a perceived “fair” price may be the answer to the problem.Originality/valueThe paper describes a study conducted in an Arab Muslim and rich Middle Eastern country. Previous studies in Asian countries, less economically advantaged and with Muslim populations, have not related their findings to religious beliefs or ethical consciousness.

This investigation describes the development of a generally applicable, bioinformatics-driven, single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping assay for the common bacterial gastrointestinal pathogen Campylobacter jejuni. SNPs were identified in silico using the program 'Minimum SNPs', which selects for polymorphisms providing the greatest resolution of bacterial populations based on Simpson's index of diversity (D). The high-D SNPs identified in this study were derived from the combined C. jejuni/Campylobacter coli multilocus sequence typing (MLST) database. Seven SNPs were found that provided a D of 0?98 compared with full MLST characterization, based on 959 sequence types (STs). The seven high-D SNPs were interrogated using allele-specific real-time PCR (AS kinetic PCR), which negates the need for expensive labelled primers or probes and requires minimal assay optimization. The total turnaround time of the SNP typing assay was approximately 2 h. Concurrently, 69 C. jejuni isolates were subjected to MLST and flagellin A short variable region (flaA SVR) sequencing and combined with a population of 84 C. jejuni and C. coli isolates previously characterized by these methods. Within this collection of 153 isolates, 19 flaA SVR types (D=0?857) were identified, compared with 40 different STs (D=0?939). When MLST and flaA SVR sequencing were used in combination, the discriminatory power was increased to 0?959. In comparison, SNP typing of the 153 isolates alone provided a D of 0?920 and was unable to resolve a small number of unrelated isolates. However, addition of the flaA SVR locus to the SNP typing procedure increased the resolving power to 0?952 and clustered isolates similarly to MLST/flaA SVR. This investigation has shown that a seven-member C. jejuni SNP typing assay, used in combination with sequencing of the flaA SVR, efficiently discriminates C. jejuni isolates.

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to determine if the traditional approach to measuring brand equity applies to online companies. Design/methodology/approach -This objective is pursued by: developing a measurement model of brand equity for online businesses; and testing the nomological validity of the model using structural equation modelling. Findings -This study finds partial support for the application of the offline brand equity theoretical framework based on brand awareness, brand associations and loyalty for online companies. Brand loyalty and brand value associations directly create brand equity.Research limitations/implications -The study is cross-sectional, the indicators or observable variables used in this study may not be deemed comprehensive enough, no interaction effects have been incorporated, and finally, the research study was based on a few online business retailers. Practical/implications -The results support the view that a consumer's perceived sense of value resulting from a transaction with an online business develops loyalty. Also, brand-trust association and brand awareness indirectly contribute to creating brand equity through their influence on loyalty. Loyalty is by far the most important source of brand equity because of its direct influence and mediating role in creating brand equity. Originality/value -While many studies have identified and ratified the importance of brand equity dimensions among traditional firms, few have tested the model with online companies.

PurposeThe purposes of this paper are to test sources of brand equity for online companies and to examine the role of selective internet marketing activities on the brand equity sources.Design/methodology/approachThese objectives were pursued by testing the nomological validity of the model using structural equation modelling.FindingsThe paper finds evidence for the proposed sources of brand equity for online companies based on brand awareness and recognition, brand association (trust) and loyalty. The investigated antecedents namely functionality, fulfilment and customer service on line, significantly influence the sources of brand equity.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is cross‐sectional, the dimensions to measure sources and antecedents of brand equity may not be comprehensive enough. The stimuli represent only a few online retailers.Practical implicationsBusinesses are well advised to invest resources in creating brand recognition, customer loyalty and trust. Both of these can be achieved by developing internet marketing efforts around functionality, fulfilment of the promise and customer service support.Originality/valueThe nomological validity of the measurement and structural models for companies that operate on the internet, constitute a modest contribution. It is believed that a model, which integrates both, creates a more systemic view of brand equity. Apart from this one, there is no other study measuring the impact of internet marketing activities on brand equity sources.