Browsing by Author "Perera, K.J.T."

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    Do Self-Congruity Impact on Consumer Buying Behavior? Study Based on Condominium Market in Sri Lanka
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2019) Costa, K.A.S.R.; Fernando, P.I.N.; Perera, K.J.T.
    Urbanization and land shortage has contributed for dramatic changes of a society including their life style, social links, family structure, as well the housing. It has increased the demand of the housing options in the country. The highest value segment’s housing option in this market is the condominium sector. Further, this novel market trend has been developed recently within Sri Lankan context, and it is developing with the emergence of large number of condominiums within the country. Sri Lankan Condominium market shows a significant extend in buying behaviour over the past few years particularly in the Western Province. Self-congruity is a concept that shapes a consumer’s behaviour of purchasing a product according to the reflection of the user’s self-image given through the usage of the relevant product. With the dramatic changes in the life styles of the consumers due to the industrialization and living status, Selfcongruity concept has become a new arena for the marketing world. Self-congruity is the feeling of the consumer on relatedness of the product on his view of who he is and who he would like to be. The objective of this study is to identify the impact of self-congruity on consumer buying behaviour in condominium market. All the certified condos in Sri Lanka are situated in Western Province. With accordance to that, the data was collected through survey method from respondents residing in condominiums in Western Province by using convenience sampling method. The data analysis was done using correlation coefficient, regression analysis, and descriptive methods and the results revealed a strong positive relationship between self-congruity and consumer buying behaviour. The research findings reveals that the marketers and the condominium constructors can attract more customers condominium buyers can shape up their buying decisions based on the self-concept. Study recommends using the variables self-image congruity for segmentation purposes of the products, managing information about the self-congruity of customers to improve marketing strategies could be adopted as the managerial implication to the industry.
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    Does the Loyalty Cards Impact on Consumer Buying Behaviour? Study Based on Retail Clothing and Fashion Stores in Sri Lanka
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2019) Perera, V.P.R.; Fernando, P.I.N.; Perera, K.J.T.
    Marketing is a complex, interesting and more adventurous field involved with informing, persuading and reminding customers with the use of its most sophisticated strategies and techniques creating immense competition. Where, Loyalty programs are one of the marketing strategies in attracting and winning customer loyalty, while occupying the markets through variety of facets. Loyalty card programs of loyalty programs, being popular and a competitive tool, made it questionable on its efficacy due to its’ rapid proliferation effects and on industry dynamics. There by this study has been developed to identify the impact of customer loyalty cards on consumer buying behavior with special reference to supermarkets and retail clothing and fashion stores in Sri Lankan context, with a sample of 210 respondents from Colombo district, derived by multi stage sampling method out of the population. Tested through a survey at supermarket premises and retail clothing and fashion stores, being analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation and multiple regression analysis of statistical software SPSS 21 , the findings revealed, loyalty card programs do highly influence over the consumer buying behavior posing positive association between variables. While, program related factors; one of the independent variables, highlighted as the most influencing factor. Thereby, the study recommends to enhance customer engagement through the provision of enthusiastic loyalty card program experiences and monetary benefits and ensure instantaneous customers’ awareness on promotional efforts of organizations. Further, as managerial focuses in successful implementation and maintenance of loyalty card programs should be; executive management and cross functional team support, while continuously innovating to differentiate the loyalty program structures, targeting the most sensitive category of youth and establishing a feedback system in considering customer suggestions.
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    The Impact of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System on Operational Performance of Listed Companies in Sri Lanka: Special Reference to Manufacturing and Beverage, Food & Tobacco Sectors
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2019-02) Madushika, A.E.K.; Fasana, S.F.; Perera, K.J.T.
    Today, the business world is more dynamic and organizations find difficulties to survive with manual work. Stand-alone, isolated systems do not facilitate operations throughout the organization. Therefore, many organizations have been welcoming the IT solutions such as ERP system to gain competitive advantages and be successful. This research investigates the impact of ERP system on operational performance in listed companies in Manufacturing and Beverage, Food & Tobacco sectors. To attain the objectives, quantitative method was used and data were collected through self-administered questionnaires. A total of 50 questionnaires were distributed among the companies those were selected from 298 of the population by using stratified sampling technique. Hence, Correlation Analysis was used to analyze the relationship between ERP system and operational performance while Regression Analysis was utilized to determine the influence of most significant factor of the ERP system on operational performance and descriptive statistics was also used to identify the level of existing ERP system practices in selected companies. The result of this study demonstrated that there is a strong positive relationship between ERP system and operational performance. Further, training on IT and process and user satisfaction are the key factors that influence mostly on operational performance. Hence, this study contributes to the existing literature and as the possible managerial implications, organizations need to offer more training on IT and process and vendor support. At the end of this paper, areas for future researches also provided.
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    Impact of Internal Recruitment on Job Performance (Special Reference to Operational Employees in Apparel Industry in Western Province - Sri Lanka)
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2021) Sumithraarachchi, D.S.H.; Siyambalapitiya, J.; Perera, K.J.T.
    Internal Recruitment is a method that an organization encourage potential employees to apply for existing or future job openings within the current workforce, hence, it has the ability to motivate employees and enhance their outcomes. Apparel industry is one of the major industries in Sri Lanka in terms of revenue for the country and the operational level employees are the key workforce within the apparel industry and their performance is very important for organizational performance. With the empirical gap which identified by reviewing literatures, it is necessary to identify whether the internal recruitment impacts on operational employees‟ job performance. The primary objective of the research is identified whether Internal Recruitment impacts on the Job Performance of operational level employees. The secondary objectives are to identify the current internal recruitment methods mostly used by the apparel industry, identifying the relationship between internal recruitment methods and job performance and identifying the issues and barriers faced by the apparel industry when recruiting internally. This study used mixed approach and a structured questionnaire was used to collect data over a conveinent sample of 108 respondents who were operational employees in the apparel industry. Further, structured interview was conducted in order to gather qualitative data with human resources professionals to achieve third research objective. Descriptive statistics, correlation coefficient and regression analysis were used to analyze the quantitative data and thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. According to the findings, internal recruitment significantly and positively impacts on operational employees‟ job performance and job promotion and supervisor/employee referral has positive and significant relationship with operational employees‟ job performance and job transfer has negative and insignificant relationship. Further, job promotion is the currently most used internal recruitment method in apparel industry and the influence of interviewers‟ perspectives, lack of performance management and legal issues are the main barriers which are the industry face when using internal recruitment policies. Therefore, the practitioners are encouraged to follow effective internal recruitment methods like job promotion and supervisor/employee referral to increase operational employees‟ job performance. Keywords: Apparel Industry; Internal Recruitment; Job Performance; Operational Level Employees
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    Impact of Stakeholder Pressures on Adopting Green Innovations
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2020) Henadeer, P.S.; Jayawardhana, A.A.K.K.; Perera, K.J.T.
    Green innovation has emerged as a salient approach to amplify business sustainability. Yet, stimulating green innovations is still confronting developing countries. The contradiction between economic efficiency and stakeholder pressures on green innovation hinders sustainable development in a country. Hence, this study addressed this unexplored area in green innovations which investigates whether the stakeholder pressures have impacted the decision of adopting green innovations. Previous literature has mainly focused on a single factor rather than the overall consideration of both internal and external stakeholder pressures together. Also, previous findings were mainly based on the manufacturing industry. This research was conducted to assess internal and external stakeholder pressures on adopting green innovations together in both the manufacturing and service industries. A quantitative study was conducted by a questionnaire survey involving 205 managers selected by a stratified sampling method in companies certified with International Organizations for Standardization 14001. Descriptive statistics, regression analysis, and Pearson coefficient correlation were used to deduce the impact and to prove the hypothesis by analyzing data. Findings manifested that external and internal stakeholder pressures significantly impacted on adopting green innovations. Despite the stimulation provided by the internal stakeholder pressure, external stakeholder pressure has been identified as the most influential factor that impacted on adopting green innovations. The study provided managers with implications to enhance the competitive advantage by forging value to the stakeholders. The study also contributes to the literature of green innovations and stakeholder theory. However, further research is suggested based on disparate samples and considering diverse stakeholder pressures in the future to validate the findings further. Keywords: External stakeholder pressure, Green innovation, Internal stakeholder pressure
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    Impact of Subjective and Objective Job Monotony on Psychological Distress (With Special Reference to Apparel Sector Blue-Collar Women Workers)
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2019-02) Rubasingha, R.R.B.; Sutha, J.; Perera, K.J.T.
    Job monotony is a flagrant issue and psychological distress is an ardent issue in present organizational context, especially for blue collar workers in labor oriented organizations. Apparel industry is one of the sectors, significantly contributes economic growth in Sri Lanka by involving in employment creation and foreign exchange generation. Job monotony and psychological distress are two emerging problems in the apparel industry. However, limited researches have been conducted on job monotony and psychological distress by combining dimensions of both subjective and objective job monotony. Therefore, this study is conducted in order to identify the relationship and impact of subjective and objective job monotony on psychological distress of women blue-collar workers in apparel industry. Researcher has considered above aspects and model was developed by combining dimensions of job monotony with psychological distress. Data were collected across six major high performing apparel companies in Katunayake KPZ, based on capability report and used convenient sampling technique. Data analysis was performed using Descriptive Statistics, Pearson Correlation Analysis, Simple Regression Analysis and Multiple Regression Analysis. Results of the analysis indicated that, subjective and objective job monotony significantly and positively affects to psychological distress and high contribution was observed from objective monotony. Outcomes of this study provided implications on enhancing available literature, to understand the existing level of job monotony to policy makers and to managers and thus help them to alter or enhance the policies. This study also suggests some further research areas for future research.
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    Impact of Working Capital Management on Financial Performance of Non- Banking Financial Institutions in Sri Lanka
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2020) Ranaweera, H.G.O.H.; Gunaratne, Y.M.C.; Perera, K.J.T.
    Working Capital (WC) is reckoned as the animating spirit of an entity's concern. Consequently, it is imperative to accommodate the smooth running of operations in any organization. Yet the non-banking financial sector encountered many issues regarding managing cash as a component of WC and there is no consensus in the literature regarding the link between Working Capital Management (WCM) and financial performance. Hence, the objective of this study is to examine the impact of working capital management on the financial performance of non-banking financial institutes in Sri Lanka. WCM was measured using creditor’s payment period, debtors’ collection period, cash conversion cycle, current ration, and financial performance was measured using the return on assets and return on equity. Data were extracted from the annual reports of non- banking financial institutes covering a period of eight years from 2011 to 2018. Ten non- banking financial institutes out of 63 were considered as the sample based on the Fitch ratings. Data were analyzed through the Eviews statistical software using Pearson correlation and random effect panel regression model. The results reveal that there is a significant negative relationship between the debtor’s collection period and financial performance. Further, it exhibits an insignificant positive relationship between creditors’ payment period and cash conversion cycle and finally found that there is a significant positive relationship between the current ratio and financial performance. In line with the above findings, it is recommended that the non-banking financial institutes maintain a shorter debtor’s collection period as much as possible and a higher current ratio to enhance the financial performance. Further, it is recommended to adopt a conservative working capital strategy while paying a higher attention to the current ratio as the most affecting factor to the financial performance of non- banking financial institutes in Sri Lanka. Keywords: Working Capital Management (WCM), Financial performance, Return on Assets (ROA), Current ratio and conservative strategy
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    Investigation of the Impact of Green Marketing Tools on Customer Purchase Intention of Fast-Moving Consumer Goods: With Special Reference to the Youth Sector
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2020) Rathnayake, P. A.; Siyambalapitiya, J.; Perera, K.J.T.
    Consumer awareness of environmental issues has become a major concern in the society. Therefore, organizations have moved towards the green marketing concept to achieve sustainable growth. Eco-brand, eco-label, and environmental advertisements are the tools that businesses use to enhance knowledge and awareness of consumers while influencing their purchase decisions. Previous studies show inconsistent results in terms of customer purchase behavior in relation to these tools, indicating a knowledge gap to be addressed by researchers. To this end, following the theory of planned behavior, it would be rational to investigate these tools as predictors of customer purchase intention. Moreover, as a context, Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector was selected as it is an industry that focuses more on environmental issues. Observably there is a significant lack of empirical studies on these tools as this concept is new to the Sri Lankan market. The specific objective of the study was to investigate the impact of green marketing tools on customer intention to purchase FMCGs in Sri Lanka. Taking Sri Lankan young consumers as the population, 384 individuals were selected as the sample of the study using a convenience sampling technique. The research was quantitative and primary data were collected through a self-administrated questionnaire. Simple and multiple linear regression analysis was performed to test research hypotheses. Results and findings revealed that each tool has a significant and positive impact on customer purchase intention. Accordingly, the study concludes that eco-brand has a salient impact on purchase intention than the eco-label and environmental advertisement. The research recommends that these tools should be promoted more in the market and it is required to concern more on adopting eco-labels to achieve sustainability. Keywords: Green marketing tools, Eco-brand, Eco-Label, Environmental advertisement, Purchase intention
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    Strategic Human Resource Management and Managing Gender Diversity in Hotel Industry: Southern Province – Sri Lanka
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2021) Prabodha, K.A.S.; Siyambalapitiya, J.; Perera, K.J.T.
    The growth of the hospitality and tourism sector has been rapidly growing in recent years and therefore, an increase in tourism business has become increasingly popular with it. The tourism industry is estimated to be worth over 183.98 USD million annually. Employment generated in the tourism sector (both direct and indirect) increased to 359,215 in 2017. Yet currently women account for less than 10% of those employed by the tourism sector. Further, with its exponential growth, the business owners pay much concern on Human Resource Management practices and managing gender diversity. Consequently, the need to manage their human resources effectively and efficiently in order to achieve economic significance is recognized. Hence, this study set out to examine how gender diversity affects in managing employees, to see whether strategic human resource management practices can provide a solution to manage the gender diversity problems, to identify the current Human Resource strategies can be effectively use in hotel industry and to investigate gender diversity problems demarcated in the hotel sector. Qualitative data analytical method was employed and the collected data were transcribed and analyzed by using Thematic Analysis. Primary data is captured at selected above 3-star hotels with twelve employees at HR management level and 10 employees randomly selected from each hotel located in Down-South area. The findings of the study revealed that the majority of the hotels (90%) are practicing Strategic Human Resource Management and identified limited evidence of managing gender diversity based on Strategic Human Resource Management practices. Further, the recommendations of this study support the view that the importance of implementing Strategic Human Resource Management practices and how they improve the managing gender diversity problems of the organization. Keywords: Hospitality industry; Strategy; Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) practices; Gender diversity
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    A Study of Factors Affecting for Self-Directed Learning of Management Undergraduates in Sri Lanka
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2019) Munasinghe, D.S.; Sutha, J.; Perera, K.J.T.
    In the 21st century, the ability to engage in self-directed learning (SDL) considered to be essential for university undergraduates to improve and frequently update their knowledge in modern world. The education system has become facilitator which gives the opportunity to develop student’s critical thinking, creative thinking and innovative thoughts which are required in their working environment. The aim of this study was to identify the factors affecting for self-directed learning of university management undergraduates in Sri Lanka. In order to achieve the objective of the research, the study was conducted in qualitative research design. Thirty management undergraduates from five regional universities were selected by using convenience sampling technique. The qualitative data were collected through semi structured interviews. The Thematic analysis technique was utilized for the analysis of interview transcripts with the support of NVivo 8 Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA) software. This qualitative study came up with ten critical factors which effects positively and negatively for self-directed learning of management undergraduates in Sri Lankan Universities. Those critical factors were language, interest to subjects/ topics, accessibility of resources, lecturing style and methods, friends’ and others’ support, time adequacy, student’s perception, student’s learning style, prior knowledge, student’s future goal. Based on the findings, those factors were affecting to undergraduates for engaging in Self-directed learning or preventing from self-directed learning. The result of this research is a significant source for the education policy makers to change teaching pattern, academic curriculum and create appropriate learning context in the university education system to enhance self-directed learning of the undergraduates. Results of this study provide qualitative data to enhance literature related to factors affecting self-directed learning of the undergraduates.
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    Study of Intension to Adapt Green Banking Practices for Environmental Performance (With Special Reference to Listed Commercial Banks in Western Province)
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2021) Wadduwage, W.K.S.; Siyabalapitiya, J.; Perera, K.J.T.
    In most of emerging economies, an important role is occupied by the banking system for the development and create the core of money market. Going green concept become an enormous trend in global as well as it is common to the banking industry. This generated a huge transformation from traditional banking to green banking. In Sri Lanka, banking industry can recognize as monopolistic competitive market and both sectors advocate variety of non-monetary competitive strategies to become market leader. Hence, most of banks are in the process of moving to green banking. With this greater trend towards green banking, many researchers had studied on the green concept from various appearance in world banking system. The results of some of the studies are contradict on each other. While same senarios continues in greening research, there are few different appearances with controcdicted findings in Sri Lankan contect as well. Seemingly, there are lack of studies undertaken in Sri Lanka regarding green banking practices together with environmental performance is highlighted. This study is conducted to study of intension to adapt green banking practices for environmental performance to address the knowledge and empirical gaps. Research objectives is to examine the impact between intension to adapt green banking practices for environmental performance, to understand the green banking practices adapted by listed commercial banks in Sri Lanka and to discover the problem faced by banks while adapting green banking practices. The data were collected from four banks based on past researchers and sample of 108 employees who worked in selected banks in Western Province using multistage simple random sampling method. The mixed research design is used and data was analysed by using descriptive statistics, regression, content and thematic analysis. The finding of the study revealed that, intension to adapt green banking practices, management commitment and support, competitor pressure and customer pressure have positive significant impact on environmental performance. Further, it revealed green banking practices and problems faced by banks while adapting green banking practices. The current study will be important in understanding the empirical knowledge regarding the intension to adapt green banking practices for environmental performance. Keywords: Green banking; Green banking practices; Intension to adapt green banking practices; Environmental performance
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    A Study on Factors Influence on Consumers’ Leisure Shopping (With Special Reference to the Purchasing in Shopping Malls in Colombo District)
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2016) Perera, K.J.T.
    Shopping is widely regarded as a major leisure time activity and entertainment aspect of retail industry is increasingly being recognized as a key competitive tool in the present situation. Therefore retailers and shopping Centre developers are seeking ways to make shopping more of a leisure pursuit. While retailers are focusing more on entertainment, academic research is lagging in investigating the hedonic reasons people go shopping. Absence of knowledge in this background makes marketers unclear and difficult to satisfy expectations of the customers who are responsive to leisure shopping. This study is providing a clear background about how marketers adopt marketing strategies and designing appealing store environments to provide a better value to customers. Research helps academics to the diverse body of existing shopping experience literature. A sample of 400 shopping mall customers in Sri Lanka was empirically investigated with the aim of identify the nature of leisure shopping behavior in shopping malls and to determine the factors influence consumers to go for leisure shopping in shopping malls. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data through mall intercept technique. The pilot study 49 shopping mall customers informed a high reliability level of the questionnaire in all the dimensions of the questionnaire. The Exploratory Factor Analysis identified that the consumer's leisure shopping was influenced by the seven different hedonic factors. These seven factors are especially remarkable theoretical implications which should prompt one to reconsider categories of shopping motives as indicated by Tauber (1972). Based on the literature these factors are named as Learning about new trends, Diversion, social Interaction, Gratification, Emotional Bonding, Mental Stimulants and Pleasure in bargaining. The study revealed that consumers go for shopping not only to purchase the products or services but also for fun. Hedonic Shopping also tended to be very social in nature and was often enhanced by the presence of friends and the trend is most marked among younger adults. Compare with male, female customers are visiting to shopping malls is higher and shopping is a major source of relaxation as well as a household chore associated with females in Sri Lankan shopping mall concept.