Kenneth Appiah | University of Bedfordshire (original) (raw)

Papers by Kenneth Appiah

The purpose of this study/article is to exmaine whether the individualistic nature of millennials... more The purpose of this study/article is to exmaine whether the individualistic nature of millennials undermines the the effrots of transformational leadsrhip in achieving organizational objectives.

Leveraging Computer-Mediated Marketing Environments, 2019

Social media is considered trustworthy by consumers, and this has resulted in a strong consumer f... more Social media is considered trustworthy by consumers, and this has resulted in a strong consumer focus on social media to acquire information related to products and services. There are various benefits offered by social media, but security is a major concern as viruses and other threats can affect a huge number of users of social media. These platforms are not well governed. Indeed, they are highly decentralized and could easily be accessed, and this presents a high risk of illegal activity. Businesses continue to reap the benefits of incorporating social media into their strategies. There has been a shift in focus from conventional media to online and digital media in the form of social networking sites, wikis, and blogs. This has given rise to viral marketing as a means of effective communication and sharing information. The current chapter aims to explore the relationship between social media and value co-creation.

Archives of Business Research

Purpose: The main objective of this article examines the differences in the switching behaviours ... more Purpose: The main objective of this article examines the differences in the switching behaviours of older (Generation X and baby boomers) and younger (Millennials and Generation Z) customers of banks in the UK, with emphasis is on online and offline banking services. The secondary objective is also to evaluate the influential factors of customer satisfaction in the banking sector relating to customer switching behaviours. Design and Methodology: The study adopts a positivist approach by using questionnaire survey to gather data from 106 clients of banks in the UK. The questionnaire comprises 30 questions, the majority of which use a 5-point Likert scale. Findings: No statistically significant difference is found when the switching behaviours of older and younger customers are compared. However, younger customers perceived online banking as more useful due to their greater ease-of-use. Critically, security and ease-of-use are the most noticeable determinants of customer satisfaction ...

Ghana's Non-Traditional Export (NTE) sector is central to her export and economic growth. Dom... more Ghana's Non-Traditional Export (NTE) sector is central to her export and economic growth. Dominated by SME exporters, the sector has historically underperformed (GEPC, 2005). Therefore, this paper aims to evaluate the determinants of SME international competitiveness by addressing the question: To what extent are horticultural SME exporters in Ghana, competitive in the international market?In the framework part of the study five hypotheses were tested on the key issues of the paper. The study was conducted using a quantitative approach which involved surveying data of 105 Ghanaian horticultural SMEs which were statistically analysed employing SPSS. The main findings suggest that Government support policies, Access to finance, Technological Innovation, Entrepreneurial Factors, and the number of exporting destinations of the SME had a positive impact on the competitiveness of SME horticultural exporters in international markets. The findings also contribute to the advancement of t...

A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in partial fulfilment of the requirement fo... more A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

critical perspectives on international business, Oct 7, 2019

Purpose-The nature of international markets and the challenges with respect to the competitivenes... more Purpose-The nature of international markets and the challenges with respect to the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) makes it imperative to examine government support. The study aims to assess the role and effectiveness of government and the Export Promotion Agencies in supporting exports by non-traditional horticultural SMEs in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach-The study employed a qualitative research design which involved semi-structured interviews with senior managers of six export facilitating institutions to gain understanding of the services offered to SMEs with respect to exports of non-traditional horticultural products. Findings-The findings reveal inadequate cost-efficient sources of non-traditional horticultural export financing for SMEs. This is a hindrance to the international competitiveness of exporting SMEs in developing countries such as Ghana. In addition, effective and coordinated support from export promotion agencies was found to be critical. Originality/value-The study highlights the importance of government's role in policymaking and implementation of export-led programmes for horticultural exporting firms in Ghana. Despite their strategic importance, this area of research has not attracted the attention of researchers, with little or no information on horticultural international competitiveness of non-traditional horticultural products.

The purpose of this study/article is to exmaine whether the individualistic nature of millennials... more The purpose of this study/article is to exmaine whether the individualistic nature of millennials undermines the the effrots of transformational leadsrhip in achieving organizational objectives.

Leveraging Computer-Mediated Marketing Environments, 2019

Social media is considered trustworthy by consumers, and this has resulted in a strong consumer f... more Social media is considered trustworthy by consumers, and this has resulted in a strong consumer focus on social media to acquire information related to products and services. There are various benefits offered by social media, but security is a major concern as viruses and other threats can affect a huge number of users of social media. These platforms are not well governed. Indeed, they are highly decentralized and could easily be accessed, and this presents a high risk of illegal activity. Businesses continue to reap the benefits of incorporating social media into their strategies. There has been a shift in focus from conventional media to online and digital media in the form of social networking sites, wikis, and blogs. This has given rise to viral marketing as a means of effective communication and sharing information. The current chapter aims to explore the relationship between social media and value co-creation.

Archives of Business Research

Purpose: The main objective of this article examines the differences in the switching behaviours ... more Purpose: The main objective of this article examines the differences in the switching behaviours of older (Generation X and baby boomers) and younger (Millennials and Generation Z) customers of banks in the UK, with emphasis is on online and offline banking services. The secondary objective is also to evaluate the influential factors of customer satisfaction in the banking sector relating to customer switching behaviours. Design and Methodology: The study adopts a positivist approach by using questionnaire survey to gather data from 106 clients of banks in the UK. The questionnaire comprises 30 questions, the majority of which use a 5-point Likert scale. Findings: No statistically significant difference is found when the switching behaviours of older and younger customers are compared. However, younger customers perceived online banking as more useful due to their greater ease-of-use. Critically, security and ease-of-use are the most noticeable determinants of customer satisfaction ...

Ghana's Non-Traditional Export (NTE) sector is central to her export and economic growth. Dom... more Ghana's Non-Traditional Export (NTE) sector is central to her export and economic growth. Dominated by SME exporters, the sector has historically underperformed (GEPC, 2005). Therefore, this paper aims to evaluate the determinants of SME international competitiveness by addressing the question: To what extent are horticultural SME exporters in Ghana, competitive in the international market?In the framework part of the study five hypotheses were tested on the key issues of the paper. The study was conducted using a quantitative approach which involved surveying data of 105 Ghanaian horticultural SMEs which were statistically analysed employing SPSS. The main findings suggest that Government support policies, Access to finance, Technological Innovation, Entrepreneurial Factors, and the number of exporting destinations of the SME had a positive impact on the competitiveness of SME horticultural exporters in international markets. The findings also contribute to the advancement of t...

A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in partial fulfilment of the requirement fo... more A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

critical perspectives on international business, Oct 7, 2019

Purpose-The nature of international markets and the challenges with respect to the competitivenes... more Purpose-The nature of international markets and the challenges with respect to the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) makes it imperative to examine government support. The study aims to assess the role and effectiveness of government and the Export Promotion Agencies in supporting exports by non-traditional horticultural SMEs in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach-The study employed a qualitative research design which involved semi-structured interviews with senior managers of six export facilitating institutions to gain understanding of the services offered to SMEs with respect to exports of non-traditional horticultural products. Findings-The findings reveal inadequate cost-efficient sources of non-traditional horticultural export financing for SMEs. This is a hindrance to the international competitiveness of exporting SMEs in developing countries such as Ghana. In addition, effective and coordinated support from export promotion agencies was found to be critical. Originality/value-The study highlights the importance of government's role in policymaking and implementation of export-led programmes for horticultural exporting firms in Ghana. Despite their strategic importance, this area of research has not attracted the attention of researchers, with little or no information on horticultural international competitiveness of non-traditional horticultural products.