Search

The main aim of this thesis was to identify, complement and refine the factors that contribute to users’ intention to purchase, satisfaction and attitude toward using a particular B2C online environment, as well as the causal relationships between these factors. A systematic literature review on Information System (IS), Market Research, and User Experience (UX), which has informed the design and development of a pilot study, has been conducted. Results have led to the conception of an online shopping decision-making (OSDM) model called ‘Episodic UX Model on Decision-Making’ (EUX-DM). It has been developed by integrating the established Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as well as Information System Success Model (ISSM), and emerging UX models, and Expectation-Confirmation Theory (ECT). Results from analysing 305 responses to the web-based questionnaire aimed to evaluate EUX-DM verified its validity. In addition, after investigating the users’ preferences for the possible modifications related to the use of visual avatar in a particular B2C e-Commerce website for information presentation, another research focus has been placed on identifying the real conversational functions and their related communicational behaviour in designing male and female visual avatars’ facial expressions and body gestures. Following this, four different types of information presentations have been developed to be used in a contrived B2C online shopping environment, namely: (i) 2D static graphical and textual information, (ii) non-expressive avatars, (iii) avatars with facial expressions, (iv) and avatars with facial expressions and body gestures information presentations. Consequently, these information presentations were empirically investigated through two experimental studies. The outcomes of these studies indicated that the gender of the avatar and participants were found to be insignificant factors for any of the measured qualities, and the use of visual avatars with animated facial expressions and body gestures positively influenced customers’ usage attitude, intention to purchase and satisfaction.

Article II of the New York Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of the Foreign Arbitral Awards is a central provision concerning recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitration agreements. It is deemed, however, to be one of the most controversial provisions of the Convention. The main cause of the complexity of this article is that Article II was thought about and added to the body of the Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards at the last stages of the New York Conference. The hasty insertion of Article II has left unsettled many legal questions concerning arbitration agreements. In the application of the New York Convention, Article II has given rise to many questions. In fact, a substantial number of all national courts decisions so far reported deals, either completely or in part, with questions concerning arbitration agreements under Article II. This thesis is an attempt to trace most legal implications concerning the application and interpretation of Article II of the New York Convention. Many problems are observed. Those problems include the failure of this Article to identify the arbitration agreements to which the Convention applies, the failure to determine the law applicable to arbitration agreements, and the broad ambiguous sweep of the language used in Article II in many occasions. This study is, therefore, devoted to identifying these problems, establishing their nature and extent and finding a satisfactory solution to them with relevant suggestions and proposals. In dealing with these problems a description and analysis of legislative and judicial practice on the subject in various countries which are parties to the Convention have been made. It is noted in many places of this thesis that Article II of the New York Convention like many provisions of most international conventions may represent a compromise and thus it may not be entirely satisfactory in every aspect it deals with. Article II's shortcomings could be, however, cured by the courts. Establishing a new convention on the subject could be a very difficult if not impossible task. In this regard, an observation has been made on the question of the extent to which national courts, by the so-called "interpretation", have been willing to promote harmonious rules in the field of international commercial arbitration, despite the shortcomings of Article II.