ADOPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION PROBLEMS OF E-BANKING: A STUDY OF THE MANAGERIAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE BANKING INDUSTRY IN OMAN

AbdulwahedMo. Khalfan, and Abdulridha Alshawaf, Kuwait University, Kuwait

This article explores the potential impeding factors for the wide adoption of electronic commerce (EC) applications in the Omani banking industry. Data were collected using a questionnaire complemented with semi-structured interviews, and review of internal banking documents. The participants were IS executives and managers. One of the major inhibiting factors is the lack of top management support. Information privacy and security issues were identified as serious inhibiting factors. Other factors such as power relationships (e.g., conflict between managers that arise during the process of IS/IT adoption), and lack of investment in EC applications were found less significant. The findings are relevant to businesses in Arab countries in particular and developing countries in general.