Browsing by Author "Karunaratne, H.D."

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Changing Consumer Preferences and Urban Buyer Behaviour: The Case of Sri Lanka
(University of Kelaniya, 2005) Vishvanathan, D.; Karunaratne, H.D.
According to the recent Consumer Finances and Socio-Economic Survey 2003/2004 conducted by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the behavioural patterns of urban consumer have drastically changed during the past two decades. This study attempts to identify the reasons behind this phenomenon. By reviewing of literature and holding discussions with experts, it was identified that the changing consumer preferences are the product of interaction among consumer-related variables, product-related variables and motives of food demand. In order to obtain the necessary facts about emerging patterns of consumer preferences, data was collected from both primary and secondary sources. The study analysed the changes in family consumption patterns in Sri Lanka and the socio-economic characteristics and income and expenditure patterns of urban shoppers. A strong relationship was identified between the two variables, emerging consumer preferences patterns and variables influencing product selection and place of shopping. There were a few prominent findings in this regard, namely (i) consumers shop at supermarkets because of the ability to get most of the weekly requirements by shopping done under one roof; (ii) most consumers consider quality, choice of goods and convenience of shopping over the traditional factors like price in making a purchase decision; and (iii) consumers who spend more on grocery items tend to use supermarkets. It was also revealed that the rapid growth of supermarkets also influences the emerging patterns of consumer preferences.
Determinants of Growth of Supermarkets in Sri Lanka
(University of Kelaniya, 2005) Karunaratne, H.D.; Vishvanathan, D.
The number of supermarkets has been rapidly growing in Sri Lanka during the recent past. This study attempts to identify determinants of such growth. There are four main objectives of this paper, namely (i) to understand the factors which are considered in establishing the supermarket outlets;(ii) to understand the factors which determine their growth; (iii) to understand how supermarkets can increase profits by minimizing social and economic externalities; and (iv) to understand how consumers can be better off by using supermarkets. In order to achieve these objectives, this study present SWOT of supermarkets, analyzing the growing trends of supermarkets, socio-economic characteristics, family consumption patterns and income and expenditure patterns of supermarket shoppers. This study utilized both published and unpublished macro and micro level data. The primary data was obtained by means of conducting in-depth interviews and two surveys. Secondary data was collected from the survey findings published by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. According to the facts established by means of analysing the data collected, a strong relationship was found between the two variables, growth of supermarkets and the emerging consumer behaviour patterns in Sri Lanka. Further, the study revealed a clear change of the patterns of consumer behaviour associated with the expansion of supermarkets. Finally, interdependent relationship between the growth of supermarkets and emerging patterns of consumer behaviour was identified in the context of urban Sri Lanka.
In Search of Silver Line from Immigrant Entrepreneurs in Japan: Review of Literature
(Department of Commerce and Financial Management, University of Kelaniya, 2017) Karunaratne, H.D.
The aim of this paper is to review published documents on immigrant entrepreneurship in conceptual, theoretical and empirical perspectives and summarize existing studies on immigrant entrepreneurs in Japan including Sri Lankans. Findings of this paper indicates several gaps to be addressed for further development of research on immigrant entrepreneurship in Japan as (1) it is a relatively new concept and a limited number of studies have been conducted due to small size of foreign born population and their scatted nature, wider language and cultural differences, insufficient macro-level data and difficulties in accessing micro-level information; (2) there are enough evidences to show that the number of immigrant entrepreneurs in Japan have been increasing in recent past and are predicted to increase in future; (3) most of the existing Asian immigrant entrepreneurs in Japan have emerged through migrant workers, assets generated in Japan and married to Japanese; (4) since services and ICT sectors have been expanding, foreigners have new avenues to start businesses in Japan (5) the large number of SMEs in Japan still focus on local markets with high technical abilities and suffer due to the limited access to Asian markets, although mutual benefits can be expanded if they have wider access to develop linkages with immigrant entrepreneurs in Japan; and finally, (6) internalization of immigrant businesses in Japan (export orientation, mergers and acquisition of foreign firms and assets, joint ventures and FDI projects started in collaboration with Japanese banks) has been a new phenomenon in the literature of immigrant entrepreneurship in the 21st century. Therefore, immigrant entrepreneurship continues to remain as an unexplored research field in Japan.
Issues and Challenges of Born Global Entrepreneurs: Information & Communication Technology (ICT) Exporters in Sri Lanka
(2015) Herath, H.M.T.S.; Karunaratne, H.D.
There has been a growing interest in early and rapidly internationalizing firms, known as ‘Born Globals’, in place of a novel phenomenon in International Entrepreneurship (IE) domain. Despite extensive research, the BG phenomenon is still under explained and hence, theory and practice are still developing. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to investigate the nature, characteristics, performance, issues and challenges of BGs in the context of Sri Lanka with special reference to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) exporters, who exhibit those characteristics of born globals. The study uses the descriptive approach and the sample includes ICT exporters in Sri Lanka. The findings of the study reveal that the main challenges and the issues, facing by ICT exporters in Sri Lanka are; the structural composition of the ICT industry, lack of skillful human resources, heavy dependency on US & Europe markets, costly infrastructure facilities & its poor condition and lack of global image as an IT destination.