Abstract:
The purchasing decision requirements for smartphones have been greatly influenced
by globalization and making it extremely difficult to analyze and interpret. Currently,
Ethiopian consumers have the privilege to examine many smartphone brands and
purchase decisions becomes very complex to consumers and little is known about how
to evaluate different Smartphone imported from different countries. Now, research on
consumer purchase decision behaviour towards smartphones is still under
investigation in Ethiopia, particularly in the study area. The main objective of the study
was to identify the influencing factors that affect consumer purchasing decisions
behaviour towards smartphones in Bahir Dar city and investigate how the Brand name,
Product feature, Country-of origin image, Price, and Social influence affect consumer
purchase decisions. A quantitative study was employed with descriptive and
explanatory design. Different theories like self-concept theory and stimulus-response
theory were used. A survey method was used to collect the data from respondents by
using convenience sampling techniques. A sample of 385 was taken and analyzed by
descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. Correlation analysis and multiple
regression were used to examine the relationship and to identify the effect of
explanatory variables on consumer purchasing decisions behaviour. The regression
analysis confirms that 69.2% of the explored variables explained the dependent
variables. The findings revealed that social influence, product feature, and brand name
were statistically significant and positively affecting smartphone purchase decisions.
On the other hand, the country-of-origin image has a statistically insignificant effect
while the price has a statistically significant and negative effect on consumer purchase
decisions. The study recommends that smartphone manufacturers and marketers should
concentrate on the three determinant variables that have the greatest influence on
consumers' smartphone purchasing decisions and place greater emphasis on their
marketing strategy.