FOREIGNERS’ ALIPAY USAGE IN MAINLAND CHINA: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY

ABSTRACT

This study offers an overview of foreigners’ Alipay usage when linked with credit cards issued by foreign agencies during their travel to Mainland China. Employing a qualitative ethnography method, the author engaged in firsthand participant observations, conducted informal interviews with local citizens, and analyzed archival data to investigate this phenomenon. The analysis employed a socio-technical perspective with swift guanxi to elucidate the present observed scenario and potential solutions when encountering challenges while using Alipay.

KEYWORDS:

• Alipay
• Chinese mobile payment
• socio-technical perspective
• swift guanxi
• technology acceptance

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Chih-Yuan Chou

Chih-Yuan Chou is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Management Information Systems at National Chengchi University. He received his Ph.D. in Technology from Purdue University. His research interests include social media, e-commerce, IT innovation and entrepreneurship, digital society and communication, and technology adoption issues. His work has been published in Information Systems Journal, Management Review, Leadership and Organizational Management Journal, and Business Journal of Entrepreneurs, as well as in the proceedings of the top conferences on information systems.