New insights into consumer confidence in financial services

2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adèle Gritten
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Consumer Behaviour ◽  
Consumer Confidence ◽  
Way Of Life ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Household Finances

PurposeA paradigm shift in consumer confidence has taken place with the worst recession on record forcing people to evaluate their personal and household finances. This paper seeks to explore the extent to which consumer confidence has been tarnished, and how it has evolved post‐recession. It aims to take both retrospective and prospective views on what has changed in the British psyche since the credit crunch, looking at where new confidences have been found and where old confidences have been lost, and hypothesising about the extent to which consumer behaviour will remain constant or further change against a likely backdrop of continuing financial instability.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is based on a variety of proprietary quantitative research surveys conducted by YouGov plc.FindingsThis paper provides new insights into consumer confidence, including, but not limited to: demonstrating the harsh realities of more people being in financial difficulty now than 18 months ago, and its impact on confidence; looking at which aspects of household expenditure and budgets have been hardest squeezed, and what that means for short‐ and medium‐term futures; analysing the extent to which the generally lower level of available credit makes consumers more or less reliant on borrowing as a way of life, and the associated impact on confidence and decision making/financial planning prioritisation; exploring the real fears and concerns people have about their future finances; and exploring consumer financial hopes and aspirations in a post‐recessionary climate.Originality/valueFindings from bespoke research offer hitherto unpublished and statistically valid results on the extent to which consumers have coped with and embraced the aftermath of the recession, and, moreover, how that might manifest itself in terms of future consumer confidence in financial services.

scholarly journals Investigating consumer behaviour for environmental, sustainable and social apparel

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerri Byrd ◽  
Jin Su
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Data ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Consumer Behaviour ◽  
Apparel Industry ◽  
Target Market ◽  
Market Information ◽  
Environmental Practices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Production Methods

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate consumers' perceptions of and consumer behaviour towards apparel labels and environmental, sustainable and social apparel.Design/methodology/approachQuantitative research was conducted, and empirical data were collected from 399 US consumers.FindingsFindings indicate that consumers expressed positive sentiments towards apparel sustainability, yet they lacked knowledge about socially and environmental practices within the apparel industry. Overall, it is apparent that the respondents have an interest in environmental and social labelling; but they are not aware of brands that sell these types of garments nor their validity. It was also found that consumers may not have much knowledge regarding environmental, sustainable and social apparel or their meanings.Originality/valueBy surveying the consumers about their perspectives on apparel labels and environmental, sustainable and social apparel, valuable market information was obtained. Sustainably and ethically produced garments are of demand as transparency in the apparel industry grows. Brands looking to become more transparent about their production methods will need to find new ways to reach their target market by accurately labelling products and educating their consumers about these label claims.

Rethinking bibliographic utilities for library consortia

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (8) ◽  
pp. 7-9
Author(s):  
Israel Odede
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Distributed Network ◽  
Network Resources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Library Consortia ◽  
Individual Ownership ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose The paper aims to critically examine the bibliographic utility as a roadmap to increase library consortia and provide an insight into a new library consortia strategy that integrates librarians into a system of sharing both resources and knowledge. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a literature review approach with a focus on bibliographic utility as a necessary prerequisite for effective library consortia, which is a paradigm shift from the concept of individual ownership to a collective access of distributed network resources and knowledge. Findings The reviewed literature indicated that significant bibliographic utilities and integrated library systems are factors that shaped and developed consortia activities in libraries. Originality/value The bibliographic utility has limited literature, and a few published scholarly studies have combined bibliographic utility and library consortia as strategies to share resources and knowledge

The true motives behind the adoption of QLASSIC-CIS 7: 2006

2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 603-616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenn Jhun Kam ◽  
Ahmad Hilmy Abdul Hamid
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Quality Assurance Program ◽  
Internal Motivation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Motivation Factors ◽  
Awareness Level ◽  
Significant Factors

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate contractors’ awareness level and adoption of QLASSIC assessment system in construction industry and to identify the variables that influenced the adoption of QLASSIC assessment system. Design/methodology/approach – Quantitative research method was adopted in order to test the above issues. The questionnaire composed for two parts: awareness and adoption of QLASSIC system; and the factors that influenced the adoption of QLASSIC system. Those contractors who registered under grade 6 and 7 are the scope of respondents in this study. Findings – The adoption of QLASSIC assessment is not significantly affected by the awareness whereas the motivations and barrier factors do. It was discovered that the contractors perception on QLASSIC adoption are basically due to the significant factors; the internal motivations and barrier. The major influencing factors are internal motivation factors, external motivation factors and barrier factors. Originality/value – This study reveals the true motives behind the adoption of QLASSIC assessment in the construction industry, where this finding significantly contributes to the understanding of contractors’ perception on this quality assurance program for the construction industry.

Workplace democracy and psychological capital: a paradigm shift in workplace

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (9) ◽  
pp. 1088-1116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ki-Soon Han ◽  
Pooja Garg
Keyword(s):  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Psychological Capital ◽  
Organizational Outcomes ◽  
Computational Tool ◽  
Organizational Strategies ◽  
Workplace Democracy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Alpha Reliability

Purpose This paper aims to explore the role of workplace democracy in generating psychological capital, which is an inevitable paradigm for the contemporary organizations. The study also provides a conceptual framework which connotes the nexus between the two constructs. Design/methodology/approach The study is qualitative in nature and uses content analysis to identify the determinants of workplace democracy and psychological capital. Furthermore, the study used SPSS macro, i.e. PROCESS, a computational tool for calculating inter-coder reliability by using KALPHA, i.e. Krippendorff’s alpha reliability estimate (Hayes, 2013; Krippendorff, 2011). Findings The present study adds to the literature by signaling the dire need for building democratic workplaces and offers significant insights for the management and human resource practitioners to cultivate workplace democracy to build their employees’ psychological strengths, which in turn will result in enhanced organizational outcomes. Originality/value The present study brings attention toward the necessity for a shift in the generic organizational strategies and instigate organizations to nurture a democratic setup for developing employees’ psychological capital.

An examination of the status and evolution of country image research

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 825-850 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene R.R. Lu ◽  
Louise A. Heslop ◽  
D. Roland Thomas ◽  
Ernest Kwan
Keyword(s):  
International Business ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Consumer Behaviour ◽  
Critical Assessment ◽  
Country Image ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Product Categories ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Status ◽  
Research Procedure

Purpose Country image (CI) has been one of the most studied topics in international business, marketing, and consumer behaviour of the past five decades. Nevertheless, there has been no critical assessment of this field of research. The purpose of this paper is to understand the status and evolution of CI research. Design/methodology/approach The authors review 554 articles published in academic journals over 35 years. The authors examine publication, authorship, and research procedure trends in these articles as an empirical and quantitative assessment of the field. The authors identify weaknesses and strengths, and the authors address disconcerting and encouraging trends. Findings The authors find a number of laudatory trends: CI research is becoming less US-centric, more theory driven, more sophisticated in methodology, evaluating more diverse product categories, and making use of multiple cue studies. There are, however, two major methodological concerns: poor replication and questionable generalizability of findings. The authors also noted the influence of CI articles has been decreasing, as well as their rate of publication in top tier journals. Originality/value Since the authors present data that reflect actual practices in the field and how such practices have changed across time, the authors believe the study is of substantial value to CI researchers, journal editors, and instructors whose curriculum includes CI. The critical assessment and subsequent recommendations are accordingly empirically justified.

Customer participation and the roles of self-efficacy and adviser-efficacy

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 241-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chung-Yu Wang
Keyword(s):  
Synergistic Effect ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Customer Value ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Switching Costs ◽  
Customer Participation ◽  
Perceived Efficacy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Survey Sample

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how customers derive value and switching costs from their own participation conditional on their perceived efficacy of themselves (self-efficacy) and their advisers (adviser-efficacy) in financial services. Design/methodology/approach Student interviewers approached customers exiting banks with a skip interval of two. The respondents received the questionnaire items translated into Chinese. The final survey sample consists of 220 respondents. Findings Empirical results confirm that customer participation influences switching costs through customer value. The synergistic effect of self-efficacy and adviser-efficacy moderates the relationships among customer participation, customer value and switching costs. The incongruent levels of self-efficacy and adviser-efficacy can increase customer value and switching costs. Originality/value This study looks beyond self-efficacy to demonstrate that the synergistic roles of self-efficacy and adviser-efficacy significantly influence the relationships among customer participation, customer value and switching costs.

Factors influencing touristic consumer behaviour

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasco Santos ◽  
Paulo Ramos ◽  
Bruno Sousa ◽  
Nuno Almeida ◽  
Marco Valeri
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Critical Reflection ◽  
Consumer Behaviour ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Scientific Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Tourism Marketing ◽  
Tourist Behaviour

PurposeThis paper aims to present a content analysis of two major constructs among tourism settings, namely involvement and emotions, strictly related to tourist behaviour, due to the fact that there are still some critical gaps in the knowledge about tourists' emotions and involvement.Design/methodology/approachAn in-depth content analysis of involvement and emotions was adopted as the methodological approach. This methodology addressed an amalgam of different definitions, frameworks, mixed theoretical and practical applications and approaches, results, comparisons as well as a blend of a set of scales of involvement and emotions by confrontating of authors.FindingsThe major findings state that emotions and involvement demonstrate greater progress and scientific development to the level of tourism, marketing and consumer behaviour, representing an important issue for the integrated tourism experiences.Originality/valueThis study presents a critical reflection on the importance of emotions and involvement in specific contexts of leisure and tourism.

A paradigm shift in corporate social responsibility: India’s transition from mandatory regime to the COVID-19 era

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aparna Bhatia ◽  
Amandeep Dhawan
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Gradual Increase ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This study aims to examine the pattern of corporate social responsibility expenditure (CSRE) incurred by Indian companies after the inception of Companies Act 2013. It also highlights the resultant change brought in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) spends of the companies because of COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach The CSR index provided by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs under Companies (CSR Policy) Rules 2014, is adopted to measure the extent of CSRE made by top 30 Indian companies listed on Bombay Stock Exchange. To study the pattern of CSRE in various domains mentioned in the CSR index, the study is conducted over four points of time. Three alternative years since the commencement of the Companies Act 2013 i.e. 2014–2015, 2016–2017 and 2018–2019 have been taken up. Additionally, the financial year 2019–2020 is included as it marks the inception of the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings The findings show that the CSRE made by companies is increasing every year over all points of time taken in the study. In addition to this, Indian companies have voluntarily contributed a substantial amount towards COVID-19 relief over and above the required mandatory limits. Practical implications The gradual increase in CSR contributions even above the mandated amount and voluntary contribution towards COVID-19 relief by Indian companies implies that the nature of CSR in India is still philanthropic. Originality/value The study contributes to the CSR literature after the implementation of the mandatory CSR provisions in India and in the wake of the global pandemic caused by COVID-19 as so far there is no such study available in the extant literature.

Learning organization – organization emerging from presence

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-30
Author(s):  
Nataša Rupčić
Keyword(s):  
Learning Organization ◽  
Critical Review ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Social Problems ◽  
Wicked Problems ◽  
Social Dimensions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss the possibilities of transcending individual, organizational and social problems through the prism of presence as suggested by Senge et al. (2012). Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on the critical review of previous contributions. Findings The idea of a learning organization seems romantic and elusive, as well as difficult to implement, especially when the definition by Senge (1990) is considered. At the same time, organizational and social complexity is increasing and resulting in numerous difficult or wicked problems. To reach integrative and transcending solutions, a change in perception and surrender to presence is key. Research limitations/implications Conclusions provided in the paper could benefit from further practice to corroborate the findings. Practical implications Suggestions for practitioners have been provided on how to solve personal, organizational and social problems on the basis of the paradigm shift and the shift in perception. Originality/value In this paper, the individual, organizational and social dimensions in terms of their intricacies are considered and solutions are offered that could simultaneously solve wicked problems on all three levels.

Browsing behaviour as a mediator: the impact of multi-sensory cues on purchasing

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 253-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miralem Helmefalk
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Consumer Behaviour ◽  
Retail Store ◽  
Sensory Cues ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sensory Marketing ◽  
Group Data ◽  
Subsequent Effect ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Empirical Contribution

PurposeThis paper aims to examine how multi-sensory cues, when store-congruent, influence consumer browsing behaviour and its subsequent effect on purchasing.Design/methodology/approachTwo studies were used with a field experimental design in a furnishing retail store to examine browsing behaviour and purchasing in a visual, auditory, olfactory and a multi-sensory treatment group. Data were gathered over 12 weeks. This study was a set of studies comprising my dissertation thesis (Helmefalk, 2017).FindingsFindings show that multi-sensory cues in a retail atmosphere are evidently influencing purchasing via browsing behaviour as a mediator.Originality/valueThe findings evidence browsing behaviour as a mediator and predictor for purchasing, which emphasizes its conceptual and empirical contribution in terms of modifying retail atmospheres. The work contributes to the field of retailing, sensory marketing and consumer behaviour, a novel view on the linkages between multi-sensory cues, browsing behaviour and purchasing.

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