Empirical study of relationship value in industrial services

2008 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 228-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Barry ◽  
Tamara S. Terry
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Professional Services ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Cross Culture ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Building Relationships ◽  
Industrial Services ◽  
Services Sector ◽  
Relationship Value

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assist industrial service providers in building relationships that maximize value to their customers. The study aims to add to relationship value research by examining its dimensions, antecedents, outcomes, and cross‐culture relevance.Design/methodology/approachUsing structural equation modeling, the study examines the influence that relationship value has on commitment and intentions, as well as the determinants of value encompassing the core offering, sourcing process and buyer operations. The sample covers 42 countries for cross‐cultural perspectives.FindingsBy understanding the factors creating relationship value, providers are more likely to build enduring relationships with their buyers. Findings confirm that commitment and intentions are influenced by relationship value, which, in turn, is impacted by benefits such as performance, efficiency, and reliability as well as comparative costs and switching costs.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is oriented more towards industrial services. Further research is encouraged that extends the study domain to consumer and professional services.Originality/valueThe research demonstrates the mediating influence that relationship value has on behavioral outcomes. Especially important to global service providers, this knowledge is then extended beyond the traditionally studied single‐country settings to a world perspective, while extending the field of relationship value into the largely ignored industrial services sector.

Utilizing the Push-Pull-Mooring-Habit framework to explore users’ intention to switch from offline to online real-person English learning platform

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Hsin Chen ◽  
Ching-Jui Keng
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
English Learning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Learning Platform ◽  
Perceived Price ◽  
Real Person

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop an extended Push-Pull-Mooring-Habit (PPMH) framework in order to better understand users’ intention of switching from offline to an online real-person English learning platform service. Design/methodology/approach Based on 301 valid responses collected from an online survey questionnaire, structural equation modeling was employed to examine the research model. Findings The causal model was validated using SmartPLS 3.0, and all study hypotheses were supported. The results show that push effects (learning convenience, service quality and perceived price), pull effects (e-learning motivation, perceived usefulness), mooring effects (learning engagement, switching cost and social presences) and habit effects (relationship inertia) all significantly influence users’ switching intentions from offline to an online real-person English learning platform. Practical implications The findings should help online English learning service providers and marketers to understand the intention of offline English learning users to switch to an online real-person English learning platform, and develop related theories, services and regulations. Originality/value The present study extends the prior research of an online real-person English learning platform by providing PPMH as the general framework and demonstrating its efficacy in explaining user switching intentions.

Deriving managerial implications through SERVQUAL gap elasticity in UAE banking

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 940-964 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mukesh Kumar ◽  
K.S. Sujit ◽  
Vincent Charles
Keyword(s):  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Traditional Approach ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
The Right

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose the microeconomics concept of elasticity to estimate the SERVQUAL gap elasticity to derive important insights for service providers to develop the right strategies to bridge the overall gap in service. Design/methodology/approach The dimensions of SERVQUAL adopted from Parasuraman et al. (1988) and Kumar et al. (2009) are first verified for their unidimensionality using structural equation modeling and reliability in the context of United Arab Emirates banking industry. Furthermore, the technique of dominance analysis is used to derive the relative importance of dimensions for different groups of banks. Finally, the stepwise log-linear regression models are used to estimate the gap elasticity to measure the responsiveness of the overall SERVQUAL gap to a change in customers’ perception on different dimension. Findings The results reveal that the dimension which is prioritized as the most important dimension need not to be the one to be targeted under the resource constraint to react faster to the changes of customers’ banking behavior. Originality/value This is probably the first attempt to examine the service quality through gap elasticity. This method is especially useful when the traditional approach to measure relative importance of critical factors fails to clearly discriminate between two or more dimensions, which, in turn, may lead to failure in decision making to choose the right strategies to bridge the overall gap in the service.

Entrepreneurial universities and women entrepreneurship: a cross-cultural study

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (9) ◽  
pp. 2541-2554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Carmen Laudano ◽  
Lamberto Zollo ◽  
Cristiano Ciappei ◽  
Vincenzo Zampi
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Entrepreneurial Universities ◽  
Cross Culture ◽  
Developed Country ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Emerging Country

Purpose Through a cross-culture study, the purpose of this paper is to understand about how entrepreneurial universities can foster entrepreneurship in women by attending to psychological and environmental factors and personality traits that encourage women to form entrepreneurial intent. Design/methodology/approach The authors test the proposed conceptual model on a cross-cultural sample comprising 350 students from Italy, a developed country, and from Albania, an emerging country. Structural equation modeling is used to validate the proposed model and test the hypothesized relationships. Findings In both Italy and Albania, entrepreneurial universities significantly impact entrepreneurial attitudes and intentions in women. The major differences relate to psychological factors that predict self-employment attitudes and intentions. Specifically, risk-taking propensity and locus of control are important antecedents of attitudes in both samples; the need for independence is a significant predictor only in the Italian sample; need for achievement has significant influence only in the Albanian sample. Originality/value To better understand and interpret the phenomenon of female entrepreneurship, the authors use the theory of planned behavior to investigate entrepreneurial universities located in Italy, a developed country, and Albania, an emerging country.

Usage of smartphone for financial transactions: from the consumer privacy perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheshadri Chatterjee ◽  
Ranjan Chaudhuri ◽  
Demetris Vrontis ◽  
Zahid Hussain
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Privacy Concerns ◽  
Consumer Privacy ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Privacy Calculus ◽  
Financial Transactions

Purpose This study aims to empirically examine how consumer privacy concerns (CPC) impact smartphone usage for financial transactions. The study also investigates the moderating impact of regulations on this action. Design/methodology/approach With the inputs from literature and related privacy theories, a theoretical model was developed. The model was later empirically validated using the partial least squares structural equation modeling technique with 367 respondents from India. Findings The study finds that CPC significantly impacts on consumer behavior in using smartphones for financial transactions. The study also highlights that regulation has a moderating impact on consumer usage of smartphones for financial transactions. Research limitations/implications This study provides valuable inputs to smartphone service providers, practitioners, regulatory authorities and policymakers on appropriate and secure usage of smartphones by consumers, ensuring privacy protection while making financial transactions. Originality/value This study provides a unique model showing the antecedents of CPC to impact the behavioral reaction of smartphone users mediated through the ingredients of privacy calculus theory. Besides, this study analyzes the moderating effects of regulation on the use of smartphones for financial transactions. This is also a novel approach of this study.

Identifying brand touchpoints to increase switching costs in the banking industry

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 718-736 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullah Sultan
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Switching Costs ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Banking Industry ◽  
Service Failure ◽  
Customer Experience ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of staged customer experiences on customer switching costs in the banking industry. Design/methodology/approach Brand touchpoints in the banking industry are identified by exploratory research using focus group sessions with bank customers and staff and refined by exploratory factor analysis using an independent sample of bank customers to form the staged customer experience construct. The proposed research model is then validated by confirmatory factor analysis with an independent sample using structural equation modeling. Findings Customer experience in the banking industry consists of four related but distinct stages (i.e. pre-touch, in-touch, post-touch and service failure). The first three stages have direct and indirect effects on switching costs that are partially mediated by relationship quality. Research limitations/implications Customer experience is an industry-specific construct with complicated effects on switching costs. Thus, the staged customer experience construct should be examined in different industries and applications to understand its implications. Practical implications Bank customers demand experiences that achieve desirable results in everyday situations and switch to other service providers easily if this demand is not met. Banks should focus on brand touchpoints that are both important to customers and increase switching costs to keep customers from defecting. Originality/value This research expands upon findings in the customer experience literature by exploring factors that link staged customer experiences with switching costs in the banking industry. In addition, a paradox is identified in the staged customer experience model that requires managers’ attention in order to design an effective customer experience strategy.

scholarly journals Converting hotels website visitors into buyers

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-159
Author(s):  
Gomaa M. Agag ◽  
Mohamed A. Khashan ◽  
Nazan Colmekcioglu ◽  
Ahmed Almamy ◽  
Nawaf S. Alharbi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Perceived Value ◽  
Online Reviews ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Cross Culture ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
Hotel Websites

Purpose Despite the increasing utilization of webpages for the purposes of information seeking, customers’ concerns have become a crucial impediment for online shopping. The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of the effectiveness of web assurance seals services (WASS) and customers’ concerns on customer’s willingness to book hotels through perceived website trust and perceived value. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire was administrated to measure the study variables. Using partial least squares–structural equation modeling approach to analyze the data collected from 860 users of online hotel websites. Findings The results indicate that WASS influence positively on perceived website trust and negatively on consumers’ concerns. As well as, perceived value and trust play a mediating role in the link between WASS and consumers’ concerns and their intentions. Finally, perceived website trust and perceived value have greater effect on intention to book hotel for low-habit consumers. Research limitations/implications This study ignored the cross-culture issue as it concentrates on the customers from developing countries, so further research may need to compare between two or more than two samples from different societies that could give a significant insights. Second, this study stresses on the WASS to predict customers booking intentions that indicates significant results, so further research may need to examine the role of online reviews as a predictor of customers purchase decision as well. Originality/value To the authors’ best knowledge, this is the first empirical research that investigates and examines the influence of the effectiveness of WASS and consumers’ concerns on consumers’ intentions through perceived value and trust. This research also investigates the moderating role of habit in the link between perceived website, perceived value and consumers’ intentions.

Emotional brand attachment: a factor in customer-bank relationships

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 136-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shalom Levy ◽  
Hayiel Hino
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Emotional Attachment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the relationship between customers’ emotional attachment toward bank service providers and bank loyalty. In particular, the study examines the impact of the emotional attachment factor while treating established effecting variables by employing a new conceptual framework that integrates these variables. Design/methodology/approach – The study employs data collected from a survey involving 436 participants. The study employs Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis methods following a path analysis method and structural equation modeling for testing research hypotheses. Findings – The empirical results support the claim that the conceptual framework applied in this study better explains the relationship between customers’ emotional attachment toward bank service providers and bank loyalty. Specifically, the findings show a significant, direct and positive relationship between the customer’s emotional attachment and bank loyalty; an indirect positive relationship also exists through the connection of customer satisfaction. The study distinguishes between two integrated pathways consumers possibly follow when making decisions about services: the conscious decision-making process path and the emotional process path. Practical implications – The paper provides managerial and planning implications to bank service providers who seek to achieve excellent performance and a positive brand personality, thus maintaining long-lasting relationships with their customers. Originality/value – The study is among the few empirical works to specifically examine the impact of customers’ emotional attachment on bank loyalty and contributes to the available literature in that it suggests a systematic conceptual framework that evaluates the impact of key factors on bank loyalty.

Brand equity, satisfaction, and switching costs

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Galina Biedenbach ◽  
Maria Bengtsson ◽  
Agneta Marell
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Brand Equity ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Switching Costs ◽  
Professional Services ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Four Dimensions ◽  
Marketing Managers

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of satisfaction and switching costs on the development of brand equity in the business-to-business (B2B) setting. The study considers the hierarchical effects between brand awareness, brand associations, perceived quality, and brand loyalty. Furthermore, the conceptual model examines the direct effect of switching costs on satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach – Structural equation modeling was used to analyze 632 responses from the CEOs and CFOs of organizations buying auditing and business consultancy services from one of the Big Four auditing companies. Findings – The findings demonstrate the significant impact of satisfaction and switching costs on brand equity in the B2B setting. Furthermore, the findings show the positive effect of switching costs on satisfaction. Research limitations/implications – The study is conducted in the professional services context. Future research can examine whether the observed effects can be found in other B2B settings and considering various B2B services and industrial goods. Practical implications – The study contributes to marketing managers’ understanding of how marketing actions aimed to increase satisfaction can affect brand equity. Marketing managers are provided with insights and evidence on how switching costs can impact satisfaction and brand equity. Originality/value – The study tests a unique conceptual model focussing on the causal relationships between four dimensions of brand equity, satisfaction and switching costs. The findings provide a strong foundation for further investigation of links between the key marketing concepts: brand equity, satisfaction, and switching costs.

Logistic services in the Caribbean region

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 534-552 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex J. Ruiz-Torres ◽  
Guillermo Cardoza ◽  
Markku Kuula ◽  
Yuritza Oliver ◽  
Henry Rosa-Polanco
Keyword(s):  
Information Sharing ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Contingency Planning ◽  
Caribbean Region ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
And Performance

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the relationships between the capabilities and performance characteristics of logistic service providers (LSPs) in the Caribbean region. The study considers the organization’s process improvement (PI) performance as it relates to their innovation capabilities, their efforts into information sharing and collaboration with customers, their planning for contingencies and considering the uncertainty of their customer’s technology. Design/methodology/approach A survey was applied to 88 LSP firms with operations in the Caribbean region. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the hypothesized relationships. Findings The results indicate that the PI performance of LSPs is significantly related to their innovation capabilities, and that these capabilities are positively related to collaboration and exchange of relevant information. Furthermore, they indicate that information sharing between LSPs and their customers significantly improves the quality of contingency planning. However, the study showed that innovation capabilities are not directly related to the LSPs’ focus on contingency planning and that customers’ technology uncertainty does not have a significant effect on the LSPs’ innovation capabilities. Research limitations/implications The sample of LSP firms is limited to three countries of the Caribbean region. Further examination of the model in additional countries and across multiple industrial contexts would increase the validity of the findings and expand to settings such as manufacturing and services. Originality/value This study measures operational performance of LSPs from a different perspective: its PI performance, and considers how multiple factors affect this performance.

scholarly journals User-generated content behaviour of the dissatisfied service customer

2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (9/10) ◽  
pp. 1600-1625 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caterina Presi ◽  
Charalampos Saridakis ◽  
Susanna Hartmans
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Service Recovery ◽  
Negative Attitude ◽  
User Generated Content ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Service Experience ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Recovery Strategies

Purpose – This study aims to focus on the motivation of service customers to create user-generated content (UGC) after a negative service experience. In examining this relationship, the moderating role of “extraversion” personality trait is also taken into consideration. Furthermore, the paper examines how differently motivated service customers react to a firm’s service recovery strategies, whilst insights into the relationship between UGC creation and specific online platform usage are also provided. Design/methodology/approach – Structural Equation Modeling is used to test the conceptual model, based on an empirical dataset collected from an online survey research of 239 service customers. The dataset pertains to international travellers and their UGC behaviour after a negative travel experience. Findings – Altruistic, vengeance and economic motivations are strong drivers for UGC creation after a negative service experience. Motivations also correlate to participation in specific online platforms. Furthermore, it is shown that highly extraverted customers create more UGC after a negative service experience when motivated by vengeance. Finally, higher levels of altruistic and self-enhancement motivations correlate with a positive attitude towards a firm’s response, whereas customers who are motivated by vengeance have a negative attitude towards a firm’s response. Practical implications – Customers who share their negative service experience by creating UGC in social media can be segmented according to their motivation. Service providers should inspect the UGC of their customers to understand the motivation behind it. The motivation to create UGC varies across platforms, and hence, customized service recovery strategies are required. Originality/value – This paper examines UGC creation in relation to motivation, extraversion, and attitude towards a firm’s response. This is the first reported application which collectively examines important issues like these in a unified theoretical framework.

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