Antecedents of adaptive selling behaviour: a study of the Korean cosmetic industry

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fortune Edem Amenuvor ◽  
Ho-Taek Yi ◽  
Henry Boateng

PurposeThis paper examines the antecedents of adaptive selling behavior empirically from the salespeople's, customers', and firms' perspectives.Design/methodology/approachSurvey design was used for this study. Data from 219 salespeople and their visiting customers in selected cosmetics companies in Korea are used to test the conceptual model using structural equation modeling.FindingsFindings show that intrinsic motivation, empathy, and product knowledge are germane to adaptive selling behavior among salesperson-level factors. Similarly, among the customer-level factors, the length of the relationship between salespeople and customers positively affects adaptive selling behavior. Also, while supervisory empowerment among the organizational-level factors significantly predicts adaptive selling behavior, supervisory control has a negative effect on adaptive selling behavior. The study finds that emotional intelligence and customer value demandingness do not significantly affect adaptive selling behavior.Originality/valueEven though there is extant research on adaptive selling behavior, our research differs from previous research because our research focuses on door-to-door personal selling channels. Furthermore, this study departs from previous research because it uses customer-reporting of the salespeople and salespeople's self-reporting responses.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fortune Edem Amenuvor ◽  
Ho-Taek Yi ◽  
Henry Boateng

PurposeThis paper aims to assess the effect of adaptive selling behavior on customer outcomes, mutual outcomes and salesperson outcomes.Design/methodology/approachThe respondents were salespeople and customers in selected door-to-door cosmetics companies in South Korea. A questionnaire was used to collect the data. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data in this study.FindingsFindings show that adaptive selling behavior positively affects customer satisfaction, customer loyalty, sales performance, job satisfaction and relationship quality. These findings suggest that adaptive selling is crucial for the firm's survival depending on the industry and the product. Additionally, unlike previous studies, the authors use salespeople's self-reporting responses and customer-reporting of salespeople, which further enhances the richness and uniqueness of the results.Originality/valueStudies investigating mutual outcomes of adaptive selling behavior are scarce. The study also emphasizes that adaptive selling behavior enhances salesperson outcomes and customer outcomes and primarily uses dyadic data between door-to-door salespeople and their customers, which is not very common.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 1724-1735 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harindranath R.M. ◽  
Bharadhwaj Sivakumaran ◽  
Jayanth Jacob

Purpose The principal purpose of this study is to examine the moderating influence of selling experience on the following two relationships – adaptive selling and job satisfaction and customer orientation and job satisfaction – using unionized salespeople as respondents. It also tests for the mediating role of adaptive selling in the customer orientation–job satisfaction relationship. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses data from a survey conducted on 208 pharmaceutical unionized salespeople from 46 pharmaceutical firms in India. The model was tested using structural equation modeling. Moderation hypotheses were estimated using process macro and the Johnson–Neyman technique. Findings The data fitted the model well. This research found that customer orientation drove adaptive selling behavior and job satisfaction, and that adaptive selling influenced job satisfaction (all positively); it was found that adaptive selling partially mediated the relationship between customer orientation and job satisfaction. Results revealed that job experience negatively moderated the adaptive selling behavior–job satisfaction and customer orientation–job satisfaction relationships. Practical implications The results show that pharma firms may hire young recruits and, importantly, measure their customer orientation and adaptive selling levels. For the purposes of training to enhance customer orientation and adaptive selling, pharma firms may send only their less experienced salespersons. Originality/value To the authors’ knowledge, this study could be the first to examine the interaction of job experience and customer-directed selling behaviors such as adaptive selling and customer orientation on job satisfaction. Moreover, this is possibly the only study in this domain that uses unionized salespeople in an emerging market (India).


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peerayuth Charoensukmongkol ◽  
Pornprom Suthatorn

PurposeThis research examined the relationships between improvisational behavior, adaptive selling behavior and sales performance of direct sellers in Thailand. This research also investigated whether these relationships are moderated by the degree of challenge orientation and sellers' knowledge about the products.Design/methodology/approachThe data were collected through a survey with sellers from a subsidiary of a multinational corporation located in Bangkok, Thailand (n = 172). Partial least squares–structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data.FindingsResults from data analysis revealed positive relationships between improvisational behavior, adaptive selling behavior and sales performance. The relationship between improvisational behavior and adaptive selling behavior, as well as the relationship between adaptive selling behavior and sales performance, significantly depended on the degree of challenge orientation and the sellers' knowledge about the products.Research limitations/implicationsThe data were collected using self-report measures; the sample was sellers from a single sales organization, and cross-sectional data were used for the analysis. Overall, this study is the exploratory research that does not intend to prove the causal effect of improvisational behavior, but rather to provide new insight on some conditional factors that influence its effectiveness.Practical implicationsIt is essential for sales organizations to ensure that their sales force has adequate improvisational skills to handle sales adaptations effectively during unexpected sales situations. Some training may be offered to the sales force to develop these imperative improvisational skills.Originality/valueThe results regarding the moderating effect of challenge orientation and product knowledge provided additional insight to prior research about the potential conditions that influence the effectiveness of improvisational behavior and adaptive selling behaviors.


Author(s):  
John Sorros ◽  
Petros Lois ◽  
Melita Charitou ◽  
Alkiviadis Theofanis Karagiorgos ◽  
Nicholas Belesis

Purpose Because of the education sector’s evolution, accounting initiatives are required regarding competitiveness. Activity-based costing’s (ABC) neglected potential as a cost strategic tool initiated this research, which aims to identify administrative and operational factors that support or hinder its implementation in educational institutions as a predictor of competitiveness. Design/methodology/approach A theoretical model was proposed and tested through structural equation modeling to identify relationships between accounting departments, cost procedures, the transmissibility of information and competitiveness. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, a scale of items was derived, denoting an institute’s cost strategy and ABC implementations and returned from 417 Greek education institutes. Findings An accounting department’s role in accurate data transmissibility and an institution’s organizational structure significantly affect cost-related competitiveness. The importance of information sharing is strengthened by current cost allocation capabilities and the accounting department’s influence on management. Research limitations/implications ABC’s limited implementation in the Greek education sector complicated the theoretical model’s construction, as a variety of geographical and institutional factors were taken into consideration. Practical implications Customer value provides a competitive advantage and constitutes the basis of solid price strategies. Research demonstrates ABC’s importance for education institutions’ competitiveness and resource exploitation. Social implications Education’s commercialization urges costing strategy prioritization. ABC could benefit competitiveness and attract long-term funds and investments. To create value institutions, the allocation of incurred costs to added-value activities is crucial. Originality/value This study sheds light on vague issues institutions face when dealing with ABC. Understanding accounting departments’ influence shows ABC’s feasibility even for smaller or less efficiency-oriented education institutions.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly R. Hall ◽  
Dana E. Harrison ◽  
Haya Ajjan ◽  
Greg W. Marshall

Purpose Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly growing frontier. One promising area for AI is its potential to assist sales managers in providing salesperson feedback. Despite this promise, little work has been done within the business-to-business (B2B) sales domain to investigate the potential impact of AI feedback on critical sales outcomes. The purpose of this research is to explore these issues and respond to calls in the literature to determine how AI can enhance salesperson adaptability and performance. Design/methodology/approach Survey data from a sample of 246 B2B salespeople was used to test the conceptual model and research hypotheses. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings The findings provide broad support for the model. An AI-feedback rich environment and salesperson feedback orientation predicted perceived accuracy of AI feedback which, in turn, strengthened intentions to use AI feedback. These favorable reactions to AI feedback positively related to adaptive selling behaviors, and adaptive selling behaviors mediated the relationships between intentions to use AI feedback and organizational commitment, as well as sales performance. Contrary to expectations, it did not mediate the relationship between intentions to use AI feedback and job satisfaction. Practical implications The managerial implications of this study lie in explaining practical considerations for the implementation and use of AI feedback in the sales context. Originality/value This study extends literature on technology adoption, performance feedback and the use of AI in the B2B sales domain. It offers practical insight for sales managers and those responsible for implementing AI solutions in sales.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Belal Uddin ◽  
Bilkis Akhter

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the institutional and significant competences that have allowed organizations to employ supply chain management (SCM) practices, the practices of SCM and the benefits of SCM practices for both buyers and suppers.Design/methodology/approachA theoretical model (including hypotheses) has been proposed regarding antecedents, SCM practices and outcomes of SCM. Using purposive sampling method, data were collected from different manufacturing, distributing, wholesaling and retailing organizations. Collected data were analyzed in a principal component analysis and structural equation modeling, including confirmatory factor analysis, and path analysis.FindingsThe empirical results provided supportive evidences in favor of the hypotheses and theoretical arguments except one hypothesis. This study did not a find positive relationship between organizational compatibility and SCM practices. The study found relationships between mutual trust and SCM practices, communication and SCM practices, and cooperation and SCM practices, which were positive and significant. Again, the relationships between SCM practices and competitive advantages, and SCM practices and long-term orientation and growth were also positive and significant.Practical implicationsPractitioners could also use the findings to align SCM with business strategy and gain an insight for better utilization of the available resources and technology to perform better.Originality/valueThis study will provide guidance as to the preconditions that need to be in place in order for a company to implement SCM with its suppliers and customers. It will remind practitioners to stay focused on the ultimate goals of SCM – lower costs, increased customer value and satisfaction, and, ultimately, competitive advantage.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Rehman ◽  
Fathyah Hashim

Purpose The purpose of this paper is the measurement of forensic accounting’s (FA) impact on sustainable corporate governance (SCG) within Omani public listed companies. Beyond merely cataloging the latest criminal innovations and SCG problems, this paper offers a path forward to overcome the myriad threats that can harm the organization and society. FA and SCG can achieve, anticipate and prevent tomorrow’s fraud today before organizations reach the point of no return. Design/methodology/approach For this study, FA is an independent variable and SCG is the dependent variable. This study used a descriptive cross-sectional survey design. Data are collected by internet-based tool and analyzed via partial least squares structural equation modeling and Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Findings Result suggests that FA has a significant direct impact over SCG; moreover, FA can become the part of governance management toward the elimination of fraud and achievement of SCG. Practical implications This study can assist regulators, professional bodies and organizations in amending their codes of corporate governance and organizational policies by introducing the SCG clauses and making FA as a compulsory part of governance system. Originality/value Up to the best of the knowledge of researchers, there is no study conducted before which verifies the FA impact on SCG; moreover, previous relevant studies verify only one constituent for SCG, whereas this study is identifying three constituents necessary for SCG.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 379-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ngoc Minh Nguyen ◽  
Huyen Thi Nguyen

Purpose The aim of this paper is to incorporate the theoretically and practically appropriate affecting factors of customers’ price acceptance to develop an integrated model explaining customers’ price acceptance on the mobile phone market in Vietnam. Design/methodology/approach This current research applied the cross-sectional design. Data was collected via questionnaires and 605 responses were left after refining. The exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling methods were applied to analyze the collected data. Findings Prestige sensitivity and product involvement positively affect product knowledge and price mavenism. In turn, these two latter factors together with prestige sensitivity positively affect price acceptance. Besides, product knowledge and price mavenism mediated the effects of product involvement and prestige sensitivity on price acceptance in the context of complex products, rapid product innovation, social setting of using mobile phones, highly competitive market, the low purchasing power of customers and the typical cultural values of Vietnam. Practical implications The high product involvement and high prestige sensitivity customers could make up attractive market segments, especially important in the case of launching new products; concentrating marketing efforts on building product knowledge and price knowledge for these market segments may enhance price acceptance, speed up market penetration as well as improve price communication. Originality/value This is one of the first studies explaining price acceptance on the mobile phone market in Vietnam and clarifying the mediating effects of knowledge (product knowledge and price mavenism) on the causal relationships between product involvement/prestige sensitivity and price acceptance.


Kybernetes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 797-818
Author(s):  
Leslier M. Valenzuela-Fernández ◽  
Francisco-Javier Arroyo-Cañada ◽  
Francisco Javier Villegas Pinuer

Purpose Salesperson’s actions are critical in helping the firm develop customer value orientation and long-term relationship with profitable customers to achieve sustainable sales growth and profitability over time. The purpose of this paper is to examine the salespeople and service executives’ perceptions about the relevance of some human resource management variables and employees’ attitudes as key factors to develop a company’s customer value orientation. The authors tested whether the perceptions of role ambiguity, incentives policy and provided training (PT) had an impact on job involvement (JI), job satisfaction (JS), and consequently, on customer value orientation. Design/methodology/approach Research design was nested with data from 327 executives from medium and upper positions in Chilean companies. Findings The results show that while the perception of role ambiguity had an indirect negative impact on customer value orientation through JI, perception of PT level had a direct impact over and above the other variables. Research limitations/implications JS and JI are attitudinal variables, which companies try to encourage in their employees through different human resources, practices. Incentives and training are ways to develop favorable employees’ attitudes and improve their customer value orientation. With the research, companies could invest their resources in better and more effective practices to generate favorable attitudes toward customer value orientation. Originality/value Through structural equation modeling, the model shows the relevance in the perception of sales executives about the relationship of employees’ JI and customer value orientation. This commands to open the view of the customer value orientation management to include other attitudinal variables as JI.


Author(s):  
Marit Gundersen Engeset ◽  
John S. Hull ◽  
Jan Velvin

Purpose This paper aims to understand the relationship between employee satisfaction and customer satisfaction and its impacts on the long-term sustainability of Hemsedal Ski Resort, Norway. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a mixed method approach. Focusing on the case of Hemsedal, Norway, the authors employ survey design to measure employee service attitudes as well as guest satisfaction and loyalty. Correlation analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis is used to investigate the relationships between the constructs. Findings Results from the four-year programme reveal that the correlation between employee service attitude and customer experience is strongest for behavioural loyalty which was found to have a direct and observable effect for the customer and that working to teach and train employees is important. Further, results showed that guest satisfaction with service not only influenced loyalty to the company that provided the service, but also loyalty to the destination where the company was situated. In explaining the relationships between levels of employee service attitude, customer satisfaction and community sustainability at Hemsedal ski resort, results showed that through partnership and cooperation, training and development have benefitted the individual companies, the destination and local community at large. Practical implications Results suggest that managers of tourism destinations should focus on employee motivation and training to improve their guests’ satisfaction and loyalty, their competitiveness and sustainability for the future. Originality/value The Service Excellence Project at Hemsedal, Norway demonstrates that mountain destinations can have a positive influence on their competitiveness and their sustainability by instituting a programme that works with employees, customers and businesses to promote a climate of service excellence.


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