Warmth or competence? The effects of cool and cuteness on the perceived quality of digital products

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Baoku Li ◽  
Yafeng Nan ◽  
Ruoxi Yao
Keyword(s):  
Product Information ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Perceived Quality ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Digital Products ◽  
Bootstrap Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Individual Perception ◽  
Brand Perception

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the effect of cuteness and cool on the perceived quality of digital products, the mediating effect of brand perception (warmth and competence) and the moderating effect of the individual perception level.Design/methodology/approachThis paper utilizes experimental design and survey methods to collect data and the ANOVA, independent sample t-test and bootstrap analysis methods to verify the assumed hypotheses.FindingsStudies 1 and 2 demonstrate that cuteness (vs cool) is more likely to promote the perception of brand warmth (vs competence), and the brand perception plays a mediating role between cuteness (cool) and the perceived quality. Study 3 replicates the findings of Study 2 and indicates that people with high-cuteness (vs low-cuteness) perception are the same to perceive the brand warmth to promote the perceived quality of digital products, but people with high-cool (vs low-cool) perception are more likely to perceive the brand competence to promote the perceived quality of digital products.Practical implicationsBased on the conclusions in this paper, marketers could emphasize the cool information of digital products in advertisements to promote the perceived quality to promote younger consumers' willingness to pay (WTP). Furthermore, firms could shape warm brand images by the perception of cuteness because cuteness is positively associated with the warmth of brand perception (e.g. the logo of Three Squirrels, a Chinese nut business brand that consists of three cute squirrels).Originality/valueFrom a theoretical standpoint, this paper contributes to the brand perception when consumers accept product information with the characteristics of cuteness or cool. Second, a model of perceived quality of digital products is built based on the stereotype content theory. Third, this paper considers individual perception levels on cuteness and cool as the boundaries to conduct further conceptual model.

Subjective social class, perceived quality of social relationships, and happiness: A case of mediation and moderation across gender

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 312-335
Author(s):  
Jae-Woo Kim ◽  
Chaeyoon Lim ◽  
Christina Falci
Keyword(s):  
Social Class ◽  
Social Status ◽  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Social Relationship ◽  
Perceived Quality ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Subjective Social Class

This study investigates the link between social relationship and subjective well-being in the context of social stratification. The authors examine how perceived quality of social relationships and subjective social class are linked to self-reported happiness among men and women in South Korea. The study finds that one’s perception of relative social standing is positively associated with happiness independently of objective indicators of socioeconomic status, while social relationship quality strongly predicts the happiness among both men and women. However, the mediation pathway and moderating effects vary by gender. For men, the nexus between subjective social class and happiness is partially mediated by the quality of interpersonal relationships. No similar mediating effect is found among women. The study also finds gender difference in whether the link between social relationship quality and happiness varies by subjective social class. The happiness return to positive social relationships increases as men’s subjective social status becomes higher, which is consistent with the resource multiplication hypothesis. No similar moderation effect is found among women. Combined, these results reveal potentially different pathways to happiness across gender in Korea, where social status competition, collectivistic culture, and patriarchal gender relations are salient in daily life.

A comparison between economic and organic store brands

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (12) ◽  
pp. 1298-1316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magali Jara ◽  
Gérard Cliquet ◽  
Isabelle Robert
Keyword(s):  
Brand Equity ◽  
Perceived Quality ◽  
Purchase Intentions ◽  
Path Model ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Store Brand ◽  
Store Brands ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Further Development

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to tackle the issue of store brand equity by considering two store brand’s positioning strategies: those with high perceived added value (the organic store brands), as opposed to economic brands. It takes place in the current environmental considerations showing the important role played by the packaging in determining the store brand equity. Design/methodology/approach A PLS Path model divided into four sub-models enables the authors to make specific predictions about customers’ purchase intentions. It also provides a concise operational calculation of the brand equity of each studied store brand. Findings Results show that economic brands build their equity with reinforced packaging, and organic brands maximise their brand equity by using simple packaging. In general, reinforced packaging improves the perceived quality of economic store brands but destroys that of organic brands. The calculations of overall equity scores for each studied store brand reveal that economic brands could benefit from further development whilst organic brands already maximise their equity. Practical implications Results will enable large retailers to develop effective campaigns focussing on perceived quality and more specifically by designing packaging that are suitable for the positioning of their brands – a simple packaging for organic brands and a reinforced packaging for economic brands to maximise customers’ value. Originality/value This is one of the first studies to deepen the store brand equity, comparing two contrasting types of brands, by studying specifically variations of the levels of customers’ perceived quality depending of two types of packaging.

scholarly journals How Quality of Work-life’s Mediating Effect of Compensation System on Teacher’s Organizational Commitment?

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-152
Author(s):  
Sulistiasih Sulistiasih ◽  
Widodo Widodo
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Commitment ◽  
Private School ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Compensation System ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Quality Of Work Life ◽  
Research Model ◽  
Quality Of Work ◽  
Research Fields

This study analyzes the effect of compensation system on teachers’ organizational commitment mediating by quality of work-life (QWL). The research data was collected by a questionnaire through the survey methods toward 325 teachers of a private school in Indonesia. Data analysis uses path analysis supported by descriptive statistics and correlational. The results show that compensation system had a significant effect on teachers’ organizational commitment mediating by QWL.  This study also was found a fit research model can discuss among researchers and practitioners as references/discourse or a strategy for enhancing organizational commitment in various research fields and contexts.

Influence of the perceived benefit of a social network-based sales promotion on the perceived quality of a heritage complex

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Esmeralda Crespo-Almendros ◽  
M. Belén Prados-Peña ◽  
Lucia Porcu ◽  
Juan Miguel Alcántara-Pilar
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Perceived Quality ◽  
Sales Promotion ◽  
Sales Promotions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Heritage Sites ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This study seeks to analyze the influence of the consumer's perceived benefits deriving from two different promotional incentives offered via social media on the perceived quality of the heritage complex.Design/methodology/approach A quasi-experimental study was carried out among online users, implementing two different promotional stimuli. Facebook was selected as the social network through which the promotional incentives were offered in the experiment. The sample was obtained via a panel of Internet users provided by Sondea Internet SL.Findings The results showed that the benefits perceived by the tourists will depend on the sales promotion type offered. On the one hand, free VIP pass was found to be mostly related to hedonic benefits that positively affect perceived quality. On the other hand, 2 × 1 offer would be perceived as a utilitarian benefit and is likely to exert a fairly negative effect on perceived quality.Practical implications Tourism managers and practitioners are encouraged to analyze the characteristics of certain types of sales promotions, as each promotional incentive bears different values and associated benefits. The findings of this study suggest managers and practitioners to implement non-monetary promotions to enhance brand equity and perceived quality. Thus, it is paramount for the managers of cultural institutions and heritage sites to trust in sales promotions which can be very helpful if they are designed carefully.Originality/value This study pioneers the analysis of the impact of the benefits associated with different typologies of sales promotions on social networks on the perceived quality of a heritage site.

How despotic leadership jeopardizes employees' performance: the roles of quality of work life and work withdrawal

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shazia Nauman ◽  
Connice Zheng ◽  
Ameer A. Basit
Keyword(s):  
Job Performance ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Quality Of Work Life ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quality Of Work ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Harmful Effects ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThis study contributes to the leadership literature by examining how and when despotic leadership jeopardizes employees' performance. Specifically, we examine whether employees' job performance could be harmed by despotic supervision through employees' work withdrawal behaviour. Moreover, we investigate whether the quality of work-life (QWL) helps in toning down the harmful effects of despotic supervision on work withdrawal.Design/methodology/approachWe used a multi-wave research design with data collected from 195 employees and their supervisors working in Pakistan's manufacturing sector. At time 1, we measured the independent variable (i.e. despotic leadership) and moderator (QWL), whereas, at time-2, the mediator (work withdrawal) was tapped by the same respondent with a time interval of three weeks between them. At time 3, the outcome (supervisor-rated job performance) was assessed directly by the supervisors.FindingsThe results support the mediating effect between despotic leadership and employees' performance through an enhanced level of work withdrawal behaviour. The effect of despotic leadership on job performance via work withdrawal behaviour was found to be weaker among employees with a higher level of QWL.Practical implicationsFor individuals, QWL serves as an enhancement of personal resources to deal with despotic leaders at the workplace; for organizations, our study results alert managers and leaders at the workplace to address employees' need for QWL as this positive resource may discourage work withdrawal behaviour and stimulate employees to perform well in their jobs despite facing despotic supervision.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the leadership literature by introducing work withdrawal as an underlying mechanism to explain the despotic leadership – job performance relationship. Further, we examined how the harmful effects of despotic leadership can be toned down through the moderating variable of QWL thus having practical implications for both employers and employees.

Reasons to switch: empowered vs less powerful bank customers

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 1441-1461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanette Carlsson Hauff
Keyword(s):  
Service Provider ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Financial Institution ◽  
Service Failure ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Switching Behavior ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Consumer Switching

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the existing literature of driving and impeding switching factors by operationalizing the catalyst factor of perceived power among customers. Acknowledging the importance of trust in a financial context, a trust-based framework for the analysis is used. The study explicitly analyzes factors of importance for subsequent switching of banks for empowered customers (i.e. savers) and low-on-power customers (i.e. borrowers). Design/methodology/approach The study measures factors driving or impeding switch of service provider, together with measures of trust and power using online survey methods. The sample is intended to focus on savers and borrowers, defined quantitatively as well as perception wise. Through a multi-group SEM analysis, differences between the samples of savers and borrowers are analyzed. The dependent variable was in both cases inclination to switch. Findings The paper manages to define differences between empowered and less empowered customers, such as borrowers and savers. The mediating effect of trust prevails only for borrowers: here, the only effect on switching behavior stems from a full mediation of stability through trust. For savers, direct influences of both service failure and lack of involvement on trust are of major importance. The importance of trust, however, is lacking; for the sample of savers, the link between trust and switching behavior is insignificant. Practical implications The results may be used as a tool box in order to address consumer switching behavior and mobility in the financial services market. The biggest obstacle for switching banks among savers is the low level of involvement. This has clear implications regarding how to increase switching, e.g., by raising interest. Focusing instead on borrowers, stability of the chosen financial institution turned out to be the most important factor. Originality/value This paper introduces a view on consumer switching behavior, taking into account differences regarding service provider relations (empowered savers vs less empowered borrowers) and the importance of trust in these two settings. The paper introduces trust as a mediator between switching behavior and four determinants: stability, personal relations, service failure and internet-related issues, and involvement.

Does incivility impact the quality of work-life and ethical climate of nurses?

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yariv Itzkovich ◽  
Niva Dolev ◽  
Moran Shnapper-Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Climate ◽  
Ethical Climate ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Perceived Quality ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Quality Of Work Life ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quality Of Work ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between incivility and two organizational and personal attitudes, namely, perceived ethical climate and perceived quality of work-life of nurses, in the framework of organizational climate.Design/methodology/approachQuantitative data of 148 nurses working in a medium-sized hospital in Israel were collected. Furthermore, qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 12 nurses and 14 doctors from the same hospital, constructing a mixed-method approach.FindingsFindings revealed that witnessing or experiencing incivility affected the nurses' perception of the ethical climate of their work unit and their perceived quality of their work-life. Additionally, we found that the relationship between incivility and nurses' perceived quality of work-life was partially mediated through their perceived ethical climate. The qualitative data supported some of the findings.Originality/valueThe article stretches the incivility theory beyond its dyadic boundaries, prominently showing the spillover effect of incivility as an organizational problem. Additionally, it offers some evidence-based support for the multidimensionality of incivility, strengthening the need for a construct cleanup.

Investigating the perceived quality of a special event and its influence on perceived value and behavioural intentions in a special event in Thailand

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 337-355
Author(s):  
Supawat Meeprom ◽  
Tongrawee Silanoi
Keyword(s):  
Economic Value ◽  
Perceived Value ◽  
Perceived Quality ◽  
Social Value ◽  
Exit Point ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Behavioural Intentions ◽  
Special Event ◽  
Emotional Value

PurposeThe aim of this study is to examine the impact of perceived special event quality on perceived value and behavioural intentions. Specifically, it was proposed that attendees' perceived special event quality has direct and indirect effects on behavioural intentions through the mediating role of social value, economic value and emotional value.Design/methodology/approachA self-administered, onsite survey was deployed to gather the data to formulate the hypothesised relationships in this study. Data collection also included event-intercepted panel surveys, conducted with actual consumers who attended the Agricultural and Cultural Fair. The surveys were distributed and conducted during the afternoon and early evenings at the event area and exit point of the event. In total, 250 questionnaires were distributed to domestic visitors and 176 respondents completed the survey.FindingsThe study found the perceived quality of the special event directly impacted social value, economic value, emotional value and behavioural intentions. The results also indicated that social value and emotional value had significant effects on behavioural intentions. Further, this study found that both social value and emotional value components mediated the relationship between perceived quality of the special event and behavioural intentions. These results confirmed the existence of a perceived-quality-value-behavioural intentions chain.Research limitations/implicationsThere are some key limitations including the sample size in this study was relatively small and all the respondents were domestic attendees, providing findings specific to one culture only. In term of implications, the results offer event organisers holistic insights into elements to be adopted as the foundation for special event consumption. It helps event organisers to build upon customer choice behaviour, which can be employed to effectively cultivate more attendees for the special events.Originality/valueThis is the first study that examined the extent to which attendees' perceived quality of a special event influenced their perceived values in Agricultural and Cultural Fair which is a special event held each year in the major city of Khon Kaen in the northeast region in Thailand.

Service quality of student services and student satisfaction: the mediating effect of cross-functional collaboration

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1197-1215
Author(s):  
Anwar Khamis Alsheyadi ◽  
Jawaher Albalushi
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
Student Affairs ◽  
Student Satisfaction ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Quality Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Effect Model

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to examine the interaction of tangibles, reliability, assurance, responsiveness and empathy dimensions of the service quality (SERVQUAL) and student satisfaction (SS), and second, to explore the mediating role of cross-functional collaboration (CFC) on these relationships.Design/methodology/approachThe structural equation modelling was used to examine the direct and mediated effect models using data collected through a survey of 352 students from 18 higher education institutes (HEIs) in Oman.FindingsThe statistical analysis confirms our main hypotheses. First, the centrality of tangibles, reliability, assurance, responsiveness and empathy dimensions of the service quality was established in the direct effect model, while the importance of tangibles and responsiveness was not confirmed in the mediated effect model. Second, it approved the partial mediation effect of CFC on the five dimensions of SERVQUAL and satisfaction.Research limitations/implicationsService quality, level of CFC and relative SS in higher education could be subjected to contextual verification and evaluation of these internal and external contextual factors should be considered.Practical implicationsSeveral implications are highlighted for the effective development of the service quality of student affairs departments (SADs), the development of CFC for effective management, development and deployment of various student affairs initiatives.Originality/valueThis paper satisfies the need to validate the SERVQUAL model in different contexts such as SADs, and the need to investigate the possible mediating effect of other factors on SERVQUAL dimensions and satisfaction to show how the latter can be achieved.

Team-member exchange, voice behavior, and creative work involvement

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 417-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsi-An Shih ◽  
Nikodemus Hans Setiadi Wijaya
Keyword(s):  
Team Member ◽  
Reciprocal Relationship ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Creative Work ◽  
Voice Behavior ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Involvement ◽  
Team Member Exchange ◽  
Member Exchange

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize the links among team-member exchange (TMX), voice behavior, and creative work involvement. Design/methodology/approach A total of 260 employees were participants in this study. All were alumni of a Business School in Indonesia. Data were gathered at two time points four months apart. Hierarchical regression and bootstrapping analyses were conducted to find the effects of TMX on voice behavior and creative work involvement. Findings Results from the analyses showed positive effects of TMX on both voice behavior and creative work involvement. A positive effect of voice behavior on creative work involvement was found. The results also exhibited a partial mediating effect of voice behavior on the relationship between TMX and creative work involvement. Practical implications The findings point to the importance of maintaining TMX quality in work teams for enhancing employee voice and creativity. Organizations may need to develop members’ reciprocal relationship skill in teams and maintain the roles of team leaders to develop the quality of TMX. It is also suggested that the practice of self-management teams may enhance the quality of TMX and voice behavior of employees. Originality/value This paper offers new insight on how levels of TMX may impact on members’ voice behavior and creative work involvement. Longitudinal data may provide a more accurate prediction of the links among TMX, voice behavior, and creative work involvement.

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