scholarly journals The bond between country and brand stereotypes: insights on the role of brand typicality and utilitarian/hedonic nature in enhancing stereotype content transfer

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adamantios Diamantopoulos ◽  
Ilona Szőcs ◽  
Arnd Florack ◽  
Živa Kolbl ◽  
Martin Egger

PurposeDrawing on the stereotype content model (SCM), the authors investigate the stereotype content transfer (in terms of warmth and competence) from country to brand and the simultaneous impact of these two stereotypes on consumer responses toward brands.Design/methodology/approachThe authors test a structural equation model conceptualizing brand stereotypes as full mediators between country stereotypes and consumer outcomes. In addition, in a moderated mediation analysis, the authors investigate the role of brand typicality and utilitarianism/hedonism in potentially moderating the country to brand stereotype content transfer.FindingsCountry warmth and competence, respectively, impact brand warmth and competence, thus confirming the hypothesized stereotype content transfer. This transfer is found to be robust and not contingent on brands' perceived typicality of their country of origin. However, brands' utilitarian nature amplifies the positive impact of country competence on brand competence. Finally, brand stereotypes fully mediate the impact of country stereotypes on consumers' brand attitudes and behavioral intentions.Originality/valueThe authors provide the first empirical attempt that (1) explicitly differentiates between consumers' stereotypical perceptions of countries and stereotypical perceptions of brands from these countries, (2) empirically examines the transfer of stereotypical dimensions of different targets (i.e. country to brand), (3) explores boundary conditions for such transfer and (4) simultaneously considers the impact of both kinds of stereotypes on managerially relevant consumer outcomes.

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 154-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laila Marouf

Purpose The aim of this study is to investigate the role of knowledge sharing (KS) culture in leveraging knowledge management (KM) strategy and human resource (HR) strategy to improve business performance (BP). Design/methodology/approach A structured questionnaire survey was distributed to 120 randomly selected companies in Kuwait. A total of 392 valid responses were collected and tested using a structural equation model. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS and LISREL software to verify the research hypotheses. Findings The results revealed the impact of the mediating variable KS culture on the enhancement of BP. Both KM strategy and HR strategy were observed to have a positive direct effect on KS culture. Practical implications The results indicate that top management should make efforts to cultivate a KS culture to achieve better BP and future success. Originality/value The primary research contribution is the conceptual model for the role of KS culture as a mediator between KM strategy, HR strategy and BP.


2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. 1658-1676 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Shakeel Sadiq Jajja ◽  
Vijay R. Kannan ◽  
Shaukat Ali Brah ◽  
Syed Zahoor Hassan

Purpose Supply chain strategy is widely recognized as being a crucial component of a broader corporate strategy. However, the relationships between a firm’s strategic supply chain focus, the tactical orientation of its suppliers, and the firm’s performance, are less well understood. Much of what is known is also based on developed country contexts. The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine relationships between a buying firm’s supply chain strategy and operational dimensions of its suppliers in a developing country context. Design/methodology/approach A structural equation model is developed and tested using empirical data drawn from 296 organizations in India and Pakistan. Findings The results demonstrate a positive relationship between a firm’s strategic supply chain focus (lean and responsiveness) and key supplier practices (quality, cost effectiveness, delivery, and flexibility), which in turn have a positive impact on firm performance (operational, quality and market, and financial). Practical implications The study paper offers supply chain managers in developing markets with insights that can shape effective supplier selection and management and lead to positive performance outcomes. Originality/value The results provide insights into supply chain strategy, and empirically validate the importance of the alignment between strategy and the ability of suppliers to execute in a corresponding manner. It also offers evidence of the impact of the buyer-supplier interface in a developing market context.


2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 945-967 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chansoo Park ◽  
Chang Hoon Oh ◽  
Azilah Kasim

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to advance a theoretical framework that incorporates the relationship between market challenge and learning and customer orientations, and the influence of these orientations on innovativeness in an international joint venture (IJV) context. Design/methodology/approach The authors estimate a structural equation model utilizing survey data collected from 199 IJVs in the Republic of Korea. Findings The authors found that while market challenge does not influence learning orientation in IJVs, it does have a significant positive influence on customer orientation. Further, the authors’ findings support that both learning orientation and customer orientation have positive impacts on IJV innovativeness. Another interesting finding shows that the impact of learning orientation on IJV innovativeness is significant only when IJVs have high levels of interaction with parent firms. The study also reveals that having a strong learning orientation amplifies the impact of customer orientation on innovativeness in IJVs. Originality/value Despite increased interest in IJVs, there has been relatively little work linking IJV innovativeness with learning and customer orientations. The study contributes to recent streams of research that seek to understand the role of these orientations in IJV innovativeness.


2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 1281-1303
Author(s):  
Maria Karampela ◽  
Ewelina Lacka ◽  
Graeme McLean

Purpose In business-to-business (B2B) settings, research on social media sites (SMS) has primarily examined the benefits and challenges relating to their use, as well as factors driving their adoption. Recently, attention has turned to the consequences of using SMS in B2B markets. The purpose of this paper is to extend this line of research by investigating the impact of B2B brands’ social media presence, interactivity and responsiveness on customers’ perceptions of four indicators of brand relationship strength (commitment, intimacy, satisfaction and partner quality). Design/methodology/approach Data from an online survey (N = 200) with customers of UK-based B2B firms were analysed using structural equation modelling. Findings The study reveals that a supplier’s presence on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook has a positive impact on all four brand relationship strength indicators; interactivity enhances perceived partner quality, while responsiveness positively influences commitment. Differences across the three SMS are also observed. Research limitations/implications The research was conducted on a sample of UK-based firms with varying degrees of SMS use that may influence the impact on B2B brand relationship strength. Practical implications This study indicates that B2B brands ought to focus primarily on presence on SMS, given its positive impact on brand relationship strength. At the same time, however, B2B brands should be active in responding to customers’ queries on SMS, as well as interacting with them to enhance commitment and perceived partner quality, respectively. Originality/value This study contributes to the digital marketing and B2B relationships interface and is the first to examine the role of B2B brands’ presence, interactivity and responsiveness on SMS in enhancing relationships with customers.


2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 429-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Tahir Jan ◽  
Kalthom Abdullah

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify and test technology-related critical success factors (CSFs) and its impact on trust and customer satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach – This paper analyses the causal relationship that exists between technology CSFs and customer satisfaction. It also investigates the mediating role of trust between these two. For this purpose data were collected quantitatively from 349 employees working in different banks, through self-administered questionnaire. The data analysis was conducted using SPSS and AMOS software. Factor analysis was performed to extract and decide on the number of factors underlying the measured variables of interest. Structural equation modelling was then used to examine the variables and the fitness of proposed model. Findings – The result revealed that technology CSFs positively affect customer satisfaction. Also, trust partially mediates the relationship between technology CSFs and customer satisfaction. A significant positive impact of technology CSFs on trust, and trust on customer satisfaction have also been obtained. Practical implications – The significant influence that technology CSFs have on customer satisfaction and trust shows that technology-related CSFs are inevitable for the success of customer relationship management (CRM) in financial services industry, particularly banks. Policy makers of service industry in general and financial service industry in particular may benefit from the findings of this study. Originality/value – Despite the plethora of research on CSFs for CRM, very limited attention has been given to testing and validating the identified CSFs. Negligible research has been conducted to investigate trust as a mediating variable in the relationship between technology CSFs and customer satisfaction. This paper, therefore, offers valuable insight into technology-related CSFs and trust with their impact on customer satisfaction.


2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Yasin Ghadi

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine a hypothesized model investigating the influence of workplace spirituality on turnover intentions through the academics loneliness in universities in Jordan. Design/methodology/approach A translated pre-determined survey on a sample of Jordanian academics from universities was used. A total of 381 usable returns were collected for the analysis (i.e. response rate of 84.6 percent). Structural equation model (SEM) and tow-step modeling approach using AMOS were implemented to obtain the best fit model and to determine the role of loneliness in work as a mediator between workplace spirituality and voluntary turnover intentions. Findings As predicted, the hypothesized model best fits the data. The results of simple mediation analysis and SEM also contribute to the clarification of the causal relations between workplace spirituality and turnover intentions in one hand and workplace spirituality and loneliness in work on the other hand. Moreover, the results revealed that the influence of workplace spirituality on voluntary turnover intention was partially mediated by loneliness in work. The results support a partial mediation relationship as the total effect of workplace spirituality on voluntary turnover intentions attenuated slightly but remained significant upon the introduction of loneliness in work. Research limitations/implications The results of this study might only be generalized to universities and similar contexts. Moreover, although the sample of the study was yielded from sample in Jordanian universities, the common methods bias might be a problem in generalizing the results. Practical implications The findings could provide decisions makers with valuable insight to focus on building training programs in order to understand the benefits of enriching spiritual environment and be more supportive of spirituality movement. Furthermore, organizations can design some of activities that make work environment more meaningful. Originality/value This study is unique as it is the first that examined theoretically and empirically the influence of workplace spirituality on turnover intentions through loneliness in work on a sample of Jordanian academics.


2014 ◽  
Vol 63 (8) ◽  
pp. 1031-1045 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Shakeel Sadiq Jajja ◽  
Shaukat Ali Brah ◽  
Syed Zahoor Hassan ◽  
Vijay R. Kannan

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the interface between buyers and suppliers in the context of product innovation in an emerging economy. Specifically, it examines the strategic and tactical initiatives necessary to drive inter-organizational alignment and thus positive innovation outcomes. It also examines the impact of organizational characteristics on product innovation. Design/methodology/approach – Using survey data from 191 organizations in Pakistan, a structural equation model of the relationships between buyers’ and suppliers’ strategic focus on innovation, supplier innovation focus, collaborative innovation, and measures of product innovation and market performance is tested. In addition, hierarchical regression analysis is used to identify the impact of various organizational characteristics on product innovation performance. Findings – The results suggest that a firm's product innovation performance is positively influenced by strategic buyer-supplier alignment with regard to product innovation, and the existence of mechanisms that foster inter-organizational collaboration. This in turn has a positive impact on market performance. Product innovation performance is also influenced by a firm's age, the nature of its ownership, and the extent to which it exports its products. Originality/value – The study offers new insight into the role of inter-organizational collaboration as a driver of product innovation. Moreover, it adds to a limited literature on supply chain management in emerging economies generally, and on product innovation in the Indian sub-continent specifically.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 465-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bill Merrilees ◽  
Dale Miller

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of a shopping companion on mall brand experience. Design/methodology/approach The quantitative multi-group structural equation model study contrasts three shopper types: those shopping alone; those shopping with friends; and those shopping with family. Two categories are shoppers in a group. Nine hypotheses evaluate the impact of shopping with a companion. Findings The results show that companions enhance the emotional brand experience. Further, shoppers with family companions are most able to enhance brand evaluation from mall brand experience. Shopping companions help co-create the shopping brand experience. Research limitations/implications The findings are limited to Australian shoppers and contrast with Canadian studies, emphasizing friends. Alone shoppers place priority on price and only the alone shoppers are price-sensitive. The findings help address the gap in the literature, namely, understanding focal retail consumers in a group situation. Practical implications Retailers and mall managers in planned shopping centers could consider developing different retail strategies and brand experiences, which address the specific types of customer groups or alone shoppers. Social implications The paper is explicitly about social influences. Originality/value This original research contributes new perspectives to understanding the role of companion shoppers as co-creators of the focal shopper’s mall brand experience.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aldrin Abdullah ◽  
Mina Safizadeh ◽  
Massoomeh Hedayati Marzbali ◽  
Mohammad Javad Maghsoodi Tilaki

Purpose The current direction of urban planning and development is plagued with a number of issues related to crime and safety in neighbourhood areas. Undoubtedly, the physical characteristics of the surrounding environment play a vital role in residents’ social interactions and crime rate. This study aims to examine the role of the environmental features of the built environment, in particular house maintenance, on residents’ sense of belonging and victimisation. Although past research has relied on police victimisation rates, the current research has measured the actual victimisation rate through a questionnaire survey. Design/methodology/approach The study is quantitative in nature and consists of 255 residents from an urban neighbourhood in Penang, Malaysia. Findings The results of structural equation modelling indicate that house maintenance has a significant and positive impact on the sense of belonging, while there is a negative impact on victimisation rate. However, the study findings do not support the mediation role of the sense of belonging in the relationship between house maintenance and victimisation rate. Originality/value The study suggests that physical characteristics of the environment play a significant role in reducing opportunities for property victimisation and a building sense of belongings amongst neighbours. This study can also be considered as a further step for obtaining insight into the understanding of the impact of physical characteristics of the neighbourhood environment on victimisation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anh D. Pham ◽  
Men T. Bui ◽  
Dung P. Hoang

This research investigates the determinants of entrepreneurial intention among Vietnamese employees, a crucial segment of potential entrepreneurs yet mostly neglected in previous studies. Given the focus on intention to create an international business venture and the working segment, we expand the entrepreneurial event theory by supplementing perceived competence and job satisfaction as determinants of entrepreneurial intention while testing the mediation of perceived feasibility and perceived desirability in such relationships correspondingly. Three focus groups on 27 Vietnamese employees were conducted to explore the specific relevant competences and develop the conceptual model. Afterwards, data from an empirical survey on 567 Vietnamese employees was analysed using a partial least squares structural equation model to test the hypothesised relationships. The empirical results indicate that perceived competences, viz. administrative competence, communication skills, network building competence, and international business expertise have a positive impact on entrepreneurial intention. The relationships between either administrative competence, network building capacity or international business expertise, and entrepreneurial intention are totally mediated by perceived feasibility. The study also reveals a noteworthy finding about the negative direct effect of overall job satisfaction on entrepreneurial intention and the partial mediating role of perceived desirability in this relationship.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document