Is co-created value the only legitimate value? An institutional-theory perspective on business interaction in B2B-marketing systems

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Massi ◽  
Michel Rod ◽  
Daniela Corsaro
Keyword(s):  
Institutional Theory ◽  
Conceptual Development ◽  
Institutional Logics ◽  
Institutional Entrepreneurship ◽  
Content Type ◽  
B2b Marketing ◽  
Systems Perspective ◽  
Marketing Systems ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Business To Business

Purpose This paper aims to deal with the concepts of “institutions” and “institutional logics” in the context of business-to-business (B2B) marketing systems and uses institutional theory as a framework to look at value co-creation. Design/methodology/approach By integrating the literature on value co-creation, institutional theory and institutional entrepreneurship, the paper argues that the boundaries of B2B marketing systems are continuously reshaped through legitimation processes occurring through actors’ institutional work, thus making co-created value the only legitimate value. Findings The paper proposes a conceptual framework and furthers the conceptual development of value co-creation and augments the literature on service-dominant logic and the notion of co-created value by assuming a legitimacy-based B2B market systems perspective. Practical implications This paper presents a number of propositions that serve to illustrate several managerial implications. These arise from organizations co-creating value by conforming to the various institutional logics that maximize their legitimacy. Originality/value The paper makes a contribution by developing a critical theoretical framework based on the application of institutional theoretical constructs/concepts (e.g. ceremonial conformity, decoupling, considerations of face, confidence and good faith).

Managerial implications in solution business studies: analysis of type of relevance addressed

2014 ◽  
Vol 29 (7/8) ◽  
pp. 562-573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Risto Tapio Salminen ◽  
Minna Oinonen ◽  
Juha Haimala
Keyword(s):  
Journal Articles ◽  
Content Type ◽  
B2b Marketing ◽  
Industrial Marketing ◽  
Business Studies ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Managerial Knowledge ◽  
Business To Business ◽  
A Company ◽  
Selection Of

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to gain knowledge on the character of managerial implications within business-to-business (B2B) marketing, in terms of type of relevance addressed in research articles on solution business and integrated solutions. Design/methodology/approach – Use of Jaworski’s framework on role-relevance to classify the type of relevance addressed in 29 journal articles. A systematic literature review on solution business preceded the selection of articles and a concern to include different journal categories. Findings – Managerial implications in the studied articles within solution business do not seem to emphasize role-relevance particularly; they rather address applicability of findings on a company level and for B2B marketing in a more general sense. The majority of implications for practice are framed to have an impact on “present actions”. Managerial knowledge needs are dominantly addressed by “empirical findings” or “frameworks”. The dominating managerial core tasks addressed are “transformer of marketing” and “marketing strategy”. Research limitations/implications – There do not seem to be studies with managerial implications addressing future actions and thinking; providing instruments, methods or models that are role- relevant; focusing on the challenges of a “coordinator”, “strategist” or “performance controller”. The focus on solution business limits the generalizability of findings. Practical implications – Results suggest that implications for practice potentially would benefit from being written in the form of explicit recommendations; targeted to a particular managerial role; and increasingly developed when it comes to proposed frameworks for them to be useful for managers in industrial marketing. Originality/value – This is one of the first studies to systematically examine the character of managerial implications by categorizing results in accordance with a framework specifically addressing role-relevance.

Understanding salesperson intention to use AI feedback and its influence on business-to-business sales outcomes

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly R. Hall ◽  
Dana E. Harrison ◽  
Haya Ajjan ◽  
Greg W. Marshall
Keyword(s):  
Performance Feedback ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Sales Managers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Adaptive Selling ◽  
Promising Area ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Business To Business

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.

Impact of advertising puffery and celebrity trustworthiness on attitude and purchase intent: a study on Indian youth

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Krunal K. Punjani ◽  
V.V. Ravi Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Airline Industry ◽  
Multiple Attribute Decision Making ◽  
Content Type ◽  
B2b Marketing ◽  
Multiple Attribute ◽  
Agent Selection ◽  
Ground Handling ◽  
First Time ◽  
Business To Business

PurposeGround handling services are important for effective aircraft operations in the air transportation system. Airlines often outsource these services to ground handling agents through business-to-business (B2B) marketing decisions. Therefore, this paper aims to address the problem of ground handling agent selection in the airline industry.Design/methodology/approachA real-world case study was carried out to demonstrate the applicability of the integrated Best Worst Method and fuzzy multi-attribute ideal real comparative analysis (F-MAIRCA) approach to solve ground handling agent selection problems under uncertainty and imprecision. A two-stage sensitivity analysis was also conducted to ensure the credibility and validity of the application.FindingsIn the weighting stage, “Quality” was determined as the most important criterion in terms of supplier performance. With regard to the performance of the ground handling agents, A2 was found as the optimal supplier in terms of both credibility and validity.Practical implicationsThis study enumerated several criteria that ground handling agents must meet in order to effectively supply services for the airlines. In addition, this study provides a novel framework from which managers can gain additional benefits from their businesses. Finally, it is concluded that this approach will help airline managers quantitatively in choosing the most appropriate ground handling agent.Originality/valueThe contributions of this study to the existing literature are in twofold. First, the authors propose a novel multiple attribute decision-making (MADM) approach to address the problem of supplier selection for airlines under uncertainty and imprecision. Second, the selection of ground handling agents from the B2B perspective is addressed for the first time in the literature.

Business models in the business-to-business and business-to-consumer worlds – what can each world learn from the other?

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (8) ◽  
pp. 943-954 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Neill Stott ◽  
Merlin Stone ◽  
Jane Fae
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Business To Consumer ◽  
Business To Business ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Proper Analysis

Purpose The purpose of this research is to identify how managers can apply the results of academic research into the concept of business models for creating and evaluating possible models for their businesses. Design/methodology/approach A review of the literature is followed by two case studies, from the airline and logistics industries, followed by recommendations based on both. Findings The findings are that there is relatively weak consensus among academics as to the definition and meaning of a business model and its components, and that the notion of generic business model applies better within rather than between industries, but that the discussion is a very fertile one for developing recommendations for managers. Practical implications The managerial implications of the study are that in their planning and strategizing, managers should factor in a proper analysis of the business model they currently use and one that they could use. Originality/value The study provides a useful addition to the literature on the practical implications of business models.

The impact of implicit bias on business-to-business marketing

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (10) ◽  
pp. 1517-1525
Author(s):  
Kim Stephens ◽  
Richard L. Baskerville
Keyword(s):  
Process Model ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Implicit Bias ◽  
Social Cues ◽  
Relationship Building ◽  
Content Type ◽  
B2b Marketing ◽  
Interactive Workshop ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Business To Business

Purpose Physical social cues can influence the buyer and seller in business-to-business (B2B) marketing. The current behavioural model does not account for the role of implicit bias. The purpose of this paper is to present that relationship and introduce a process model to weaken implicit bias through training with the employment of transformational conversation. Design/methodology/approach With social cues as the predecessor to inferences, there is the potential for implicit bias to derail relationship building in a B2B context. The author’s qualitative field study offers guidance for businesses to make informed decisions about implicit bias training. Findings The study findings show that an interactive workshop following a process model with the addition of transformational conversation can weaken implicit bias. Research limitations/implications The research was conducted with a small cohort of information technology professionals. More research should be done specifically with sellers and buyers in various industries over a longer period of time with periodic follow-up on sales performance and relationship building. Practical implications Minority groups had a combined buying power of $3.9tn in 2018. For sellers to succeed, they have to be able to modulate the implicit biases that interfere with good sales relationships. Originality/value This paper introduces implicit bias as a moderator into the conceptual framework of the behavioural response to social cues in the B2B context and offers a model of implicit bias training using a process model with transformational conversation.

Managerial implications of research on inter-organizational interfaces

IMP Journal ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Björn S. Ivens ◽  
Catherine PARDO
Keyword(s):  
Academic Research ◽  
Business Markets ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Account Management ◽  
Key Account ◽  
Key Word ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Specific Concept ◽  
Business To Business ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify what managerial implications research related to inter-organizational interfaces has been produced in marketing. For this aim, the authors focus on a specific concept implemented in many firms that operate on business-to-business markets, which is key account management (KAM). Design/methodology/approach – The authors used the Ebsco Database entering “account management” as a key word in the title row. The search provided 51 papers to which the authors added four MSI reports written by Moriarty and Shapiro between 1980 and 1984. The authors then identified such keywords as “managers”, “practitioners”, “marketers”, “managerial”, “business”, and their variations as well as normative words such as “should”, “must”, etc. in order to identify managerial implications. Findings – Four main findings are provided: a clear managerial purpose is affirmed by KAM academic works whether as a central “purpose” of the works or as “implications”; these managerial implications may display different forms (dimensions to be considered, consequences to anticipate, advices); though the managerial scope of KAM works is clearly visible, the sophistication of managerial recommendations remains … limited; the identification of who is exactly “the manager” targeted by the implications remains vague. Research limitations/implications – The authors discuss the notion of managerial relevance of academic research. Practical/implications – The authors explore sources for practices (whether they are the ones of scholars or managers) that could help “spelling out more effectively the managerial implications. Originality/value – To the knowledge this is the first work that reviews so precisely how academic articles address to the managerial audience on a precise issue. Furthermore, the authors believe that KAM is an interesting and appropriate field for such a review because it is widely implemented on business markets.

scholarly journals Artificial intelligence in business-to-business marketing: a bibliometric analysis of current research status, development and future directions

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Runyue Han ◽  
Hugo K.S. Lam ◽  
Yuanzhu Zhan ◽  
Yichuan Wang ◽  
Yogesh K. Dwivedi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
B2b Marketing ◽  
Marketing Innovation ◽  
Business To Business

PurposeAlthough the value of artificial intelligence (AI) has been acknowledged by companies, the literature shows challenges concerning AI-enabled business-to-business (B2B) marketing innovation, as well as the diversity of roles AI can play in this regard. Accordingly, this study investigates the approaches that AI can be used for enabling B2B marketing innovation.Design/methodology/approachApplying a bibliometric research method, this study systematically investigates the literature regarding AI-enabled B2B marketing. It synthesises state-of-the-art knowledge from 221 journal articles published between 1990 and 2021.FindingsApart from offering specific information regarding the most influential authors and most frequently cited articles, the study further categorises the use of AI for innovation in B2B marketing into five domains, identifying the main trends in the literature and suggesting directions for future research.Practical implicationsThrough the five identified domains, practitioners can assess their current use of AI and identify their future needs in the relevant domains in order to make appropriate decisions on how to invest in AI. Thus, the research enables companies to realise their digital marketing innovation strategies through AI.Originality/valueThe research represents one of the first large-scale reviews of relevant literature on AI in B2B marketing by (1) obtaining and comparing the most influential works based on a series of analyses; (2) identifying five domains of research into how AI can be used for facilitating B2B marketing innovation and (3) classifying relevant articles into five different time periods in order to identify both past trends and future directions in this specific field.

Can institutional theory be refuted, replaced or modified?

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-159
Author(s):  
Herman Aksom ◽  
Oksana Zhylinska ◽  
Tetiana Gaidai
Keyword(s):  
Institutional Theory ◽  
Scientific Progress ◽  
Institutional Entrepreneurship ◽  
Institutional Work ◽  
Organizational Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Organizational Theories ◽  
Closed Theory ◽  
Dominant Theory ◽  
Blind Spots

Purpose This paper aims to demonstrating that the former new institutional theory of isomorphism and decoupling cannot be extended, modified or refuted as it is a closed theory. By analyzing the structure of this former version of institutional theory and its numerous modern competitors (institutional entrepreneurship, institutional work and institutional logics theories) it is argued that these alternative theories demonstrate even less explanatory and predictive power and do not refute or extend their predecessor. The rise of new organizational theories can have no other effect on classic institutional theory than to limit the domain of its applicability. In turn, there are a number of principles and conditions that future theories should meet to be accepted as progressive advancements. Design/methodology/approach The paper provides a review of relevant organizational and philosophical literature on theory construction and scientific progress in organizational research and offers a set of principles and demands for those new theories that seek to challenge new institutionalism. Findings The authors show that the former institutional theory satisfies two main criteria that any scientific theory should conform with following it is useful and falsifiable in term of giving explanations and predictions while, at the same time, clearly specifying what can be observed and what cannot; what can happen and what is not likely to occur. Modern institutional theories cannot demonstrate this quality and they do not satisfy these criteria. Moreover, institutional isomorphism theory is a closed theory, which means it cannot be intervened with changes and modifications and all future theories should develop their theoretical propositions for other domains of applications while they should account for all empirical phenomena that institutional theory successfully explains. Originality/value Adopting instrumental view on organizational theories allowed reconstructing the logic and trajectory of organizational research evolution and defends its rationality and progressive nature. It is also outlined how existing dominant theory should be treated and how new theories should challenge its limitations and blind spots and which philosophical and methodological criteria should be met.

Analysis of content creation in social media by B2B companies

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 761-770 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauri Huotari ◽  
Pauliina Ulkuniemi ◽  
Saila Saraniemi ◽  
Minna Mäläskä
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Personal Relationships ◽  
Media Content ◽  
Content Type ◽  
B2b Marketing ◽  
Content Creation ◽  
Marketing Activities ◽  
Social Media Tools ◽  
Business To Business

Purpose – The present study aims to examine how business-to-business (B2B) marketers can influence content creation in social media. Social media tools are becoming an interesting component of B2B marketing because of the roles of personal relationships and interactions in these markets. However, research has not approached social media content creation from a B2B marketing perspective. Design/methodology/approach – Social media tools are becoming an interesting component of B2B marketing because of the roles of personal relationships and interactions in these markets. However, research has not approached social media content creation from a B2B marketing perspective. The present study examines how B2B marketers can influence content creation in social media. Findings – The paper proposes that B2B firms engaging in social media as part of their marketing efforts should carefully consider the roles and activities of various users, which are directed to and by different internal and external users. B2B companies can influence content creation in social media directly by adding new content, participating in discussions and removing content through corporate user accounts and controlling employee social media behavior or indirectly by training employees to create desired content and performing marketing activities that influence other users to create content that is favorable for the company. Originality/value – The study contributes to the theoretical discussion over B2B marketing communication and the role of social media in it.

Examining the use of fsQCA in B2B marketing research: benefits, current state and agenda for future research

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Marius Gligor ◽  
Ismail Golgeci ◽  
Carla Rego ◽  
Ivan Russo ◽  
Sıddık Bozkurt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Comparative Analysis ◽  
Marketing Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
New Developments ◽  
Content Type ◽  
B2b Marketing ◽  
Future Research Agenda ◽  
Current State ◽  
B2b Relationships ◽  
Business To Business

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to build on recent efforts occurring within business-to-business (B2B) marketing research to advance methodological developments. As phenomena within B2B relationships have become increasingly complex, marketing scholars have begun to point out the limitations associated with correlation-based methodological approaches and highlight the need for new developments in this area. One such development is the fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). Design/methodology/approach This study uses a literature review to examine the use of fsQCA in B2B marketing research. Findings First, the current manuscript presents the benefits that the application of fsQCA can offer to market researchers investigating B2B phenomena. Second, the paper presents the current state of fsQCA use within B2B marketing. Third, it suggests possible marketing B2B research topics that can be explored using fsQCA. Originality/value The study highlights the benefits of fsQCA, presents the current state of fsQCA use within B2B marketing and offers a rich future research agenda for B2B marketing scholars. This agenda can also help spur additional method developments in the discipline.

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