Arab networking and relationship marketing: Is there a need for both?

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Shaalan ◽  
Marwa Tourky ◽  
Bradley R. Barnes ◽  
Chanaka Jayawardhena ◽  
Ibrahim Elshaer
Keyword(s):  
Relationship Marketing ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Personal Contact ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Personal Connections ◽  
Early Relationships ◽  
Effective Use

Purpose This study aims to examine the Arab practice of wasta (personal networks) and its potential interface with relationship marketing to enable firms to optimize their recruitment and retention of customers in societies where personal ties drive business relationships. It explores whether relationship marketing influences customer retention when a personal contact leaves. Design/methodology/approach Empirical data were gathered from 305 customers introduced to Egyptian small and medium-sized enterprises via wasta. Multiple-item scales were adopted, drawn from previous empirical studies. Quantitative analysis was used, including confirmatory factor analysis. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized relationships posited. Findings Wasta plays a significant role in attracting customers, nurturing early relationships and enhancing relationship quality, but does not influence the retention of customers. Practicing relationship marketing post wasta can enhance customer loyalty, even if the business was developed through the wasta contact who left to join a rival firm. Research limitations/implications Potential limitations arise from cultural differences in other Middle Eastern countries. Future studies could also validate the results in different sectors/industries and explore managers and employees’ perspectives. Practical implications Several recommendations emerge for managerial practitioners, including the use of wasta to attract business, but more significantly, the need for the effective use of relationship marketing to retain business. The study suggests that if relationship marketing is practiced well, customers are likely to remain loyal to the firm, even if the business was developed through a personal wasta relationship with an employee who subsequently moved to a competitor firm. Originality/value This study is the first to develop a unified model connecting the Eastern notion of wasta (personal ties) with relationship marketing. The study enhances the knowledge of wasta and relationship marketing. It is among the first to suggest that should employees with personal connections to customers leave to join a competing firm, there is still a strong likelihood that if relationship marketing is effectively practiced, then customers will remain loyal to the firm (rather than to the former employee).

Is lodging research suffering from methods bias? An assessment of published research during 1990-2016

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Faizan Ali ◽  
Mehmet Ali Koseoglu ◽  
Fevzi Okumus ◽  
Eka Diraksa Putra ◽  
Mehmet Yildiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
Hospitality And Tourism ◽  
Method Bias ◽  
Published Research

Purpose The study aims to investigate if lodging research suffers from a method bias by comprehensively reviewing the research methodology used in lodging related research articles. Design/methodology/approach In all, 2,647 published papers in 16 leading hospitality and tourism published between 1990 and 2016 are analyzed using bibliometric technique. Findings In all, 69% of the empirical studies in lodging research across 26 years period used quantitative methods, with an increasing reliance on regression-based analysis and structural equation modeling, a disturbing plunging trend in methods diversity. Findings also suggest an increasing trend of using secondary data. Research limitations/implications Based on the findings of this study, theoretical and practical implications for hospitality and tourism researchers are provided. Originality/value This is the first study that reviewed a large corpus of published research (2,647 papers in 16 hospitality and tourism journals from the last 27 years) to highlight (a) methodology used, (b) methods employed and (c) data collection and analysis procedures.

Consumer response to private label brands’ negative publicity: a relational effect on retailer’s store image

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna Gendel-Guterman ◽  
Shalom Levy
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Product Category ◽  
Private Label ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Store Image ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Negative Publicity ◽  
Image Context ◽  
Potential Damage

Purpose This study aims to examine the effect of private label brand (PLB) products’ negative publicity (NP) events on PLB general image and retailer’s store image, because of the suggested interdependency between retailer’s store image and PLB image. Design/methodology/approach Three empirical studies were conducted to test the NP effect – Studies 1 and 2, respectively; and test the occurrence of moderate and extreme NP events regarding the functional PLB product category. Study 3 replicates prior studies conducted on the hedonic product category. In these studies, participants were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. The studies use factor analysis methods following t-tests and paths analyses, using structural equation modeling (SEM). Findings Findings show that both moderate and extreme NP have an influence on the PLB’s image dimensions. These effects “spilled over” to the entire range of PLB products, regardless of the category of the damaged product. Regarding retailer’s store image, the effect of NP was retained in the product-related image context and did not exceed that of the store-related image. However, in relation to functional products, when NP is very extreme, the effect on PLB image exceeds that of retailer’s store image. Practical implications Retailers should invest more efforts in their PLB product selection, quality maintenance and supervision to eliminate potential damage from events related to their PLB products. Originality/value The originality of this study is in the association of two streams of research: NP effects and the relationship between PLB image and retailer’s store image.

Unveiling business school interns' satisfaction toward online summer internship program amid COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rashmi Maini ◽  
Sanandi Sachdeva ◽  
Guneet Kaur Mann
Keyword(s):  
Business School ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
North India ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
The University

PurposeThe objective of this research is to explore factors that influence interns' satisfaction (is) toward the e-internship program, an alternate adopted by management institutes in lieu of the regular summer internship amidst the global pandemic, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional research design with a self-reported questionnaire was conducted on business school (B-school) interns to rate the factors that contribute to their e-internship satisfaction. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the responses obtained from 203 B-school interns with a diverse demographic background belonging to a government university of North India. Convenience sampling was employed to get valid responses from interested respondents.FindingsResults revealed that although all the four factors under consideration, faculty mentors' preparedness (FMP), industry mentors' preparedness (IMP), interns' readiness toward online internship and interns' Internet efficacy (IIE) are significantly related to IS, industry mentors' role was found to have a major impact on the IS. The study unravels that industry mentors' interaction has a potential role in the successful implementation of e-internships.Research limitations/implicationsThe study has implications for the university as well as the companies to ponder on factors that satisfy interns during the virtual internship and designing an effective internship program by having a collaborative approach.Originality/valueThere is a dearth of empirical studies on internships in general and e-internship in particular, so this study fills the gap and contributes to the existing literature and provides ways to satisfy B-school interns toward e-internship by addressing the key factors.

Rethinking balanced scorecard (BSC) measures: formative versus reflective measurement models

2017 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sungbum Park ◽  
Heeseok Lee ◽  
Seong Wook Chae
Keyword(s):  
Balanced Scorecard ◽  
Latent Variables ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Model Comparison ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Formative Measurement ◽  
Measurement Models ◽  
Formative Indicators

Purpose Most empirical balanced scorecard (BSC) studies have shown a tendency to wrongly employ reflective indicators instead of the more theoretically suitable formative indicators. However, formative indicators are difficult to apply due to the lack of statistical software support and a standardized model testing method. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach This study empirically compares the reflective and formative measurement method with standardized model comparison criteria. After collecting 217 valid questionnaires from companies in South Korea, the authors applied a structural equation modeling technique to analyze the data. Findings The result shows that the formative measure provides greater validity for the corporate performance measurement using BSC. Further, this study shows the indicators’ relative influence on each BSC perspectives using the formative measure. Practical implications This study proved the usefulness of the formative measure analysis method and suggested its practical use, focusing on the indicators most useful in developing corporate strategies. In addition, the authors showed that formative indicators could be used in the corporate environment by overcoming the limitations of conventional studies that were confined to causal relationships with latent variables. Originality/value This study may be the pioneering work that compares formative and reflective indicators simultaneously, addressing the usefulness of formative measurement and its application validity in the existing empirical studies using reflective measurements.

Impact of service quality on satisfaction and loyalty at manufacturer-distributor dyad

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Surjit Kumar Gandhi ◽  
Anish Sachdeva ◽  
Ajay Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Northern India ◽  
Indian Setting ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the role played by service quality (SQ) in manufacturer–distributor working partnerships in the context of Indian small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and present two models which propose and validate that contributions toward SQ, made by both the manufacturing unit and distribution firm lead to satisfaction which consequently results in business-to-business (B2B) loyalty.Design/methodology/approachThe research design for this study includes a combination of literature review, exploratory interviews with a focus group and a questionnaire survey conducted through interview schedule from 101 information rich and willing respondents working in SMEs of northern India.FindingsThe paper brings out scales foe measuring organizational (internal) and distributor (external) SQ. Further, two models using structural equation modeling are developed. Model-I examines the effect of organizational SQ on distributor SQ. Model-II examines the impact of distributor SQ on satisfaction and loyalty and also tests a set of four propositions related to their working relationship. The models are empirically tested and are found to be fit.Research limitations/implicationsFuture researchers may validate these scales, and empirically test the proposed models in alternate settings. Insights derived from this study may be transferred to other partnerships, which may exist in a manufacturing supply chain including suppliers, employees, retailers and end consumers.Practical implicationsThis study would be of interest to SME practitioners interested in improving SQ with their distributors. The study also finds support for strengthening collaborative relationships with B2B partners to achieve a win-win situation.Originality/valueThere are very few empirical studies that measure SQ w.r.t. distribution function in SMEs and the concept is in nascent stage, especially in Indian setting.

Should I stay or should I go? The antecedents of turnover intention among police personnel

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fauzia Jabeen ◽  
Maryam Al Hashmi ◽  
Vinita Mishra
Keyword(s):  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Organizational Support ◽  
Turnover Intention ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Turnover Intentions ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Police Personnel ◽  
Personnel Turnover

Purpose This study aims to explore the antecedents that may lead to turnover intentions among police personnel in the United Arab Emirates. Design/methodology/approach The data were collected from police personnel (n = 176) through a questionnaire survey, and structural equation modeling was used to test the relationships. Findings The findings revealed that the work-family conflict and job autonomy significantly correlate with turnover intentions. Alternatively, perceived organizational support does not predict turnover intentions. Research limitations/implications This research is limited by the study’s subjective assessment of police personnel turnover intentions through self-reported questionnaires. It provides implications for policymakers, organizational behavioral experts and those interested in formulating effective strategies to reduce turnover among police personnel. Originality/value This study offers a novel context as it assesses police personnel in an emerging Middle Eastern country. It provides insights to policymakers and academia concerning the factors strongly linked with police personnel turnover intentions and will help them formulate strategies for improving personnel satisfaction and advancing relationships between police and the community.

A study of female Middle Eastern entrepreneurs: a resource-based view

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tariq M. Khizindar ◽  
William K. Darley
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Financial Capital ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Marketing Capability ◽  
Labor Shortage ◽  
Resource Based View ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Dependent Variables ◽  
Capital Access

Purpose Using the resource-focused view of the firm as a theoretical backdrop, this study aims to examine the relationships between entrepreneurial perceptions and two dependent measures (i.e. customer satisfaction outcomes and firm performance). Specifically, the study tests the boundary conditions of the resource-based view (RBV) performance relationship in a Middle Eastern context. Design/methodology/approach The data from 171 female Saudi entrepreneurs are analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings The research results revealed that marketing capability and financial capability (i.e. financial capital access) have a positive significant effect on both dependent measures. Labor shortage also has a negative significant effect on both dependent variables, whereas operations capability does not show a significant effect on the two dependent measures. To a large extent, the results show that the RBV holds true in the Saudi context. Originality/value The study contributes to the knowledge about the effects of specific human and financial capital, as well as illuminates how marketing capability, financial capital access and labor shortage impact these dependent variables in the unique context of Saudi Arabia among female entrepreneurs, thereby extending the knowledge of the RBV in different contexts. Furthermore, it extends knowledge of the entrepreneurship literature, especially in the area of gender-based entrepreneurship research in developing countries.

Antecedents of e-business adoption intention: an empirical study

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 417-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bijoylaxmi Sarmah ◽  
Shreekant Sharma ◽  
Shivam Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Perceived Behavioral Control ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Adoption Intention

Purpose Recent advances in information and communication technologies has driven emergence and expansion of the internet with decreased computing and communication costs and paved the way for exploring, creating and delivering value to the stakeholders through e-business adoption by the hotel service providers. Keeping this context in mind, this study aims to develop a conceptual model to investigate the antecedent factors of e-business adoption intention among the owners/managers of Indian micro, small and medium hotel enterprises and empirically validates it. Design/methodology/approach Data were gathered from micro, small and medium hotel owners/managers with the help online survey method that resulted into 116 usable questionnaires. Structural equation modeling technique was applied to examine the appropriateness of the hypotheses. Findings Findings reveal that attitude toward e-business, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control positively influences e-business adoption intention among the owners/managers of micro, small and medium hotel enterprises in India. Research limitations/implications The context of this study is micro, small and medium hotel enterprises in India only and thereby limits the generalizability of results to other industry and country context. Practical implications This study offers theoretical and managerial implications to be applied by academicians and micro, small and medium enterprise owners/managers for e-business adoption in Indian hotel industry. Originality value This study can be considered as an extension of the study of Crespo and del Bosque (2008) in which they applied the theory of planned behavior to understand the psychological factors that determine e-business adoption among the managers and, thereby, contribute the existing literature, as empirical studies on e-business adoption intention by micro, small and medium hotel enterprises are scantly available.

Impact of managerial coaching skills on employee commitment: the role of personal learning

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sohee Park ◽  
Gary N. McLean ◽  
Baiyin Yang
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Commitment ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Managerial Coaching ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Five Dimensions ◽  
Personal Learning ◽  
Coaching Skills

Purpose Managerial coaching has been popularized as a way of motivating, developing and retaining employees in organizations. Yet, there has been a lack of empirical studies to examine the linkage between managerial coaching and its potential impact on employees. This study aims to investigate the interrelationships among managerial coaching, employees’ personal learning and organizational commitment. This study also attempts to revise an existing instrument for measuring coaching skills in organizations created by McLean et al. (2005) to assess managers’ coaching skills. Design/methodology/approach Data analyzes were based on 187 employees of a top global technology organization headquartered in the USA. The existing instrument for measuring coaching skills was revised and confirmed through a series of efforts including expert reviews, pilot tests and assessing its reliability and validity. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the relationships among managerial coaching skills and employees’ personal learning and organizational commitment. Findings This study identified five dimensions of managerial coaching skills and validated the revised instrument measuring coaching skills in organizations. It also demonstrated that managers’ utilization of managerial coaching skills had a direct effect on employees’ learning and organizational commitment and impacted employees’ organizational commitment through personal learning. Originality/value This study examined the interrelationships among managerial coaching and employees’ personal learning and organizational commitment in organizations. In doing so, this study unveiled the process of how managers’ coaching affects employees’ development and attitudes at work. This study also identified five coaching skills as a tool to assess the level of managerial coaching.

Does CSR influence firm performance? A longitudinal study of SME sectors of Pakistan

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Ikram ◽  
Robert Sroufe ◽  
Muhammad Mohsin ◽  
Yasir Ahmed Solangi ◽  
Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Firm Performance ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Significant Relationships ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This study aims to examine whether corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities influence firm performance based on a longitudinal survey for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan. Empirical studies suggest that the SME sector plays an essential role in the economic development of Pakistan and can be considered the backbone of the economy. Design/methodology/approach The data for this study were collected from SMEs located in the cities of Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad in Pakistan. A well-designed questionnaire was administrated over 240 entrepreneurs to analyze and measure the impact of CSR on financial performance for a 12-month period. The authors used econometric analysis of the data using structural equation modeling. Findings Results reveal significant relationships between CSR and two determinants of firm performance, namely, employee commitment and corporate reputation. Research limitations/implications Findings of the study are important for policymakers, entrepreneurs and other professionals in SMEs sectors both in under-developed and, with further application and exploration, in developing countries. Originality/value There is no single longitudinal study prior to this has been carried out on the relationships of CSR and firm performance in the SME sector in the context of the Pakistani economy. Hence, this study significantly fills an important gap in the research.

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