scholarly journals Linking improvisational behavior to customer satisfaction: the relational dynamics

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 1183-1193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magnus Hultman ◽  
Abena Animwaa Yeboah-Banin ◽  
Nathaniel Boso

Purpose Contemporary sales scholarship suggests that salespersons pursuing customer satisfaction should improvise (think and act on their feet) to find solutions to customers’ emergent problems. A missing link in this literature, however, is the relational context within which improvisation takes place and becomes effective. This study aims to examine how the tone of the salesperson–customer relationship (whether cordial or coercive) drives and conditions salesperson improvisation and its implications for customer satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach The study tests the proposed model using dyadic salesperson–customer data from business-to-business (B2B) markets in Ghana. The relationships are tested using structural equation modeling technique. Findings The study finds that salesperson improvisation is associated with customer satisfaction. It also finds the extent of cordiality between salespersons and their customers predicts but does not enhance the value of improvisation for customer satisfaction. The reverse is true for customer exercised coercive power which is not a significant driver of improvisation but can substantially alter its benefits for the worse. Practical implications By implication, salespersons should improvise more to be able to satisfy customers. However, such improvisation must be tempered with a consciousness of the relationship shared with customers and the level of power they exercise in the relationship. Originality/value Because improvised behavior deviates from routines and may be unsettling for customers, improvising salespersons must first understand whether their customers would be willing to accommodate such deviations. Yet, the literature is silent on this relational context surrounding improvisation. This study, by exploring facilitating and inhibitory relational variables implicated in improvisation, addresses this gap.

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1525-1540
Author(s):  
Andriani Kusumawati ◽  
Karisma Sri Rahayu

PurposeTo test the effect of experience quality on customer perceived value and customer satisfaction and its impact on customer loyalty to the visitors of natural nuanced outdoor cafés in the hilly areas of Joyo Agung, Malang.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses four variables, namely experience quality, customer perceived value, customer satisfaction, and customer loyalty. The population used in this research was all customers or visitors who buy and enjoy the products and services provided by the natural outdoor cafés in Malang. This study used structural equation modeling (SEM) as inferential statistical technique.Findings1) Quality experience has a significant effect on customer perceived value, customer satisfaction, and customer loyalty; 2) customer perceived value has a significant effect on customer satisfaction and customer loyalty; and 3) customer satisfaction has a significant effect on customer loyalty.Originality/valueBased on the results of previous research and the phenomenon that has been described previously, the research gaps found in this study are: (1) the relationship between experience quality and customers’ perceived values. (2) There are differences in the relationship between experience quality and customer satisfaction found in the research, which examines the effect of experience quality on customer loyalty. (3) Experience quality and customer loyalty variables still differ in the research concerning the effect of experience quality on customer loyalty. (4) The influence of customer satisfaction and customer loyalty is still different in the research results regarding the effect of customer satisfaction on customer loyalty.


2021 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 430-442
Author(s):  
Chayanan Kerdpitak

A combination of strategies, practices, and technologies to analyze and manage customer data and interaction throughout the customer lifecycle by the organizations is known as customer relationship management (CRM). The primary objective of CRM is to enhance customer retention, increase customer service relationships, and boost sales growth. According to the current study, CRM strategy, or the organizations involved in the rice business, directly impact customer satisfaction and business performance, particularly in North Eastern Thailand. CRM strategies, such as sales, feedback, marketing, and support, positively impact customer satisfaction and business performance. Hence, this research was carried out to investigate a fundamental factor influencing the business performance of rice production in the northeast of Thailand. The conceptual framework was developed from the competitive advantage theory of business organizations and other contemporaneous research in rice business performance. Accordingly, the study considered the importance of sales, marketing, support, feedback, and customer satisfaction employing a quantitative research approach. A questionnaire was used for data collection from 420 managers of the rice business of community enterprises in Northeastern Thailand. Finally, data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the actual rice business performance of the organizations studied through all operational links in the CRM. It is concluded that increased sales, feedback, marketing, and sales increase customer satisfaction and the concerned organizations’ business performance. The current study is an excellent contribution for the practitioners to improve their business performance.


2016 ◽  
Vol 39 (8) ◽  
pp. 854-878 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nedra Bahri-Ammari ◽  
Khalid S. Soliman

Purpose The aim of this study is examine customer relationship management (CRM) effect on enhancing customer satisfaction and on improving customer retention. In this study, the impact of CRM on loyalty in the pharmaceutical sector in Tunisia is studied. Service quality perception, customer satisfaction, loyalty, retention and firm profitability have been tested as independent variables. This study highlights the importance of CRM and service quality perception in maintaining a sustainable and profitable relationship with customers. Design/methodology/approach A survey research design was used to collect data. In total, 221 respondents from 5 pharmaceutical companies in Tunisia were involved in the study. Exploratory and confirmatory analyses were adopted to examine the effect of CRM technology on profitability. Structural equation modeling was used to validate results. Findings The results show that there are significant relationships between CRM and quality perception, satisfaction and loyalty. However, there are no significant relationships either between CRM and retention or between CRM and profitability. Research limitations/implications Fitting CRM scale with the context of the study and the number of the survey companies was the limitation of this research. Practical implications This study provides significant results to practitioners to understand the role of establishing a CRM strategy and to understand the selected factors affecting customer satisfaction and retention as well. Originality/value This study was conducted in Tunisia to contribute to enrich literature in the implementation of information technology and customer satisfaction.


2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 663-679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mushtaq Ahmad Darzi ◽  
Suhail Ahmad Bhat

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of a study undertaken to understand customer satisfaction and customer retention in business-to-consumer markets. The study investigates the effect of personnel capability and customer satisfaction on customer retention in the banking sector. The influence of the control variable (gender) on customer retention and mediating role of customer satisfaction has also been examined. Design/methodology/approach The study has used structural equation modeling (SEM) for data analysis across a sample of 409 bank customers of a private bank operating in Jammu and Kashmir state of India. Questionnaires were distributed and respondents were selected through a cluster sampling technique. Findings The empirical analysis through SEM has confirmed that personnel capability and customer satisfaction have a significant positive impact on customer retention. Customer satisfaction partially mediates the effect of personnel capability on customer retention. Moderation analysis was performed and established that gender moderates the effect of personnel capability on customer satisfaction. It was also found that gender has no effect on other relations. Furthermore, the study shows that personnel capability has a stronger impact on customer retention as compared to customer satisfaction. However, the relationship between personnel capability and customer satisfaction is significant. Research limitations/implications The study has been conducted on the customers of a private bank in India. Therefore, generalizations may be limited. As personnel capability is the predictor of satisfaction and retention, individuals with proper social and technical skills – in addition to other skills – should be hired for managing relationships with customers. Originality/value The study has added to the understanding of the relationship which exists among the following variables: gender, personnel capability, customer satisfaction and customer retention. These variables have not been studied together previously.


2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dian Anggraece Sigit Parawansa

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of commitment and customer’s satisfaction on the relationship between service quality and customer retention. Design/methodology/approach The research was conducted on the entire customer rural banks (BPR) in Makassar, South Sulawesi Province; the sample size comprised 300 respondents. Analysis equipment used in this study is a quantitative approach that is inferential statistical analysis with structural equation modeling based variance is known as a method WarpPLS. Findings The results of the analysis show that there is significant influence between the variables of service quality, commitment, customer satisfaction, and customer retention. It was also found that the results of the variables commitment and customer satisfaction mediate the effect of service quality on customer’s retention. Originality/value The study showed the mediation effect (using the Sobel test) of service quality on customer retention using commitment and customer satisfaction as intervening variables in rural banks; and the study was conducted in the customer rural banks (BPR) in Makassar, South Sulawesi Province, where no such study for this relationship has been conducted previously.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohita Maggon ◽  
Harish Chaudhry

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the interrelationships among the extracted constructs of customer satisfaction (CS), knowledge about customer relationship management (CRM) program, customer attitude and their effect on relationship share (RS). The study also attempts to find if moderating role of gender exists among these constructs.Design/methodology/approachA conceptual framework is developed based on previous studies. In order to address a lack of comprehensive evaluation of B2C relationships in Indian hotels, this study extracted the dimensions of CRM in hotels and used them in the structural model. The conceptual model is tested using structural equation modeling approach through maximum likelihood estimation technique. A sample of 305 domestic travelers was used to test the hypothesized relationships among the constructs.FindingsThe findings indicate that CS and willingness to engage (CWER) in the relationship are major predictors of RS. Besides, CS indirectly affects RS through customer’s attitude toward the hotel. The results of the study also show that customer willingness to engage in the relationship is dependent on attitude of customer toward firm which is further dependent on knowledge about CRM program. One more notable finding of the study states that gender plays a moderating role between CS and customer willingness to engage in the relationship.Practical implicationsIn addition to contributing toward academic knowledge, the findings of the present study will help the practitioners to better design CRM program and reap its maximum benefits.Originality/valueThe current study has considered new dimensions of CRM like customer’s knowledge of CRM and this is the first study to capture responses of Indian travelers in relation with various constructs. This is the first study to test the moderating effect of gender between various constructs.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pushpender Kumar ◽  
Anupreet Kaur Mokha ◽  
Subash Chandra Pattnaik

PurposeThe purpose of this paper was to examine the relationship between electronic customer relationship management (E-CRM) and customer satisfaction through the mediating role of customer experience in the banking industry.Design/methodology/approachThe data were collected from customers of 10 banks (5 public and 5 private sector banks) of Delhi, India. In total, 836 useable structured questionnaires were filled, and the data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) through AMOS.FindingsThe results revealed that customer experience mediated the relationship between E-CRM and customer satisfaction confirming well with the hypothesized model.Research limitations/implicationsThe model was tested in the domain of banking industry; future results may be conducted in different domains for improving generalizability. A comparative study between public and private sector banks in terms of E-CRM, customer experience and customer satisfaction could also be conducted.Originality/valueThe study was the first to unequivocally analyze the influence of the E-CRM on customer satisfaction through customer experience in the banking industry. The study also introduced stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) model as a theoretical support to associate E-CRM to customer satisfaction through customer experience. Thus, this study will enhance the current knowledge base and will also aid E-CRM managers amid decision-making process.


2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 383-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rima Bizri ◽  
Jamil Hammoud ◽  
Marwa Stouhi ◽  
Manar Hammoud

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose a model for entrepreneurial universities (EPUs) that operate in developing countries, as most of the existing research has either focused on the western context or neglected context altogether. The model is intended to identify the EPU’s key success factors while taking into consideration its contextual constraints. Design/methodology/approach A 60-item survey instrument was designed and distributed across the top 10 QS-ranked universities in Lebanon, and the data were analyzed using structural equation modeling with SmartPLS. Findings The results of data analysis confirmed the influence of resources and capabilities and knowledge transfer as the two most powerful “university-specific” success factors. Importantly, the relationship between the university-specific factors and innovation was mediated by the presence of a strong entrepreneurial culture, while an entrepreneurship environment was found to be conducive to entrepreneurship outcomes of the EPU. Originality/value This paper fills a gap in the literature by suggesting a model for the EPU in developing nations, taking into consideration the various constraints of those nations.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciana Ronchi ◽  
Gerson Tontini ◽  
Carlos Eduardo Carvalho

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose a model to measure maturity in value co-creation practices and to evaluate its relationship with the market performance of textile companies. Design/methodology/approach The data were obtained through quantitative research with 100 companies of the Brazilian textile sector. A structural equation modeling was performed to verify the relationship between the constructs of the proposed model. Findings The results confirm the proposed model and show that, in addition to a direct impact, the relationship between the maturity of value co-creation practices and market performance also occurs indirectly, by meeting customer expectations. Value co-creation processes can meet customer expectations, leading the company to better market performance. Originality/value A model for assessing the maturity of value co-creation practices enables companies to diagnose their current situation, thereby supporting them in managing these practices and leading to better market performance.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-52
Author(s):  
Iha Haryani Hatta

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of the features of the value, satisfaction, and customer loyalty; the effect on the value of customer satisfaction and loyalty; influence of satisfaction on customer loyalty. A total of 200 merchant PT. BANK XYZ as respondents was selected randomly. Analyses were performed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The analysis showed that the feature has a significant influence on customer value, but not for customer satisfaction and loyalty. The values has a significant influence on satisfaction, but not on customer loyalty. Satisfaction has a significant influence on customer loyalty. Discussion and conclusions described in the article. Keywords: features of the value, satisfaction, customer loyalty


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