The role of listening in e-contact center customer relationship management

2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
JungKun Park ◽  
Te-Lin (Doreen) Chung ◽  
Frances Gunn ◽  
Brian Rutherford
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Customer Relationships ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Interpersonal Interactions ◽  
Contact Center ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Utilitarian Value ◽  
Contact Centers

Purpose – The main purpose of the study is to examine the relationships between e-listening and customers’ perceptions of interpersonal service quality and utilitarian value during e-contact center interactions. Design/methodology/approach – Participants completed an online survey about their service experiences with e-contact centers. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings – This study found that e-listening is highly related to interpersonal service quality and utilitarian value. Interpersonal service quality is positively related to e-satisfaction and e-loyalty, both with e-contact centers and e-retailers. Research limitations/implications – The study utilizes general active empathetic listening (AEL) constructs identified in previous research. Although these constructs provide a way to differentiate the cognitive aspects of AEL, and therefore, a mechanism for discerning utilitarian value, further qualitative studies on nonverbal cues in online communications would develop insights into more granular, behavioral dimensions and effects of e-listening. In addition, the study is based on general e-retailing processes, and is not focused on a specific business or sector. The magnitude of the effects of e-listening on the different factors related to customer relationships may vary with different sectors. Practical implications – E-contact centers should provide interpersonal interactions that emphasize utilitarian value. The centers should be staffed by employees who are well trained in AEL and who are provided with appropriate resources. The interactions of these e-contact centers can provide significant input to e-retailers about the improvement of service quality and resulting customer e-loyalty. Originality/value – The research provides an original view of service quality in e-contact center contexts and makes a valuable contribution to understanding the evolving service offerings of multi-channel e-retailing. The study provides support for the argument that value and quality in interpersonal interactions with e-contact centers lead to satisfaction and consequently to customer loyalty.

Effects of third-party certification on patrons’ service quality evaluation in the luxury-restaurant industry

2017 ◽  
Vol 119 (4) ◽  
pp. 771-789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinhyun Jun ◽  
Juhee Kang ◽  
Sunghyup Sean Hyun
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Education Level ◽  
Restaurant Industry ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Service Quality Evaluation ◽  
Positive Evaluation

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to incorporate third-party certification to test a theoretical model that demonstrates the effects of third-party certification on perceived food quality, perceived service quality, and trust and the effects of these factors on word of mouth (WOM) intentions in the context of luxury restaurants. It also investigates the moderating roles of attention to social comparison information (ATSCI) and the education level. Design/methodology/approach An online survey sent to customers who are patronizing luxury restaurants in the US 317 empirical data analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling. Findings Third-party certification facilitated patrons’ positive evaluation of food and service quality. In addition, this positive evaluation fostered trust in the restaurant. Finally, ATSCI and the education level had significant moderating effects on the relationship between third-party certification and patrons’ trust in the restaurant. Originality/value This study proposes risk-reducing effect of third-party certification on the luxury-restaurant business. Third-party certification is employed as a mechanism for communicating restaurant quality in food and service to patrons. Both stakeholders and patrons in the restaurant industry can obtain benefits from the third-party certification because it minimizes uncertainties and information asymmetries in luxury restaurants’ quality and service, and thus generating likelihood of WOM intentions.

Are blogs still effective to maintain customer relationships?

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chaang-Iuan Ho ◽  
Pie-Chun Lee
Keyword(s):  
Relationship Marketing ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Information Quality ◽  
Dominant Role ◽  
Customer Relationships ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to propose a model investigating the effectiveness of travel blogs as a relationship marketing tool. Specifically, the mediating role of online relationship quality (RQ) dimensions between the attributes of blogs and e-loyalty is modeled. Furthermore, the study investigates the e-loyalty to travel blogs in explaining the reader’s intention to purchase from its online retailer. Design/methodology/approach – The subjects of this study were blog readers who had travel blog usage experiences. The online survey was conducted by one of the major portal Web sites in Taiwan. There were 288 usable responses obtained in total. The structural equation modeling approach was used to estimate the research model. Findings – The research results indicate that information quality plays a dominant role in influencing online satisfaction and trust. The mediating role of e-satisfaction between e-trust and e-loyalty is identified, and thus the online RQ development process: information quality → e-trust → e-satisfaction → e-loyalty→ intention to buy travel products. Research limitations/implications – Travel blogs are still effective to maintain customer relationship. However, they seem to lose interactivity and entertainment to readers. Practical implications – Managerial implications lay emphasis on providing a completed circuit by integrating different social media to facilitate tourism information seeking. Originality/value – This study is to develop a context-specific model of relationship marketing drivers to the travel blogosphere.

scholarly journals Frontline employee empowerment and perceived customer satisfaction

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Proenca ◽  
Ana Torres ◽  
Ana Sofia Sampaio
Keyword(s):  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Intrinsic Motivation ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Psychological Empowerment ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Contact Center ◽  
Structural Empowerment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Frontline Employee ◽  
Contact Centers

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of structural empowerment, psychological empowerment and intrinsic motivation on perceived customer satisfaction in contact centers. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire was conducted among 703 employees of a contact center. Data analysis was based on structural equation modeling. Findings Structural empowerment results in higher levels of perceived customer satisfaction through psychological empowerment and intrinsic motivation. Furthermore, structural empowerment effect on psychological empowerment is mediated by intrinsic motivation. Practical implications Previous predictions regarding counterproductive impact of empowerment in a low-service heterogeneity sector, such as contact center are challenged and a transformative message is disclosed in what concerns human resource management (HRM) in contact centers. Originality/value The research provides valuable insights for both scholars and practitioners regarding the process through which employees’ psychological empowerment and intrinsic motivation improves customer satisfaction in the context of contact centers.

Engaging leadership in the job demands-resources model

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 446-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilmar B. Schaufeli
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Work Performance ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Job Demands ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Organizational Outcomes ◽  
Job Resources ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to integrate leadership into the job demands-resources (JD-R) model. Based on self-determination theory, it was argued that engaging leaders who inspire, strengthen, and connect their followers would reduce employee’s levels of burnout and increase their levels of work engagement. Design/methodology/approach – An online survey was conducted among a representative sample of the Dutch workforce (n=1,213) and the research model was tested using structural equation modeling. Findings – It appeared that leadership only had an indirect effect on burnout and engagement – via job demands and job resources – but not a direct effect. Moreover, leadership also had a direct relationship with organizational outcomes such as employability, performance, and commitment. Research limitations/implications – The study used a cross-sectional design and all variables were based on self-reports. Hence, results should be replicated in a longitudinal study and using more objective measures (e.g. for work performance). Practical implications – Since engaged leaders, who inspire, strengthen, and connect their followers, provide a work context in which employees thrive, organizations are well advised to promote engaging leadership. Social implications – Leadership seems to be a crucial factor which has an indirect impact – via job demands and job resources – on employee well-being. Originality/value – The study demonstrates that engaging leadership can be integrated into the JD-R framework.

User experience sharing

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 1154-1184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Chen ◽  
Judy Drennan ◽  
Lynda Andrews ◽  
Linda D. Hollebeek
Keyword(s):  
User Experience ◽  
Online Communities ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Driver ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Level Of Effort

PurposeThis paper aims to propose user experience sharing (UES) as a customer-based initiation of value co-creation pertaining to service provision, which represents customers’ level of effort made for the direct benefit of others in their service network. The authors propose and empirically examine a user experience sharing model (UESM) that explicates customer-to-customer (C2C) UES and its impacts on firm-desired customer-based outcomes in online communities.Design/methodology/ApproachBased on an extensive review, the authors conceptualize UES and UESM. By using online survey data collected from mobile app users in organic online communities, the authors performed structural equation modeling analyses by using AMOS 24.FindingsThe results support the proposed UESM, showing that C2C UES acts as a key driver of both firm-desired customer efforts and customer insights. The results also confirmed that service-dominant (S-D) logic-informed motivational drivers exert a significant impact on C2C UES. Importantly, C2C UES mediates the relationship between S-D logic-informed motivational drivers and firm-desired customer-based outcomes.Originality/valueThis study offers a pioneering attempt to develop an overarching concept, UES, which reflects customers’ initiation of value co-creation, and to empirically examine C2C UES. The empirical evidence supports the key contention that firms should proactively facilitate C2C UES.

Higher education amid COVID-19 pandemic: contributions from resilience, positive orientation and grit

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Afsaneh Ghanizadeh
Keyword(s):  
Academic Achievement ◽  
University Students ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Academic Resilience ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Positive Orientation ◽  
Major Purpose ◽  
Content Type

PurposeThe major purpose of the present study is to investigate the contribution of academic resilience in accounting for two motivational and attitudinal constructs ? Grit and positive orientation and also probe the predictive power of all these constructs in academic achievement of university students in the midst of the pandemic COVID-19.Design/methodology/approach521 university students participated in an online survey. To measure academic resilience, a scale designed and validated by Kim and Kim (2016) comprising 26 items was employed. The scale contains five sub-factors: perceived happiness, empathy, sociability, persistence and self-regulation. Grit was assessed via an 8-item scale comprising two facets: perseverance of effort (PE) and consistency of interest (CI). It was designed by Duckworth and Gross (2014). Positive orientation was determined through positivity scale developed by Caprara et al. (2010), consisting of eight items.FindingsThe results of structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that resilience positively and significantly predicted both grit (β = 0.56, t = 6.41) and positive orientation (β = 0.54, t = 6.35). Resilience also predicted academic achievement directly (β = 0.71, t = 9.12) and indirectly via its impact on grit and positive orientation. It was also found that positive orientation and grit are positively and highly associated (β = 0.77, t = 9.28).Originality/valueThe pandemic COVID-19 brought about substantial changes in university students' education and their overall life style. Many university students around the globe experienced virtual education. Balancing personal and academic roles in these unprecedented conditions seems to be a tough challenge for every university student.

Find me here: share store information through check-in

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chin-Ching Yin ◽  
Yun-Chia Tang ◽  
Yi-Ching Hsieh ◽  
Hung-Chang Chiu ◽  
Shu-Jie Jhu
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Sales Promotion ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Continuance Intention ◽  
Self Disclosure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Utilitarian Value ◽  
Perceived Values ◽  
Patronage Intention ◽  
Location Based Social Networks

PurposeThis paper aims to propose several characteristics of check-in services and investigates whether these characteristics influence customer perceived utilitarian and hedonic values. These perceived values mediate the influences of check-in services on customers' responses.Design/methodology/approachFrom the perspective of mobile check-in service, the authors proposed a framework with several hypotheses and verified the model with structural equation modeling based on questionnaire data collected from mobile device users.FindingsThe results indicate that self-disclosure, expressive support and self-congruity positively relate to utilitarian value; instrumental support positively relates to hedonic value and both hedonic and utilitarian values positively relate to continuance intention and re-patronage intention. However, sales promotion has no significant influence on both hedonic and utilitarian check-in values.Originality/valueThis study applies the concept of location-based social networks to provide new insights into the evolving user-generated content research in the interactive marketing field.

E-retailer cognitive and emotional relationship quality: their experiential antecedents and differential impact on brand evangelism

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibrahim Al Nawas ◽  
Shadi Altarifi ◽  
Nabil Ghantous
Keyword(s):  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Social Presence ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Word Of Mouth ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Growth Strategies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Brand Evangelism

PurposeLimited knowledge exists on the difference in the antecedents and outcomes of relationship quality's cognitive and emotional aspects for e-retailers. This research tests how utilitarian and hedonic shopping values differentially affect “cognitive and emotional” relationship quality components and how the latter differentially affects word-of-mouth and brand evangelism.Design/methodology/approachOnline survey data were collected from 450 Jordanian online shoppers. Structural equation modeling (AMOS 24.0) was employed to analyze the data.FindingsFirst, e-retailer's informativeness and transaction convenience (i.e. utilitarian values), drive more strongly cognitive than emotional relationship quality, whereas e-retailer's escapism and social presence (i.e. hedonic values) drive more strongly emotional than cognitive relationship quality. Second, emotional relationship quality has a strong significant effect on brand evangelism, whereas cognitive relationship quality's effect is insignificant. Third, there are no statistically significant differences concerning the effect of cognitive and emotional relationship quality on word-of-mouth.Originality/valueThe findings of our research are expected to enhance our understanding of e-retailer relationship quality, its emergence and consequences. They would also provide e-retailers with guidance on how to execute growth strategies by focusing on specific types of brand relationship quality, on the other hand.

Antecedents of the attitude toward the athlete celebrities' human brand extensions

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakeun Koo
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Brand Extensions ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Image Transfer ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Human Brands

PurposeThe present study aims to examine how consumers evaluate the extended human brands of athlete celebrities beyond their unique brand personality associated with sports. Athlete celebrities' unique image in sports is used as a human brand, and attitude toward the athlete brand extensions is investigated when the athlete's name is included in a new non-sport brand. The concepts of brand extensions were employed to develop the ideas of human brand extensions.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 198 participants answered online survey questions before and after being informed of athlete brand extensions. Partial least squares structural equation modeling is utilized to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe survey results indicated that athlete–product fit and image transfer positively influenced attitude toward the extension. In addition, attitude toward the athlete brand extensions was significantly influenced by consumers' pre-existing attitude toward the celebrity; however, not by celebrity's expertise.Originality/valueThe research findings imply that some brand extension concepts are applicable to human brands to understand the effectiveness of athlete brand extensions for non-sport products.

Utilizing the Push-Pull-Mooring-Habit framework to explore users’ intention to switch from offline to online real-person English learning platform

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Hsin Chen ◽  
Ching-Jui Keng
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
English Learning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Learning Platform ◽  
Perceived Price ◽  
Real Person

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop an extended Push-Pull-Mooring-Habit (PPMH) framework in order to better understand users’ intention of switching from offline to an online real-person English learning platform service. Design/methodology/approach Based on 301 valid responses collected from an online survey questionnaire, structural equation modeling was employed to examine the research model. Findings The causal model was validated using SmartPLS 3.0, and all study hypotheses were supported. The results show that push effects (learning convenience, service quality and perceived price), pull effects (e-learning motivation, perceived usefulness), mooring effects (learning engagement, switching cost and social presences) and habit effects (relationship inertia) all significantly influence users’ switching intentions from offline to an online real-person English learning platform. Practical implications The findings should help online English learning service providers and marketers to understand the intention of offline English learning users to switch to an online real-person English learning platform, and develop related theories, services and regulations. Originality/value The present study extends the prior research of an online real-person English learning platform by providing PPMH as the general framework and demonstrating its efficacy in explaining user switching intentions.

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