How customer participation influences service failure attribution

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 298-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chia-Yi Chen
Keyword(s):  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Service Failure ◽  
Causal Attribution ◽  
Customer Participation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Theoretical Contribution ◽  
Service Failures ◽  
High Participation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Previous studies offer two contradictory propositions for the influence of customer participation on service failure attribution. The purpose of this paper is to solve this theoretical inconsistency by incorporating the concept of self-efficacy into its theoretical framework. Design/methodology/approach Two 2 (customer participation: high vs low) by 2 (self-efficacy: high vs low) experimental designs were employed under scenarios relating to education and haircut services. Findings The results show that customers with high self-efficacy attribute more responsibility to the firms for a service failure as their participation in service increases. In contrast, customers with low self-efficacy are less likely to blame firms for service failures in the high-participation condition than in the low-participation condition. Practical implications This study suggests that understanding customers’ self-efficacy could help firms improve recovery performance according to customers’ individual differences if service failure occurs. Originality/value The findings help resolve conflicting results reported in the literature and show that the impact of customer participation on service failure attribution differs according to customers’ self-efficacy. Therefore, this study provides a theoretical contribution by enhancing the knowledge of how customer participation influences causal attribution and satisfaction after a service failure.

Open kitchen vs closed kitchen

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 2214-2229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaemun Byun ◽  
SooCheong (Shawn) Jang
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Service Failure ◽  
Causal Attribution ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Service Failures ◽  
Subject Experiment ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This study aims to investigate, when a service failure occurs, whether circumstantial cues could be used to encourage more positive responses by customers toward restaurants through the mediation of causal attribution. Design/methodology/approach A 2 (cause of service failure: easily observable vs difficult-to-observe) × 2 (kitchen design: open vs closed) between-subject experiment is used to analyze customers’ causal attributions of service failures and resultant responses. Findings When a service failure whose cause is easy to identify occurs, customers at open-kitchen restaurants show more negative responses than those at closed-kitchen restaurants because they are likely to attribute the responsibility to the restaurant. Attribution is confirmed to mediate the relationship between the interaction of service failure by kitchen design and customers’ responses. Practical implications Diverse circumstantial cues should be actively used to encourage more positive responses by customers. The mediating role of causal attribution should be considered in managing customers’ responses toward service failures. Originality/value This study finds that circumstantial cues could be useful in dealing with service failures in restaurants by confirming the mediating role of causal attribution.

When service providers fail: outsourcing help and consumer attitudes

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 22-30
Author(s):  
Aaron Gazley ◽  
Hamish Simmonds
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Home Country ◽  
Service Failure ◽  
Service Recovery ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Consumer Ethnocentrism ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Delivery Channel

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of outsourcing and offshoring on brand loyalty in a service recovery context. In addition, the effect that consumer ethnocentrism has on these relationships is examined. Design/methodology/approach An experiment was designed using a series of service recovery scenarios that manipulated whether the recovery effort was conducted by an in-house/outsourced or local/offshored party. Findings The study shows that while outsourcing service recovery within the home country has no effect on loyalty, outsourcing to an offshore location does. In addition, the effect of offshoring of loyalty is greater for consumers who hold ethnocentric tendencies. Practical implications This research suggests the need to consider the delivery channel of service recovery to recover a service failure and retain customer loyalty. The results show that outsourcing within a local country may be effective, but the risks associated with offshoring are much greater. Originality/value Despite previous attempts to understand outsourcing and offshoring in a range of service scenarios, their role in service recovery is not well understood. Similarly, the impact that ethnocentrism might have on this process is overlooked. This paper therefore responds to calls within business theory, practice and consults for further study in this under-researched area.

Are tattoos still a taboo?

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 874-889 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Ozanne ◽  
Michael J. Tews ◽  
Anna S. Mattila
Keyword(s):  
Customer Service ◽  
Service Failure ◽  
Mediation Process ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Customer Perceptions ◽  
Service Failures ◽  
Aesthetic Labor ◽  
Agency And Communion ◽  
Failure Scenario ◽  
The Impact

PurposeAs tattoos increase in popularity, questions persist regarding their impact on customer perceptions. To help shed light into this issue, this paper aims to explore the impact of tattooed restaurant servers in the context of service failures. Through the agency and communion theory, the authors propose that a female server with tattoos induces higher levels of negative word of mouth (WOM) intention than her male counterpart. Furthermore, the authors propose that perceived competence mediates this effect.Design/methodology/approachThrough a 2 (tattoos status: yes, no) × 2 (server’s gender: male, female) experimental design, a panel of consumers were exposed to a restaurant service failure scenario with a photograph of a server. Depending on the condition, the server was either a male or female and had (or not) a tattoo on their left arm and neck. The same tattoo design was used for both genders.FindingsThe findings indicate that, in a service failure context, customers’ propensity to generate negative WOM does not differ across tattooed (vs non-tattooed) servers. However, contrary to the expectations of the authors, people tend to react more negatively to a male (vs female) server with tattoos.Originality/valueResearch on tattoos in the customer service context is scant, especially in hospitality. Furthermore, no previous study on tattoos has empirically tested a mediation process explaining differences in customer perceptions. Contrary to previous findings, this study demonstrates that an exposure to male (vs female) tattooed servers increases customers’ propensity to generate negative WOM. In other words, the type of profession coupled with the employees’ gender might influence customer perceptions. Furthermore, as customers’ propensity to generate negative WOM did not increase when served by a tattooed (vs non-tattooed) employee, managers in aesthetic labor industries, such as the foodservice business, can be more accepting of employees with tattoos.

From entrepreneurial education to entrepreneurial intention: a sequential mediation of self-efficacy and entrepreneurial attitude

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Usman Yousaf ◽  
Syed Ahmad Ali ◽  
Muhammad Ahmed ◽  
Bushra Usman ◽  
Izba Sameer
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intention ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Knowledge Database ◽  
Entrepreneurial Attitude ◽  
New Business ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Does entrepreneurship education (EE) really enhance participants’ self-efficacy and influence their attitudes towards starting new business? How does this attitudinal influence relate to participants’ entrepreneurial intention (EI)? Researchers and entrepreneurs alike have been probing into these questions with a view to capacitate the need of EE. This study aims to understand and operationalize a framework for entrepreneurship development by measuring participants’ intention towards entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach The study proposed a sequential mediation framework to examine the impact of EE on EI mediated by self-efficacy and attitude towards starting new business. Testing the hypotheses on data collected from 380 individuals, the study provided differentiated support for the theoretical propositions. Findings The findings of the study reflect that EE, self-efficacy and attitude towards starting new business contribute in establishing EI of audience. It was concluded that a sequential mediation exists between EE and EI by channelizing through entrepreneurs’ self-efficacy level that transforms an attitude towards starting a new business venture. Research limitations/implications The study has both theoretical and practical implications that will enable academicians, managers and practitioners to facilitate entrepreneurship by enhancing their knowledge database, skillset and developing a positive and constructive attitude among potential entrepreneurs. Originality/value The study inculcates a cultural lens and differentiates Pakistani context with other developing countries in Asia.

scholarly journals Linking exploration to academic performance

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (8/9) ◽  
pp. 404-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panagiotis Gkorezis ◽  
Petros Kostagiolas ◽  
Dimitris Niakas
Keyword(s):  
Academic Performance ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Healthcare Management ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Academic Self Efficacy ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Substantial empirical research has addressed the antecedents of students’ academic performance. Building on these insights, the purpose of this paper is to extend the related literature by investigating the impact of students’ exploration on their academic performance. Furthermore, to provide a better understanding of this relationship the authors incorporate two sequential mediators, namely, information seeking and academic self-efficacy. Design/methodology/approach Quantitative approach using self-report questionnaires. This study was conducted in the Hellenic Open University through a specially designed questionnaire. The authors collected data from 248 students attending a postgraduate course in Healthcare Management. Findings The results showed that information seeking and in turn academic self-efficacy mediate the positive association between exploration and academic performance. Both theoretical and practical implications are also discussed. Originality/value Students’ exploration plays an important role in enhancing both their information seeking and self-efficacy which in turn affects their academic performance.

Intentionality attributions and humiliation

2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 901-923 ◽  
Author(s):  
Concepción Varela-Neira ◽  
Rodolfo Vázquez-Casielles ◽  
Víctor Iglesias
Keyword(s):  
Service Providers ◽  
Negative Emotion ◽  
Service Failure ◽  
Switching Behavior ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Complaint Behavior ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – This paper aims to determine whether intentionality attributions have an effect on the customer’s complaint and switching behavior after a service failure, after accounting for the effects of the traditional dimensions of attribution (stability and controllability), and to examine whether intentionality attributions give rise to humiliation and to what degree this negative emotion enables us to understand the customer’s complaint and switching behavior after a service failure. Design/methodology/approach – A contribution of this investigation is that it studies real complaint and switching behaviors, as the few studies that focus on understanding customers’ complaint and defection behaviors mostly analyze customers’ intentions. Findings – The results of the study indicate that intentionality attributions have an effect on the customer’s switching behavior after a service failure, in addition to the impact of the traditional dimensions of attribution. The findings also show that humiliation is the emotion that mediates the relationship between intentionality attributions and switching behavior, opposite to other emotions that may also be related to attributions. Finally, the results also support that the effect of attribution of intentionality on complaint behavior is indirect; it only exists because attribution of intentionality influences negative emotions like humiliation, which in turn influences complaint behavior. Practical implications – To understand what makes customers complain after a service failure or switch service providers without giving them first the possibility of recovering the failure may help managers reduce the damage caused by the failure and increase the company’s profits. Originality/value – This study will try to contribute to the service failure research by analyzing the role of two variables that have not been analyzed before in this context: intentionality attribution and humiliation.

The role of collective angst during and after a service failure

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 223-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amro A. Maher ◽  
Rana Sobh
Keyword(s):  
Service Providers ◽  
Cultural Distance ◽  
Service Failure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Service Failures ◽  
Service Failure And Recovery ◽  
The Future ◽  
Future Viability ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the role of collective angst, the concern about the future viability of one’s group, during service failure and recovery. Design/methodology/approach – To test this objective the authors utilize an experiment to examine how Kuwaitis react to service failures when the front-line employee is a foreigner. Findings – The results indicate that collective angst is associated with greater anger following a service failure. The authors also find that collective angst moderates the impact of cultural distance on anger and recommendation intentions following a service-failure recovery attempt. More specifically, cultural distance leads to greater anger and lower intentions to recommend a service establishment for consumers that experience greater collective angst. Originality/value – The research provides the first attempt at examining how local consumers react to foreigner service providers, by examining how concern about the future vitality of one’s national group, in other words collective angst, affects such reactions.

Others service experiences: emotions, perceived justice, and behavior

2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 552-571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Mattila ◽  
Lydia Hanks ◽  
Chenya Wang
Keyword(s):  
Service Providers ◽  
Service Failure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Theory Of Justice ◽  
Service Failures ◽  
Service Failure And Recovery ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Service Experiences

Purpose – Often, service failures are witnessed by other customers, but little is known about how consumers react to service recovery aimed at other customers. Using the deontic theory of justice, this paper aims to examine consumers' reactions to justice directed toward other customers. Design/methodology/approach – Two studies were conducted to test the hypotheses. Both were 2 x 2 between subjects quasi experimental designs using written scenarios and surveys. The scenarios depicted an observing customer witnessing a service failure and recovery happening to another customer. Findings – Results show that the valence of the recovery attempt impacted the observing customer's reactions and evaluations, and that the observer's processing frame and loyalty status of the victim impacted the observing customer's judgments of fairness and behavioral intentions. Originality/value – These results provide guidance to service providers by shedding light on the impact of service failures and recovery on surrounding customers.

Would compensation be necessary? The importance of service recovery strategy in e-retail delivery problems

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erlinda Nusron Yunus
Keyword(s):  
Service Failure ◽  
Service Recovery ◽  
Recovery Strategy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Repurchase Intentions ◽  
Subsequent Test ◽  
Service Failures ◽  
Recovery Strategies ◽  
Online Shoppers ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis study examines the different effects of service recovery strategies on customers' future intentions when online shoppers were experiencing delivery failures. Two types of problem severity are evaluated: wrong-product delivery (issues with the product quality or quantity) and late delivery. This study also investigates the impact of service criticality on the relationship between service recovery strategies and customers' future intentions.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs experimental research with 123 online shoppers as participants. Following the results, a subsequent test is conducted to examine the effect of participants' demographics on future intentions. Finally, the current study elaborates the findings using qualitative research, interviewing both sides impacted by the service failures: online shoppers and e-retail managers.FindingsThe findings show that complementing product replacement with monetary compensation is the most effective strategy to improve repurchase intention after a dissatisfaction moment. This effect is indifferent to service criticality and severity. Age influences the participants' repurchase intentions, in which younger people are less tolerant of service failures. In contrast, gender and education level do not provide any differences. To prevent delivery failures, managers participating in this study suggest several best practices regarding systems and infrastructure, people and coordination and collaboration with logistics partners.Research limitations/implicationsThe study mainly examines a limited type of service and service failures. Further studies are encouraged to expand the variables and scenarios, as well as to employ more distinctive methods, to enrich the findings related to recovery strategy in the e-commerce industry.Practical implicationsGiven proper compensation, service failure could create momentum for online retailers to boost customer loyalty. This study suggests that managers design the most effective service recovery to win customers back to the business.Originality/valueThis paper enriches the literature related to a service recovery strategy, particularly within the online shopping context.

scholarly journals Impairment effects of creative ads on brand recall for other ads

2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (7) ◽  
pp. 1466-1483
Author(s):  
Hyun Seung Jin ◽  
Gayle Kerr ◽  
Jaebeom Suh
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Presentation Order ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Facilitation Effect ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Theoretical Contribution ◽  
Brand Recall ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The creativity-based facilitation effect, well documented by previous research, shows that creative advertisements (ads) are more memorable than regular (or less creative) ads, that is, creativity facilitates memory. This current research aims to extend our understanding by investigating the impact of creativity on regular ads and competitive advertising. It examines whether creative ads impair the memorability of regular ads to determine whether a “creativity-based impairment effect” exists. Design/methodology/approach Three experiments were conducted. Experiment 1 tested creativity-based impairment effects in brand recall. Experiment 2 replicated and validated the impairment effect in recall, using a different presentation order of ads. In Experiment 3, effects of creative ads on competing vs non-competing brands were examined. Findings Results found that creative ads impaired the brand recall of regular ads, creative ads impaired the recall of competing brands more than non-competing brands and creative ads were recalled earlier in top-of-mind recall positions. Research limitations/implications Future research may look at whether different memory measures (e.g. recognition), different proportions of creative ads, and ads of familiar vs unfamiliar brands produce differential impairment effects. Practical implications One suggestion from this research could be to not only copy-test your own brand’s advertising, but also test the advertising of other brands so that the target ad’s relative levels of creativity can be assessed before media buying. As a result of this testing, when the brand identifies any potential impairment effects, the identified creative ads could then be tracked in terms of media placement, providing a guide of where “not to schedule” advertising. Originality/value This research makes an important theoretical contribution as the first to explore impairment effects in the context of creative advertising. In doing so, it offers important managerial insights for regular and competitive advertising.

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