Developing a service quality scale in context of organized grocery retail of India

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (9) ◽  
pp. 1969-1990 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prachi Jain ◽  
Vijita Singh Aggarwal
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Quality Measurement ◽  
Measurement Model ◽  
Grocery Stores ◽  
Retail Stores ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Measurement Scales ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Instrument

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to check the reliability and validity of a well-acknowledged scale developed by Pratibha A. Dabholkar (1996) in the context of Indian organized grocery retail and also to identify new aspects of service quality with respect to grocery retail from literature that have not been taken into account in earlier studies and to finally develop a new scale to measure service quality of organized retail grocery stores with consultation from several experts.Design/methodology/approachIn order to achieve the objectives of the research, both descriptive and exploratory research designs have been employed such that a survey of 800 respondents was undertaken as part of descriptive research whereas exploratory research was conducted to add new dimensions to the existing service quality measurement model so as to develop a new comprehensive scale.FindingsThe results of the study suggest that all the five dimensions of Dabholkar’s model are not suitable to measure service quality in Indian organized grocery retail stores. Therefore, a new instrument with total four dimensions has been developed.Practical implicationsThe study is of great importance for the retailers as it offers a more comprehensive and specific scale to measure service quality of organized grocery retail stores.Originality/valueThis research supports and makes contribution to the previous research on development of service quality measurement scales in Indian context.

scholarly journals Healthcare service quality-measurement models: a review

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Berhanu Endeshaw
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
Healthcare Service ◽  
Quality Measurement ◽  
Quality Of Healthcare ◽  
Measurement Model ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Measurement Models

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to review existing healthcare service quality-measurement models.Design/methodology/approachA review of the literature was conducted utilizing keywords “healthcare’’, “service quality’’, “measurement models”, “SERVQUAL”, “SERVPERF”, “HEALTHQUAL”, “PubHosQual” and “HospitalQual”. These investigations were selected from the “Emerald’’, “ABI/Inform”, “ScienceDirect” and “EBSCOhost” databases. A range of studies used in the makeup of the healthcare quality-measurement model for a 36 years period (1979 to 2015) were examined in an exhaustive survey of the literature. Of 137 studies reviewed, 74 studies were selected for analysis.FindingsAs yet, no consensus has been reached among scholars on the definition and indicators and factors of the quality of the healthcare services. Moreover, most of the current models are of Western origin and incongruent with the cultural and economic contexts of developing countries. The previous studies create scales resembling the generic measures of service quality, which may not be completely appropriate for assessing the perceived quality of healthcare services. Furthermore, previous studies were too narrow, overemphasizing the quality of healthcare only as far as the functional aspect of the services were concerned and paying too little attention to the technical aspects, using the experience of healthcare providers. These results have much room for failures. This is therefore advising healthcare organizations that need to develop their own models for measuring the quality of their services.Originality/valueGeneric models no longer suffice in measuring the quality of healthcare services. Developing countries should try and develop their own models for measuring the quality of healthcare services.

ARTQUAL

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (9) ◽  
pp. 1490-1521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abteen Ijadi Maghsoodi ◽  
Abbas Saghaei ◽  
Ashkan Hafezalkotob
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Quality Measurement ◽  
Measurement Model ◽  
Partial Least Square ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cultural Centers ◽  
Measurement Models ◽  
Cultural Preferences

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to formulate and validate a measurement model to evaluate the service quality of cultural centers. This study aims to expand the domain of service quality measurement models by extending the SERVQUAL model to an alternative measurement tool called the ARTQUAL model based on three different preferences and scenarios including concert halls, theater halls and art galleries. Design/methodology/approach The data were collected from 15 cultural centers. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilized in the current research to study the association between aesthetic environments and service quality. An exploratory factor analysis took place to formulate the fundamentals of the measurement model. The validation process is based on a hybrid framework integrating the covariance-based SEM along with the partial least square technique to present a robust validity of the ARTQUAL model. Ultimately, an extensive managerial analysis has been established to show the practicality of the ARTQUAL model. Findings This study provides empirical evidence that the ARTQUAL instrument is proven to be valid, reliable and appropriate to evaluate the service quality of cultural centers. Based on the real-world managerial analysis, the ARTQUAL model showed a significant practicality in quality evaluation of aesthetic environments. Research limitations/implications One of the most important limitations of quantitative studies, based on aesthetic features, is the cultural preferences. This limitation is due to the nature of cultural preferences and partialities applied in different countries based on the definition of quality involving aesthetic aspects such as age, sex and culture. Meanwhile, the findings of this study can guide the service management experts to better understand and improve customers’ perceptions and orientations of service quality in aesthetic environments. Originality/value This paper presents a novel service quality measurement model in order to evaluate the service quality of cultural centers. The originality of the current study is not merely limited to the suggestion of a new quality measurement model, a hybrid statistical validation framework has been provided as well. Therefore, this study provides valuable guidelines to both practitioners and academics to enhance the quality of service measurements in cultural centers.

scholarly journals A SERVQUAL approach to identifying the influences of service quality on leasing market segment in the German financial sector

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 1935-1955 ◽  
Author(s):  
Usha Ramanathan ◽  
Sandar Win ◽  
Andreas Wien
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Quality Measurement ◽  
Measurement Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Customer Expectations ◽  
Customer Perceptions ◽  
Financial Services Marketing ◽  
Leasing Company ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to determine the nature of the relationship between service quality and desired customer behaviours in the leasing market using an appropriate service quality measurement model. The authors take a step further by recognising the possible differences in influence of service quality in private and corporate customers, and those business dealings with low, medium and high lease values. Design/methodology/approach The authors use deduction method to test the SERVQUAL in the German leasing market and the relationship between customer satisfaction and desired behavioural outcomes. The developed questionnaire is based on the 22-item scale of the SERVQUAL approach. Samples are selected based on convenience sampling. Findings The authors found differences in the levels of influence by SERVQUAL dimensions on corporate and private customers as well as among those customers with different leasing contract values. From the regression analyses, it is clear that “assurance” from the leasing company is the most common SERVQUAL dimension that has significant impact on overall service quality perceptions and obtaining customers satisfaction and loyalty (behavioural outcomes). Originality/value The authors recognised that all financial services are not created equally to meet customer demands. Hence, the customer expectations of service quality from these services will be different. The authors contributed to the marketing literature by studying customer perceptions of service quality by specifying financing aspects of financial services, i.e. leasing. The authors further contributed to the literature of SERVQUAL model in financial services by dividing customers into two different types of customers and those with diverse leasing contract values. The authors found that priorities given on service quality dimensions by them are different. These concepts were never considered in the literature. This also implies that future studies on financial services marketing need to recognise such differences in the research.

Evaluation of retail service quality – a fuzzy AHP approach

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 1058-1080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rema Gopalan ◽  
Sreekumar . ◽  
Biswajit Satpathy
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Service Industries ◽  
Retail Stores ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Major City ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Retail Service ◽  
Retail Service Quality

Purpose – With the growing importance of service quality in Indian retail, it becomes critical for the retailers to identify the appropriate dimensions for their retail stores. In the process of evaluating service quality the decision maker is often faced with ambiguities due to the imprecise information gained from the respondents. The purpose of this paper is to present an integrated fuzzy (fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) approach to help the decision makers/retailers in practicing and judging the priorities of service quality strategies and accordingly benchmarking retail stores in Indian retail environment. Design/methodology/approach – The study incorporated the five basic dimensions of Retail Service Quality Scale proposed by Dabholkar et al. (1996) and the FAHP approach to three leading apparel retail stores of a major city (Rourkela) of Orissa (an Indian state located in eastern part of the country) to determine the weights of criteria and sub-criteria of retail service quality. Findings – The study identified that the dimensions, namely, personal interaction, physical aspects, reliability and policy are perceived as important by the Indian consumers. Merchandise and the store’s willingness to handle returns and exchanges emerge as the most influencing variable affecting the overall service quality of the store. Research limitations/implications – The study was restricted to a major city of Orissa and to three apparel stores. The results obtained may not be extrapolated to the country as a whole. The authors believe that the integrated approach of FAHP could be used by a variety of service industries to evaluate the service quality. The study did not investigate switching behavior among the respondents as they had been visiting all the three apparel stores during the preceding months. Practical implications – The integrated approach of FAHP makes an empirical contribution to the service quality and retail marketing literature by overcoming the uncertainty of concepts those are associated with human beings’ subjective judgments. Social implications – The retailer can improve the quality of service provided by them based on the parameters important in Indian context, which will lead to higher customer satisfaction. Originality/value – This paper can help the retail service providers to identify which of the retail service quality dimensions requires much attention to create sustainable competitive advantage.

scholarly journals Service quality and customer satisfaction in liner shipping

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (2/3) ◽  
pp. 170-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kum Fai Yuen ◽  
Vinh Van Thai
Keyword(s):  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Measurement Model ◽  
Liner Shipping ◽  
Service Differentiation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cost Leadership ◽  
Quality Dimensions

Purpose – This paper aims to identify the dimensions of service quality (SQ) in liner shipping and examine their effects on customer satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach – The indicators of SQ in liner shipping were identified from reviewing the literature and interviewing six qualified industry practitioners. An online survey was then administered to 183 liner shippers in Singapore. Subsequently, exploratory factor analysis and regression analysis were conducted. Findings – SQ in liner shipping can be represented by four key quality dimensions. In descending order of their impact on customer satisfaction, they are reliability, speed, responsiveness and value. Service differentiation by time-related attributes results in greater customer satisfaction than practising cost leadership in liner shipping. Research limitations/implications – Allocation of resources to develop SQ in liner shipping should mirror the priorities established in this research. In addition, the developed measurement model for SQ can serve as a reference for liner shipping firms to assess the quality of their services. Originality/value – A parsimonious and updated set of variables can now be used to represent SQ in the liner shipping sector. The paper also identifies the key drivers of customer satisfaction in liner shipping.

ISO 9001 and the public service: an investigation of the effect of the QMS on the quality of public service organizations

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Armando López-Lemus
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
Public Service ◽  
Public Services ◽  
The State ◽  
Iso 9001 ◽  
Knowledge Generation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the influence exerted by a quality management system (QMS) under ISO 9001: 2015 on the quality of public services organizations in Mexico. Design/methodology/approach The methodological design was quantitative, explanatory, observational and transversal, for which a sample of 461 public servants from the state of Guanajuato, Mexico was obtained. To test the hypotheses, a structural equation model (SEM) was developed through the statistical software Amos v.21. For the analysis of the data, software SPSS v.21 was used. Regarding the goodness and adjustment indices of the SEM (χ2 = 720.09, df = 320, CFI = 0.933, TLI = 0.926 and RMSEA = 0.05) which, therefore, proved to be acceptable. Findings According to the results obtained through the SEM model, the QMS under ISO 9001: 2015 is positively and significantly influenced tangible aspects (β1 = 0.79, p < 0.01), reliability (β2 = 0.90, p < 0.01), related to response quality (β3 = 0.93, p < 0.01), guarantees (β4 = 0.91, p < 0.01) and empathy (β5 = 0.88, p < 0.01) of the quality related to public services in Mexico. The study’s key contribution is that it discovered that implementing a QMS in accordance with the ISO 9001: 2015 standard has an impact on the quality of public services, with the most influential quality of response. Similarly, the assurance and dependability of service quality turned out to be important in providing public service quality. Research limitations/implications In this paper, the QMS was only evaluated as a variable that intervenes in the process of obtaining quality in public service under the ISO 9001 standard in its 2015 version. In this regard, the results’ trustworthiness is limited to the extent that the findings may be generalized in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico’s public service. As a result, the scientific community is left primarily focused on service quality to promote new future research. Practical implications The ISO 9001: 2015 standard’s QMS is one of the tools for success in both the commercial and government sectors. However, there are practical limitations, which focus on the time during which managers exercise their vision in the public sector: first, the dynamics that managers play in public policy; second, the length of time they have served in public office; and third, the interest of directors of public institutions to improve the quality of service provided by the government. Other practical consequences concern organizational culture and identity, public servant commitment, senior management or secretaries of government, as well as work and training. Originality/value The findings of this paper are important and valuable because they foster knowledge generation in the public sector through the ISO 9000 quality area. A model that permits the adoption and implementation of a QMS based on the ISO 9001: 2015 standard in public organizations that seek to provide quality in their services offered to the user is also presented to the literature. Similarly, the paper is important because there is currently insufficient research focusing on the variables examined in the context of public service in Mexico.

Measurement model of service quality of tourism supply chains in Thailand

Anatolia ◽  
2022 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Ekkapong Cheunkamon ◽  
Sajjakaj Jomnonkwao ◽  
Vatanavongs Ratanavaraha
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Measurement Model

Service journey quality: conceptualization, measurement and customer outcomes

2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
Elina Jaakkola ◽  
Harri Terho
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Customer Loyalty ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Service Research ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Critical Determinant ◽  
Content Type

PurposeThe quality of the customer journey has become a critical determinant of successful service delivery in contemporary business. Extant journey research focuses on the customer path to purchase, but pays less attention to the touchpoints related to service delivery and consumption that are key for understanding customer experiences in service-intensive contexts. The purpose of this study is to conceptualize service journey quality (SJQ), develop measures for the construct and study its key outcomes.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a discovery-oriented research approach to conceptualize SJQ by synthesizing theory and field-based insights from customer focus group discussions. Next, using consumer survey data (N = 278) from the financial services context, the authors develop measures for the SJQ. Finally, based on an additional survey dataset (N = 239), the authors test the nomological validity and predictive relevance of the SJQ.FindingsSJQ comprises of three dimensions: (1) journey seamlessness, (2) journey personalization and (3) journey coherence. This study demonstrates that SJQ is a critical driver of service quality and customer loyalty in contemporary business. This study finds that the loyalty link is partially mediated through service quality, indicating that SJQ explains loyalty above and beyond service quality.Research limitations/implicationsSince service quality only partially mediates the link between service journey quality and customer loyalty, future studies should examine alternative mediators, such as customer experience, for a more comprehensive understanding of the performance effects.Practical implicationsThe study offers concrete tools for service managers who wish to understand and develop the quality of service journeys.Originality/valueThis study advances the service journey concept, demonstrates that the quality of the service journey is a critical driver of customer performance and provides rigorous journey constructs for future service research.

scholarly journals An application of retailing service quality practices influencing customer loyalty toward retailers

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 842-857 ◽  
Author(s):  
Achchuthan Sivapalan ◽  
Charles Jebarajakirthy
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Customer Loyalty ◽  
Measurement Model ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Customer Base ◽  
Quality Practices ◽  
Personal Interaction ◽  
Loyal Customer ◽  
Favorable Evaluation

Purpose Enhancing retailing service quality (RSQ) serves as a basic strategy for gaining competitive advantage in the retailing industry and enables retailers to make a loyal customer base. The purpose of this paper is to propose and empirically investigate a comprehensive mechanism for enhancing customer loyalty to retail stores via service quality practices. This study suggests information on retailers can be the antecedent of the RSQ and its dimensions, thereby proposing a comprehensive mechanism for enhancing customer loyalty to retailers. Design/methodology/approach The data were collected using questionnaire surveys from 2,375 customers of three main supermarkets in Sri Lanka. After testing the measurement model, two structural models were run to test hypotheses. Findings The findings showed that the RSQ positively influenced customer loyalty. From all the RSQ dimensions, the store’s physical aspects, personal interaction and policy had a significant influence on customer loyalty. The findings also demonstrated that information on retailers contributes to enhancing a customer’s favorable evaluation of the supermarket’s physical aspects, personal interaction and retailing policy. Research limitations/implications This study was conducted with supermarket customers in one country using the cross-sectional data. Hence, the model should be replicated among retail customers in other countries with the longitudinal data. Practical implications Practically, this study recommends to retailers which dimensions of service quality they need to focus to enhance customer loyalty to their business. The study furthermore recommends certain dimensions that need to be emphasized while retailers design their promotional and communication programs. Originality/value Information on retailers has been suggested as an antecedent for enhancing supermarkets’ service quality practices. Thus, this study proposes a comprehensive mechanism for enhancing customer loyalty to retailers via service quality practices.

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