Factors influencing word of mouth behaviour in the restaurant industry

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Reza Jalilvand ◽  
Sirous Salimipour ◽  
Mehdi Elyasi ◽  
Mehdi Mohammadi
Keyword(s):  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Word Of Mouth ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Restaurant Industry ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Influencing

Purpose Restaurants with limited promotion budgets depend mainly on word of mouth (WOM) among customers. WOM seems particularly important to the marketing of services. This is because services are experiential in nature and difficult to assess before purchase. In the restaurants context there is little research on WOM. The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that may influence tourists’ WOM about restaurants implying on the critical role of relationship quality. Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive literature review is conducted to identify the major factors influencing WOM in the context of restaurant industry. The study utilizes self-administered questionnaire survey and the target population are the customers who have referred to the restaurants of Tehran, Iran. A convenience sampling approach was utilized to collect a sample of 326 customers. A structural equation modeling procedure is applied to the examination of the antecedents of WOM. Findings The paper found that food quality, personal interaction quality, physical environment quality, and perceived value influence WOM behavior of customer in an indirect way through relationship quality. Practical implications This research conjectured that an understanding of factors that influence the tourist to talk each other about a given restaurant are worthy of additional research. Consequently, the study helps to understand how these factors can provide alternative sources of marketing to attract the long-term economic sustainability of restaurant industry in Iran. Originality/value To the authors’ knowledge, this research will be the first attempt to explore influential factors on WOM in restaurant industry focusing on the critical role of relationship quality. It is expected that researchers will find this research a contribution to the WOM literature, particularly in restaurant industry.

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.

scholarly journals Academic excellence as a determinant of self-confidence among graduates of ODL programs

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 411-423
Author(s):  
Maximus Gorky Sembiring
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Influential Factor ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Academic Excellence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Satisfaction Index ◽  
Self Confidence

PurposeThis study envisioned plausible influential factors on service quality and academic excellence relatable to graduate self-confidence in an open distance learning (ODL) outlook. The objective was to expose the moderating role of academic excellence (graduate satisfaction) between service quality and self-confidence (engagement, achievement, loyalty and opportunity, EALO). It was also of interest to explore how, in what routines factors involved interrelated.Design/methodology/approachThis study utilized exploratory design. Qualitatively, service quality included acclimation, advising, module, tutorial, assessment, feedback and referral factors. Service quality led to academic excellence (GPA, study length, relevance and recognition). Besides, academic excellence influenced self-confidence. Quantitatively, service quality, academic excellence and self-confidence were the independent, moderating and dependent variables. Respondents were randomly selected through a survey of eligible Universitas Terbuka alumni.Findings11 hypotheses were assessed under structural-equation modeling (SEM). Responses from 122 out of 500 graduates were completed. Eight hypotheses were validated by the analysis. The tutorial was the most influential factor followed by module, assessment and acclimation; advising, feedback and referral were excluded. Academic excellence also led to self-confidence. The study was able to visualize a substantial role of academic excellence in moderating service quality to EALO. Besides, important-performance analysis and customer-satisfaction index (IPA-CSI) recognized 21 out of 32 attributes as the pillars of academic excellence.Originality/valueThree of the hypotheses were invalidated by the quantitative analysis. Further inquiry with much broader coverage is then required to diminish the variance to finally find the ideal framework.

What’s love got to do with it? Place brand love and viral videos

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carola Strandberg ◽  
Maria Ek Styvén
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Word Of Mouth ◽  
Place Branding ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Brand Love ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cultural Aspects ◽  
Place Brand

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of brand love in place brand communication by incorporating potential antecedents and behavioral outcomes of place brand love in a social media setting. Design/methodology/approach Data were gathered from 281 residents and visitors of a place through an online survey focusing on a place brand video. Structural equation modeling was employed to examine the research model. Findings Results show that place brand love has a strong direct relationship with positive word of mouth (WOM), and an indirect effect on intention to share the place brand message. Self-expressiveness of the place brand message also seems to influence place brand love as well as intention to share the message. Research limitations/implications The role of self-related concepts and brand love to a place has theoretical implications for research in place branding and electronic word of mouth. The study has limitations to its generalizability in terms of cultural aspects and sample representativeness. Practical implications Place marketers need to successfully reflect the self-concept of key stakeholders in communication messages in order to increase the probability that recipients will engage in positive WOM and share the message. Originality/value Research on place brand love is scarce and previous studies have focused solely on brand love in connection to tourists. The main contribution of the current study is the exploration of the role of brand love in connection to residents, who are vital co-creators of the place brand.

scholarly journals Factors influencing tourist’s satisfaction, loyalty and word of mouth in selection of local foods in Pakistan

2019 ◽  
Vol 122 (6) ◽  
pp. 2021-2043
Author(s):  
Muhammad Ali ◽  
Chin-Hong Puah ◽  
Norazirah Ayob ◽  
Syed Ali Raza
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Word Of Mouth ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Local Foods ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Selection Of

Purpose Local foods from the perspective of tourism play a significant role to attract tourists. Surprisingly, empirical evidence on food tourism is quite scarce. The purpose of this paper is to develop and investigate a conceptual framework on tourist satisfaction, loyalty and word of mouth (WOM) to select local foods in Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a quantitative approach while convenience (non-probability) sampling is used to collect a sample of 286 final responses using a survey-based questionnaire. The study employed exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis to stabilize the factor structure. The conceptual model is then tested under the assumptions of structural equation modeling. Findings The findings indicate that food quality, perceived environmental quality, perceived value and service quality has a significant impact on the tourist’s satisfaction. However, interpersonal interaction quality shows an insignificant influence on satisfaction. Moreover, satisfaction has a significant impact on loyalty while loyalty further shows a significant effect on tourist WOM. Overall, the authors found satisfaction and loyalty are the major contributors to the hypothesized model. Practical implications The conceptual framework and study findings will support practitioners and researchers to understand the factors that influence a tourist’s selection of local foods. Additionally, the study provides a useful policy to gain long-term economic benefits for the tourism sector in Pakistan. Originality/value To the authors’ best knowledge, this study is the first attempt to explore WOM behavior in tourism research focusing on the critical role of satisfaction and loyalty. The authors are certain that the findings will contribute significantly to the existing body of knowledge.

Love is not blind: investigating a love-hate transition among luxury fashion brand consumers

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Kashif ◽  
Tulay Korkmaz Devrani ◽  
Aisha Rehman ◽  
Sarminah Samad
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Word Of Mouth ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Brand Love ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fashion Brand ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Brand Hate

PurposeThere is extensive research where consumer emotions of brand love and brand hate are investigated. However, the studies where a transition in consumer-brand emotions is explored are scant. This paper aims to investigate the mediating effect of brand jealousy in the relationship between brand love and brand hate among luxury fashion brand consumers. Also how value expressiveness moderates the relationship between brand hate and negative word of mouth (NWOM) is examined.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on a cross-sectional survey conducted among 273 luxury fashion consumers from Pakistan. The structural equation modeling (SEM) technique is employed to test the proposed hypotheses.FindingsAll the proposed hypotheses are supported. Brand jealousy mediates the relationship between brand love and brand hate. Furthermore, value expressiveness buffers the relationship between brand hate and NWOM.Practical implicationsThe luxury fashion marketers should focus on strengthening the symbolic identity of a luxury fashion brand via advocating its visual elements. Moreover, there is a need to advertise luxury fashion brands as exclusive to individual customers. Finally, some rewards can be offered to consumers to generate positive word of mouth (WOM) about luxury fashion brands.Originality/valueThe study of an emotional transition among luxury brand customers via a mediating role of brand jealousy is a unique theoretical contribution. Moreover, the moderating role of the value-expressiveness function examining the hate-to-NWOM path is also unique to this study.

Role of psychological empowerment in the relationship between structural empowerment and innovative behavior

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 521-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manjari Singh ◽  
Anita Sarkar
Keyword(s):  
Information Exchange ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Psychological Empowerment ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Innovative Behavior ◽  
Structural Empowerment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to empirically test the relationship between the empowering structure and the employees’ innovative behavior and the role of psychological empowerment in mediating this link. Design/methodology/approach Structural equation modeling was used to analyze data from 401 female primary school teachers in India. Prior to the main study, the scales were tested on a sample of 288 teachers. While psychological empowerment and structural empowerment were based on the self-reporting by the teachers, the innovative behavior of the teacher was assessed by two to three colleagues for each teacher. Findings The results confirmed that structural empowerment leads to innovative behavior and psychological empowerment and partially mediates the relationship between structural empowerment and innovative behavior. Practical implications Promising ideas die down because of lack of proper resource support and a free flow of information exchange despite employees’ willingness to carry out innovative tasks. Psychological empowerment affects creative intention in the workplace and can play a critical role for employees at their workplace. Social implications In the context of development at the teacher and school levels, it is imperative to address both the psyche of the individual and the existing structure in schools. Originality/value This study makes two critical contributions. One, it emphasizes the importance of structural empowerment in ensuring innovative behavior of employees. Two, it also brings forward the importance of psychological empowerment in the relationship between structural empowerment and innovative behavior.

Analyzing the influence of electronic word of mouth on visit intention: the mediating role of tourists’ attitude and city image

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shabnam Doosti ◽  
Mohammad Reza Jalilvand ◽  
Ali Asadi ◽  
Javad Khazaei Pool ◽  
Parisa Mehrani Adl
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Word Of Mouth ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Electronic Word Of Mouth ◽  
City Image ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Tourism Management ◽  
City Tourism

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate how electronic word of mouth (e-WOM), attitude, and city image affect tourists’ intention to visit a tourism city. Design/methodology/approach – Drawing from the tourism management literature, the authors hypothesize and test the relationships among e-WOM, attitude, overall city image, and visit intentions. Structural equation modeling was conducted to test the proposed relationships among the variables. Findings – The empirical results suggested that e-WOM has a positive and significant influence on tourists’ attitude and overall city image. Further, e-WOM, attitude toward city, and overall city image were significant determinants of visit intentions. Originality/value – The paper contributes to understand the relationship between four constructs of e-WOM, attitude, and overall city image and visit intentions, tested in city tourism in the context of a tourism city.

Influencing factors of knowledge dissemination in rural areas in China

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yongjian Li ◽  
Dan Shi ◽  
Xiang Li ◽  
Wen Wang
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Knowledge Dissemination ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Systematic Research ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Role Of Government ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – This paper aims to analyze the situation of knowledge dissemination in Chinese rural areas and explore factors that affect the efficiency of knowledge dissemination, to provide some suggestions for further improvements. Design/methodology/approach – A survey was conducted to collect data in 17 provinces of China, with 267 questionnaires returned out of 300. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesis with LISEREL 8.8. Findings – The results show that factors of knowledge such as government participation, dissemination capability, learning motivation and trust have a positive effect on knowledge transfer. By contrast, factors of knowledge such as complexity and richness of knowledge carriers do not have a significant correlation with the knowledge sharing level. Research limitations/implications – This paper conducts a cross-sectional analysis while ignoring the longitudinal effects of some factors on knowledge dissemination, such as the reform and opening policy in China. An analysis on a more concrete problem could be conducted for future study. Practical implications – This paper proposes some suggestions to enhance the efficiency of knowledge dissemination in rural areas from the knowledge dissemination mode, knowledge products and the role of government playing. Originality/value – This paper is among the first attempts to conduct comprehensive and systematic research on the influential factors of knowledge dissemination. It contributes to literature by offering a systematical empirical study with the consideration of the role of government in knowledge dissemination.

The effects of customer involvement on perceived service performance and word-of-mouth: the mediating role of service co-creation

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Millissa Fung Yi Cheung ◽  
Wai Ming To
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Word Of Mouth ◽  
Service Performance ◽  
Motivational Orientation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Customer Involvement ◽  
Moderating Role

PurposeThis study aims to use the framework of customer dominant logic to explore the mediating role of service co-creation on the relationships between customer involvement and perceived service performance and between customer involvement and word-of-mouth (WOM). It also investigates the moderating role of customer relational-motivational orientation on the relationship between customer involvement and service co-creation.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire survey was conducted to collect responses from 289 Hong Kong's customers in different service settings. Structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed research model.FindingsThe results of structural equation modeling showed that the freedom of co-creation and the degree of collaboration fully mediated the effect of customer involvement on perceived service performance and WOM. Additionally, relational-motivational orientation moderated the relationships between customer involvement and the freedom of co-creation and between customer involvement and the degree of collaboration.Practical implicationsThis research provides implications to managers on how to facilitate an environment that stimulates customer co-creation. Customer-contact employees must be trained with the necessary interpersonal skills to serve customers with different levels of relational-motivational orientation.Originality/valueThe study is one of the first to identify customer involvement as a key antecedent of service co-creation attributes and the moderating role of relational-motivational orientation on the relationships between customer involvement and service co-creation attributes.

The role of customer experience in the perceived value–word-of-mouth relationship

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Volker G. Kuppelwieser ◽  
Philipp Klaus ◽  
Aikaterini Manthiou ◽  
Linda D. Hollebeek
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Behavior ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Word Of Mouth ◽  
Perceived Value ◽  
Customer Experience ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Behavior Outcomes ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The customer experience (CX), as revealed in the literature-based debate, has been variously viewed as either a driver or an outcome of customer-perceived value (CPV). However, the association of CPV, CX and word-of-mouth (WoM) behavior remains nebulous to date, thereby generating an important research gap. In response and to bridge this gap, this study aims to explore CX’s role in the CPV–WoM behavior relationship, the role of WoM behavior arising from CX and whether CX acts as a core mediator (vs a moderator) in the association of CPV and subsequent consumer-behavior outcomes. Design/methodology/approach By conducting two studies spanning a broad range of services, this paper explores the relationship between CPV, CX, and WoM behavior through structural equation modeling. Findings The findings are that CX plays a crucial role in the CPV–WoM relationship, thereby confirming the existence of a direct link between CPV (social/hedonic/utilitarian value), CX and WoM. The results also highlight CX’s mediating role in the relationship between social and utilitarian (but not hedonic) values. Moreover, the results reveal that the EXQ scale, measuring CX, comprises distinct experiences perceived by high and low CX-based customer segments, respectively. Practical implications CPV (utilitarian, hedonic, social) not only affects consumers’ behavioral intentions but also, more importantly, their WoM behavior. Therefore, managers need to consider all three values. Moreover, managers should shift their focus from social value perceptions to CX. The results suggest that managers need to devote additional resources to the development of a suitable CX, which will help mitigate consumers’ online and/or offline brand-related WoM. This study indicates the context in which managers must emphasize the construct that produces positive outcomes. Originality/value By identifying a direct relationship between CPV, CX and the ensuing consumer-behavior outcomes, the study offers important theoretical insight into CX’s nomological network.

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