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.

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.

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.

Examination of customer-centric measures among different types of customers in the context of major Canadian ski resort

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 438-459
Author(s):  
Matti J. Haverila ◽  
Kai Christian Haverila
Keyword(s):  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Marketing Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ski Resort ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Satisfaction Model

Purpose Customer-centric measures such as customer satisfaction and repurchase intent are important indicators of performance. The purpose of this paper is to examine what is the strength and significance of the path coefficients in a customer satisfaction model consisting of various customer-centric measures for different types of ski resort customer (i.e. day, weekend and ski holiday visitors as well as season pass holders) in a ski resort in Canada. Design/methodology/approach The results were analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling approach for the four different types ski resort visitors. Findings There appeared to differences in the strength and significance in the customer satisfaction model relationships for the four types of ski resort visitors indicating that the a priori managerial classification of the ski resort visitors is warranted. Originality/value The research pinpoints differences in the strength and significance in the relationships between customer-centric measures for four different types ski resort visitors, i.e. day, weekend and ski holiday visitors as well as season pass holders, which have significant managerial implications for the marketing practice of the ski resort.

“Actions speak louder than words”: an impact of service recovery antecedents on customer delight in quick-service restaurants

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Durgesh Agnihotri ◽  
Kushagra Kulshreshtha ◽  
Vikas Tripathi ◽  
Pallavi Chaturvedi
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Service Recovery ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Role Clarity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Customer Delight ◽  
Quick Service ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to conceptualize and analyze a framework that provides greater understanding toward the impact of service recovery antecedents such as role clarity, customer service orientation, employee empowerment and employee relational behavior on customer satisfaction and customer delight in the context of quick-service restaurants (QSRs).Design/methodology/approachA self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 408 participants who had experienced service recovery efforts by leading QSRs on social media. The current paper draws upon the prevailing literature to test a series of research hypotheses through structural equation modeling.FindingsThe findings of the study have confirmed that antecedents of service recovery are good to describe customer satisfaction and customer delight in the setting of QSRs. Besides, the study provides an understanding on how monetary compensation moderates the relationship between customer delight and customer satisfaction.Practical implicationsThis study carries an understanding on how frontline employees must operate in a non-conventional and innovative way to resolve customers' issues and show commitment with truthfulness to provide excellent services to make customers feel delightful.Originality/valueThis is a unique study to understand the role of service recovery antecedents to describe customer satisfaction and customer delight in the social media environment. In addition, the results support the possibilities of implementing prompt service recovery efforts using social media.

Can salesperson guilt lead to more satisfied customers? Findings from India

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 951-961 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin B. Gabler ◽  
Raj Agnihotri ◽  
Omar S. Itani
Keyword(s):  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Positive Outcome ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Prosocial Motivation ◽  
Outcome Feedback ◽  
Final Sample ◽  
Guilt Proneness ◽  
Relational Orientation

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate guilt proneness as a prosocial salesperson trait and its impact on outcomes important to the firm, the customer as well as the salesperson. Specifically, the authors look at how this variable relates to job effort and the indirect effects on customer satisfaction. The corollary purpose is to uncover how managers influence these constructs through positive outcome feedback. Design/methodology/approach Prosocial motivation theory grounds the conceptual model which the authors test through survey implementation. The final sample consisted of 129 business-to-business (B2B) salespeople working across multiple industries in India. Latent moderated structural equation modeling was utilized to test the proposed model. Findings The results suggest that guilt proneness positively influences the likelihood that a salesperson adopts a relational orientation, which has a direct effect on individual effort and an indirect effect on customer satisfaction. Supervisors have the ability to amplify this effort through positive outcome feedback, but only when relational orientation is low. Their support had no effect on salespeople with a high relational orientation. Originality/value The study is unique in that it combines an overlooked prosocial trait with a B2B Indian dataset. We provide value for firms because our results show that guilt-prone salespeople put more effort into their job – ”something universally desirable among sales managers” – through the development of a relational orientation. The authors also give practical implications on how to support salespeople given their level of relational orientation.

Relationships between leadership, motivation and employee-level innovation: evidence from India

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (7) ◽  
pp. 1363-1379
Author(s):  
Vishal Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Intrinsic Motivation ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Extrinsic Motivation ◽  
Organizational Context ◽  
Work Motivation ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Autonomous Motivation ◽  
Work Behavior ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type

PurposeIntegrating the behavioral theory of leadership, the componential theory of creativity and the self-determination theory (SDT), the study tests the relationships between leadership, work motivation (intrinsic motivation, integrated extrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation) and employee-level innovation (innovative work behavior and innovation outcomes) in a work setting.Design/methodology/approachData were collected using a survey questionnaire from 493 scientists working in India's largest civilian research and development (R&D) organization. The structural equation modeling (SEM) method was used to test the hypothesized relationships between the study variables.FindingsThe study found evidence for positive relationships between leadership, employee autonomous motivation (intrinsic and integrated extrinsic motivation) and employee-level innovation. The study shows that extrinsic motivation is positively related to innovation only when the value of rewards is integrated to one's sense of self (integrated extrinsic motivation). Extrinsic motivation, otherwise, is not related to innovation.Research limitationsThe study was cross-sectional, so inferences about causality are limited.Practical implicationsFirst, while extrinsic motivation is considered bad for innovation, the study provides evidence that integrated extrinsic motivation complements intrinsic motivation and encourages employee-level innovation. Second, the study shows that leaders can aid the process of development of autonomous motivation by displaying positive behaviors. Third, the study validates the mediating role of autonomous motivation for the leadership–innovation relationship.Originality/valueThe study provides an insight into the underlying process through which leaders can impact innovation at the workplace. To the best of the author's knowledge, such a study is the first of its kind undertaken in an organizational context.

Comparing the service experience of satisfied and non-satisfied customers in the context of wine tasting rooms using the SERVQUAL model

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 301-324
Author(s):  
Matti Haverila ◽  
Kai Haverila ◽  
Mehak Arora
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation Modeling ◽  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Value For Money ◽  
Service Experience ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Repurchase Intent

Purpose The purpose of this study is to compare satisfied and non-satisfied customers in the context of wine tasting rooms using the SERVQUAL model and to examine the relationships in the model in terms of service experience to better understand customer needs. Design/methodology/approach The data used in this study were derived from a survey conducted among wineries in British Columbia, Canada. Analysis of survey results using the partial least squares structural equation modeling was undertaken. Sample size was 402. Findings The findings show that the SERVQUAL constructs that had the most impact on customer satisfaction and dissatisfaction were tangibility and assurance. Somewhat surprisingly, the perceived value for money construct was not significantly related to customer satisfaction but was significantly related to repurchase intent. Furthermore, all SERVQUAL constructs, except the reliability construct, were significantly related to customer satisfaction. Originality/value This study provides an overview of how wineries can improve their services to increase the number of satisfied customers.

Structural empowerment and serving culture as determinants of organizational identification and turnover intention

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Radoslaw Nowak
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Identification ◽  
Turnover Intention ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Joint Effect ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Structural Empowerment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Employee Identification ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This paper aims to provide an alternative explanation for how organizations could increase levels of organizational identification, in turn reducing employee turnover intention. Specifically, the study empirically tests the joint effect of two types of organizational resources – structural empowerment and serving culture (SE*SC) – on employee identification. Moreover, it investigates the mediating effect of organizational identification on the relationship between the joint effect (SE*SC) and turnover intention. Design/methodology/approach The data were collected in 2018 from employees working in a higher education institution located in the USA. Structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed model. Findings Statistical analysis reveals the positive joint effect (SE*SC) on organizational identification and the mediating effect of identification on the relationship between the joint effect (SE*SC) and turnover intention. Originality/value This study contributes to past research by revealing a new important mechanism. Business organizations could increase levels of employee identification and, in turn, reduce turnover by providing empowering resources that allow employees to successfully complete their jobs. Moreover, the study also contributes to practice by providing some recommendations that managers may implement to improve internal effectiveness in their respective organizations.

scholarly journals Making the case for procedural justice: employees thrive and work hard

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 100-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minseo Kim ◽  
Terry A. Beehr
Keyword(s):  
Procedural Justice ◽  
Social Exchange ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Psychological Empowerment ◽  
Theoretical Explanation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Time Lags ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Work Effort ◽  
Content Type

PurposeProcedural justice consists of employees' fairness judgments about decision-making processes used to allocate organizational rewards and has been linked to positive work outcomes. The study drew from social exchange and reciprocity theories to examine a model proposing psychological empowerment and organization-based self-esteem (OBSE) as two psychological processes explaining the relationship of procedural justice with employees' work effort and thriving.Design/methodology/approachThree-waves of data with one-month time lags were obtained from 346 full-time US employees. Structural equation modeling tested the hypotheses.FindingsResults supported the model. Procedural justice at Time 1 was positively related to psychological empowerment and OBSE at Time 2, which both led to employees' work effort and thriving at Time 3.Originality/valueThe study provided a theoretical explanation for procedural justice resulting in better work effort and thriving: Psychological empowerment and OBSE may provide a bridge for the effects of procedural justice on employees’ work effort and thriving.

Service innovation, service delivery and customer satisfaction and loyalty in the banking sector of Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 1215-1233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kong YuSheng ◽  
Masud Ibrahim
Keyword(s):  
Customer Satisfaction ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Banking Sector ◽  
Innovation Management ◽  
Service Innovation ◽  
Initial Study ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The concept of innovation is gaining ground steadily in the context of an increasingly competitive and highly volatile banking sector. The purpose of this paper is to find out the role of service innovation (SI) in the relationship between service delivery (SERVD), customer satisfaction (CSAT) and loyalty in the banking sector of Ghana. Design/methodology/approach Drawing from banking and marketing literature, a conceptual framework was developed and tested using data from 450 sampled customers of commercial banks in Ghana. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. Findings The findings indicate that SI has direct influence on SERVD and CSAT. Again the findings revealed a positive relationship between SERVD, CSAT and bank customer loyalty. Research limitations/implications This study offers theoretical support for the adoption of innovative techniques in service provision and delivery. Originality/value This paper provides an initial study into innovation management in financial services context in an emerging economy.

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