Something old, something new: Enabled theory building in qualitative marketing research

2021 ◽  
pp. 147059312110322
Author(s):  
Pierre-Yann Dolbec ◽  
Eileen Fischer ◽  
Robin Canniford

“Enabled theorizing” is a common practice in marketing scholarship. Nevertheless, this practice has recently been criticized for constraining the creation of novel theory. To advance this conversation, we conduct a grounded analysis of papers that feature enabled theorizing with the aim of describing and analyzing how enabled theorizing is practiced. Our analysis suggests that enabled theorizing marries data with analytical tools and ontological perspectives in ways that advance ongoing conversations in marketing theory and practice, as well as informing policy and methods. Based on interviews with marketing and consumer research scholars who practice enabled theorizing, we explain how researchers use enabling theories to shape research projects, how researchers select enabling lenses, and how they negotiate the review process. We discuss the implications of our analyses for theory-building in our field, and we question the notion of originality in relation to theory more generally.

Author(s):  
Andre Vilares Morgado

Business schools play a key role in training marketing professionals. However, there is a strong divide between the expectations held by marketing professionals and those held in academia. This article considers this phenomenon from a theoretical point of view and explores its causes. The author argues that business schools are able to play a key role in bridging theory and practice in marketing. The article closes by offering several suggestions for how business schools might increase the relevance of marketing research while reducing the gap between marketing theory and practice. In particular, the article suggests the adoption of an inductive approach to research and offers a set of policies that business schools can implement in order to close this gap.


2011 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 771-772 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stan Maklan ◽  
Philipp Klaus

Marketing theory and practice evolved dramatically through a series of transformations from products to services and, recently, customer experiences. Each stage has its own perspective on marketing's purpose, the nature of customer value, and measurements that calibrate performance and guide managerial decisions. The latter is of particular interest to market researchers. Measurement (research) typically lags behind changes in marketing theory due to institutional factors and the time it takes for new practices to diffuse. The authors posit that firms still measure customer experience against criteria more suited to evaluating product and service marketing. Research practice seems rooted in 1990s notions of service quality, itself an outgrowth of total quality management (TQM) originating in manufacturing during the 1980s. The authors argue that market researchers will serve their organisations and customers better if they take an active role in updating the customer experience measurement commensurate with advances in the conceptualisation of that which firms offer customers.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxim Potepkin ◽  
Olga Firsanova

Abstract This study estimates the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on customer loyalty based on the data collected during marketing research on consumer behavior in Finnish and Russian markets of dietary supplements. Concretely, the author examines the influence of perceived CSR on customer loyalty taking into account trust factor. A key focus of this work is a comparison of Finnish and Russian customer responses as well as investigation the “country” factor in customer CSR perception and its correlation with consumer loyalty and trust. In general, the findings show similarity of customer reaction to CSR initiatives in both countries. At the same time, the study illustrates some differences in Finnish and Russian customer perception and evaluating CSR level. Regarding practical issues, the author relates arguments for implementation CSR activities as a significant factor of forming customer loyalty in the two countries. The article gives implications for marketing theory and practice.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-311
Author(s):  
B. Zafer Erdoğan ◽  
Semra Doğan ◽  
M. Sami İşlek

This article compares the findings of two surveys of the Turkish marketing academia undertaken in 2007 and in 2016. As a follow up replicating Erdogan and Uzkurt's study (2007), this 2016 study aims to reveal the current status and problems of the marketing academia in Turkey as an emerging country, by adding a longitudinal dimension. The same questionnaire was used for both surveys carried out. The data collection procedure included both an online survey and a drop-and-collect survey, with the participation of faculty members with all types of academic titles working in the Turkish marketing academia. 108 and 132 usable questionnaires were collected in 2007 and 2016, respectively. The research findings indicate that the problems experienced have remained fairly similar in almost all dimensions, while the publication performance has increased during this period. The findings about research and teaching interests indicate that marketing academics primarily concentrate on such fields as consumer behavior, marketing research and marketing strategy. The teaching and research interests have also differed depending on global trends and changes in tenure standards in the Turkish marketing academia. Another key finding regarding the issues of the field, with vital implications for marketing education, is the perceived gap between marketing theory and practice. The fundamental issue related to education is cited as the decreasing student proficiency in Turkey.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-180
Author(s):  
Metin TOPTAÅž

The purpose of this paper was to address the paradigm shift in the philosophy of marketing science. This shift from modernism to postmodernism and now to neomodernism has been providing new perspectives in terms of the generation of knowledge related to marketing theory and practice as well as marketing research. Neomodernism reflects a combination of commonly appreciated facets of the previous paradigms (e.g. Modernism and Postmodernism), and thus presents a more mature and comprehensive perspective. In the paper, first, the emergence of Neomodernism was depicted in a historical point of view, and second, its possible implications for the certain aspects of marketing research, theory and practice were discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-58
Author(s):  
Andre Vilares Morgado

Business schools play a key role in training marketing professionals. However, there is a strong divide between the expectations held by marketing professionals and those held in academia. This article considers this phenomenon from a theoretical point of view and explores its causes. The author argues that business schools are able to play a key role in bridging theory and practice in marketing. The article closes by offering several suggestions for how business schools might increase the relevance of marketing research while reducing the gap between marketing theory and practice. In particular, the article suggests the adoption of an inductive approach to research and offers a set of policies that business schools can implement in order to close this gap.


2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-135
Author(s):  
Scott W. Kelley

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a retrospective evaluation of the findings first put forward in the article Efficiency in Service Delivery: Technological or Humanistic Approaches?, and to offer directions for further research and developments in the research area. Design/methodology/approach Research directions which emanated from the publication of the article have been examined in the light of current service(s) marketing theory and practice. As a result, promising current and future strands of research have been identified. Findings The original article examined technological and humanistic approaches to improving service delivery efficiency. In doing so, it included two services classification schemes which provided context for the managerial implications presented. The original article was published in 1989. Much has changed since then, especially with regard to technological approaches to service delivery. However, the implications included in the original article for the most part hold. Future researchers are offered a variety of possible directions to pursue in light of the changes, especially in technology, that have occurred since the publication of the original article. Originality/value The original article was highly rated and generated discussion and important further research. It has value as part of the history of service(s) marketing research. The retrospective analysis by the author gives a unique insight into processes and thinking associated with understanding key aspects that contribute to the historical development of service(s) marketing, and provides substantial food for thought for future research directions.


2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 261-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Joseph Cronin

Purpose This paper aims to provide an evaluation of the findings first put forward in the article “A cross-sectional test of the effect and conceptualization of service value” with the benefit of hindsight, and to offer directions for further research and developments in the research area. Design/methodology/approach Research directions which emanated from the publication of the paper have been examined in the light of current service(s) marketing theory and practice. As a result, promising current and future strands of research have been identified. Findings The focus of both the original and this paper is on the conceptualization and measurement of the value construct. Although much theory has been advanced relative to the measurement of value, the marketing literature lacks a conceptualization and measures that reflect this theory. Research limitations/implications The implication of the paper is that marketing scholars tend to focus more on to other studies before exhausting the opportunities to identify and test appropriate conceptualizations and measures of core marketing constructs such as value, quality, sacrifice and satisfaction. Practical implications Although value is universally identified as a major driver of consumer decision-making, a full appreciation of its role in the strategic marketing efforts of organizations depends on having an accurate conceptualization and measures. The original paper and this revisit motivate and assist organizations in their efforts to better understand value and its impact in the decisions made by consumers. Social implications To contribute to the needs and wants of society, organizations must identify what is valued by society. The original and this revisit identify the creation of value as a basic need in encouraging consumer behaviours when the intent is to satisfy societal needs or desires. Originality/value The original paper was highly rated, and generated discussion and important further research. It has value as part of the history of service marketing research. The retrospective analysis by the authors gives a unique insight into processes and thinking associated with understanding key aspects that contribute to the historical development of service marketing, and provides substantial food for thought for future research directions.


Author(s):  
Andre Vilares Morgado

In recent years, marketing practice has increased in complexity, becoming more challenging. This situation demands that marketing professionals be better prepared to face the difficulties of the market. Business schools play a key role in training marketing professionals. However, there is a strong divide between the expectations held by marketing professionals and those held in academia. This chapter considers this phenomenon from a theoretical point of view and explores its causes. The author argues that business schools are able to play a key role in bridging theory and practice in marketing. The chapter closes by offering several suggestions for how business schools might increase the relevance of marketing research while reducing the gap between marketing theory and practice. In particular, the chapter offers a set of policies that business schools can implement in order to close this gap.


Author(s):  
Andre Vilares Morgado

In recent years, marketing practice has increased in complexity, becoming more challenging. This situation demands that marketing professionals be better prepared to face the difficulties of the market. Business schools play a key role in training marketing professionals. However, there is a strong divide between the expectations held by marketing professionals and those held in academia. This chapter considers this phenomenon from a theoretical point of view and explores its causes. The author argues that business schools are able to play a key role in bridging theory and practice in marketing. The chapter closes by offering several suggestions for how business schools might increase the relevance of marketing research while reducing the gap between marketing theory and practice. In particular, the chapter offers a set of policies that business schools can implement in order to close this gap.


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