scholarly journals What Forms University? An Integrated Model from Syria

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bayan Khalifa ◽  
Ali Mahmoud

This study aims at developing and empirically testing an integrated model incorporating the factors that form university image in Syria. The study used a quantitative survey of students at Syrian universities. A pre-test of the questionnaire was undertaken using a convenient sample of 40 students. Thereafter, a sample of 259 students was used to test the model using structural equation modeling. The findings suggest word of mouth and faculty-individualized attention, one of service quality dimensions, as the antecedents of university image. Moreover, the findings reveal a positive effect of faculty-individualized attention and support staff helpfulness, as service quality dimensions, on student satisfaction. It is also found that student satisfaction positively affect word of mouth. This study is expected to help Syrian universities understand the key factors contributing to university image formation, and, therefore, strengthen their positions in the market. This study comes to be one of the first studies that attempt to understand how university image is formed.

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bedman Narteh

Purpose Various models and scales exist in the literature to measure retail bank service quality without any attempt at integrating them and the moderators have often been under explored. The purpose of this paper is to integrate the SERVQUAL and BSQ models and moderated the resulting scale with price in order to examine service quality and customer satisfaction with retail bank services in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach The study is quantitative and the survey methodology was used to collect data from 560 retail bank customers. The result was analyzed through structural equation modeling. Findings The study provides an expanded model for measuring retail bank service quality as seven of the eight latent constructs emerged as service quality dimensions when moderated with price. It is significant to also note that five of the constructs – tangibles, reliability, assurance, empathy and price – from the direct relationship emerged as the dimensions of retail bank service quality that positively and significantly predicted customer satisfaction. Practical implications The study provides insight into customer behavior with the quality of retail bank services in Ghana. The resulting broader dimensions provide an integrated and expanded model as well as pointers to bank managers on service quality and customer satisfaction cues to enable them attract, serve and retain customers. Originality/value The study is the first of its kind to integrate two of the popular models to measure retail bank service quality and to use price as a moderator of this relationship. The resulting scale, which comprised of variables from the two models, provides support for the approach used in the current study.


Author(s):  
Shaker BaniMelhem ◽  
Mohamed Albaity

Abstract This study is aimed at investigating the direct relationships between service quality dimensions with perceived value and the destination loyalty, in addition to examining the mediating effect of perceived value. Using data from 508 international tourists visiting UAE and applying structural equation modeling we found the following. First, we found a significant and positive relationship between the five dimensions of service quality and perceived value. Second, we found direct, a positive and significant relationship between four service quality dimensions and destination loyalty. In addition, there exists a mediating effect of perceived value on the relationship between all the dimension of service quality and destination loyalty. The relationships of all the service quality dimensions are partially mediated except tangible facilities dimension which is fully mediated by perceived value. The study recommended that destination managers should focus on what make the tourists feel that the value they received is equal or more than what they expected to create positive tourist loyalty behaviour and enhance destination attractiveness. Thus, high level of perceived value service quality provided can be achieved if government and managers fully understand the key importance of providing quality service and continues evaluating and enhancing the quality of service provided. Keywords: destination loyalty, perceived value, service quality dimensions, destination loyalty, tourism sector.


Author(s):  
George Christian Linhares Bezerra ◽  
Eliézer Mello de Souza ◽  
Anderson Ribeiro Correia

Understanding customer expectations is key in any service context, including indentifying the differences between customer segments. Nonetheless, they remain underresearched topics in the airport industry, with limited empirical evidence on the nature of passenger expectations and how they relate to the service experienced. Therefore, the objectives of this research were twofold: first, to estimate a structural model of the relationships between customer expectations and airport service quality dimensions; second, to examine the differences between groups of passengers. Sample data from a survey administered to passengers at one of Brazil’s largest airports, in São Paulo, were used for structural equation modeling analyses. The results provided models with a good fit to the data. The findings for nonfrequent passengers showed that the effects of expectations on airport service quality were significant for all the service quality dimensions examined, whereas frequent passengers only revealed a significant relationship between expectation and the “processes” dimension. Theoretical and practical contributions to airport planning and management are discussed in light of the findings.


2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arash Ahmadi

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate and analyze the influence of service convenience, service quality and customer satisfaction on the formation of word of mouth in airline industry. Design/methodology/approach The sample included 400 passengers who had experienced THAI’S international flights. To test the study hypotheses, a research model was examined applying structural equation modeling. Findings The findings submit that, in addition to effects of service convenience, service quality and customer satisfaction on word of mouth, decision convenience has the most positive significant influence on word of mouth compared to service quality dimensions and customer satisfaction. Research limitations/implications The present research focuses on assessing the word of mouth level only for THAI; therefore, its findings may not be generalized for the other airlines. In addition, the target market of this study is the customers of THAI. Future researchers can select the markets of other airlines customers. Practical implications In airline companies, service convenience plays a central role on customer word of mouth. Therefore, airlines should concentrate on travelers’ convenience in the service procedure. They should plan the service to support the best convenience for travelers. Originality/value This investigation would help airlines to understand what makes customers more satisfied before, during and after using an airline service and to understand how this is related to the word of mouth.


2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (10) ◽  
pp. 1297-1302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ya-Ping Chang ◽  
Dong-Hong Zhu ◽  
Ho Simon Wang

In this study we investigated how different dimensions of service quality might influence the loyalty of customers in the context of online games. By studying the gamers of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), we tested our hypotheses using structural equation modeling techniques. We found that the service quality dimensions of privacy, effectiveness, and entertainment indirectly influence the loyalty of gamers through satisfaction, whereas interaction has a direct effect on their loyalty. These findings have implications for online game companies to improve customers' loyalty.


Author(s):  
Jungkun Park ◽  
Hoang Tran Phuoc Mai Le ◽  
Eklou R. Amendah ◽  
Dongyoup Kim

Consumers admiring the beauty standards of other countries are approaching cosmetic surgery medical tourism. This study examines the roles of hospitals and facilitating agents as the main entities of cosmetic surgery medical tourism. 334 Chinese patients who underwent cosmetic surgery in Korea were collected and structural equation modeling is used to analyze the data. The results show that a hospital’s service quality in terms of tangibles, assurance, and empathy affect customers’ attitudes toward medical tourism for cosmetic surgery, which in turn, influences satisfaction with medical tourism. More importantly, facilitating agents’ service quality moderates the effects of hospitals’ service quality dimensions on service satisfaction. Findings extend the existing literature on medical tourism by identifying the roles of hospitals and facilitating agents to enhance customers’ attitudes and satisfaction with respect to collaborative service provision. Moreover, this research provides the first empirical evidence for the facilitating agents’ role in determining satisfaction with medical tourism.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 6724
Author(s):  
Lien Thi Kim Nguyen ◽  
Tom Meng-Yen Lin ◽  
Hoang Phuong Lam

This study examines the role of student co-creation behavior in contributing to student satisfaction, perceived university image, and student positive word of mouth (WOM). Using a sample of 513 students from a Taiwanese university and conducting partial least squares structural equation modeling, the findings indicate that co-creating value is critical to student satisfaction, university image, and positive WOM. The results also show the effect of student satisfaction and university image on student positive WOM. This study confirms the pivotal role of student participation in co-creating value in enhancing satisfaction with the university experience, creating and sustaining a positive image, and building the credibility of the university. This research is particularly important to higher education institutions because it has practical implications for decision-makers, brand managers, and HE marketers who wish to improve understanding of the relationship between the university and students in the process of co-creating value and its outcomes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 432-437
Author(s):  
Muhammad Al Fikri

Private and State Universities are still faced with competition between universities to increase the number of students especially during the Covid 19 period. This research aims to analyze the effect of each of the variables of e-service quality, e-satisfaction, positive Word of Mouth / WoM, either directly or indirectly. Data were collected from 200 students from one of the best private universities in North Sumatra (Medan), and processed using Structural Equation Modeling / SEM. From the results of data processing, all tested hypotheses can be accepted, and research found that to encourage positive WoM, PTS must be sensitive to the creation of student satisfaction. Positive WoM can be an effective advertising promotion tool for PTS to get new student candidates through existing student recommendations. In addition, to increase e-customer satisfaction, PTS is required to always improve service quality that is delivered through online services. Keywords: e-service quality, e-customer satisfaction, positive WoM, private universities.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Agus Sriyanto

ABSTRACT:Improving the quality of education becomes very important nowadays to meet the increasing demands of graduates’ future institutions. This research adopts five dimensions of service quality initiated by Parasuraman, Zeithaml and Berry (servqual) to assess the quality of academic services affecting student satisfaction. Once the determinants are known, they can be used by policy makers to improve student satisfaction levels. After identifying the determinant factors, policy makers can use them to improve the level of satisfaction of students. There are 100 respondents who participated in this research. The data was collected using surveys and analyzed using structural equation modeling with Smart PLS 3.0. The results showed that among five hypotheses tested, all variables have the positive influence, however, there are two latent variables which have significant associations, while the others have not. Responsiveness and empathy have positive and significant impact on the student satisfaction, while tangible, reliability and assurance have a positive impact but not significant. Keywords: customs student satisfaction, service quality, servqual, SEM.ABSTRAK:Meningkatkan kualitas pendidikan menjadi sangat penting dewasa ini untuk memenuhi tuntutan kebutuhan unit pengguna yang semakin meningkat. Penelitian ini mengadopsi lima dimensi kualitas jasa yang digagas oleh Parasuraman, Zeithaml dan Berry (Servqual) untuk menilai kualitas layanan akademik yang mempengaruhi kepuasan mahasiswa. Setelah faktor-faktor penentu dari dimensi servqual dapat diketahui maka faktor-faktor tersebut dapat digunakan oleh pembuat kebijakan untuk meningkatkan tingkat kualitas layanan kepada mahasiswa. Ada 100 responden di pilih secara acak dari total populasi yang berpartisipasi dalam penelitian ini. Data dikumpulkan dengan menggunakan survei online dan dianalisis dengan pemodelan persamaan struktural dengan bantuan software Smart PLS 3.0. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa dari kelima dimensi servqual, semua variabel memiliki pengaruh positif terhadap kepuasan mahasiswa, namun dari lima variabel tersebut hanya dua variabel laten yang mempunyai pengaruh signifikan, sementara tiga variabel yang lain tidak signifikan. Daya tanggap dan empati berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap kepuasan siswa, sedangkan bukti fisik, keandalan dan jaminan memiliki dampak positif namun tidak signifikan.Kata Kunci: kepuasan, Mahasiswa Bea dan Cukai, kualitas layanan, Servqual, SEM                  


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruoqing Zhang ◽  
Minjoon Jun ◽  
Sergio Palacios

PurposeThe present study seeks to identify the salient mobile shopping (m-shopping) service quality dimensions as perceived by mobile shoppers (m-shoppers) and examines the linkages between the derived m-shopping service quality dimensions, customer trust and customer loyalty.Design/methodology/approachThe research instrument is developed based upon the mostly validated measures of prior studies. A pretest of the questionnaire is conducted to assess the content validity of the measurement scales. An online survey is used to collect the required data. We employ structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze data collected from 286 m-shoppers.FindingsWe identify five key m-shopping service quality dimensions: responsiveness, personalization, ease of use, aesthetics and perceived risk based on an extensive review of relevant literature. The SEM results show that all the five m-shopping service quality dimensions significantly impact, directly and/or indirectly, customer loyalty. Moreover, the results show that trust plays a partial mediating role in the effects of responsiveness and personalization on loyalty; a full mediating role in the effects of aesthetics and perceived risk on loyalty and no mediating role in the effect of ease of use on loyalty.Practical implicationsMobile retailers (m-retailers) can use the quality measurement tool developed in this study to detect service quality weaknesses and strengths. Based on their quality assessment, m-retailers can effectively allocate corporate resources to the important service quality attributes uncovered by this study, thereby improving their overall service quality performance and in turn expanding their loyal customer base.Originality/valuePrior studies have demonstrated that service quality and customer trust play a pivotal role in enhancing customer loyalty in both offline and online settings. Unfortunately, no research has empirically examined the relationships between service quality dimensions, trust and loyalty in the context of m-shopping. Therefore, a major contribution of this study is to address this research gap and add knowledge to the limited body of post-adoption m-shopping research.


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