Consumer Value Preferences in Healthcare: Insights for Value-centred Management

Advances in healthcare service research emphasize a value-driven approach in healthcare by pressing the need to acknowledge what matters to the patient against the conventional approach of what should be provisioned in the service. This research study adopts a consumer-centric perspective of value creation, and explores consumer value preferences in healthcare services, using netnography of online consumer reviews of cancer patients. Six different types of consumer value are identified, which carry varying consumer expectations. These are excellence, novelty, spirituality, ethics, privacy and control. The research findings confirm that all types of consumer values are not positive; rather, there is a presence of positive and negative (or must-be) elements. Privacy and ethics are identified as the negative or must-be type of consumer value, which creates not much satisfaction, but their absence is dissatisfying. Novelty and control are identified as positive value types whose absence may not be that problematic, but their enhancement creates greater customer satisfaction. The findings provide shreds of evidence to the claim that all value types are not positive, and consumers often make trade-offs between positive and negative value types while evaluating services. Future research is suggested in different healthcare contexts (e.g., chronic vs. non-chronic disease) to develop value-centred management strategies.

Κοινωνικές αξίες νέων παραβατών: Διερευνητική μελέτη

The present, exploratory, study aims to investigate the social values of juvenile delinquents under the light of the social values theory proposed by S. Schwartz. Its main objectives are: First, to examine the structure of social values of juvenile delinquents. Second, to highlight possible relations between social values priorities and a number of demographic variables such as gender, educational level and type of crime. For this reason juvenile delinquents (N = 130) which are under probation completed a self-reported questionnaire composed of the Social Values Survey (SVS, Schwartz, 1992) and a form of demographic data. Smallest space analysis revealed 10 distinct value types, equivalent to those proposed by Schwartz’s model. Value types of benevolence, hedonism and self-direction were found to be of highest priority, whereas value types such as power and tradition were found to be the less guiding principles in our participants’ lives. Statistically significant differences were detected with respect to gender and not with respect to educational level and type of crime. In every case the prioritization of value types was the same. This particular finding taken together with relative findings regarding social values in Greece pinpoints that juvenile delinquents share common values and value priorities with non delinquents of similar age.

Customer Value Types Predicting Consumer Behavior at Dutch Grocery Retailers

The purpose of this paper is to profile three grocery retail formats (non-discounter, soft discounter, and hard discounter) in the Netherlands using Holbrook’s value types. These value types are linked to three consumer behavior outcomes, i.e., Satisfaction, Repurchase intention, and Word-of-Mouth. The impact of the retail formats is evaluated on the importance and performance of the value types, using a questionnaire for each of the retail formats. The relationship between the value types and outcomes is tested with partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Aesthetics, Altruistic value, and Efficiency are positively linked to Satisfaction. In addition, Efficiency is the key driver for Repurchase intention and has a positive impact on Word-of-Mouth. A positive Word-of-Mouth is predicted by Social value and Service excellence. The three examined retail formats show a difference in Holbrook’s value types. Overall, the results of the non- and soft discounters differ from the hard discounters. Remarkably, and contrary to previous studies, the soft discounter’s scores are the highest meaning that consumers are most critical for this retail format. It seems that consumers expect the best of both worlds at soft discounters: low prices, interesting bargains, easy access, but also appealing store design, and excellent service.

Do new-generation construction professionals be provided what they desire at work? A study on work values and supplies–values fit

PurposeThe declining attractiveness of construction industry to the new-generation onsite construction professionals (OCPs) in China can be the result of insufficient supply of what they desire at work. There is a lack of studies that make clear the work values of this cohort and the fit between their work value preferences and job supplies. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to address this issue.Design/methodology/approachThis study focused on Chinese new-generation OCPs. Work values and job supplies were measured by two rounds of questionnaire surveys. Factor analysis was implemented to identify work value types. Paired samples t-test, independent samples t-test and one-way ANOVA were performed to figure out work value preferences and degree of supplies–values (S-V) fit and compare them across subgroups.FindingsIntrinsic, “good time”, work-team-related, altruistic/prestigious and extrinsic work value types were identified. Chinese new-generation OCPs most valued work-team-related and intrinsic work aspects, while significant insufficient supply was relevant to intrinsic, extrinsic and “good time” aspects. Work value preferences and S-V fit showed significant differences among subgroups of gender, growth background, work rank and project type.Practical implicationsThe results provide insights for construction companies to practice work-value-based human resource management toward new-generation OCPs and make targeted measures to address the misfit between supplies and values experienced by these OCPs.Originality/valueThis study for the first time examined work values of Chinese new-generation OCPs. It opens a new perspective for research based on S-V fit theory that focused on industry level. The effects of demographic and professional variables on the work values and the degree of S-V fit were revealed. This study thus contributes to the extant literature of work values and S-V fit.

System of Value Orientations of Personality and Social Communities: Structural and Dynamic Model and its Application in Psychological Research and Psychological Practice

The present article is an extended version of the report delivered at the meeting of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Education. The paper introduces an authentic structural and dynamic model of the system of value orientations of the individual and social communities. The model was tested in a series of psychological studies over the past 20 years. The research objective was to verify the authentic structural-dynamic model of value orientations in psychological research and psychological practice. The author used a wide range of psychodiagnostic techniques, focus group research, questionnaire survey, and authentic methodology for the study of the value structure of mass consciousness, etc. The experiments resulted in a set of data that characterize the features of the selected value types, i.e. adapting, socializing, and individualizing. These value types are characterized by a focus on different in their origin and level of development of the value system. They differ in such significant features as the level of meaningfulness of life, internality, and self-actualization. They also have a distinct specificity of the time perspective and life strategy of the individual, as well as the regulation of social behavior. The revealed psychological characteristics of value types open the possibility of forecasting social behavior, as well as the development of technologies for psychological and pedagogical support of the formation of a Pro-social hierarchy of values. The proposed structural-dynamic model is applicable to the characteristics of individual systems of value orientations and the value structure of mass consciousness of different communities. It can explain the patterns of social behavior of community members. The model can be used in psychological science and practice.

INFLUENCE OF PERSONAL VALUES ON CONSUMER CHOICE AND INTENTION TO BUY: A CASE OF CROATIAN AUTOMOBILE MARKET

This paper aimed to identify the factors and segments of car buyers based on their personal values and analyzing their relation to car buyers’ choice and intention to buy. A survey involving 561 participants was conducted using the PVQ scale and additional questions about car-buying behavior. Upon collecting the data, statistical analysis was conducted that allowed for nine value types to be successfully distinguished among car buyers: benevolence, universalism, self-direction, stimulation, hedonism, achievement, and power, security, conformity, and tradition. Additionally, based on the abovementioned value types, different consumer segments were distinguished: "opened to change", "self-transcendent", "self-enhanced" and "conservative". Furthermore, the results show that segments of car buyers differ in their preferences of car models, i.e. they choose or intend to buy different car models. The conclusion presents the contribution of the paper, limitations, and guidelines for future research.