Exploring the Utilitarian and Hedonic Value Derived from Tourism Pre-experiences with Virtual Reality: Differences Between Destinations and Accommodations

The tourism industry is in a convulsive situation of great uncertainty. The recovery of the sector depends on boosting digitalization processes. In this sense, virtual reality represents an essential tool that can generate added value in the customer experience. This study analyzes the impact of virtual reality tourism pre-experiences on the utilitarian and hedonic value perceived by the customer. In addition, given the heterogeneity of tourism products and offers, it is proposed that the influence of virtual reality on the dimensions of perceived value will depend on whether the product is evaluated on an attribute basis (hotels) or holistically (destinations). The results will provide interesting implications for understanding and generating tourism experiences with high added value. Particularly, these results will be helpful for tourism managers to design effective virtual reality pre-experiences according to the features of the tourism products they are promoting, fostering the corresponding hedonic/utilitarian value in the tourist’s pre-experience.

Individual costs and societal benefits: the privacy calculus of contact-tracing apps

Purpose During 2020, governments around the world introduced contact-tracing apps to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. In order for contact-tracing apps to be efficient tools in combatting pandemics, a significant proportion of the population has to install it. However, in many countries, the success of apps introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic has been limited due to lack of public support. This paper aims to better understand why consumers seem unwilling to install and use a contact-tracing app. Design/methodology/approach In this study, the authors test a number of determinants hypothesized to influence acceptance of contact-tracing apps based on the theory of privacy calculus (Dinev and Hart, 2006). Both perceived privacy concerns, as well as perceived hedonic, utilitarian and pro-social benefits are included. The hypotheses are tested through SEM analysis on a representative sample of 1,007 Swedish citizens. Findings The results indicate significant privacy concerns with using contact-tracing apps. However, this is to some extent offset by perceived hedonic and pro-social positive consequences of using the app. This study further shows that a general positive attitude towards innovation increases acceptance of the app. Originality/value The study contributes to research on consumer privacy, both in general in its application of the calculus model but also specifically in the context of contact-tracing apps. Moreover, as the results highlight which aspects that are important for consumers to accept and install an app of this kind, they also represent an important contribution to policymakers in countries around the world.

Social Commerce and the Hedonic Utilitarian Nexus

The development of social networking sites has led to the appearance of social commerce using Web 2.0 to support social exchange activities. While this topic has received attention in the literature, research still lacks theoretical foundation tackling the relationships between hedonic, utilitarian motivations and social commerce purchase intentions. This study addresses this shortcoming, as it investigates these relations. A theoretical model was proposed and tested using a survey. Findings indicate that the higher the hedonic value derived from a social network, the more trustworthy this channel becomes and the higher the purchase intention. Furthermore, economic benefit exerts a positive and significant influence on trust and intent to purchase using the social commerce channel. The results offer several theoretical and practical implications. They highlight the significance of the utilitarian and hedonic shopping motivations on social commerce adoption and ascertain the important mediating role of trust as well as the need to enhance economic benefits and enjoyment for customers.

Values, satisfaction and intentions: online innovation perspective for fashion apparels

Purpose The purpose of this study is to survey the associations among innovation perspective on value priorities, i.e. hedonic vs utilitarian facets, satisfaction among customers and behavioral intents for online fashion apparels in the Asian economic context, i.e. Indian market. Design/methodology/approach The research used a hypo-deductive strategy and all the constructs were amended from the previous scholarly work. The two-step methodology with structural equation modelling in terms of covariance-based methodology was deployed to weigh the measurement and structural models. Findings The conclusions reveal that value priorities in terms of hedonic vs utilitarian dimensions have a substantial influence on satisfaction, and satisfaction significantly affects intentions for online apparels. Additionally, customer satisfaction performs the role of a partial facilitator between hedonic and utilitarian values and purchase intents. In comparison to hedonic, utilitarian priorities display a superior outcome on customer satisfaction and purchase intents for fashion apparels getting sold online portals. Research limitations/implications The research will facilitate online researchers and fashion managers recognize the underlying dimensions of innovation-led perspectives on values, i.e. hedonic vs utilitarian, for satisfaction and behavioral intents. Practical implications The study results will assist online marketers, fashion portals and specialists recognize the characteristics of hedonic vs utilitarian dimensions to improve satisfaction facets and behavioral intents for online fashion apparels. Social implications The present scholarly work presents useful insights related to social transformation with respect to innovative online fashion apparel buying paradigms. Originality/value In an Asian market context, the paper is pioneer work to examine the comparative relationships among value priorities, e.g. hedonic vs utilitarian dimensions and their influence on satisfaction and purchase intents for the fashion apparels sold online sector a two-dimensional measure of consumption values.

The role of customers’ motivations in the relationships between e-stimuli and behavioral intention on a bed and breakfast website

Purpose This study examined relationships among e-stimuli and customers’ behavioral intentions and identified whether customers’ hedonic or utilitarian orientation moderation effects of e-stimuli on a bed and breakfast (B&B) website’s flow experience. Design/methodology/approach The proposed hypotheses were tested by using structural equation modeling. Two group comparisons were conducted to test moderating effects in the relationships between stimuli and flow experience. Findings This study determined e-stimuli affected customers’ flow experiences and causal relationships among emotions, satisfaction and behavioral intentions. It also found moderating effects of hedonic/utilitarian motivation. Practical implications Findings from this study could help B&B operators develop online marketing strategies. Originality/value This study developed a framework of e-stimuli in a B&B website setting to address customers’ psychological behaviors to understand the practical needs of the B&B industry and customers’ expectations.

Assessing the Imagination Scale’s Nomological Validity: Effect of Hedonic versus Utilitarian Product Types and Abstract versus Concrete Advertising Execution

This research builds on a study of advertisement-evoked imagination scale developed by Dewi and Ang (2015). The imagination scale contains four types of imagination, that is, benefit-anticipatory imagination, emotional-bonding imagina­tion, symbolic imagination, and mind-wandering imagination.In this paper, the pro­po­sed constructs of the imagination types are related to other relevant constructs exis­ting in marketing literature.The purpose of this research is twofold. First, it establishes the nomological validity of the imagination measures by placing it in the context of hedonic-utilitarian concepts proposed by Holbrook and Hirschman (1983). Second, the research empirically studies the effect of situational factor, that is concrete versus abstract advertisement execution, on imagination elicitation. The study is an experiment which employs mixed factor design involving eight sub-groups of participants. Results of the research demons­trate the nomological validity of the imagination scale where the four types of imagination were elicited in response to hedonic/utilitarian product depicted in the ad and situational factors (that is, abstract versus concrete ads).

Social media use in academia

Purpose The high rate of internet penetration has led to the proliferation of social media (SM) use, even at the workplace, including academia. This research attempts to develop a topology and thereby determine the dominant use motive for faculty’s use of SM. Design/methodology/approach In this two-part study, a two-stage research design has been adopted for topology development based on the application of Uses and Gratifications Theory. In the second part, the Technology Acceptance Model is applied to discern the dominant motive for SM use in academia. Findings The work is able to develop a seven-item topology, conforming to the basic three use motives, namely, hedonic, utilitarian and social. The work shows faculty attach more value to the instrumental utility of SM, while the hedonic function is also significant. Practical implications Discerning dominant motive implies that SM use at the workplace should not be banned, rather effective regulated use will instil the faculty to enhance work outcomes. The conceptualisation of topology for SM use in academia at the workplace can aid in designing an effective organisation policy, and design of an internal SM platform. Originality/value The study is unique towards topology development for academic faculty and has many important implications for management and academia, especially towards policy design for SM use at the workplace.