Salesperson moral identity and value co-creation

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the role of salesperson moral identity centrality in value co-creation. This study identified and tested an extended identity-based formation process of selling orientation, customer orientation and value co-creation. This was accomplished by examining the role of inclusion of others in the self and circle of moral regard in the mechanism through which moral identity centrality impacts selling orientation, customer orientation and value co-creation, taking into account the contingency role of salesperson self-construal. Design/methodology/approach An extended identity-behavior model grounded in identity theory and the social-cognitive perspective of moral identity centrality was tested. The study used survey data from business-to-business salespeople. Data collected was analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings The results show that a central moral identity to a salesperson’s self-drives higher expansion of the salesperson’s circle of moral regard. This process facilitates the mechanisms for salesperson moral identity centrality to decrease selling orientation and increase customer orientation and value co-creation, leading to higher sales performance. Independent self-construal is found to deteriorate the positive effects of salesperson moral identity centrality on the inclusion of others in the self, expansion of the circle of moral regard and customer orientation. Research limitations/implications Through the conceptualized and tested framework, the study opens the door for additional research to inspect the role of moral identity centrality in sales. Practical implications Findings have implications for the human resource side of sales organizations in the areas of recruitment, mentoring, coaching and training. Moral identity centrality plays a vital role in the interface between salespeople and customers, leading to improved behavioral and sales outcomes. Sales managers must look for their salespeople’s moral identity centrality to improve morality in the attitudes and decision-making of their salesforce. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to uncover the vital impacts of salesperson moral identity centrality on selling orientation, customer orientation and value co-creation. Through the conceptualized and tested framework, the study opens the door for additional research to inspect the role of moral identity centrality in sales.

A Path Model of Innovative Customer Orientation and Company Performance with the Moderating Influence of Company Training

This study used a sample of salespeople at various companies to substantiate a path model of innovativeness, customer orientation, and performance; thus, it offers a multi-disciplinary framework. Results indicated a moderating influence of company training programs on the relationship between customer orientation and performance, which can have several implications for human resource managers and sales contact employees. Two features, testing the influence of training activities and measuring customer orientation from the employees' perceptions, distinguish this study from previous studies.

Change of business models of Ukrainian insurance companies in the conditions of COVID-19

Insurance companies form their own business models based on the interests of stakeholders. Changes in business models are due to the impact of COVID-19, deepening digitalization and customer orientation. Accordingly, the aim of the study is to systematize the approaches to business models of insurance companies using emerging market country (Ukraine) as an example, and to show the change in a business model according to the CANVAS approach under the influence pandemic. In accordance with the purpose of the study, business models of insurance companies were systematized and grouped into blocks: value-based, structural, complex, and strategic. The strategic block identifies strategic changes in the activities of insurance companies and reflects trends on the insurance market. With this in mind, business models of insurance companies should reflect the set of strategic decisions, their architecture, structure and facilitate the management of value creation operations on the insurance market. Business models have changed from traditional to innovative, hybrid and digital-oriented. The main changes in the business models of insurance companies are omnichannel communications, the launch of chatbots, Big Data, Mobile ID, Bank ID, online access to registers, Blockchain. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a shift in business models towards socially responsible business and adherence to sustainable development goals.

Women’s driving decree, market orientation, and company performance in Saudi Arabia

This paper investigated whether the royal decree of September 2017 allowing women to drive affects the relationship between market orientation and firm performance of official car dealerships in Saudi Arabia. In the empirical investigation, a quantitative method was used, focusing on car dealership managers and executives. The hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling with data collected from 94 questioned. Market orientation dimensions that were investigated included customer orientation, competitor orientation, and inter-functional coordination. The results indicate a positive effect of market orientation on company performance in Saudi Arabia over two periods, before and after the application of the decree. Before the royal decree, only two of the three dimensions of market orientation affected company performance, customer orientation, and inter-functional coordination. After the decree, all three dimensions of market orientation affected company performance. This proves that political decision has intensified competition in this market. Our results underlined the non-necessity of equality and the strength of the three components belonging to the market orientation on performance. Yet, our investigation is unprecedented having sought to resolve this classic relationship in a specific context.

The effect of customer orientation on financial performance in service firms: The mediating role of service innovation

In service firms, customer orientation and service innovativeness are the important strategic features to pledge sustainable wealth and growth for financial performance. Focusing on customer means, companies must have rigorous knowledge and understanding of customer needs, expectations, and demands. To satisfy those demands and expectations, new products and/or services need to be carefully designed. Customer orientation involves the introduction of something new or different in response to market conditions and can be perceived as an important driver for innovation. The literature on innovation in services demonstrates that this territory is still under-investigated. Our study is an attempt to slightly complement this shortcoming by empirically solving several issues related to service firms. In particular, we propose the service innovativeness as a mediating effect in the relationship between customer orientation and financial performance. A theoretical research model was investigated via structural equation modeling (SEM) using 686 survey responses from the service industry. The findings of the structural equation model indicated that customer orientation is positively related to financial performance and service innovativeness respectively. And service innovativeness was found as a partial mediating effect, which means that the service innovativeness intervenes for some part but not all of the relationships between customer orientation and financial performance.

The Effect of Hairdresser's Job Crafting on Customer Orientation and Work Performance

This study aims to understand the effect of salon selection factors on customer satisfaction and customer loyalty through SNS to provide marketing strategies to increase salon profits through SNS. In the SPSS 21.0 program, frequency analysis, factor analysis, reliability analysis, and multiple regression analysis were performed using data from the final 301 part of the questionnaire. The results of the survey are as follows. First of all, the characteristics of SNS were universal and tangible, divided into information, reliability, and beauty salon options. In addition, customer satisfaction and customer loyalty are divided into a single dimension. Second, it was reported that the more the latest information on SNS characteristics is recognized, the higher the customer satisfaction and customer loyalty are. Third, it was found that the more reliable objective information on the factors for selecting beauty salons through SNS was recognized, the higher customer satisfaction and customer loyalty were. Taken together, it is expected that a differentiated education system through SNS will be introduced, and sales will improve by positively affecting customer satisfaction and customer loyalty. In subsequent studies, more reliable studies are expected to be conducted through age diversification and segmentation of various variables.