Impacts of crisis emotions on negative word-of-mouth and behavioural intention: evidence from a milk crisis

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore how emotions felt by the public during a crisis influenced consumer loyalty intention and negative word-of-mouth (WOM). Considering the context-specific nature of emotions, the existing crisis emotions were further validated in a product consumption situation. Drawing on the theories of attribution and social sharing, a conceptual model, positing that crisis-specific emotions [attribution-independent, external-attribution-dependent (EAD) and internal-attribution-dependent (IAD) emotions] influenced negative WOM through behavioural intention, was constructed and empirically tested. Design/methodology/approach Data was collected from 240 Vietnamese consumers by using a scenario-based survey related to a fictional milk crisis. Findings The study findings showed that all but one crisis emotion had negative effects on both WOM and loyalty intention. Of these emotions, EAD and IAD were the strongest predictors of negative WOM and behavioural intention, respectively. It was also found that all crisis emotions significantly affected negative WOM through behavioural intention. Originality/value Although some efforts have been made to identify crisis emotions, the validity of the existing scales have not been affirmed in other crises related to product consumption situations. The results of the present study, thus, made contributions by enhancing an understanding of crisis emotions and their impacts on consumer loyalty intention and WOM communications.

Online communication self-disclosure and intimacy development on Facebook: the perspective of uses and gratifications theory

PurposeMotivating users to revisit a social networking site (SNS) by developing a long-term relationship with them is critical for SNS operators to enhance market control and competitiveness. By conceptualizing loyalty intention as an indicator of the long-term relationship, the present study, based on uses and gratification (U&G) theory, aims to explore the role played by online intimacy development with respect to loyalty intention when individuals have gained gratifications through using the SNS.Design/methodology/approachThe study used a questionnaire measuring six types of Facebook gratifications as well as measuring self-disclosure breadth, self-disclosure depth, intimacy with Facebook, intimacy with Facebook friends and loyalty intention. Data, collected from the University of Economics in Vietnam, were analyzed using the partial least squares (PLS) approach.FindingsThe results support several findings: (1) the gratifications including entertainment, network extension, recognition and emotional support provided by Facebook may stimulate the users' intimacy with Facebook and/or Facebook users; (2) intimacy with Facebook and intimacy with Facebook friends facilitate users' loyalty intention; (3) having a sense of emotional support influences users to engage in self-disclosure with breadth and meaningful depth, thus leading them to develop a sense of intimacy with Facebook friends.Originality/valueThe study contributes to U&G research, intimacy theory and the SNS literature by offering an understanding of users' online communication self-disclosure and intimacy development, wherein the self-disclosure and intimacy stem from the users' gratifications via using specific SNS services and, in turn, create their loyalty intention toward that SNS.

Examining the relative influence of multidimensional customer service relationships in the food delivery application context

Purpose From the perspective of relationship theory, customers tend to build a positive attitude toward a company with a strong connection. While previous tourism and hospitality studies acknowledged the strategic importance of a strong relationship between customers and brands in enhancing company performance probability, the potential benefits derived from mobile commerce experience deserves further investigation. Thus, this study aims to examine how multidimensional relationships between customers and service providers affect brand performance. Design/methodology/approach Using a sample of food delivery application customers in the USA, the structural equation modeling (SEM)-partial least squares (PLS) path modeling is used to examine the impact of economic exchange, social exchange, mutual-interest and self-interest, on brand equity and loyalty intention. Findings The PLS-SEM results indicate that customers’ perceived economic exchange, social exchange and mutual interests with food delivery applications influence their perceived equity, which, in turn, enhances their loyalty intention toward brand applications. However, self-interest does not enhance customers’ perceived brand equity. Practical implications Accordingly, food delivery service providers must value their relationship with customers to achieve sustainable organizational growth and develop appropriate promotion activities to enhance economic exchange, social exchange and mutual interests. Originality/value The current study contributes to the literature by empirically demonstrating the consequences of customer-brand relationships in the emerging service context (i.e. food delivery applications).

PERANAN BRAND IMAGE DAN BRAND CREDIBILITY DALAM MENINGKATKAN LOYALTY INTENTION MELALUI BRAND COMMITMENT

The purpose of this research is to examine whether 1) brand image can predict loyalty intention 2) brand credibility can predict loyalty intention 3) brand credibility can predict brand commitment 4) brand commitment can predict loyalty intention 5) brand commitment mediates the effect of brand credibility on loyalty intention. Sample was selected using convenience sampling method amounted to 173 respondents. Data processing techniques using structural equation modeling what helped by Smart PLS 3.2.7 program. The result of this study shows that brand credibility, and brand commitment have significant effect to predict loyalty intention, but brand image doesn’t, brand credibility has significant effect to predict brand commitment, and brand commitment mediates the effect of brand credibility on loyalty intention.

Loyalty to holiday style: motivational determinants

Purpose This study aims to understand the push and pull motivations of leisure tourists who stay for one or more nights on the Opatija Riviera and explores the causal connection between motivations and loyalty intention with regard to holiday style. It verifies path discrepancy based on generational and educational differences. Design/methodology/approach The data were collected over a four-month period that included the low and high seasons of 2019. In total, 246 useable questionnaires were collected through on-site research. First, exploratory factor analysis was conducted as this was the first tourist loyalty study to be conducted in the Opatija Riviera region. Then, to test for causal significance amongst relationships and differences at the path level, the partial least square method and multigroup analysis (MGA) was undertaken. Findings The results showed that overall satisfaction fully mediates the relationship between the two established motivations (novelty seeking and outdoor activity) and loyalty to holiday style and partially between relaxation and loyalty to holiday style. Further, MGA results indicated a significant discrepancy in the relationship between preferred holiday style with regard to educational and age difference. Originality/value This study offers new insights regarding a relatively new type of tourist loyalty by developing a theoretical framework that assesses the relationship between loyalty intention and motivation, as well as overall satisfaction.