The Rise of Crowd Logistics: A New Way to Co‐Create Logistics Value

Patterned on crowdsourcing and crowdfunding, a new crowd practice has emerged in recent years: crowd logistics. In this paper, we propose a first conceptualization of this growing phenomenon. Crowd logistics is a novel way of providing logistics services that taps into the dormant logistics resources and capabilities of individuals, using mobile applications and web‐based platforms. Although crowd logistics has been widely discussed in the business world, it has not yet been the subject of any academic publication. Following an exploratory case study approach, we review the websites of 57 crowd logistics initiatives around the world and highlight the main distinctive characteristics of crowd logistics, as compared to traditional business logistics. We introduce a segmented analysis in which crowd logistics solutions are classified according to four types of service offered. Finally, we introduce six theoretical propositions on the future development of crowd logistics. At a theoretical level, our findings contribute to enriching the service‐dominant logic perspective in the logistics field by conceptualizing the crowd as a co‐creator of logistics value. At a managerial level, our findings contribute to identifying which types of crowd logistics services are more likely to threaten or disrupt traditional business.     

Consumers' captive service experiences: it's YOU and ME

Consumers in captive services often do not have the same experiences as consumers in typical service situations; this reality is largely ignored in existing service literature. To fill this void, this research makes a qualitative exploration of consumers' lived captive service experiences. It finds that consumers face several negative service processes. At the heart of these negative service experiences are the interactions of consumers with the service workers on whom they depend. Power has shifted to providers and this permits service organizations to deviate from accepted prudent service practices. Consumers experience service captivity and feel they have little or no recourse to the poor service treatment they receive. This does not, however, stop them from attempting to take back control of their consumption experience when and where possible. Consumers show marked resilience in the face of dehumanizing service interactions. Understanding developed in this research can be used to guide transformative service redesign in contexts of captive service and consumer service captivity.     

Competing orders of worth in extraordinary consumption community

This article argues that tension and conflicts during consumption can be analysed through the lens of convention theory, which is preoccupied with the justification of action under the condition of fragmented institutional environments. Central to the perspective is the co-presence of consumption regimes with incompatible orders of worth which result in disagreements about the legitimacy of modes of justification in consumption communities. Whereas prior research tends to focus on protagonist–antagonist tensions or disputes over how to consume, our results from studying an extraordinary consumption community contribute to an understanding of how heterogeneity emerges when consumers dispute over multiple criteria for justification. We discuss how the order of worth perspective contributes with mundane controversies to a research field that tends to focus on “grand” conflicts and, as such, extend what it might mean to understand consumption communities and their tensions and conflicts.     

建筑给排水工程中节能技术的应用

我国经济的高速发展过程中,对环境也造成了巨大的压力,而建筑在能源消耗中占据相当大的比例.为此,如何减少能耗、提高源利用效率成为各行各业研究的热点.给排水作为耗能大户-建筑行业的一个重要的分项工程,应该采取各种有效措施降低能耗.本文就建筑给排水工程中的节能技术的运用做简单分析.     

Out of control or right on the money? Funder self-efficacy and crowd bias in equity crowdfunding

Our findings extend the entrepreneurship literature by highlighting the mechanism through which self-efficacy can hinder rather than enhance performance in entrepreneurial settings. Using two complementary experimental studies and a third quasi-experimental field study on equity crowdfunding decisions, we demonstrate that self-efficacy is negatively related to decision-making performance. This relationship is mediated by reduced searching effort. Our research also indicates that high self-efficacy funders tend to exhibit a “crowd bias” whereby they over-weight the opinions of the crowd, increasing the likelihood that they will fund poor quality ventures when such ventures are favored by the crowd. We introduce the term crowd bias and explore its effects, establishing that social indicators in the form of crowd cues can exasperate the negative effects of self-efficacy.     

网络直播情境下共在临场感与社会临场感对从众消费的影响

近年来网络直播以其惊人的线上互动促销能力受到了理论学者和实践专家的关注。文章在网络直播背景下，以网络直播突出的“共在临场感(CP)”和“社会临场感(SP)”特点为切入点，探索网络直播情境共在临场感、社会临场感影响从众消费的作用机制。文章以有直播观看经历的消费者为样本，采用结构方程模型的方法展开研究并发现:网络直播情境下，共在临场感对从众消费行为存在显著正向影响。共在临场感对从众消费的促进作用受到用户产生信息信任度(TUGI)的部分中介，社会临场感对从众消费的促进作用受到用户产生信息信任度的完全中介。两种临场感(SP、CP)通过用户产生信息信任度对从众消费的中介效应受到主播-观众关系强度(TSBBN)的调节，即存在前段有调节的中介效应。     

新生人口、家庭再分配与地区的文化服务消费——基于直接比例税视角的经验分析

文章利用30个省级行政单位2003-2010年的面板数据,运用固定效应回归模型展开分析,研究了新生人口对地区文化服务消费的影响。结果发现：在控制收入、政府文化支出、人口素质、老年人口负担、社会保障支出等变量后,新生人口数量对文化服务消费有显著的消极影响。这说明当年的新生人口越多,该地区的文化消费越有可能显著减少。文章对此现象的解释是：新生人口对家庭而言,具有类似于直接的比例税效应,新生儿出生即意味着税收的增加,由此带来的家庭内部收入再分配会促使父母首先减少收入弹性大的文化服务的消费。因此文章的研究意味着,在发展文化服务产业时,除了“就文化产业谈文化发展”的思路外,其他思路也需要考虑,而就文章研究本身而言,减少新生子女父母的负担将有助于增加对文化服务产业的消费,并促进文化服务产业的发展。     

老龄化、服务性消费与第三产业发展--来自中国省级面板数据的证据

本文基于2003－2013年的中国省级面板数据,通过引入老龄化与服务性消费比重的交互项,综合运用多种静态和动态面板数据模型和稳健性分析,考察老龄化通过服务性消费渠道对第三产业发展的影响。研究结果表明,老龄化对第三产业发展具有负向影响,但老龄化引致的服务性消费比重的提高能显著减弱这一负向影响。进一步扩展讨论的结果证实,服务性消费确为老龄化影响第三产业发展的重要渠道,提高民生性财政支出、保障公共服务均等化及提升金融发展水平有利于释放老年人口的服务性消费需求,拉动第三产业发展。     

The virtual takeover: The influence of virtual reality on consumption

Looking to current trends, this paper explores the influence of Virtual Reality (VR) on consumption. Specifically, we focus on the influence that VR has on consumer spending by suggesting that identities created in VR will influence consumption behaviour in the real world. While other forms of technology allow consumers to create alternative identities, we suggest that the unique aspects of VR, bolstered by forthcoming advances, will make identities created in VR relatively more self-important and more salient in real world consumption. We also propose implications for marketing research and practice.     

The impact of the implicit theories of social optimism and social pessimism on macro attitudes towards consumption

People have substantially differing attitudes towards consumption. Anti-consumers are negative towards consumption. In contrast, pro-consumers view consumption in a positive light. We posit that people's attitudes toward consumption at the societal (macro) level are impacted by the implicit theories they hold about whether society can solve the problems it faces. We identify two different implicit theories consumers hold regarding how solvable larger societal problems are. Social optimists believe that we will solve the problems that are emerging as we evolve at the societal level. In contrast, social pessimists believe that societal evolution is creating problems too large to be solved. We developed a macro attitudes model where social optimism and pessimism were posited to impact people's macro attitudes towards consumption. We present the results of a study that found that social optimists have more positive attitudes towards consumption and social pessimists have more negative attitudes towards consumption. We also found that this model provided a superior fit in comparison to three other plausible models relating implicit theories and attitudes towards consumption. These findings have implications for anti-consumption research, consumer research on implicit theories, and social marketing designed to address problems associated with overconsumption.     

影响网络消费行为的组合要素探究

随着网络、物流、信息、支付手段等方面的进一步便利化,网络消费行为越发呈现多样化与高频的特征,消费行为的形成受诸多关键要素影响,对其行为机理的探索与发现,有助于全面理解和认知网络消费行为的本质。采用国内快递企业所进行的大规模调查数据,尝试运用定性比较分析(QCA)技术与传统定量分析(logistic回归)相结合的混合研究方法,就网络消费行为的影响因素、要件及组合效应进行深入研究,力争突破传统研究方法与技术,拓展新的研究视角和分析思路。研究发现,配送效率、好友推荐、支付方式对网络消费行为有积极的组合效应,信息交互则与网络消费行为结果有负相关性。     

The effect of presentation,product availability and ease upon transaction reliability for online food delivery aggregator applications – moderated mediated model

ABSTRACT

With advancements in mobile technologies, online food-delivery aggregators (OFA) have become an important distribution channel for restaurants. This study examines how the OFA applications affect diner’s cognitive and affective states and subsequent behavior by empirically testing a research model that incorporates antecedents of transaction reliability for restaurant order booking using a mobile application. Data collected from a survey of 458 respondents are analyzed using SEM. Drawing from SOR, CVT, and cue theory, the research established that product presentation and ease of use predict transaction reliability and are important mobile application attributes while choosing a particular OFA. The moderated mediation model extends the stimulus-organism-response framework and the consumer value theory. The findings demonstrate the moderating influence of gender, where the relationship is stronger for females. The study has a positivist approach with causalities satisfying the fundamental law of SOR theory. Higher media richness shall lead to a positive feeling about the product. A good presentation of the products on the mobile screen shall enhance the perception of product availability. The presence of abundant products makes it easy to search, thereby ease of searching the mobile screen. Mobile applications should be updated regularly to keep pace with the ever-changing mobile technologies.     

Mobile Telephony,Financial Inclusion and Inclusive Growth

ABSTRACT

The paper employs the multipurpose nature of mobile telephony to investigate its welfare implications using a large sample of households in Ghana. We use seemingly unrelated probit and instrumental variable procedure to test for two related issues: First, we investigate whether mobile telephony promotes pro-poor development by helping households to efficiently allocate consumption and navigate out of poverty. Second, we analyze whether access to a broad array of financial services enhances the capacity of households to live worthwhile lives. The results show that mobile penetration and financial inclusion significantly reduce the probability of a household becoming poor and increase per capita household consumption of food and non-food items. Our results show that the welfare benefits of mobile telephony and financial inclusion are not more pronounced in female-headed households. These insights serve as useful guide for government and other stakeholders who are looking for avenues to improve livelihoods.     

Examining consumers' continuous usage of multichannel retailers' mobile applications

This paper examines the variables influencing a consumer's satisfaction and continuous use of a multichannel retailer's mobile application. Drawing upon the Expectation Confirmation Model for Information Technologies, post-adoption literature, and consumer behavior literature, we assess pertinent factors on the continuous usage of multichannel retailers' mobile apps. Through a sample of 1009 consumers who retained a retailer's mobile app for more than 6 months and conducting Structural Equation Modelling, the findings illustrate that utilitarian variables (perceived usefulness, ease of use, and personalization), hedonic variables (perceived enjoyment), and a brand-related variable (consumer loyalty intention toward the retailer's brand), play a significant role in influencing continuous usage of multichannel retailers' mobile apps. In contrast to e-commerce research, the study outlines that escapism plays a negative role in both consumer satisfaction and intention to continue to use a multichannel retailer's mobile app. Previous research points to the fact that consumers' retention of retailers' apps is low. This paper contributes to the emerging literature on consumers' continuous use of retailers' mobile apps through enhancing our understanding of technology and non-technology-related variables.     

Are there peas in a pod when considering mobile phone and mobile applications use: A quantitative study

Despite the acknowledgement of the significance of income, affordability and cultural factors in using mobile phones research, there are few studies on how these factors affect females' use of mobile technology. Hence, this paper aims to expand knowledge on female consumers' use of mobile phones and mobile applications in developing countries. It develops a model based on combining the extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology and the cultural influence model. Multi-stage cluster sampling was used to distribute hard copy questionnaires in Jordanian, Iraqi and UAE households led to 629 replies from female consumers. The results indicated that although income is an important factor, cost is not the highest barrier for females. Culture, society, national IT development and inclusive policies play a key role. This study contributes to existing literature by proposing a new integrated model acknowledging the role of income for females’ use of mobile phones.     

The influence of satisfaction on customer retention in mobile phone market

This study examines the determinants of customer satisfaction and customer loyalty in the Peruvian mobile phone market. Based in a survey to 1259 customers, Multinomial Logit and GSEM estimations show how determinants of customer satisfaction can be assessed when satisfaction is measured through ordered categorical data. The results confirm that in mobile phone market Customer Satisfaction influences strongly on Customer Loyalty, and in turn Loyalty is an important determinant of Customer Retention. In contrast with previous literature, this study identified the differentiated influence of diverse factors on positive and negative customer satisfaction categories. Indeed while results show that quality of service assessments made by customers had a significant impact on both negative and positive customer satisfaction categories; assessments of other service attributes like customer care, information on tariffs and plans and billing clarity, only showed a significant statistical influence on positive categories of customer satisfaction. Similar asymmetrical results were found with regard to other economic, socioeconomic and geographical determinants of customer decisions. As well, an analog effect is also observed in the relationship between customer satisfaction and loyalty, where only positive satisfaction assessments helps to explain the loyalty of users. Finally, results show that while satisfaction can be identified as a powerful cause of CR, switching barriers did not deter more demanding customers to switch to alternative carriers, suggesting that recent pro-competition regulatory reforms implemented in Peru contributed to reduce these barriers to competition in mobile markets.     

Evaluating the impact of service user involvement on research: a prospective case study

As service user involvement in health and social care research has become more firmly embedded in health policies, both in the UK and internationally, there is increasing interest in evaluating its potential benefits and outcomes. Impact studies have highlighted a range of different types of service user involvement, using diverse research methods, within various research topics and involving different stakeholders. Potential benefits to research, researchers and the service users actively involved in research have been identified, along with the possibility of some negative consequences. Many impact studies have been criticized for being based on informal retrospective accounts of researchers and service users working together. Few have been underpinned by conceptual models, and there is a paucity of detailed accounts of the process of involvement that would enable replication. This paper reports an account of a prospective, qualitative exploration of service user involvement within a study, where the aims of the evaluation were agreed beforehand. Reflective discussions about the process and progress of service user involvement at different stages of the study were recorded, transcribed and analysed. The qualitative analysis identified perceived benefits to research, researchers and service user researchers that endorsed previous findings. The analysis also highlighted subjective and interpersonal aspects of service user involvement that have seldom been reported. This evaluation demonstrates the benefits of allowing time for structured reflection and adds to the understanding of the process and meaning of service user involvement in research.     

Factors affecting users’ continuance intention of mobile social network service

This study investigates the factors that influence users’ intention to continue using social network service applications (apps) on mobile devices. We drew on the uses and gratifications (U&G) paradigm and innovation diffusion theory; these were augmented with the factors that characterize mobile social network service (MSNS) usage. The proposed framework explained the relationships between these factors and the intention to continue using MSNS apps. A web-based survey was used to collect data for analysis. The results indicated that critical mass, mobility, compatibility, purposive value, and entertainment value were important drivers of users’ intention to continue using MSNS apps. The findings contribute to existing U&G paradigm, innovation diffusion theory, and MSNS usage literature. The paper closes with a discussion of useful insights relevant to researchers and practitioners in terms of developing and implementing MSNS apps that have high retention rates.     

Sacred Attributions: Implications for Marketplace Behavior

Prior research in marketing has extensively examined attribution theory and how this influences product evaluations; however, such research has only examined secular attributions to a company, employees, other consumers, or one's self. Thus, through a series of three studies, the research herein examines a new category of attributions—sacred attributions—to determine when consumers make secular versus sacred attributions and how this influences product evaluations. Study 1 shows that religiosity is positively correlated with sacred attributions. Additionally, Study 1 finds that sacred attributions to God are more likely in positive consumption situations, while sacred attributions to Satan are more likely in negative consumption situations. Study 2 finds that God (Satan) attributions lead to positive (negative) product evaluations, and these effects are pervasive, regardless of religious priming. Study 3 increases external validity by using real businesses to show that sacred attributions are greatest for businesses with a sacred value system, although these effects differ based on situational affect. Findings build upon the literature on attribution theory and priming.     

需求价格弹性理论的一个应用——大学生手机消费的实证分析

本文基于弹性理论与回归分析等方法,分别从几个方面对当今大学生的手机消费现象作了较为深入的研究。文中通过对江苏省高校在校学生的手机消费情况进行实证分析,得出了一系列具有参考价值的数据,并以此对国内的手机行业和手机市场提出了一些合理的建议和策略。