Care management to improve retail customers' and employees’ satisfaction

In retailing, ongoing management is needed to avoid compromising customer relationships and organizational performance because of consumers' or employees' dysfunctional behavior. This paper contributes to understanding how care management strategies can improve in-store experiences for customers and employees by adapting the Chronic Care Management (CCM) theory to retailing. Across two studies, one on customers (Study 1) and one on retail employees (Study 2) we show that empowerment reduces dysfunctional behavior, enhancing satisfaction. Furthermore, we demonstrate that customers' and employees’ emotional bond with the retailer (i.e., store attachment) moderates the relationship between dysfunctional behavior and satisfaction, buffering dissatisfaction from dysfunctional behavior.     

Online consumer behaviour and its relationship to website atmospheric induced flow: Insights into online travel agencies in China

Although the study of flow has recently received a lot attention, little is published about what factors controllable by firms influence its formation. Furthermore, there is a lack of knowledge between the relationship of website atmospheric cues and flow experience. Using a stimulus–organism–response framework (S–O–R framework) as the theoretical basis, this study examines the impact of consumer perceptions of website atmospheric cues (informativeness, effectiveness and entertainment) on the development of flow and its subsequent impact on purchase intention and satisfaction. A self-administered online survey was used for data collection through an internet market research firm which randomly selected individuals from its online panel. Our results support the validity of the S–O–R framework in the context of online tourism and indicate that flow fully mediates the three site atmospheric cues with regards to purchase intention and satisfaction with the travel website. This study enhances our understanding on the determinants of online purchase intention and satisfaction as well as on how a proper web atmospheric design alters consumer shopping experience which entices favourable purchase intention and generates satisfaction.     

Customer value in Quick-Service Restaurants: A cross-cultural study

In spite of the relativistic nature of Customer Value concept, research on differences in Value perceptions across cultures is still scarce. Gaining insight about this issue would be especially relevant for highly competitive and globalized industries such as Fast-Food or Quick-Service Restaurants (QSR). The purpose of the present paper is to identify Value dimensions in this industry and to analyze the links between dimensions of Value, Satisfaction and Loyalty, testing the consistency of the results obtained across three different countries. To achieve this aim, after one in-depth interview with a QSR manager and two intercultural focus groups with QSR customers, a questionnaire is built and answered by a sample of 366 individuals from Guatemala, Spain and Germany. Results from a structural model, estimated with PLS, depict relations between Value dimensions, Satisfaction and Loyalty, showing significant differences across the three cultural groups. Conclusions are derived, in terms of theoretical and managerial implications, and limitations and future lines or research are presented on both Value creation in QSR and on the specificity of the Value-Satisfaction-Loyalty chain.     

The role of loyalty programs in boosting hotel guest loyalty: Impact of switching barriers

This study examines the relationships among the perceived value of a loyalty program, customer satisfaction with a loyalty program, affective commitment, switching barriers, and customer brand loyalty in the hotel context. An online survey method with a quantitative approach was used. Our results from a structural equation model revealed that the perceived value of a loyalty program is essential in the formation of customer brand loyalty. Lastly, findings from an indirect analysis showed that affective commitment and switching barriers mediated the relationship between the perceived value of a loyalty program and customer brand loyalty. Overall, our research will help researchers and practitioners demonstrate to the industry that the loyalty program is a crucial strategy for customer loyalty and helps develop competitive loyalty programs for success.     

Exploring the intention to continue using web-based self-service

The popularization of Internet and the development of cloud computing have not only changed our lifestyles, but have impacted the ways in which enterprises relate with their customers. For example, customers and enterprises can now directly interact through web-based self-services (e.g., Internet banking, online ticketing, online bookstores, and online reservations) that do not require face-to-face interactions. Web-based self-services (WBSS) allow enterprises to proactively initiate contacts with customers and respond to their needs. Customers can also quickly access the services they want online, at any time and place, thus enhancing overall service efficiency. However, a review of the previous literature shows that most related studies have used the Technology Acceptance Model, which examines perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and attitude toward use, in order to investigate user behaviors when operating a WBSS. In contrast, there are few studies that examine the impact of perceived usefulness and perceived quality features on the continued intention to use a WBSS. Therefore, this study applied the questionnaire method and investigated the relationships among users’ perceived usage characteristics, quality characteristics, satisfaction and continued usage intention with regard to WBSS. Based on the results, specific recommendations are provided for enterprises to enhance the intention to continue using WBSS.     

The Effect of Word-of-Mouth Communication on Stock Holdings and Trades: Empirical Evidence From an Emerging Market

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between investors’ satisfaction and intention and word-of-mouth communication. This study contributes to the ongoing debate on the relationship between investor behavior and word-of-mouth communication. Many studies are related to investors’ participation and individual investors’ asset allocation decisions that are instigated by their social community via word-of-mouth communication whereas this study directly investigates the relationship between investment satisfaction and intention and word-of-mouth communication. We emphasize how many factors are considered when making satisfactory investment decisions. Our results confirm the strong relationship between the satisfaction and intention of investors and word-of-mouth communication. This finding may be useful to regulators, investors and managers who seek to establish effective rules for stock holdings and trade.     

The relationship between satisfaction and loyalty: A mediator analysis

This study proposes a multiple mediation model to analyze the relationship between satisfaction and loyalty. The study's contribution to the literature is to examine, empirically, the main antecedents and determinants of this endogenous variable in greater depth. Thus, the research fills a gap in the literature through its analysis of the mediating role of perceived switching costs and the perceived lack of attractiveness of alternative offerings. This study applies variance-based structural equation modeling via partial least squares to a sample of 785 customers from 74 insurance companies in the service sector. The results show that perceived switching costs – to a greater extent – and the perceived lack of attractiveness of alternative offerings – to a lesser extent – are significant mediators in the relationship between satisfaction and loyalty.     

An empirical analysis of the factors raising the interest in new shopping destinations

The relationship among the factors in the rising interest in new alternatives is empirically investigated in the context of shopping destination choice behavior. The hypothetical causal relationship is that the rising interest in new alternatives requires both active information search and considerable benefit, which is supported by the results of the mixture structural equation models using a data set containing revealed shopping behaviors and attitudes toward shopping destinations in the Tokyo metropolitan area: a lower level of satisfaction with the current choice set incites external information search for all subjects; however, the benefit of adding new alternatives affects the interest in new alternatives only in the group that engages in active information search.     

Investigating customer loyalty formation for wellness spa: Individualism vs. collectivism

Visitor retention is undeniably a major issue for every destination marketer. This study was an attempt to develop an international tourists’ loyalty framework for wellness spa tourism destination by considering quality and value of spa tourism in Thailand, affect, satisfaction, desire, and culture. Our proposed framework and hypothesized relationships were evaluated by using a structural analysis. A field survey was used. Results indicated that our conceptual model included a satisfactory fit to the data. Quality and value were found to have a critical role, and other study constructs were identified to act as direct/indirect driving forces of loyalty intentions. In addition, mediating role of affect, satisfaction, and desire was found. Moreover, moderating impact of culture (individualism vs. collectivism) on the loyalty formation was identified. Overall, our theoretical framework was demonstrated to be capable of explicating wellness spa tourists’ destination loyalty formation. Implications for destination marketers in Thailand are discussed.     

Festival attributes and perceptions: A meta-analysis of relationships with satisfaction and loyalty

Festivals provide economic, social and cultural benefits to the communities in which they occur, and contribute to event tourism and destination marketing. This research reports a meta-analysis of the festival literature to evaluate the factors that contribute to festival satisfaction and loyalty. Attributes were classified into six categories: activities, authenticity/uniqueness, concessions, environment, escape and socialization. The analysis revealed that festival activities (program, entertainment, thematic activities) and environment (atmosphere, convenience, facilities) are the most important determinants of satisfaction and loyalty. Two perceptions were evaluated: cost/value and service quality. The analysis revealed that cost/value is important for both satisfaction and loyalty, whereas service quality is relatively unimportant. Satisfaction with the festival is strongly related to loyalty. The findings suggest that festival planners should focus on providing an enjoyable program in a comfortable environment at a reasonable price. This strategy will cultivate repeat attendance and stimulate future visits to the festival destination.