Consumer intentions to engage in s-commerce: a cross-national study

Social media has reached global proportions; yet, little is known about how consumers engage with firms in ways that lead to social commerce (s-commerce) – an emerging area of importance in the literature. This study addresses this gap and extends previous research by examining factors that influence consumers’ intentions to engage in s-commerce in four countries: Chile, Spain, South Africa and Australia. Specifically, this study develops and tests a model of consumers’ intentions to engage in s-commerce through brands’ Facebook pages incorporating personal variables (involvement in brands’ products and services, satisfaction with brands’ Facebook page), trust variables (message credibility of Facebook posts, trust in firms’ Facebook) and social variables (peer communication, social media dependency, online social interaction propensity) on predicting intentions to purchase products and services through brands’ Facebook pages if s-commerce was available to them. The findings show that the main drivers of s-commerce engagement are message credibility, trust in the brands’ Facebook, involvement, peer communication and online social interaction propensity, as influencers of consumer satisfaction with brands’ Facebook and social media dependency, which in turn drive intentions to engage in s-commerce. Contributing to theory and practice, these relationships are discussed for the four countries involved in the study.     

Keeping it legal: Refusing rooms to minors and young adults

Well-thought-out policies can protect hotels from many of the problems typically experienced with young guests while preserving the valuable business generated from this market segment.     

Affective commitment and future purchase intentions in the performing arts: An empirical approach

We examine whether affective commitment can influence customers' future purchase intentions. Our empirical approach focuses on the performing arts sector in which we interviewed 927 theatregoers at the entrances or exits to 150 theatres throughout Spain. The theoretical relationship management model proposed herein provides an analysis of the role played by satisfaction, trust, and commitment in future purchase intentions. Our findings reveal that affective commitment mediates the relationship between future purchase intention and both satisfaction and trust. We discuss the theoretical and management implications of our findings and identify some possible future research directions. Copyright © 2015 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analyzing the past to prepare for the future: a review of literature on factors with influence on entrepreneurial intentions

Journal of International Entrepreneurship - The purpose of this paper is to review existing literature and show the state of the art regarding the factors that influence the entrepreneurial...     

Credit and default amongst young adults: An agenda of issues

This paper is concerned to develop a framework of analysis for the use of credit and experience of default amongst young adults. The framework proposed draws together a concern with both the supply and demand for credit, and recognises some of the wider social and economic processes that may shape young adults' patterns of use. The category young adult, as used in existing studies, is discussed critically, and attention drawn to the evidence that suggests that those aged 18–21 form a distinct sub-group. Taking this group as a focus, the paper explores a series of issues concerning knowledge about credit, reasons for credit use and the sources used, attitudes and beliefs, and credit breakdown. As contextual material the paper also provides an overview of the development and characteristics of the credit market in Britain.

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Kredit und Zahlungsverzug bei jungen Erwachsenen: Eine Zusammenstellung wichtiger Punkte

Zusammenfassung Der Beitrag möchte einen Bezugsrahmen für die Untersuchung der Inanspruchnahme von Kredit durch junge Erwachsene und ihre Erfahrungen mit Zahlungsverzug entwickeln. Der vorgeschlagene Bezugsrahmen berücksichtigt beides, das Angebot von und die Nachfrage nach Kredit, und betrachtet allgemeinere soziale und ökonomische Prozesse, die die Inanspruchnahme von Krediten durch junge Erwachsene beeinflussen.Die Kategorie junger Erwachsener, so wie sie in voliegenden Studien verwendet wird, wird kritisch diskutiert; dabei wird besondere Aufmerksamkeit den Befunden beigemessen, nach denen die 18- bis 21-jährigen eine besondere Subgruppe bilden. Der Beitrag engt den Blickwinkel auf diese besondere Gruppe ein und setzt sich auseinander mit Fragen der Kenntnis über Kredite, der Gründe für Kreditnahme, der benutzten Kreditmöglichkeiten, der relevanten Einstellungen und Überzeugungen sowie der Zahlungsunfähigkeit. Im Zusammenhang mit diesen Überlegungen wird ein Überblick über die Entwicklung und die Besonderheit des britischen Kreditmarktes gegeben.

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Janet Ford is Principal Research Fellow, Institute of Employment Research, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.The paper was written while the author was Senior Lecturer in Sociology, Loughborough University.     

Lose like a man: body image and celebrity endorsement effects of weight loss product purchase intentions

Abstract

Recent research suggests men are increasingly concerned with their body size, which has led to a corresponding increase in marketing efforts for weight loss products geared toward them. In many cases, these ads include athlete endorsers of the product. Drawing from the match-up hypothesis and social comparison theory, this study employed structural equation modeling to explore relationships between men’s body image, endorser credibility, advertisement believability, and purchase intentions for weight loss products using two advertisements featuring former professional athlete endorsers. Results indicate an inverse relationship between consumer body image and athlete endorser credibility, such that individuals with lower body image perceived the endorsers as more credible. Further, athlete endorser credibility was positively associated with advertisement believability, which itself was associated with purchase intentions. These findings suggest that athlete endorsers are an effective tool in marketing weight loss products to men, particularly those with negative body image. Further implications and directions for future research are discussed.     

原产地规则:助益企业外贸经营

深入了解和运用原产地规则,能够有利于企业按照国际规则调整自身的产品结构和经营策略,在参与国际市场竞争和实现可持续发展方面意义重大。     

Leaving home: Food choice behavior of young German adults

Like other western countries, Germany too reports record numbers of overweight and obese individuals with young German adults in a particularly high-risk position. As such, this study sought to investigate if food choice varied by the place of residence (dependent or independent) of these young adults. Using a self-administered questionnaire, analyses of quantitative data from 305 German students between the ages of 18 to 24 years indicate that students living in the family home consume more serves of both fruit and vegetables each day in comparison to young adults living independently. Further, higher proportions of dependent students eat more serves of every food group each day in comparison to their independent counterparts. The study finds a significant difference in mood, weight concern, and attitudes towards healthy eating between students under 21 years old and those above 21 years old. This study demonstrates clear implications for a number of stakeholders. The individuals themselves must better develop skills in both food choice and food management, including budgeting. Parents can facilitate this development whilst the children are in the family home and then encouraging empowerment once the student makes the transition to college or university. The article includes implications for marketers and social marketers; the former must offer more information and guidance on food choice, for example, through better food labelling, the latter must address these message issues for future attitude and behavioural change campaigns.     

Mobile phones and the practice of shopping: A study of how young adults use smartphones to shop

The aim of this paper is to explore, illustrate and conceptualise how the introduction of mobile phones transforms the practice of shopping. Drawing on a focus group study of young adults and making use of Practice Theory, this paper shows that the introduction of mobile phones reconfigures the practice of shopping subsequently transforming the agency of consumers. Mobile phones enable consumers to access, store, and process information in new ways; supporting new modes of social shopping, enabling consumers to change the experience of shopping, and making them better equipped economic actors with more access to financial systems and new calculative capacities. While this new agency is beneficial to consumers, it also causes them stress and anxiety.     

The rules of engagement: how to motivate consumers to engage with branded mobile apps

ABSTRACT

This research presents and validates a framework, which illustrates how to motivate consumers to engage with branded mobile applications, or apps. The framework shows that consumer involvement with branded apps underpins two sets of consumer perceptions of the benefits that the app offers, which reflect the different motives for engaging with the app, as consumers experience them. These perceptions include the utilitarian motives of security, usefulness and ease of use; and the hedonic motives of interpersonal utility, attachment (with the device) and entertainment. This range of motives leads to the willingness to pay for the app and the willingness to recommend it. This research contributes to marketing theory by clarifying specific details of the psychological process through which it is possible to motivate consumer engagement with branded apps - i.e. by means of binding involvement, perceptions of how apps’ benefits meet individual needs and two key outcomes. The findings also yield managerial relevance. Above all, the outcomes of this research suggest that, by involving and motivating consumers through the improvement of the benefits that a branded app offers, it is possible to increase the app’s revenues and to encourage word-of-mouth, creating value for app providers and consumers.     

Consumer reaction to product recalls: factors influencing product judgement and behavioural intentions

In order to evaluate the factors influencing consumers’ responses to product recalls, two surveys were conducted among Brazilian automobile owners and two regression models tested. Results indicated that (i) product judgement was significantly affected by corporate social responsibility (CSR), blame attributed to the company and whether or not consumers had a car made by the brand considered; and (ii) behavioural intentions were significantly affected by CSR, consumers’ involvement with the message, perceived danger, product judgement and whether or not consumers had a car made by the brand considered. Findings revealed, however, that CSR is a better predictor of the product judgement than of the behavioural intentions, in accordance with recent studies indicating that CSR affects consumer judgements and behaviour differently. Finally, these two models are discussed and compared with previous research.     

Appraisal processes in the enactment of intentions to use coupons

Although much research has been performed on the role of intentions in consumer behavior, relatively little attention has been given to the processes intervening between intentions and behavior. Because coupon usage behavior requires planning and implementation effort with respect to intermediary acts or means, the behavior is considered problematic. This article proposes a model for explaining how consumers enact intentions once they decide to use coupons. Enactment of intentions is hypothesized to be a function of three appraisal processes: self-efficacies, instrumental beliefs, and affect toward intermediate acts or means. These three appraisal processes are hypothesized to combine multiplicatively to influence the target behavior, coupon usage. Also, one's prior history of coupon usage is expected to be an important determinant of coupon usage. Theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.     

The moderating effect of perceived control on motivation to engage in deliberative processing

Research has demonstrated that perceived control adds explanatory power to the prediction of behavioral intention. This research extends previous findings by demonstrating how different levels of perceived control can affect an individual's motivation to engage cognitive resources for deliberative processing when forming a behavioral intent. The results of three studies support predictions that lower versus higher levels of perceived control result in the formation of behavioral intent based on deliberative rather than nondeliberative processing. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Determinants of customers' intentions to use hedonic networks: The case of Instagram

The emergence of the internet is a challenge for classical economic analysis, as it has a huge impact on people's habits and also on their living standards all over the world. In recent years, a particular attention has been paid to the study of the effect of Internet use and in particular, the impact of social networks on consumer behavior. The aim of this study is to develop a specific model that examines the impact of hedonic technology, such as Instagram, and integrates for the purpose some social factors. The key studied factors are eschewed by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). These are perceived pleasure and social identity. In addition, this paper tries to explore social CRM and provide theoretical and practical implications. This study tries also to validate the results of a first study by using a qualitative study. The results confirm the positive effect of perceived pleasure, social identity (cognitive, affective and evaluative) and perceived ease of use on intention to use Instagram. However, we found no empirical support for the significant and positive effect of perceived usefulness on the intention to use social networks. The results of the qualitative study could not validate the impact of perceived usefulness on the intention to use Instagram. The valuable insights gained from this study can be used to improve management practices and to help companies to develop more effective intervention programs to attract, encourage, motivate and influence their potential clients to participate in their social CRM programs.     

From entrepreneurial intentions to actions: Self-control and action-related doubt,fear, and aversion

This study draws on the Rubicon model of action phases to study the actions or lack of actions that follow the formation of entrepreneurial intentions. Concurrently, it examines the roles of self-control and action-related emotions in explaining the intention–action gap using longitudinal survey data (N = 161). The results show that self-control positively moderates the relationship between intention and action, and that it counters the rise of action-related fear, doubt, and aversion. We also find evidence for interaction effects between action aversion, action doubt, and intention strength. Our results signal the importance of studying moderators of the intention–action relationship.     

Influences of motivations and lifestyles on intentions to use smartphone applications

Mobile advertising, influenced by the current growth in smartphone applications, creates new opportunities for the advertising industry. This study identified motivations for the use of smartphone applications as well as lifestyle clusters of users and examined their influences on the relationships between perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, attitude and intentions to use. This research used a face-to-face survey and empirical analyses to investigate key questions about how and why consumers use smartphone applications, illustrating the imperative roles that motivations and lifestyle clusters play in an important advertising context. This study represents a step toward clarifying how different lifestyle clusters influence different relationships between motivations, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, attitude and intentions to use applications as advertising media, offering implications for advertising academics and practitioners.     

Entrepreneurial intentions: The influence of organizational and individual factors

An individual's intent to pursue an entrepreneurial career can result from the work environment and from personal factors. Drawing on the entrepreneurial intentions and the person-environment (P-E) fit literatures, and applying a multilevel perspective, we examine why individuals intend to leave their jobs to start business ventures. Findings, using a sample of 4192 IT professionals in Singapore, suggest that work environments with an unfavorable innovation climate and/or lack of technical excellence incentives influence entrepreneurial intentions, through low job satisfaction. Moderating effects suggest that an individual's innovation orientation strengthens the work-environment to job-satisfaction relationship; self-efficacy strengthens the job-satisfaction to entrepreneurial intentions relationship.     

Examination of the health‐belief model to predict the dietary quality and body mass of adults

We examined the ability of the health‐belief model to predict individuals’ dietary quality and body mass among a nationwide sample of 1319 adults in the United States. Simultaneous estimation of the structural equation model found acceptable goodness‐of‐fit to the data. Explained variance in dietary quality and body mass, however, were moderate to weak. The model included three types of nutrition knowledge: basic facts, diet–health awareness and ability to accurately self‐assess nutrient intake. None of these variables had a strong effect on dietary quality or body mass. We speculate that lifestyle characteristics, cultural habits, community infrastructure, and the politics of food production and retailing – variables found in other studies to affect dietary quality and body mass yet not available in our data – might outweigh the effects of nutrition knowledge and sociodemographic factors on estimating dietary quality and body mass. We suggest that future research and intervention programmes focus more on social, cultural and political context than on nutrition knowledge. Current collaborations among life and social scientists to design foods to improve human nutrition might also prove effective in reducing the prevalence of overweight and obesity.     

Convergence across American and Korean young adults: socialisation variables indicate the verdict is still out

A study was undertaken to examine consumer socialisation variables among Korean and American young adults. Many studies have been undertaken that focus on American consumers and the consumer socialisation process, but very few cross-cultural studies exist on this topic. However, efforts are increasing to suggest that consumers are converging on a global scale and research is needed to adequately assess the reality of these claims. Specifically the research explored Korean and American consumers’ media use patterns and the believed importance of different agents (media and interpersonal) for consumption-related information. The study also examined the relative importance of social structural variables on consumers’ perceived influences of key socialisation agents. Results indicate that American and Korean consumers are quite similar in how they allocate their time across media. Both groups spent the most time with television and the internet. However, differences were evident in the perceived importance of information sources, as well as the influence of socialisation agents when making purchase decisions. These differences do call into question the ability of standardised advertising campaigns and the ability to present one strategy to a unified global target market. Implications for advertisers and consumer researchers are provided.