A path analytic model of store loyalty involving self-concept,store image,geographic loyalty,and socioeconomic status

A model is introduced which posits that store loyalty is primarily determined by store-image evaluation and shopping-complex loyalty. Store image-evaluation, in turn, is hypothesized to be determined, to a major extent, by self-image/store-image congruity, and shopping-complex loyalty by area loyalty and socioeconomic status. The model was tested using a path analytic procedure and the results were consistent with the model. A replication study was attempted and the results reinforced the validity of the proposed model.     

Strategic marketing planning guided by the quality-of-life (QOL) concept

An emerging ethical philosophy in marketing is developing. This philosophy is based on quality-of-life studies which are becoming an important topic of research in behavioral and social sciences (basic and applied research). This paper addresses the QOL orientation in marketing from a decision-making perspective. Specifically, this paper shows how marketers can engage in strategic marketing planning guided by the QOL concept. M. Joseph (Joe) Sirgy is social/consumer psychologist and a professor of marketing at Virginia Tech. He has written extensively about quality-of-life issues in business and society. He is presently serving as executive director of the newly formed International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies.     

The Effect of Moral Philosophy and Ethnocentrism on Quality-of-Life Orientation in International Marketing: A Cross-Culturaal Comparison

This paper examines the effects of moral philosophy and ethnocentrism on quality of life orientation in international marketing. It also provides a cross-cultural comparison of ethical values between Koreans and Americans. International quality-of-life (IQOL) orientation refers to marketers' disposition to make decisions to enhance the well-being of consumers in foreign markets while preserving the well-being of other stakeholders. It is hypothesized that marketers' moral philosophy and ethnocentrism influence the development of marketers' IQOL. Specifically, the higher the IQOL orientation of international managers, the higher their moral idealism, the higher their moral relativism, and the lower their ethnocentrism. Also, it is hypothesized that American managers are likely to score higher on moral relativism but lower on moral idealism compared to their Korean counterparts. Also, Korean managers are expected to be more ethnocentric than American managers. Data were collected from business professionals who enrolled in professional MBA courses both from the U.S. and Korea. The results provided support for the hypothesized relationships. Managerial implications of these relationships are discussed.     

A social cognition model of consumer satisfaction/dissatisfaction an experiment

A social-cognition model of consumer satisfaction/dissatisfaction was tested in an experimental study. The model posits that satisfaction is a function of one or more congruities between perceptual and evoked referent states. Four congruity variables involving expected, ideal, deserved, new, and old product performance were selected to demonstrate congruity dynamics in consumer satisfaction/dissatisfaction. The results were found to be supportive of the model, paving the way for more field testing.     

Does Marketing Activity Contribute to a Society’s Well-Being? The Role of Economic Efficiency

Does the level of marketing activity in a country contribute to societal well-being or quality of life? Does economic efficiency also play a positive role in societal well-being? Does economic efficiency also moderate or mediate the marketing activity effect on societal well-being? Marketing activity refers to the pervasiveness of promotion expenditures and number of retail outlets per capita in a country. Economic efficiency refers to the extent to which the economy is unhampered by corruption, burdensome government regulation, and a large informal economy. We used secondary data from the World Bank and other statistical sources to answer these questions. Our study findings suggest that both marketing activity and economic efficiency contribute positively to societal well-being, and that economic efficiency plays more of a mediator than moderator role between marketing activity and societal well-being. The public policy implication of this study is that increases in marketing activity and economic efficiency in countries characterized as low on both dimensions should significantly increase the quality of life in those countries.     

Promoting quality-of-life and well-being research in hospitality and tourism

There is an increasing interest in quality-of-life/well-being research in hospitality and tourism. The goal of this paper is to further promote the development and use of quality-of-life/well-being concepts in the discipline by reviewing seven major theories of quality of life and well-being (and their application in hospitality and tourism based on the research that I and my colleagues have conducted over the years) and suggesting future avenues of research. The theories discussed are self-congruity theory, self-expressiveness theory, bottom-up spillover theory, leisure benefits theory, goal theory, need hierarchy theory, and broaden-and-build theory.     

Is small business better than big business for marketing managers?

This survey of marketing managers compares small business firms with large ones in relation to explicit and implicit ethics institutionalization, quality of work life (QWL), job satisfaction, esprit de corps, and organizational commitment. The results reveal that large firms tend to have a higher degree of explicit ethics institutionalization than smaller firms but not in relation to implicit ethics institutionalization. The results also reveal that marketing managers in small firms report higher levels of job satisfaction, esprit de corps, and organizational commitment compared to marketing managers in large firms. The study findings also show that marketing managers in small firms report higher levels of overall QWL, particularly higher-order QWL than managers in large firms.     

The Question of Value in Social Marketing

A bstract . Economic theory fails to recognize value in social marketing, it is argued, because these beliefs are widely held: (1) social marketers do not consider consumer needs , (2) they are motivated by social welfare , (3) the price mechanism does not fully operate in the social sphere, (4) there is usually insufficient competition , and (5) social marketing is less effective in market control. Based on quality-of-life (QOL) theory , several normative principles are derived to guide the efforts of social marketers. One, QOL-means have to be determined by relating them to QOL-ends (long term satisfaction). Two, discrepancies between QOI, means potentialities and actualities have to be minimized. And third, social marketing programs designed to minimize those discrepancies have to be developed in such a way as to reduce negative environmental impacts.