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Given the widespread popularity of social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, understanding consumer-brand engagement behavior within social media is fundamental for retail firms. Yet, little is known about how consumers engage with retail brands through social media. The purpose of this paper is to address this gap and extend previous research by examining factors that influence consumers’ attitudes and intentions to engage with retail brands through Facebook, and ultimately purchase products and services.

This study draws on the theory of reasoned action and the technology acceptance model to develop a model of consumer-brand social media engagement and purchase intentions. Specifically, the model tests the influence of five antecedents of attitude on consumer intentions to engage with retail brands through the brands’ Facebook pages as well as intentions to make purchases through this social media. The hypotheses of the model are tested using structural equation modeling.

The findings provide an understanding of the main drivers of consumer-brand engagement that can lead to purchase intentions. Results show that consumers’ attitudes toward engaging with retail brands through Facebook are influenced by peer communication, compatibility and credibility, and that attitude has a strong influence on intentions toward this behavior. Furthermore, there is a strong relationship between intentions to engage and the likelihood of purchasing through a retail brand’s Facebook page.

This study is cross-sectional and was conducted at a particular point in time. Thus, results are not purported to make any inferences to causal relationships. Further, the measures of intentions to engage are attitudinal and not objective measures. Future longitudinal studies may help avoid this limitation by testing causal relationships.

The study contributes to the important area of consumer engagement with retail brands through social media in ways that may lead to making purchases. Findings can provide retailers with reference points through which to engage their brands with consumers through their Facebook pages in ways that may lead to more direct returns on their investment in social media sites.

Retailers are noticing the power of social media sites as a platform for engaging with consumers and extending this relationship to purchases. However, scant research has addressed this topic. The proposed model and findings of this study can extend prior research.

Enhancing firm commitment towards internationalisation is an important step towards ensuring successful international performance. However, there is limited research on this topic for emerging market firms. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that influence the internationalisation commitment of emerging market firms located in two Latin American countries with different institutional environments.

This study proposes and tests a conceptual model that includes drivers and barriers of internationalisation commitment. Data were collected from Chilean and Brazilian firms. The model uses confirmatory factor analysis to develop the underlying multi-item constructs and structural equation modelling to test the model.

The results show that managers’ perceptions of firm resources and capabilities are significant drivers of internationalisation commitment in both countries. In addition, perceptions of internal firm-specific barriers, such as a manager’s lack of international experience and knowledge, are negatively related to internationalisation commitment in Chile, but not in Brazil. Finally, external environmental barriers are negatively related to internationalisation commitment in Brazil, but not in Chile.

The context for the study is Chile and Brazil. Both are important emerging markets in Latin America, with a strong focus on firm internationalisation. The research design is cross-sectional and so does not allow for any causal claims to be made. The findings have important implications for internationalisation efforts of managers and export promotion agencies of emerging markets with different institutional environments.

This research contributes to the relatively scant but increasing number of empirical studies which investigate emerging market internationalisation in Latin America.

This study aims to empirically investigate the antecedents of tourists’ intentions to continue solo traveling.

Drawing on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), an extended model on solo travel intentions is developed that incorporates variables related to past solo travel experiences, namely, tourist satisfaction, pleasure and self-development. An online survey was applied to 187 solo tourists from different countries. Hypotheses were tested with structural equation modeling.

All the variables, except for subjective norms, are significant predictors of tourists’ intentions to continue solo traveling. Results confirm a good explanatory power of the extended TPB model.

Caution must be exercised with the results as tourists’ actual solo travel behavior may differ from their intentions. Future research may investigate tourists’ actual behavior by using longitudinal methods and include additional demographic variables as antecedents.

This study empirically investigated the antecedents of tourists’ intentions to continue solo traveling – an under-researched topic. Previous research is mostly exploratory and largely focuses on female solo travelers.

游客单人旅行意愿的前因研究

摘要

基于计划行为的理论, 开发了关于单人旅行意愿的扩展模型, 其中包含与过去的单人旅行经历相关的变量：游客满意度, 愉悦感和自我发展。在线调查收集了来自不同国家的187位单人游客。假设用结构方程模型进行了检验。

本研究实证调查了游客继续单人旅行意愿的原因。

除主观标准外, 所有变量都是游客继续单人旅行意图的重要预测指标。结果证实了计划行为模型扩展理论的良好解释能力。

必须谨慎对待结果, 因为游客的实际单人旅行行为可能与他们的意愿不同。未来的研究可能会使用纵向方法来调查游客的实际行为, 并将其他人口统计变量作为前因。

这项研究实证调查了游客继续单人旅行意愿的前因, 这是一个尚未得到充分研究的话题。先前的研究主要是探索性的, 并且主要针对女性单身旅行者。

单人旅行；计划行为理论，游客满意度，愉悦感，自我发展

Antecedentes de las intenciones de viaje en solitario de los turistas

Resumen

Basándose en la teoría del comportamiento planificado, se desarrolla un modelo extendido sobre las intenciones de viajar en solitario que incorpora variables relacionadas con experiencias pasadas de viajes en solitario: satisfacción del turista, placer y autodesarrollo. Se aplicó una encuesta en línea a 187 turistas en solitario de diferentes países. Las hipótesis se probaron con un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales.

Este estudio investiga empíricamente los antecedentes de la intención de turistas de continuar viajando solos.

Todas las variables, excepto las normas subjetivas, son predictores significativos de la intención de los turistas de seguir viajando en solitario. Los resultados confirman un buen poder explicativo del modelo ampliado de la teoría del comportamiento planificado.

Se debe tener precaución con los resultados, ya que el comportamiento real de los turistas cuando viajan solos puede diferir de sus intenciones previas. Las investigaciones futuras pueden investigar el comportamiento real de turistas que viajan solo mediante el uso de métodos longitudinales e incluir variables demográficas adicionales como antecedentes.

Este estudio investiga empíricamente los antecedentes de la intención de los turistas de seguir viajando en solitario, un tema poco investigado. Las investigaciones anteriores son en su mayoría exploratorios y se centran principalmente en las mujeres que viajan solas.

Viaje en solitario, satisfacción del turista, placer del turista , autodesarrollo del turista , Teoría del comportamiento planificado

Revisión de literatura

This paper aims to propose a framework of transformative strategies across the different levels of the service ecosystem for the recovery, well-being and inclusion of Latin American small service firms in the new service marketplace.

The viewpoint presents an overview of the transformative strategies that can be developed by ecosystem actors for Latin American small service firms in the new marketplace, due to the pandemic crisis. The data are based on personal research and secondary industry reports.

The pandemic crisis has had an unpresented effect on the service industry in Latin America, particularly on small service firms, which are largely informal. This viewpoint provides themes for timely and actionable transformative strategies for the service industry ecosystem in this region and proposes research avenues for service scholars.

This viewpoint provides implications and ideas for future research on transformative actions for a new services marketplace in Latin America.

This viewpoint the first to propose transformative ecosystem strategies for recovery, well-being and inclusion of small service firms in the new service marketplace in Latin America.

The purpose of this study is to investigate how Internet capabilities influence international business relationships using the resource-based view and capabilities perspective. Many studies highlight the importance of the Internet in helping smaller firms internationalize. However, few studies actually test how this is happening. The central purpose of this research was to examine and test the impact of Internet capabilities on international information availability, international strategic orientation and international business relationships in a sample of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Australia, Chile and Taiwan.

The study uses a structural equation modeling process so as to test the Internet capabilities on international business networks. The empirical research is based on an analysis of a sample of internationalizing SMEs in three export-intensive markets in Australia (215), Chile (204) and Taiwan (130) to test a conceptual model.

The results demonstrate that Internet capabilities have a distinct effect on the development of international business relationships for SMEs in the three countries. That is, Internet capabilities have a positive impact on a firm's international business relationships, but this varies across Australian and Taiwanese and Chilean SMEs.

These studies give empirical validation on the way in which smaller firms are using Internet capabilities for leveraging networks in internationalization and how this varies across countries. The results demonstrate that Internet capabilities have a distinct and positive impact on the development of international business relationships for SMEs in the three countries. However, there are specific differences between countries in how the Internet is being leveraged for the development of international business networks. Something currently not highlighted in the body of knowledge.

Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from emerging markets in Latin America are increasingly engaging in internationalization. Nevertheless, there is limited research into how these firms achieve international performance. The purpose of this paper is to examine managerial and technology-related capabilities and their impact on international performance of SMEs.

Drawing on data from 233 Chilean SMEs, a model is developed and tested using structural equation modeling. Specifically, the model considers the role of international entrepreneurial orientation and internet technology capabilities on SME international performance, taking into account the mediating effect of international entrepreneurial opportunity recognition and technology-related international networks.

Results show that international entrepreneurial opportunity recognition and international networks mediate the relationship between international entrepreneurial orientation and internet technology capabilities on SME international performance.

The context for the study is Chile. However, this is an important emerging market in Latin America with a strong focus on SME internationalization. The research design is cross-sectional and so does not allow for any causal claims to be made.

This research contributes to the relatively scant but increasing number of empirical studies which investigate the link between internationalization strategy and SME performance in emerging market contexts.

This empirical study examines the drivers of consumer intention to adopt wearable technology for healthcare in a South American country. Specifically, it proposes and tests a model of nonuser consumer intention to adopt fitness trackers for healthcare purpose in Chile.

This study draws on the technology acceptance framework UTAUT2 to develop and test a conceptual model of wearable technology adoption. Data were collected through an online survey applied to 470 nonusers of wearable technology in Santiago, Chile.

Findings indicate that hedonic motivation, social influence and perceived usefulness have the strongest influence on intention to adopt fitness trackers in Chile for healthcare. In addition, health motivation is an indirect predictor of consumer's intention to adopt wearable technology through its effect on perceived usefulness.

The study contributes to a better understanding of consumer intention to adopt wearable technology for healthcare objectives in a less developed country in South America. Findings are useful for wearable technology managers, retail business and public policymakers.

Despite the vast growth and importance of wearable technology for healthcare purposes, academic research considering less developed countries is scarce, especially the South American region. The proposed model and findings can extend this research gap. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed as well as implications for public policy.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate if retail services have a transformative potential to improve the well-being of customers in a Latin American market. Transformative studies have been conducted mostly in developed countries, and consumer well-being in a Latin American supermarket context has not been addressed previously. Specifically, this study aims to understand if customer satisfaction with a supermarket experience in Chile leads to positive customer well-being. Additionally, it is examined if customer well-being influences firm outcomes, such as customer loyalty, word-of-mouth (WOM) communication or retailer equity.

A conceptual model was developed, and data was collected through an online survey from 866 customers of a large supermarket chain in Chile. Hypotheses were tested with structural equation modeling.

The findings of this study support all the hypotheses of the model and confirm that customer satisfaction has direct and indirect effects on customer loyalty and other firm outcomes through customer well-being.

This research is among the few studies in the academic literature that considers retail experience and well-being outcomes for supermarket customers in a Latin American context. Limitations derive from the cross-sectional nature of this study.

There are implications from this study contributing to the literature on customer retail experience, in terms of the potential to transform supermarket shopping in a Latin American country. This is particularly relevant in Latin America as the extent to which for-profit organizations acknowledge their relevancy of the individuals’ well-being is still at its infancy.

This research provides empirical support to the importance of not only looking at traditional measures such as WOM, equity and loyalty but looking into the impact services have for customers’ life and well-being.

This study contributes to the services literature and addresses a gap in it by exploring the transformative potential of supermarket shopping on customer well-being and in turn the role of customer well-being in retail firm outcomes. The findings also contribute in considering Chile, a Latin American context that has been overlooked in the transformative services studies. This provides managerial implications for domestic and global companies that offer grocery retailing for consumers in this region.

This study aims to investigate how Internet services can improve the well-being of elderly consumers. Drawing on transformative service research (TSR) and technology adoption literature, it examines the main challenges for the elderly when adopting Internet services and how they and their family members can co-create value to improve the elderly service inclusion and well-being.

A qualitative methodology is used to identify challenges, value co-creation behaviors and well-being outcomes of elderly individuals and their family members when using Internet services. The data collection method involved 24 in-depth interviews with consumers over 75 years of age and their family members.

This research first recognizes specific challenges for the elderly in adopting Internet services related to resistance to technology adoption and health impairments. Second, the findings identify value co-creation behaviors held by elderly consumers of Internet services: learning and formal training, complying with indications and seeking help when they encounter problems with technology. Family members also contribute to elderly well-being through two value co-creation behaviors: helping and supporting elderly relatives with technology and being patient and tolerant when they need support. Finally, these behaviors are found to influence five dimensions of elderly consumers’ well-being: enjoyment, personal growth, mastery, autonomy and social connectedness.

This study addresses a gap in the literature by exploring the value co-creation behaviors of elderly consumers of Internet services and their family members for improving well-being outcomes. Understanding value co-creation and well-being for elderly consumers of Internet services is an emerging and under-researched area in TSR and service inclusion literature.

This study aims to examine the impact of COVID-19 on tourism and hospitality small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in an emerging country located in Latin America and identifies service innovation strategies adopted by these firms to survive a prolonged crisis.

A qualitative investigation was conducted drawing on a framework of imposed service innovation. Data were obtained from in-depth interviews with owners/managers of 20 SMEs in the hospitality and tourism sector in Chile.

Findings show that the effect of COVID-19 on SMEs includes a decline in demand due to lockdowns and restrictions, with minimal government support. Tourism and hospitality SMEs developed different service innovation strategies to confront the crisis, and several businesses were even able to exploit new opportunities for future growth.

The effect of COVID-19 and SMEs' service innovation strategies to confront a prolonged crisis is a topic that is largely unexplored, particularly in the tourism and hospitality sector. The findings contribute to the literature on emerging markets, crisis management and SME innovation in tourism and hospitality. The findings provide managerial implications for SME managers, governments and policymakers.