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1 – 10 of over 2000
Article
Publication date: 20 July 2023

Wilson Ozuem, Michelle Willis, Silvia Ranfagni, Kerry Howell and Serena Rovai

Prior research has advanced several explanations for social media influencers' (SMIs’) success in the burgeoning computer-mediated marketing environments but leaves one key topic…

Abstract

Purpose

Prior research has advanced several explanations for social media influencers' (SMIs’) success in the burgeoning computer-mediated marketing environments but leaves one key topic unexplored: the moderating role of SMIs in service failure and recovery strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on a social constructivist perspective and an inductive approach, 59 in-depth interviews were conducted with millennials from three European countries (Italy, France and the United Kingdom). Building on social influence theory and commitment-trust theory, this study conceptualises four distinct pathways unifying SMIs' efforts in the service failure recovery process.

Findings

The emergent model illustrates how source credibility and message content moderate service failure severity and speed of recovery. The insights gained from this study model contribute to research on the pivotal uniqueness of SMIs in service failure recovery processes and offer practical explanations of variations in the implementation of influencer marketing. This study examines a perspective of SMIs that considers the cycle of their influence on customers through service failure and recovery.

Originality/value

The study suggests that negative reactions towards service failure and recovery are reduced if customers have a relationship with influencers prior to the service failure and recovery compared with the reactions of customers who do not have a relationship with the influencer.

Details

Information Technology & People, vol. 37 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-3845

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 January 2024

Süleyman Çelik, Öznur Özkan Tektaş and Bahtışen Kavak

Service failures usually occur in front of third-party customers. Third-party customers react emotionally and behaviorally to service failure and recovery efforts aimed at focal…

Abstract

Purpose

Service failures usually occur in front of third-party customers. Third-party customers react emotionally and behaviorally to service failure and recovery efforts aimed at focal customers. However, there is a gap in the literature on how third-party customers react to a service failures incident and a recovery over another customer, depending on how socially close or distant they are from. This study investigates the effect of third-party customers' emotions on consumer forgiveness, negative word-of-mouth (WoM) and repatronage intentions in the service recovery process by comparing close and distant third-party customers.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilizes a 2 (social distance to the focal customer: close, distant) × 2 (service recovery: yes, no) between-subjects design. The authors used a scenario-based experiment to test the proposed hypotheses. A total of 576 respondents were involved in the study.

Findings

The results from the authors' scenario-based experimental study show that positive and negative emotions felt by distant third-party customers are higher than those of close third-party customers. In addition, the effect of positive emotions on customer forgiveness is more substantial for distant third-party customers. Third, moderated-mediation analysis indicates that social distance has a moderator effect only on the relationship between positive emotions and customer forgiveness.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the service literature by comparing socially close and socially distant third-party customers' reactions to service failure and recovery attempts.

Details

Journal of Service Theory and Practice, vol. 34 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2055-6225

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 August 2024

Sonia M. Strano, Isabel C. Botero, Tomasz A. Fediuk and Vincenzo Pisano

Mergers and acquisitions (M&As) are a critical time for organizations and their consumers. For the company, there are many financial and non-financial risks. For customers, it…

Abstract

Purpose

Mergers and acquisitions (M&As) are a critical time for organizations and their consumers. For the company, there are many financial and non-financial risks. For customers, it requires deciding whether or not to continue the relationship that they had with the previous firm. This paper explores the extent to which communicating the family business (FB) brand, and the previous reputation of the acquirer affects customer perceptions and intentions after an M&A event.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for this study were collected from 159 Italian participants. We used a 2 (Communication of FB brand: Yes vs. No) by 3 (Reputation: positive, neutral, negative) between subjects’ experiment to test how the communication of the FB brand and the reputation of the acquirer affected perceived trustworthiness and service quality, and how this, in turn, influenced customer purchase intentions.

Findings

We find that communicating the FB brand does not influence consumer perceptions and intentions toward the acquired company. However, the previous reputation of the acquiring firm is critical in influencing consumer perceptions and intentions to buy.

Originality/value

Our study continues the growing research on M&A in family firms. It also increases our understanding of the boundary conditions of the FB brand effects, and the relevance that the previous reputation of a family firm can have in M&A scenarios. Finally, our study introduces the “Halo” and “Velcro” effects into the FB literature.

Details

Journal of Family Business Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2043-6238

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 November 2023

Nada Ghesh, Matthew Alexander and Andrew Davis

The increased utilization of artificial intelligence-enabled applications (AI-ETs) across the customer journey has transformed customer experience (CX), introducing entirely new…

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Abstract

Purpose

The increased utilization of artificial intelligence-enabled applications (AI-ETs) across the customer journey has transformed customer experience (CX), introducing entirely new forms of the concept. This paper aims to explore existing academic research on the AI-enabled customer experience (AICX), identifying gaps in literature and opportunities for future research in this domain.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted in March 2022. Using 16 different keyword combinations, literature search was carried across five databases, where 98 articles were included and analysed. Descriptive analysis that made use of the Theory, Characteristics, Context, Methods (TCCM) framework was followed by content analysis.

Findings

This study provides an overview of available literature on the AICX, develops a typology for classifying the identified AI-ETs, identifies gaps in literature and puts forward opportunities for future research under five key emerging themes: definition and dynamics; implementation; outcomes and measurement; consumer perspectives; and contextual lenses.

Originality/value

This study establishes a fresh perspective on the interplay between AI and CX, introducing the AICX as a novel form of the experience construct. It also presents the AI-ETs as an integrated and holistic unit capturing the full range of AI technologies. Remarkably, it represents a pioneering review exclusively concentrating on the customer-facing dimension of AI applications.

目的

随着人工智能应用程序 (AI-ET)在旅途中的使用不断增加, 消费者体验 (CX)得以转变, 引入了全新的概念形式。 本文旨在探索有关人工智能客户体验(AICX)的现有学术研究, 从中找出文献中的空白以及该领域未来研究的机会。

方法

本系统性文献综述(SLR)于2022 年 3 月开工。基于16 个不同的关键词组合, 本综述统共收录并分析了来自 5 个数据库98 篇文献, 采用理论-特征-背景-方法 (TCCM) 框架先后进行描述性分析和内容分析。

研究结果

该研究概述了 AICX 的现有文献, 开发了对已识别的 AI-ET 进行分类的类型学, 确定了现有文献中的空白, 并在 5 个关键新兴主题下提出了未来研究的机会:1. 定义和动态, 2 . 实施, 3. 结果和衡量, 4. 消费者视角, 5. 情境视角。

独创性

本研究建立了全新的视角看待 AI 和 CX 之间的相互作用, 引入了 AICX 这种新颖的体验构造形式, 还将 AI-ET 展示为一个集成了全方位人工智能技术的整体单元。 值得一提的是, 本文代表了一项专门关注人工智能应用面向客户维度的开创性综述。

Objetivo

La creciente utilización de aplicaciones habilitadas por inteligencia artificial (AI-ET) a lo largo del recorrido del cliente han transformado la experiencia del cliente (CX), introduciendo formas totalmente nuevas del concepto. Este artículo pretende explorar la investigación académica existente sobre la experiencia del cliente a través de la IA (AICX), identificando las lagunas en la literatura y las oportunidades para futuras investigaciones en este ámbito.

Diseño/metodología/enfoque

En marzo de 2022 se llevó a cabo una revisión bibliográfica sistemática (SLR). Utilizando 16 combinaciones diferentes de palabras clave, se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica en 5 bases de datos en las que se incluyeron y analizaron 98 artículos. El análisis descriptivo que hizo uso del marco Teoría, Características, Contexto, Métodos (TCCM) fue seguido del análisis de contenido.

Resultados

El estudio ofrece una visión general de la bibliografía disponible sobre la AICX, desarrolla una tipología para clasificar las AICX detectadas, identifica lagunas en la literatura y plantea oportunidades para futuras investigaciones bajo cinco temas emergentes claves: 1. Definición y dinámica, 2. Implementación, 3. Resultados y medición, 4. Perspectivas del consumidor, 5. Lentes contextuales.

Originalidad/valor

El estudio establece una nueva perspectiva sobre la interacción entre la IA y la CX, introduciendo la AICX como una forma novedosa del constructo experiencia. También presenta las AICX como una unidad integrada y holística que capta toda la gama de tecnologías de la IA. Notablemente, representa una revisión pionera que se concentra exclusivamente en la dimensión orientada al cliente de las aplicaciones de la IA.

Article
Publication date: 7 May 2024

Cihan Seçi̇lmi̇ş, İlker Kiliç, Yaşar Sari and Elif Şenel

This research examines the factors that affect business owner influencers' success in growing their businesses and making them a brand in line with the principles of the cognitive…

Abstract

Purpose

This research examines the factors that affect business owner influencers' success in growing their businesses and making them a brand in line with the principles of the cognitive response theory (CRT).

Design/methodology/approach

This research examined the perceived uniqueness and originality of the posts on Nusr-et’s Instagram account as external information; information credibility was examined as a cognitive response, and desire was taken as a cognitive response and intention. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used in the analysis of the data.

Findings

According to the research findings, perceived uniqueness and originality were found to have positively affected information credibility and cognitive response, while cognitive response factors were also found to have positively affected desire. In addition, cognitive response factors were found to have mediated the effect of external information factors on desire. All these results reveal the significant accuracy of the model developed based on the CRT. In addition, age and gender variables were found to have had moderating roles. Based on the research findings, original suggestions for restaurant enterprises have been presented to help them gain a competitive advantage.

Practical implications

This study has found that the posts shared by business owner influencers have affected their followers in their desire to eat in the promoted restaurants and therefore, entrepreneurs and owners of the food and beverage industry should give importance to the preparation of social media content that could directly affect customers for visit to their restaurants and regularly post such contents in their social media accounts.

Originality/value

This research has been one of the first research papers using a model to reveal the reasons for behavioral intention in the field of hospitality based on the CRT.

Details

Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9792

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 17 June 2024

Hasan Emin Gurler and Ramazan Erturgut

Although trade volumes in e-retailing have increased significantly in recent years, logistics service failures are inevitable, especially at the delivery stage. Therefore, it is…

Abstract

Purpose

Although trade volumes in e-retailing have increased significantly in recent years, logistics service failures are inevitable, especially at the delivery stage. Therefore, it is essential to provide customers with effective recovery strategies to increase their satisfaction and repurchase intentions. There is a lack of empirical evidence on whether the response time or the discount offered in compensation is more crucial for customers. Therefore, this study aims to determine whether the response time or the discount offered for high and low criticality failures has a greater impact on customer satisfaction levels and repurchase intentions for female and male customers.

Design/methodology/approach

A scenario-based experimental design method has been adopted to collect data, and 697 participants aged 18 and 58 years have been reached. The research utilized a between-subjects design, incorporating three factors: gender (female vs male), criticality (high vs low) and compensation (7 days: 10% discount, 10 days: 20% discount and 14 days: 30% discount). Six scenarios depicting the failure of an online retailer were created, and factorial univariate ANOVA was conducted to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The study's results show that in terms of customer satisfaction, female customers attach more importance to the response time in the case of high criticality and the amount of discount offered in the case of low criticality. On the other hand, male customers give more importance to the response time in terms of customer satisfaction when they experience a high or low criticality failure. In the case of low criticality, response time is more important for male customers to increase their repurchase intentions, while the amount of the discount is more important for female customers.

Originality/value

The study demonstrates the relative importance of the response time and discount amount according to the criticality level of failures and to guide business managers in terms of the recovery strategies they will implement. It focuses on gender differences and determine whether the response time or discount amount is more important for male and female customers in high or low-criticality situations.

Details

Marketing Intelligence & Planning, vol. 42 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-4503

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 June 2024

Cynthia Mejia, Hannah A. Crandell, Emily Broker and Mindy Shoss

The purpose of this study was to investigate restaurant and foodservice workers’ perceptions of working with a service robot and the extent to which the workers’ well-being was…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate restaurant and foodservice workers’ perceptions of working with a service robot and the extent to which the workers’ well-being was impacted by a mandated service robot adoption.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a qualitative methodology where 42 US restaurant and foodservice workers from two organizations were interviewed. The data analyzed generated 1,302 coded segments that clustered into six overarching themes.

Findings

The findings from this research revealed that restaurant and foodservice workers who regularly use service robots in the dining room experience a complex set of issues and challenges related to robot reliability, management training and support, leveraging the robot to entertain the customer, feelings of dread, anger and frustration, and indications of decreased physical exertion as a proxy for well-being.

Research limitations/implications

As an initial qualitative investigation, the results of this study can be used as a starting point for quantitative investigations, as well as informing restaurant and foodservice industry stakeholders as to the best practices for a comprehensive and successful service robot adoption and integration.

Originality/value

This research presents an intersection between service robot technology acceptance with worker well-being using a broad range of frameworks including National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s Future of Work, SERVQUAL and technology acceptance models to gain a deep and rich set of service worker perspectives.

研究目的

本研究旨在调查餐厅和餐饮服务工作人员对与服务机器人合作的感知, 以及服务机器人采用对工作人员福祉的影响程度。

研究方法

本研究采用定性方法, 对来自两家机构的42名美国餐厅和餐饮服务工作人员进行了访谈。分析的数据生成了1,302个编码段, 分为六个总体主题。

研究发现

本研究的发现显示, 餐厅和餐饮服务工作人员在餐厅使用服务机器人时经历了一系列与机器人可靠性、管理培训和支持、利用机器人娱乐顾客、恐惧、愤怒和挫折感、以及作为福祉代理的身体活动减少相关的复杂问题和挑战。

研究局限性/意义

作为初步的定性调查, 本研究的结果可作为定量调查的起点, 并向餐饮服务行业的利益相关者提供有关全面和成功采用和整合服务机器人的最佳实践。

研究创新

本研究将服务机器人技术接受与工作人员福祉相结合, 利用包括NIOSH的未来工作、SERVQUAL和技术接受模型在内的广泛框架, 获得了丰富多样的服务工作者观点。

Details

Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1757-9880

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 17 June 2024

Jiaxin (Sylvia) Wang and Xiaoxiao Fu

This study aims to investigate guests’ experience and perceptions in smart hotels, with a primary focus on the human−robot experience.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate guests’ experience and perceptions in smart hotels, with a primary focus on the human−robot experience.

Design/methodology/approach

Utilizing a thematic analysis using the inductive-deductive approach, 546 reviews from Chinese smart hospitality guests, sourced from Ctrip, were examined.

Findings

This study identified five highest-level categories reflecting guests’ perceptions of smart hotels service with themes and subthemes of utilitarian gratification (smart servicescape and smart service quality), sensual gratification (novelty and coolness), social gratification (social presence and social interaction), experiential gratification (functional and emotional experiential value) and satisfaction.

Originality/value

This research enriches the current understanding of guests’ experience within smart hotels, focusing on the human−robot interaction. The findings offer insightful implications for the enhancement of smart hotels, specifically in terms of smart facility offerings, service delivery and overall customer experience.

研究目的

本研究旨在调查顾客在智能酒店的体验和感知, 重点关注人机交互体验。

研究方法

利用归纳-演绎方法进行主题分析, 对来自携程网的546份中国智能酒店客人评论进行了审查。

研究发现

本研究确定了五个最高级别的类别, 反映了客人对智能酒店服务的感知, 涵盖了实用满足(智能服务环境和智能服务质量)、感官满足(新奇和酷炫)、社交满足(社交存在和社交互动)、体验满足(功能性和情感体验价值)和满意度的主题和子主题。

研究创新

这项研究丰富了对智能酒店客人体验的当前理解, 重点关注人机交互。研究结果为智能酒店的提升提供了深刻的启示, 特别是在智能设施提供、服务交付和整体客户体验方面。

Details

Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1757-9880

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 August 2023

Cathy H.C. Hsu, Nan Chen and Shiqin Zhang

This paper aims to develop a comprehensive model on intra- and interpersonal emotion regulation (ER) in hospitality and tourism (H&T) service encounters.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to develop a comprehensive model on intra- and interpersonal emotion regulation (ER) in hospitality and tourism (H&T) service encounters.

Design/methodology/approach

A critical review and reflection of ER research from multiple disciplines was conducted. Methodologies appropriate for investigating ER were also reviewed.

Findings

A comprehensive framework was proposed to outline key influential factors, processes and consequences of intra- and interpersonal ER in service encounters in the H&T industry. Methodologies integrating advanced tools were suggested to measure complex and dynamic emotion generation and regulation processes in social interactions from a multimodal perspective.

Research limitations/implications

The researchers developed a comprehensive conceptual model on both intra- and interpersonal ER based on a critical review of the most recent psychological research on ER. Various theoretical and methodological considerations are discussed, offering H&T scholars a solid starting point to explore dynamic emotion generation and regulation processes in complex social settings. Moreover, the model provides future directions for the expansion of ER theories, which have been mostly developed and tested based on laboratory research.

Originality/value

The proposed model addresses two critical issues identified in emotion research in the H&T field: the lack of a dynamic perspective and the neglect of the social nature of emotions. Moreover, the model provides a roadmap for future research.

Details

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, vol. 36 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-6119

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 May 2024

Esther Julia Korkor Attiogbe, Hannah Acquah, Rejoice Esi Asante and Emelia Sarpong

This paper investigates the influence of employees’ extra-role and in-role behaviours on customer service alongside the moderating role of gender.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper investigates the influence of employees’ extra-role and in-role behaviours on customer service alongside the moderating role of gender.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper employs the theory of behavioural intentions, cross-sectional survey design and quantitative approach to collect the data from 426 purposively sampled workers and customers of oil marketing companies. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation and the hierarchical regression model in SPSS.

Findings

The results indicate that employees’ extra-role behaviour has a significant positive effect on customer service while employees’ in-role behaviour has no significant effect on customer service. It is also established that gender of staff can significantly moderate the relationship between extra-role behaviour and customer service such that the behaviour of female staff has greater effect on customer service than their male counterparts. However, the gender of staff has no moderating effect on the relationship between in-role behaviour and customer service.

Practical implications

The findings imply that female staff should be allowed to directly engage customers more often than male staff to promote superior customer service. Managers should continuously improve upon the behaviour of employees through orientations, workshops and mentoring. Behaviour stimuli such as awards, appreciations and recognition for best workers would have to be encouraged to induce employees to act beyond their prescribed-roles.

Originality/value

This study is the first to investigate how staff behaviours (in-role and extra-role) impact customer service, with gender of the employees as a moderator. This paper contributes to literature by empirically confirming the differential influence of employees’ extra role and in-role behaviours on customer service and the effectiveness of gender as a moderator on the relationship between extra-role behaviour and customer service from a developing country perspective and an industry where there is dearth of research.

Details

Journal of Economic and Administrative Sciences, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2054-6238

Keywords

1 – 10 of over 2000