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Service firms constantly look for ways to differentiate their offering. Recently, personal values have emerged as a way to understand how customers fulfill deeper needs when consuming a service. This paper aims to examine how personal values operate in the evaluation of higher education services. Like other services, marketing has become essential to higher education as universities compete aggressively for students and differentiate their service offerings. Although attribute‐based measures such as SERVQUAL provide useful information to service providers, personal values may offer a deeper understanding of how customers judge the quality and desirability of an educational institution's services. This study seeks to determine whether personal values in higher education affect perceptions of overall value, satisfaction, and behavioral outcomes including loyalty and intention to recommend.

A survey measured student personal values, service quality, satisfaction, and behavioral outcomes in the USA – the largest exporter of higher educational service, and India – the largest net importer. Data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis, path analysis, and t‐tests.

The results describe the impact of personal values on satisfaction and behavioral outcomes, while showing differences between India and the USA.

The paper provides implications for applying the personal values concept to the marketing of a university. It also serves as a basis for future research on the impact of personal values in other service sectors.

The study fills an important gap in the literature by showing that personal values are an important dimension in services. Service firms need to move beyond attributes and measure personal values, as these values do impact customer satisfaction and loyalty.

India has undergone dramatic changes since the economic liberalization of 1992. This study aims to provide an historical analysis to determine if consumer attitudes towards marketing practices and consumerism in India have changed measurably from 1990 to 2009.

To measure consumer attitudes towards marketing and consumerism, an established research instrument was administered with 39 Likert scaled items measuring seven dimensions. Two samples were compared: 1990 vs 2009.

The paper finds that 22 items exhibited significant differences. The mindset of Indians has evolved over the last two decades. Many of the changes were positive. However, the study does not provide a completely clean “bill of health” to the business community.

This paper used an urban sample; a rural sample would also be useful. Future research could examine other emerging economies such as Brazil, China, and Vietnam.

The Indian marketplace is operating in a much more open and uncontrolled way since liberalization. Businesses must heed some of the results of this study and continue to pursue practices that consumers see as fair and as transparent. The authors encourage the Indian business community to remain vigilant about the issues addressed in this paper.

These consumer perceptions could be used for decision making by consumer welfare advocates and public policy makers. The lack of improvements in deficient areas may represent possible problems for business in the future. Firms must be concerned about their social responsibility regarding consumerism issues.

The paper offers a longitudinal view of India's consumerism movement. No other research has examined one of the BRICs in this context as this paper has done. Since India is now in the limelight, this research has contemporary value. The paper also provides a very good commentary on the changes in India's consumer markets. The paper has value to marketing managers and public policy advocates.

The objective of this research was to test the effect of information and communication technology (ICT) resources, library facilities, teacher lecturing skills and physical classroom environment on student satisfaction and university image. This paper also sought to contribute to the existing body of knowledge by confirming the role of student satisfaction as a mediator among the stated factors and university image.

Data were collected from 314 students at higher education institutions (HEIs) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) using a survey instrument. Throughout the data analysis stage, the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed in order to validate the research instrument and test the hypotheses.

The findings verified that teacher lecturing skills and ICT resources have a positive effect on both student satisfaction and university image. Moreover, the study revealed that the library facilities and physical classroom environment positively affect both student satisfaction and university image. Lastly, the analysis showed that student satisfaction mediates the link between the stated factors and university image.

This paper adds to the published literature by investigating the direct and indirect effects of teacher lecturing skills, ICT resources, physical classroom environment and library facilities on university image via student satisfaction at HEIs in the UAE. This study is the first to integrate all of these factors into a single research model.

This study aims to analyze how Indian management practices have influenced the international management research agenda. International interest in India as a business destination has been growing since the Indian policy-makers began opening up the economy in 1991. India’s continuing economic development and integration with global economy has led to a reassessment of its political, social and commercial relevance by the international community.

The authors choose four management disciplines and examine 40 peer-reviewed international journals for research related to India over the period 1991-2014. From the sample of 217 papers, the authors identify the trends, themes and motivations, and discuss the potential for future research.

The authors find that research on India remains flat for the 1991-2000 decade, and starts growing from 2005 onwards. Organizational behavior remains non-participative in the overall growth of research. The authors find very low levels of qualitative research, and none on endogenous phenomena that have been tested for applicability in non-Indian contexts. Marketing research remains mainly peripheral to Indian contexts. Review of highly cited papers reveals that management research on India is at an early stage, and offers fairly significant opportunities for future researchers.

Normal limitations of sample-based literature review apply. Further, the literature search is limited to a select set of highly ranked journals.

Studies analyzing themes related to Indian contexts in international publications are sparse. To the best of authors’ knowledge, no study of this nature exists in literature. This study makes a primary contribution for future management researchers across the four areas by informing on the research trends, journal outlets, and the characteristics of the research agenda.

The purpose of this study is to further explore the effects of customer participation (CP) and service personal values (SPVs) on cruise customer satisfaction (CS) and customer loyalty (CL) by applying the empirical research approach.

A self-administered questionnaire was prepared and used to collect data. Exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling analysis was used to test the proposed model and hypotheses.

The empirical results indicate that CP positively influences SPVs, CS and CL. SPVs have a significant and positive impact on CS as well. Moreover, the study also finds that collectivism has a strong positive effect on CP. Price sensitivity negatively moderates the relationship among CP, CPV, CS and CL.

The generalizability of the current study findings should be considered or scrutinized in light of the fact that limited samples and cross-sectional data were used. This limitation positions the findings as a continuation of the developing path toward a better understanding of customer behavior rather than a definitive conclusion.

The study results show that CP has a positive direct effect on SPVs, CS and CL. Even though many researchers have verified the importance and function of CP, there is a lack of literature, which assesses the influence of CP in a cruise industry context. By focusing on this gap, this research makes it feasible to empirically analyze the different effects of CP in relation to SPVs, CS and CL in Chinese cruise preferences.

The study results suggest that CP is a new predictor of CS and CL in the cruise industry. Thus, creating a positive experience through participation is crucial. As customers are co-producers, it is beneficial for the cruise companies to raise labor productivity and reduce cost by guiding and stimulating them to take part in the service-producing process.

Based on the perspective of service-dominant logic, the purpose of this study is to shed light on the formation process of loyalty behavior of Chinese cruise tourists. The empirical results indicate that CP positively influences SPVs, CS and CL. SPVs have a significant and positive impact on CS as well. Moreover, the study also finds that collectivism has a strong positive effect on CP. Price sensitivity negatively moderates the relationship among CP, CPV, CS and CL.

标题:中国邮轮游客的忠诚度:顾客参与和服务个人价值观的影响

本研究通过实证研究方法, 旨在深入探讨顾客参与(CP)与服务个人价值观(SPVs)对邮轮游客满意度(CS)与顾客忠诚度(CL)的影响。

本文编制了一份自填问卷用于收集数据。采用探索性因子分析(EFA)和结构方程模型(SEM)分析进行模型和假设检验。

结果表明, CP对SPVs、CS、CL均有正向影响。SPVs对CS也有显著的正向影响。此外, 本研究还发现, 集体主义对CP有很强的正向影响, 价格敏感性对CP、CPV、CS和CL之间的关系起负向调节作用。

鉴于样本有限和横断面数据的采用, 应仔细考虑和检查本文研究结果的普遍性。这一局限意味着本研究结果是顾客行为研究道路上的延续, 而不是一个确定的结论。

研究结果表明, CP对SPVs、CS、CL有直接的正向影响。尽管许多研究者已经证实了CP的重要性和作用, 但是对于CP在邮轮业中的影响的评价文献还很缺乏。基于对这一研究空白的关注, 本文通过实证研究, 分析在中国人的邮轮偏好中, CP对SPVs、CS、CL的不同影响。

研究结果表明, CP是邮轮行业CS和CL的一个新的预测因子。因此, 通过参与来创造积极体验是至关重要的。由于顾客是共同生产者, 通过引导和激励他们参与服务生产过程, 有利于提高邮轮公司的劳动生产率, 降低成本。

基于服务主导逻辑的视角, 本研究旨在揭示中国邮轮游客忠诚行为的形成过程。实证结果表明, 顾客参与(CP)对顾客个人价值(SPVs)、顾客满意度(CS)和顾客忠诚度(CL)具有正向影响。SPVs对CS也有显著的正向影响。此外, 本研究还发现, 集体主义对CP有很强的正向影响, 价格敏感性负向调节CP、CPV、CS和CL之间的关系。

关键词 顾客参与, 服务个人价值, 顾客忠诚度, 价格敏感度,中国邮轮游客

研究论文

La lealtad de los clientes chinos de cruceros: el impacto de la participación de los clientes y los valores personales del servicio

El propósito de este estudio es explorar, en profundidad, los efectos de la participación del cliente (CP) y los valores personales del servicio (SPV) en la satisfacción del cliente de cruceros (CS) y la lealtad del cliente (CL) aplicando el enfoque de la investigación empírica.

La obtención de datos se realizó a través de un cuestionario autoadministrado. El modelo y las hipótesis propuestas fueron contrastados a través del análisis factorial exploratorio (EFA) y el análisis de ecuaciones estructurales (SEM).

Los resultados empíricos indican que la CP influye positivamente en los SPV, CS y CL. Los SPVs también tienen un impacto significativo y positivo en la CS. Además, el estudio también encuentra que el colectivismo tiene un fuerte efecto positivo en el CP. La sensibilidad al precio modera negativamente la relación entre CP, CPV, CS y CL.

La posibilidad de generalizar las conclusiones del presente estudio debe considerarse teniendo en cuenta que se utilizaron muestras limitadas y datos transversales. Esta limitación hace que los hallazgos avancen en la senda para una mejor comprensión del comportamiento del cliente y no sean una conclusión definitiva.

Los resultados del estudio muestran que el CP tiene un efecto directo positivo en las SPVs, CS y CL. Aunque muchos investigadores han verificado la importancia y la función de la CP, falta literatura que evalúe la influencia de la CP en el contexto del sector de los cruceros. Al centrarse en esta carencia, esta investigación permite analizar empíricamente los diferentes efectos de la CP en relación con las SPVs, CS y CL en las preferencias de los cruceristas chinos.

Los resultados del estudio sugieren que la CP es un nuevo predictor de la CS y la CL en el sector de los cruceros. Por tanto, crear una experiencia positiva a través de la participación es crucial. Dado que los clientes son coproductores, es beneficioso para las compañías de cruceros aumentar la productividad laboral y reducir los costes guiándolos y estimulándolos a participar en el proceso de producción del servicio.

Basado en la perspectiva de la lógica dominante del servicio, el propósito de este estudio es arrojar luz sobre el proceso de formación de la lealtad de los turistas chinos de cruceros. Los resultados empíricos indican que la participación del cliente (CP) influye positivamente en los valores personales del servicio (SPV), la satisfacción del cliente (CS) y la lealtad del cliente (CL). Los SPVs también tienen un impacto significativo y positivo en la CS. Además, el estudio también encuentra que el colectivismo tiene un fuerte efecto positivo en el CP. La sensibilidad al precio modera negativamente la relación entre CP, CPV, CS y CL.

participación del cliente, valores personales del servicio, lealtad del cliente, sensibilidad al precio, turistas chinos de cruceros.

Trabajo de investigación

The purpose of this paper is to identify underlying personal values that determine the mall shopping behaviour of Chinese consumers and to propose shopping intention as an additional mediator that enhances the value‐behaviour link.

A self‐administered web‐based survey with convenience sampling was used to collect the data. A structural equation modeling technique was used to test the proposed model.

Chinese mall shoppers' behaviours were found to be explained by value orientations which were both similar and different from their counterparts in the West. While Western mall shoppers are more likely to be directed by social affiliation and self‐actualising values in previous studies, Chinese mall shoppers are more likely to be influenced by self‐transcendence and self‐enhancement (similar to self‐actualising) values in the present study. Additionally, shopping intention was found to improve the predictive power of consumers' attitude toward mall attributes in terms of shopping frequency and money spent in the mall.

The main limitation of this study is related to measurement error, derived from using simplified instruments to measure personal values. In addition, both personal values and attitudes are abstract constructs, which are difficult to measure; therefore this may also contribute to a larger error variance.

The results of this study are especially beneficial for mall developers and retailers for crafting effective positioning strategies and guiding their communication strategies in the China market.

The proposed model makes a theoretical contribution by testing a Western theory in a non‐Western context. In addition, the proposed model helps researchers better understand the value‐behaviour relationship in a more comprehensive framework.

Based on impression management theory, the authors ask how marketing activities build organizational reputation and examine the mediating mechanisms of desired impressions, and the moderating impact of national culture. Specifically, and in the context of higher education (HE) institutions, the authors examine the influence of relational marketing and traditional advertising on organizational reputation through the mediation of desired impressions (e.g. quality of learning, career prospects and extracurricular activities) across countries and specify the moderation role of cultural variables.

This study estimates empirical models using a survey data set comprising 1,890 student responses from 10 universities in 8 countries. The authors use confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and measurement invariance models, as well as ordinary least squares with robust standard errors to test the hypotheses.

The results indicate that marketing activities affect organizational reputation through the mediation of desired impressions in line with our theoretical reasoning. Specifically, the results show that (1) relational marketing has direct and indirect effects on organizational reputation; (2) relational marketing has a higher influence on organizational reputation in countries with lower individualism and lower masculinity scores; (3) quality of learning mediates the relationship between traditional advertising and organizational reputation; (4) quality of learning also mediates the association between relational marketing and organizational reputation; (5) career prospects mediate the relationship between relational marketing and organizational reputation; (6) traditional advertising does not have a direct but only an indirect effect on organizational reputation; and (7) these findings are net of the effect of respondents', universities', and countries' characteristics.

The findings contribute to the body of knowledge on the antecedents of organizational reputation, from an international marketing perspective. The results extend the impression management by integrating constructs that have been studied independently into a cohesive framework that links marketing activities, desired impressions and organizational reputation. With the study, impression management theory provides a framework to study the impact of marketing activities on organizational reputation not only in domestic but also in international markets.

By asking the target market about the importance of different marketing activities, their expectations of the organization and its reputation, HE administrators can employ the model proposed in this study to assess the relevant marketing strategies that will drive desired impressions which in turn will influence reputation.

While there are studies that focus on the impact of several constructs on organizational reputation in an international context, it is striking to observe that extant research is silent on how (via what mediating mechanisms) marketing activities work as an antecedent of organizational reputation. To address this gap, we examine marketing activities as antecedents of organizational reputation in an international, cross-country context, and specify the moderation role of cultural variables.

The purpose of this paper is to empirically test the antecedents and outcome of perceived value and trust toward on-demand ridesharing services (ODRS). The antecedents are perceived innovativeness, perceived personalization, perceived usefulness of rating system and service personal values. The outcome is the continuance intention toward ODRS. This study also aims to uncover the mediating role of trust and the moderating role of technology readiness.

The ODRS considered in this research are Grab and Uber in the context of Malaysia. A questionnaire was constructed, and responses were obtained from 280 Malaysian consumers who have experienced ODRS. The authors tested the framework using partial least square structural equation modeling technique.

The result indicates several significant relationships: perceived personalization, perceived usefulness of rating system and service personal values significantly influence perceived value and trust; trust mediates the relationships between perceived personalization, perceived usefulness of rating system, service personal values and perceived value; perceived value significantly influences continuance intention; and technology readiness moderates the relationship between perceived personalization and perceived value.

The current study adds significantly to the body of knowledge about ODRS by examining the direct determinants of trust and perceived value, and exhibiting how trust mediates the mechanism. This study also illustrates the interplay of moderator (technology readiness) and perceived value.

Given the competitive landscape in the higher education setting, it is important that universities adopt strategies that create competitive advantage for them. Universities must leverage their resources efficiently to address this goal. Creating a positive brand image is one such strategy. The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize university brand image as its heritage, service quality and trustworthiness and investigate their relationship with student’s satisfaction. It also investigates the role of university reputation as a mediating variable.

Data were collected through a mixed method approach. The first stage involved qualitative interviews and focused group discussions with students to understand the factors responsible for student satisfaction with their respective universities. The second stage involved administering a survey questionnaire in two geographies – the USA and India to investigate the hypothesized relationship. The authors use regression analyses to test these relationships.

Findings indicate that a distinct brand image plays an important role in students’ level of satisfaction across both the USA and India. Service quality has a greater impact on student satisfaction levels across both contexts (as compared to university heritage and trustworthiness). The authors also find a positive mediating effect of university reputation in the relationship between university brand image and student satisfaction levels.

The current research contributes to the services marketing literature in the university context. It offers a framework for decision making in universities. It suggests that universities must work toward developing their brand image by focusing on its three dimensions – heritage, trustworthiness and service quality.

The purpose of this paper is to understand the meaning and operationalisation of quality of service (QoS) in the context of higher education institutions (HEIs).

A systematic literature review of 167 articles published in various peer-reviewed journals between 1990 and 2019 is performed.

The findings reveal that around 40 dimensions have been used to conceptualise QoS in HEIs. Reliability followed by responsiveness, tangibility, empathy, assurance, programme design, academic and non-academic processes, reputation and facilities have received the highest attention. The most popular approach is empirical, and surveys and single-context studies are the most popular methods. The United Kingdom (UK) leads research on quality in HEIs, followed by the United States of America (USA) and India.

This paper contributes to the body of knowledge by presenting a comprehensive synthesis of articles addressing QoS in HEIs.

Policymakers and academic administrators can use the findings of this study to conceptualise student satisfaction along the educational value chain. The discussion on HEIs’ and students’ perspectives will help policymakers create teaching excellence.

This paper contributes to the body of knowledge by presenting a unified synthesis of various strands of the literature on QoS in HEIs.