Behzad Izadi, Ali Ghaedi and Mohammadreza Ghasemian
Neuromarketing is a science that can examine human subconscious decisions and activities. The study aimed to investigate the neuropsychological responses of consumers to promotion…
Abstract
Purpose
Neuromarketing is a science that can examine human subconscious decisions and activities. The study aimed to investigate the neuropsychological responses of consumers to promotion strategies and the decision to buy sports products, in order to determine the more effective strategy.
Design/methodology/approach
An experimental design clarifies whether there is a significant difference between the neuropsychological responses resulting from selective promotional strategies (charity, endorsement, advertising and discount). The authors conducted the research with 40 young adults (20 males and 20 females; age range 25–35 years). The Enobio 20-channel electroencephalograph (EEG) is used to record waves, a two-item questionnaire is used to measure purchasing decisions and self-assessment forms are used to measure arousal and pleasure. Data analysis performed by Friedman's statistical methods and logistic regression using SPSS 22 software.
Findings
Based on the alpha wave, the results showed the two charity and endorsement strategies had the highest effect on consumer attentions. The pleasure had the highest value in the discount, and the arousal had the highest value in the charity strategy. Neuropsychological responses also explain a significant percentage of the consumer decision to buy.
Research limitations/implications
Access to research samples is difficult due to the ignorance of the samples as well as the fear of possible harm from imaging and brain scanning methods.
Practical implications
Neuromarketing is a science that can examine human subconscious decisions and activities.
Social implications
The information obtained neural methods are more accurate than traditional research methods.
Originality/value
This study showed the alpha brainwave (attention), arousal and pleasure explain a significant part of the consumer decision to buy. More scientific data can be obtained through new scientific approaches such as neuromarketing, which has a great impact on understanding consumer behavior. Therefore, marketers and researchers can make their promotional activities more effective in terms of them.
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Mohammad Ali Zakeri, Mahlagha Dehghan, Fatemeh Ghaedi Heidari, Hassan Pakdaman, Mehdi Mehdizadeh, Hamid Ganjeh, Mojtaba Sanji Rafsanjani and Sayed Mortaza Hossini Rafsanjanipoor
The increasing prevalence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a global crisis that leads to physical and psychological outcomes for health-care workers, so this study aims to…
Abstract
Purpose
The increasing prevalence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a global crisis that leads to physical and psychological outcomes for health-care workers, so this study aims to investigate the mental health outcomes (including general health, generalized anxiety disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder) in health-care workers in Rafsanjan, Iran.
Design/methodology/approach
By using convenience sampling, this cross-sectional study was conducted on 332 health-care workers working in public hospitals in southern Iran. Data collection lasted from March to April 2020. General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) and Impact of Event Scale were used to collect data. The data were then analyzed by using SPSS 25 and descriptive and inferential statistics (chi-square and multivariate logistic regression).
Findings
In total 45.5% of the participants had psychological disorder according to GHQ. In addition, 25.3% of the participants had GAD and 31.6% had posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The results using multivariate logistic regression showed that only income was significantly associated with psychological disorders (95% confidence interval for odds ratio: 1.32–6.45, P = 0.008).
Practical implications
According to the results, the incidence of GAD and PTSD was high among health-care workers. Therefore, it is recommended that the psychological skills of health-care workers be strengthened through counseling and training programs.
Originality/value
This paper provides a novel analysis of mental health in health-care workers in Iran.
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Hamed Kord-Varkaneh, Ammar Salehi-Sahlabadi, Seyed Mohammad Mousavi, Somaye Fatahi, Ehsan Ghaedi, Ali Nazari, Maryam Seyfishahpar and Jamal Rahmani
The authors performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of all published randomized controlled trials with the aim to determine and quantify the anti-hyperglycemic effects of…
Abstract
Purpose
The authors performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of all published randomized controlled trials with the aim to determine and quantify the anti-hyperglycemic effects of glutamine (Gln) in acute and chronic clinical settings.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted a comprehensive search of all randomized clinical trials performed up to December 2018, to identify those investigating the impact of Gln supplementation on fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin levels and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) via ISI Web of Science, Cochrane library PubMed and SCOPUS databases. A meta-analysis of eligible studies was conducted using random effects model to estimate the pooled effect size. Fractional polynomial modeling was used to explore the dose–response relationships between Gln supplementation and diabetic indices.
Findings
The results of the present meta-analysis suggest that of Gln supplementation had a significant effect on FBS (weighted mean difference (WMD): –2.868 mg/dl, 95 per cent CI: –5.467, –0.269, p = 0.031). However, the authors failed to observe that Gln supplementation affected insulin levels (WMD: 1.06 units, 95 per cent CI: –1.13, 3.26, p = 0.34) and HOMA-IR (WMD: 0.001 units, 95 per cent CI: –2.031, 2.029, p = 0.999). Subgroup analyses showed that the highest decrease in FBS levels was observed when the duration of intervention was less than two weeks (WMD: –4.064 mg/dl, 95 per cent CI: –7.428, –0.700, p = 0.01) and when Gln was applied via infusion (WMD: –5.334 mg/dl, 95 per cent CI: –10.48, 0.17, p = 0.04).
Originality/value
The results from this meta-analysis show that Gln supplementation did not have a significant effect on insulin levels and HOMA-IR. However, it did significantly reduce the levels of FBS, obtaining a higher effect when the duration of the intervention period was less than two weeks.
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Sadia Mehfooz Khan, Muhammad Ali, Chin-Hong Puah, Hanudin Amin and Muhammad Shujaat Mubarak
This study aims to investigate two primary objectives. First, this study examines the influence of modified service quality dimensions on Islamic bank customer satisfaction using…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate two primary objectives. First, this study examines the influence of modified service quality dimensions on Islamic bank customer satisfaction using a compliance, reliability, empathy, assurance, tangible, operational efficiency, responsiveness (CREATOR) model. Second, the study explores the relationship between customer satisfaction, trust, loyalty and word of mouth (WOM) in Islamic banking of Pakistan.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed model was analyzed using PLS-SEM-based approach. A total of 312 usable responses were used for data analysis.
Findings
The results indicate that all CREATOR dimensions have a significant positive impact on Islamic banks’ customer satisfaction. Similarly, this study also found a significant positive relationship between customer satisfaction, trust, loyalty and WOM. Overall, this study modified a well-established service quality framework by successfully implementing the CREATOR model in Islamic banking.
Originality/value
This study will provide helpful policy guidelines for Islamic bank managers improve their service quality and strengthen their relationships with existing and new customers. The authors are also sure that their proposed model will add value to the ongoing service quality literature by indicating the role of operational effectiveness in increasing customer satisfaction and promoting positive WOM.
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Katarzyna Piwowar-Sulej and Qaisar Iqbal
The aim of this study is to offer evidence-based knowledge of the most popular research topics in studies on spiritual leadership (SL) and the research approaches and theories in…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study is to offer evidence-based knowledge of the most popular research topics in studies on spiritual leadership (SL) and the research approaches and theories in use. Another aim is to create a comprehensive research framework covering the antecedents and outcomes of SL, as well as the underlying mechanisms and conditional factors. This study also synthesizes future research avenues presented in the literature.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used a systematic literature review method. The presented analysis covered both bibliometric studies and in-depth manual content analysis. In total, 274 articles indexed in the Scopus database were analyzed, with a particular focus on 126 empirical papers.
Findings
This study shows that most of the research took place in developing countries and focused on the links between SL and workplace spirituality, employee well-being and engagement. It provides a complex research framework which orders previous variables according to their levels. Future research is required that would use a multilevel research approach and determine the impact of SL on society and the leaders themselves, as well as determining the reverse impact of organizational performance on the development of SL.
Originality/value
This study takes advantages of both bibliometric and in-depth content analysis to expand the understanding of the state of the art in SL research. It demonstrates how different factors contribute to SL and how they subsequently influence outcomes. It also offers numerous future research directions which go beyond those identified so far in the literature to further develop the theory of SL.
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Iwin Thanakumar Joseph Swamidason, Sravanthy Tatiparthi, Karunakaran Velswamy and S. Velliangiri
An intelligent personal assistant for personal computers (PCs) is a vital application for the current generation. The current computer personal assistant services checking…
Abstract
Purpose
An intelligent personal assistant for personal computers (PCs) is a vital application for the current generation. The current computer personal assistant services checking frameworks are not proficient at removing significant data from PCs and long-range informal communication information.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed verbalizers use long short-term memory to classify the user task and give proper guidelines to the users. The outcomes show that the proposed method determinedly handles heterogeneous information and improves precision. The main advantage of long short-term memory is that handle the long-term dependencies in the input data.
Findings
The proposed model gives the 22% mean absolute error. The proposed method reduces mean square error than support vector machine (SVM), convolutional neural network (CNN), multilayer perceptron (MLP) and K-nearest neighbors (KNN).
Originality/value
This paper fulfills the necessity of intelligent personal assistant for PCs using verbalizer.
Mariam Shahzadi, Shahab Alam Malik, Mansoor Ahmad and Asma Shabbir
The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between restaurant key attributes, customer satisfaction and behavioral intentions. The mediating role of customer…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between restaurant key attributes, customer satisfaction and behavioral intentions. The mediating role of customer satisfaction is assessed between restaurants’ key attributes of service quality and behavioral intentions.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from a sample of 296 customers dining in the fine dining restaurants of Pakistan through a self-administered questionnaire. The data were then analyzed through regression analysis and gap analysis. Model fitness was checked in SPSS AMOS through CFA.
Findings
The findings suggest that the key restaurant attributes have a significant positive effect on behavioral intentions. Customer satisfaction partially mediates the relationship between key restaurant attributes and behavioral intentions. The findings also suggest that there is a significant gap between the perceptions of customers regarding the importance and performance of key restaurant attributes.
Practical implications
The result indicates that food taste and environmental cleanliness are the cornerstones of fine dining restaurants’ success in Pakistan and are among the strongest predictor of customer satisfaction and behavioral intentions; while improvement efforts should be made in four key areas, i.e., healthy food option, food freshness, food safety and fair price.
Originality/value
No comparative study has been directed in fine dining restaurants of Pakistan with respect to the key restaurants attributes, i.e., food quality attributes, service quality attributes, atmospheric quality attributes, and other attributes which have been analyzed in the current study. This research was conducted to investigate the perceptions of customers toward the fine dining restaurants of Pakistan to measure the key restaurants’ attributes that influence customers’ satisfaction and their post-dining behavioral intentions. This study will facilitate restaurants’ managers to understand the stronger and as well as the weaker aspects of service quality and permit them to investigate the factors which contribute toward customers’ satisfaction and their post-dining behavioral intentions in order to build and maintain long-term relationship between restaurants and customers.
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Shalini Nath Tripathi, Nishtha Malik, Nripendra P. Rana, Sushma Vishnani and Shalini Srivastava
The study aims to explore antecedents and consequences of customer experience (CE) by positing a comprehensive framework taking cognizance of customer loyalty (CL), customer…
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to explore antecedents and consequences of customer experience (CE) by positing a comprehensive framework taking cognizance of customer loyalty (CL), customer advocacy (CA), customer value dimensions, and subjective norms (SN).
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopted a mixed-method sequential explanatory design where data were collected in two stages. In the initial stage (quantitative study), data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 395 respondents at two different periods and the data were analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique. These results were further verified in the second stage (qualitative study) by conducting semi-structured interviews of 37 respondents for which the data were analyzed using NVivo.
Findings
The results suggested a positive and significant relationship between utilitarian value (UV) and CA, hedonic value (HV) and CA as well as with CE. Further, the relationship between UV and CA is sequentially mediated by CE and CL; and the relationship between HV and CA is sequentially mediated by CE and CL. SN was also found to moderate the relationship between CE and CL. The qualitative analysis of the transcripts indicated major themes including HV (enjoyment), UV (usefulness and convenience), recommending mobile payment (M-payment) services, advocating for M-payment services and talking positively about the service provider.
Originality/value
The current study uses the mixed-method approach and comprehensively explores key dimensions of customer value associated with CE and CA, formalizes a relationship between all the facets, delivering valuable takeaways for academics and practitioners (for designing effective CE programs). The current study's uniqueness lies in the fact that the study is one of the first studies to explore the mediating roles of CE and CL using a serial-mediation approach, between UV, HV, SV, and CA. The moderating role of SN between CE and CL is also a novel contribution to the existing body of literature.
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Tika Kartika, Achmad Firdaus and Mukhamad Najib
This study aims to investigate the drivers of loyalty in Indonesian Islamic banks, especially group of depositor vs financing customer and single vs dual customer.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the drivers of loyalty in Indonesian Islamic banks, especially group of depositor vs financing customer and single vs dual customer.
Design/methodology/approach
The objectives of this study were the seven major commercial Indonesian Islamic banks using the purposive sampling technique. In total, 105 questionnaires were processed, consisting of questions regarding depositors, financing, single and dual customer. Structural equation modeling using partial least squares were the analysis methods used to test the hypothesis, while in-depth interviews were conducted with Islamic bank managers to validate the findings.
Findings
Image has a significant relationship with customer satisfaction, as well as trust. Similarly, customer satisfaction has a significant relationship with trust. Trust has a significant relationship with loyalty. For a financing customer, the image is very influential on customer trust. For a depositor customer, customer satisfaction is very influential on customer trust. For single customer, customer satisfaction has a stronger influence on the image, compared to dual customer.
Practical implications
Islamic banks need to maintain good image and service quality to create strong, reliable and long-term relationships with customers, more specifically, in terms of improvement and product innovation. A bank focuses on the micro or macro segment, as well as financing. Financing products should be referred to customers’ needs. Bank reputation can be done by strengthening branding and corporate culture in marketing strategy. Shariah compliance has the highest loading factor to trust customers. Indonesian Islamic banks need to maintain customer trust by sticking to Islamic principles and continuing to ensure that its products and services are in accordance with Islamic principles. In Indonesian Islamic banks, it is very important to keep the legal aspects in all of products and services. Deposit products and services of Islamic banks should be in line with the rules of the financial services authority and Bank of Indonesia culture. Bank efforts to strengthen reputation can be done by strengthening branding and corporate culture in marketing strategy, while increasing the attractiveness of the products by way of research and development (R&D) must endeavor to make products and services attractive in terms of both product characteristics and price. Furthermore, it is necessary to support a good marketing strategy to market their products.
Social implications
Research can be used more widely in determining public policy, by strengthening the marketing strategy and public education. Islamic banks can work together with local religious departments to maximize marketing strategies to educate and convince people to be active economically under Islamic sharia guidance. Islamic banks need to maintain customer trust by sticking to the principles of sharia and continuing to ensure that products and services conform to sharia principles. Islamic bank management can strengthen customer trust by having a good risk management system, so that customers feel secure with Islamic bank transactions. In addition, sharia banks as companies must demonstrate social responsibility by distributing ZIS managed from customers and implementing CSR as a form of awareness of the surrounding community.
Originality/value
The study revealed the factors that lead to loyalty on the financing, depositor and the single and dual customers. The study found that improvement and innovation, strategic and sustainability are new indicators used to build images of Islamic banks.