Donna Gill and B. (Ram) Ramaseshan
To investigate the influence of supplier‐performance criteria on importers' decisions to repurchase from the same source, in the context of wine‐importing.
Abstract
Purpose
To investigate the influence of supplier‐performance criteria on importers' decisions to repurchase from the same source, in the context of wine‐importing.
Design/methodology/approach
Selection criteria were derived from the literature and preliminary discussion with importers. Hypotheses were formulated, linking criteria and performance attributes to post‐purchase re‐buying intentions. Data were collected by self‐completion questionnaire from 152 UK‐based wine importers, and analysed by multiple regression.
Findings
Supplier performance with respect to relationship commitment, payment facilities and product quality has a positive impact on repurchase intentions; the influence of price and brand recognition was found to be insignificant.
Research limitations/implications
The study was limited geographically and by questioning only importers. Future study should investigate relevant behaviour across a wider spread of countries, business types, decision parameters and external variables, and collect data from exporters as well as importers.
Practical implications
It is concluded that suppliers should focus strategy on all the decision‐criteria investigated in the study, rather than on the narrow base typically found in practice. Exporters should nurture strong relationships with importers, emphasise consistent product quality, and offer flexible payment arrangements. Branding is a route forward, and price will be an issue in the highly competitive UK market.
Originality/value
This is the first study to empirically test the effect of suppliers‐performance criteria on importers' repurchase intentions.
Details
Keywords
Manoj Kumar, Neha Gahlawat, Sumanjeet Singh, Pankaj Chamola, Devkant Kala and Minakshi Paliwal
This research aims to investigate the showrooming phenomenon in the context of the evolving omnichannel shopping landscape, which seamlessly integrates both physical and online…
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to investigate the showrooming phenomenon in the context of the evolving omnichannel shopping landscape, which seamlessly integrates both physical and online retail channels. Showrooming, wherein customers browse products in physical stores but ultimately purchase from online competitors, poses a potential threat to the job security and job satisfaction of sales staff in brick-and-mortar (B&M) stores. To address this issue, this study explores the relationship between showrooming, self-efficacy, sales performance, job insecurity and job satisfaction of sales staff, using the job demands-resources (JDR-R) model as a theoretical framework.
Design/methodology/approach
This research employs quantitative research methods and gathers data from 219 sales staff working in Indian retail stores. Structural equation modeling is used to test the proposed hypotheses.
Findings
The results indicate that showrooming is associated with a decrease in the self-efficacy, sales performance and job satisfaction of sales staff. Furthermore, the result indicates that showrooming is positively associated with increased job insecurity among the sales staff.
Originality/value
This study offers valuable contributions to existing literature and offers insights for both retailers and salespeople regarding the potential repercussions of showrooming. It also suggests coping strategies to address the challenges posed by showrooming and the behavior of showroomers.
Details
Keywords
Sridhar N. Ramaswami, Sekar Raju and Dana C. Page
This research aims to examine two constructs that define loyal brand relationships – greater resistance to changing their brand beliefs and attitudes (resistance to change) and…
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to examine two constructs that define loyal brand relationships – greater resistance to changing their brand beliefs and attitudes (resistance to change) and greater willingness to shun competitor brands (determinism). The paper develops and tests psychometrically sound scales to measure these two constructs and proposes and tests a model that identifies antecedent and outcome linkages between resistance and determinism and other brand relationship measures across two studies.
Design/methodology/approach
Scale development was done following the guidelines recommended by Nunnally and Bernstein (1994) and Churchill (1979). Factor analysis was used to test scale item fit. Discriminant validity, scale reliability tests, nomological and predictive validity tests were conducted.
Findings
This study adds to the literature by identifying the specific dimensions that compose the resistance concept. It finds that strong resistance leads to determinism at the high end. It also finds that brand engagement is an outcome of resistance. In addition, three sub-components of the resistance dimension – resistance to new products that offer higher value, resistance to value improvements of competing offerings and resistance to quality deterioration for the focal or object brand – are also identified and scale items developed to measure them.
Research limitations/implications
Resistance to change and determinism are less understood and researched concepts in the context of brand relationships. Further, these two dimensions are of particular importance in emerging markets such as India because of the changes taking place in these markets with the introduction of many global brands competing with traditional strong brands. For new brands, a key question is how to reduce the resistance that consumers exhibit toward trying out new brands. For existing brands, the key question is how to leverage the resistance that consumers have in trying out a new brand so that greater determinism is built and defections are minimized. This research helps answer some of these questions.
Originality/value
The primary purpose of the study was to identify the specific dimensions that compose the resistance concept. An important aspect of brand relationships is the ability to foster greater strength in the relationship. While the important of resistance has been known, a good scale to measure it has been lacking.
Details
Keywords
Flevy Lasrado, Park Thaichon and Munyaradzi W. Nyadzayo
In the past few decades, relationship management (RM) theory and RM strategies in business-to-business (B2B) contexts have evolved tremendously, driven by constant innovation…
Abstract
Purpose
In the past few decades, relationship management (RM) theory and RM strategies in business-to-business (B2B) contexts have evolved tremendously, driven by constant innovation. Hence, the purpose of this study is to understand the trends and evolution of RM and relationship quality (RQ) in B2B contexts and empirical insights on RM and RQ in B2B, which in turn would provide insights into trends and future research directions.
Design/methodology/approach
Grounded on the industrial marketing and purchasing group, this study adopts a critical systematic literature review to provide a comprehensive analysis of the past, current and future trends in empirical research insights of RM and RQ in B2B markets.
Findings
This study provides some novel insights into RM in B2B context by using a multidimensional approach to RM and RQ and analyzing prior marketing research from three perspectives: the evolution of RM and RQ in B2B context; prior empirical research; and practical business insights. Overall, these perspectives inform the development of an evolving side of RQ in B2B contexts, leading to some predictions regarding the future of RM in B2B markets.
Practical implications
The exploratory results of this study shed light on the key factors that drive RQ and the importance of RM in B2B markets in the digital age where customers still long for human interaction regardless of the prevalence of advanced technology.
Originality/value
In the wake of advanced technologies and particularly, B2B companies had to turn to virtual platforms and embrace digital transformation to establish and manage their customer relationships. Yet, managing relationships via digital channels has its own challenges for both B2B practitioners and scholars. This indicates that there is still a huge need for attuned RM strategies that align with the changing environments – mainly driven by technological advancement – in B2B markets.
Details
Keywords
Charles Blankson and Ogenyi E. Omar
Presents an assessment of the marketing practices among African and Caribbean small businesses in London. Findings reveal the patchy application of an adapted market orientation…
Abstract
Presents an assessment of the marketing practices among African and Caribbean small businesses in London. Findings reveal the patchy application of an adapted market orientation framework; also indicates “informal” marketing deliberations taking place and is consistent with Stokes and Blackburn’s assertion that marketing in the small business sector seems to be an informal and unplanned activity that relies on the intuition and energy of the owner‐manager. The study was undertaken in response to calls for marketing‐related research in this sector and the results provide valuable insights into the UK’s intercultural dynamics. The study reveals considerable degree of evenness between the ease or difficulty of securing bank loans. The paper concludes by drawing attention to managerial implications and future research directions.
Details
Keywords
Deogratias Bugandwa Mungu Akonkwa
The purpose of this paper is to encourage the development of a research stream on the market orientation concept in higher education. Specifically, the author explains why this…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to encourage the development of a research stream on the market orientation concept in higher education. Specifically, the author explains why this concept has emerged as a potentially relevant strategy to manage higher educational institutions. The paper raises the main problems surrounding the use of market orientation in higher education, and thereby, suggests an extensive research agenda which is expected to improve the importation of marketing concepts in higher education.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is based on an extensive critical literature review on market orientation, and a document analysis to grasp the major changes that have affected higher education institutions' context since the middle of the 1980s. A bulk of research agenda is proposed and summarised in a table. The different topics are rooted in the link the author has attempted to put between marketing theory and higher educational context.
Findings
Research on market orientation in higher education still has many rooms to explore. These are: competition, quality issues, the impact of budget cuts on marketing implementation and market orientation operationalisation, etc.
Originality/value
While the market orientation strategy has been widely studied in commercial sector, its use in public and non‐profit sector such as higher education is still unsatisfactory. The paper: points on the limits of conceptual transpositions; discusses why market orientation is important to face the new context of higher education; and raises a number of research directions that have tremendous promises in the endeavour to build richer theories of marketing management, and to address significant problems of marketing practice in higher education.
Details
Keywords
Tanses Gülsoy, Özlem Özkanlı and Richard Lynch
This paper aims to present the case study of Arçelik, which has become Turkey's leading manufacturer and exporter of home appliances, as a means of offering insight into why, how…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present the case study of Arçelik, which has become Turkey's leading manufacturer and exporter of home appliances, as a means of offering insight into why, how and with what results companies from developing countries expand internationally.
Design/methodology/approach
Primary data have been drawn from in‐depth interviews conducted with senior executives and industry experts, and this has been based on a statistical analysis of the export and international strategies of Turkish home appliance and television set industry.
Findings
The evidence indicates that international expansion may buffer a firm against fluctuations of demand in its home market and provide opportunities for growth. Difficulties faced by a later arrival from a developing country are greater than established rivals, and a developing country firm will have to rely on different resources and different operational strategies in developed vs developing markets.
Research limitations/implications
Even though one case cannot yield general conclusions, it may indicate fruitful theoretical directions. This study raises issues worthy of further investigation. On the outset, it would be useful to apply the four propositions to more Turkish MNEs in order to test the robustness of the conclusions.
Practical implications
The study has important implications for companies from developing countries. First, international expansion appears to be a viable means of offsetting home‐market volatility for emerging‐country firms. Second, international expansion is still predicated on significant investments in firm‐specific advantages and their development may shorten the internationalization process.
Originality/value
The report contributes to knowledge in the area of international expansion of companies from developing countries by providing evidence on how one company has achieved a world position in a highly competitive market through selective use of quality, innovation, and branding based on the competitive position that is available in each of its chosen markets. In particular, it contributes to the limited evidence on the international expansion of Turkish companies at the present time.
Details
Keywords
Aviv Shoham, Gregory M. Rose and Fredric Kropp
To assess quantitatively the impact of market orientation on the performance of the firm. While much empirical work has centered on market orientation, the generalizability of its…
Abstract
Purpose
To assess quantitatively the impact of market orientation on the performance of the firm. While much empirical work has centered on market orientation, the generalizability of its impact on performance has been under‐researched.
Design/methodology/approach
A substantive meta‐analysis quantitatively summarizes the results of empirical studies of the direct and indirect impact of market orientation on three outcomes. A second, methodological meta‐analysis assessed the influence of methodological variables on explained variance in performance.
Findings
The direct, indirect, and total impacts of market orientation on performance were all significant. Additionally, the geographic location of the study and the performance measure used (but not the scale) affected explained variance.
Research limitations/implications
First, across study contexts, market orientation affects performance. Second, its impact might be stronger than previously thought due to the indirect paths not considered in previous research. Third, the strength of its impact depends on the country in which it was implemented; managers should expect higher payoffs in less developed countries.
Originality/value
The findings of this study significantly refine the body of knowledge concerning the impact of market orientation on the performance of the firm, and thereby offer an improved conceptual framework for marketing planners.
Details
Keywords
The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) foreign agent operations on their international performance. This study thus…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) foreign agent operations on their international performance. This study thus investigates a mechanism in which market information obtained through agents is interpreted, transformed and applied for decision making and presents outcomes. In particular, the study focuses on the mediating role of adaptive capability on the relationship between market information management and export performance.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing upon the theories of knowledge-based view and contingency paradigm, a research model is developed for linking the key constructs of foreign agent operations, information management, adaptive capability and performance. Structural equation modeling is applied for testing the model using data collected from a sample of 152 Korean SME exporters.
Findings
The results indicate that a firm’s operation quality of foreign agents strongly affects the quality of market information management which consequently impacts export performance. In the relationship between market information management and export performance, in particular, adaptive capability is found to play a mediating role. This implies that export performance is, for the most part, achieved by the mediation of adaptive capability, although market information leads directly to export performance to some degree. The results also confirm the existence of reciprocal causation between a firm’s export performance and foreign agent operations. The finding suggests that the outcome of SME export performance continues to provide feedback to its operations of foreign agents and consistently influence each other.
Originality/value
This study makes an important contribution to the body of export literature by identifying the mediating effects of adaptive capability on the relationship between market information management and export performance. In addition, the results create a recursive model for SME export performance by verifying the reciprocal relationship between export performance and operating with agents. This study thus helps extend understanding of international operations through foreign agents in the SME context.