The major objective of this study is to explore factors effect in purchasing preferences for foreign brands versus private label brands (PLB) in urban China on the internet.
Abstract
Purpose
The major objective of this study is to explore factors effect in purchasing preferences for foreign brands versus private label brands (PLB) in urban China on the internet.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the research is designed to investigate the factors perception mentioned above how to affect consumers' online purchasing PLB intention. Along with literature review, an online survey is conducted to test the conceptual model. LISREL 8 is used to analyses the hypothesized model and a two‐step model‐building approach is used, in which the measurement models are tested prior to testing the structural model.
Findings
Using the data collected in GuangZhou, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Shanghai and Nanjing cities, it is found that both their direct and indirect effects. Interesting to find, that Chinese consumers' exposure to online products is relatively new, it appears that searching and experience online in reducing their perceived risk of quality concern, and it affects their choice of PLB. Price consciousness is very important to choose domestic PLB across all purchase situations, whereas the other types of factors have differential impact. It seems that Chinese respondents get used to surf on the internet, that is, their perceived risk is not low, which is different from other literatures studied.
Originality/value
The paper offers insights into the implications for e‐marketers' management of web sites in China.
Details
Keywords
Sheng‐Tsung Hou, Mu‐Yen Hsu and Se‐Hwa Wu
The primary purpose of this paper is to verify the importance of psychological ownership in the organisational context of a franchise by testing predicted relationships concerning…
Abstract
Purpose
The primary purpose of this paper is to verify the importance of psychological ownership in the organisational context of a franchise by testing predicted relationships concerning feelings of ownership towards branding, legal ownership of complementary assets, organisational commitment, and a willingness on the part of franchisees to diffuse a franchise brand to peers.
Design/methodology/approach
Evidence is presented from an empirical study on the largest taxi franchise fleet in Taiwan. Two formal questionnaires/surveys were conducted in May 2005 and September 2005, from which data were collected from 147 franchisees. Regression analysis is employed to test seven hypotheses.
Findings
The empirical results demonstrate that analysing the psychological ownership of a franchise brand from two dimensions (i.e. the degree of psychological ownership and the self‐centred propensity towards psychological ownership) sees an increase in explained variance in organisational commitment and brand diffusion in the context of the franchise organisation. It also illustrates that both dimensions of psychological ownership are negatively affected by the ownership of the non‐brand‐specified complementary assets owned by a franchisee.
Research limitations/implications
The majority of previous research has investigated the phenomenon of franchising from the perspective of the agency theory or of resource scarcity; and has focused on the franchisor's concerns. A major implication of this study indicates that these perspectives, while essential, are insufficient in explaining the growth through franchising strategies. Researchers need to consider how to integrate asset ownership (or property rights) and affect elements in order to influence a franchisee's cognition and behaviour entrepreneurially. A limitation of this study is that it is conducted within the respective boundaries of cultural, professional, and industrial factors.
Practical implications
This study indicates that entrepreneurs can achieve better brand diffusion effects for franchise growth if they engage in merging the structures of asset ownership and psychological ownership.
Originality/value
This is the first paper to examine the psychological ownership of branding within the setting of a franchise organisation and highlights the importance of a sense of ownership in entrepreneurship.
Details
Keywords
Ru-Jen Lin, Rong-Huei Chen and Fei-Hsin Huang
Despite the stimulation provided by market demand and green issues on business performance, the exact nature of the relationships among these aspects remains an issue of…
Abstract
Purpose
Despite the stimulation provided by market demand and green issues on business performance, the exact nature of the relationships among these aspects remains an issue of contention. This study sought to bridge this gap in the research by examining the effects of market demand on firm performance using green innovation and environmental performance as mediators. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
The Taiwanese hybrid vehicle industry was targeted as the scope of research. Using random sampling method, survey questionnaires were distributed to retailers, wholesalers, and component sale firms in the industry through post and e-mails. AMOS 5.0 and the structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to test the hypotheses and the theoretical model.
Findings
Except for the impact of market demand on environmental performance, all relationships were found to be significant. The mediating effect of green innovation which was proven to be significant, while that of environmental performance remained insufficient.
Research limitations/implications
This study has a number of limitations. The use of figures from a single industry partly restricts the generalizability of these findings.
Practical implications
These results suggest that firms should make greater efforts to understand customer needs and promote core competencies in the innovation of green products and processes to align green initiatives with consumer values in order to satisfy market demand and ensure sustainable performance.
Social implications
This study has important implications for the hybrid vehicle industry in particular and all businesses in general. The results provide guidelines for the enhancement of business performance. Based on the significant impact of market demand on green innovation, this study strongly recommends that firms make greater efforts to understand customer needs and expectations.
Originality/value
This study was the first to establish a model for investigating the links among market demand, green innovation, environmental performance, and firm performance in the Taiwanese hybrid vehicle industry. The findings provide effective guidelines for the achievement of market leadership and sustainable performance.
Details
Keywords
Yi‐Fen Huang, Chung‐Jen Chen and Hsui‐Hui Chang
The purpose of this paper is to build up an evaluation framework for selecting creative industries into the new cultural creativity centre in Tainan city, Taiwan.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to build up an evaluation framework for selecting creative industries into the new cultural creativity centre in Tainan city, Taiwan.
Design/methodology/approach
This study applies the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method to evaluate the creative industries for the introduction and development in the new cultural creativity centre in Taiwan. Then, a sensitivity analysis is carried out to determine the critical factors that affected the priority of the alternatives.
Findings
In the seven evaluation criteria, “market potential” has the highest weight, followed by “regional development” and “culture improvement”. In the six industries, creative lifestyle, crafts, and creative design are the three most favourable industries chosen for the introduction and development in the new centre.
Research limitations
One possible limitation is the selection of experts in the research design. Although the participants selected in our study are experienced in the development of the cultural creativity centre and are across several disciplines, the representative of group members is still a critical issue.
Practical implications
The application of the model provides an avenue for government policy makers and researchers to deal effectively with the industry selection issue.
Originality/value
The model developed in this paper is a useful decision‐making tool for solving the selection problem of creative industries.
Details
Keywords
Ru‐Jen Lin, Rong‐Huei Chen and Kevin Kuan‐Shun Chiu
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of various dimensions of customer relationship management (CRM) on innovation capabilities. Five dimensions of CRM…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of various dimensions of customer relationship management (CRM) on innovation capabilities. Five dimensions of CRM (information sharing, customer involvement, long‐term partnership, joint problem‐solving, and technology‐based CRM) and five aspects of innovation capability (product, process, administrative, marketing, and service innovations) are identified. The one‐to‐one associations between the two constructs are developed and verified.
Design/methodology/approach
Data from 107 Taiwanese computer manufacturers are collected. Multiple regression analysis is employed to examine the effects of CRM on innovation capabilities.
Findings
The following results are offered: computer manufacturers in Taiwan perform various levels of CRM and, consequently, display different levels of effects on each of the five innovation capabilities. Generally, firms are able to increase their innovation capability by ad hoc CRM; the relationship between customer involvement and process innovation; customer involvement and administrative innovation; and long‐term partnership and marketing innovation are not significant; and technology‐based CRM has positive effects on all five types of innovation.
Practical implications
The findings suggest that not all CRM activities contribute to innovation programs, which clearly indicates the need for applying other mechanisms, such as supplier integration, to form a complete innovation program. Managers should align the development of their supplier management and CRM practices with the desired innovation capability.
Originality/value
The one‐to‐one relationships between CRM practices and innovation capabilities have not been properly examined. The findings suggest the need for more research in this area, and the statistical results provide managers with useful guidelines for implementing appropriate CRM practices to develop specific innovation capabilities to respond to enhanced competitiveness.