Jinfeng Wang, Ke Zhang, Kuo-Yi Lin and Lijie Feng
Implementing servitization requires collaborative efforts from multiple actors in the business network or ecosystem. A multi-actor perspective is considered valuable for…
Abstract
Purpose
Implementing servitization requires collaborative efforts from multiple actors in the business network or ecosystem. A multi-actor perspective is considered valuable for understanding the process of servitization. This study aims to review the contemporary research on organizing servitization by multi-actor collaborations.
Design/methodology/approach
The approach of systematic literature review was used. In total, 90 English-language journal articles published from 2004 to 2021 were selected based on a series of rigorous steps. Furthermore, descriptive and thematic analyses were conducted to answer the predefined review questions.
Findings
The servitization research from the multi-actor collaboration perspective is an infant field yet growing increasingly. An integrative framework was proposed to reveal the extant related studies. In this framework, three typical servitization lenses emphasizing multi-actor collaborations were uncovered. Moreover, six categories of influence factors and possible positive and negative outcomes for this process were identified. Existing knowledge gaps and underlying research directions were also discussed to lay the foundations for future research.
Research limitations/implications
This research has been limited by the usage of single database, rigorous selection criteria by the Academic Journal Guide (AJG 2018) list and exclusion of non-English papers.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the earliest systematic literature reviews to explore the servitization issues by adopting a multi-actor perspective. The findings can consolidate the knowledge base of servitization and provide implications for the multiple fields of industrial marketing, operational management, information management and service marketing.
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Jinfeng Wang, Luyao Zhang, Kuo-Yi Lin and Lijie Feng
The desired outcome in the new product development (NPD) effort is the timely commercialization of a profitable product. Whether marketing can benefit from the NPD case study is a…
Abstract
Purpose
The desired outcome in the new product development (NPD) effort is the timely commercialization of a profitable product. Whether marketing can benefit from the NPD case study is a critical but underresearched issue. The purpose of this study is to investigate the usage and quality of NPD case studies in business and industrial marketing.
Design/methodology/approach
To investigate the prevalence and research quality of case studies on NPD in business and industrial marketing, 317 case studies published in mainstream journals over the past decade (2010–2020) are reviewed.
Findings
This study finds that the distribution of quantity and quality of case studies fluctuates across journals. The scores on the evaluation template for the different case study stages vary widely across journals. This indicates that different journals have different criteria and priorities for NPD case studies. By focusing on different issues, enterprises can quickly find appropriate journals and case results according to their own needs.
Originality/value
This paper can help spark a debate about the implementation and quality of NPD case studies, including future studies and practical applications. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no similar study has been found in existing studies.
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Wujun Cao, Peiying He and Jinfeng Wang
The purpose of this paper is to look at how, in order to fit the practical environment, the scopes of the order‐quantity of a quantity discount contract are enlarged.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to look at how, in order to fit the practical environment, the scopes of the order‐quantity of a quantity discount contract are enlarged.
Design/methodology/approach
The contract feasible set (CFS) is discussed to extend the order quantity from a single point to an interval.
Findings
The application of the CFS can enlarge the scope of the contracts of the supply chain. The CFS can be used in the practice.
Research limitations/implications
The CFS of the quantity‐discount contract only is discussed. The other contracts do not be involved.
Practical implications
A very useful advice for construction the parameters of the contracts.
Originality/value
The concept of the CFS is defined. The new approach that extend the parameters of the contracts from a single point to an interval is provided.
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Shixin Xie, Xu Wang, Biyu Yang, Longxiao Li and Jinfeng Yu
As the number of joined service providers (SPs) in knowledge-intensive crowdsourcing (KI-C) continues to rise, there is an information overload problem for KI-C platforms and…
Abstract
Purpose
As the number of joined service providers (SPs) in knowledge-intensive crowdsourcing (KI-C) continues to rise, there is an information overload problem for KI-C platforms and consumers to identify qualified SPs to complete tasks. To this end, this paper aims to propose a quality of service (QoS) evaluation framework for SPs in KI-C to effectively and comprehensively characterize the QoS of SPs, which can aid the efficient selection of qualified SPs.
Design/methodology/approach
By literature summary and discussion with the expert team, a QoS evaluation indicator system for SPs in KI-C based on the SERVQUAL model is constructed. In addition, the Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method is used to obtain evaluation indicators' weights. The SPs are evaluated and graded by the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) and rank–sum ratio (RSR), respectively.
Findings
A QoS evaluation indicator system for SPs in KI-C incorporating 13 indicators based on SERVQUAL has been constructed, and a hybrid methodology combining DEMATEL, TOPSIS and RSR is applied to quantify and visualize the QoS of SPs.
Originality/value
The QoS evaluation framework for SPs in KI-C proposed in this paper can quantify and visualize the QoS of SPs, which can help the crowdsourcing platform to realize differentiated management for SPs and assist SPs to improve their shortcomings in a targeted manner. And this is the first paper to evaluate SPs in KI-C from the prospect of QoS.
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Richard Tarpey, Jinfeng Yue, Yong Zha and Jiahong Zhang
The importance of service firms cooperating with digital platforms is widely acknowledged. The authors study three contractual relationships (fixed-cost, cost-sharing, and…
Abstract
Purpose
The importance of service firms cooperating with digital platforms is widely acknowledged. The authors study three contractual relationships (fixed-cost, cost-sharing, and profit-sharing) between service firms (specifically hotels) and digital platforms in a highly fragmented service supply chain to examine which of these contract types optimizes profits.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors extend prior models analyzing the optimal expected total profit from the travel service firm (hotel)–digital platform relationship, providing new insights into each contract type’s ability to coordinate decentralized systems and optimize profits for both parties.
Findings
This study finds that fixed cost contracts cannot coordinate the decentralized system. Cost-sharing contracts can coordinate the decentralized system but only allow one channel profit split. In contrast, profit-sharing contracts may not always perfectly coordinate the decentralized system but support alternative profit allocations. Practically, both profit-sharing and cost-sharing contracts are preferable to fixed-cost contracts.
Practical implications
The paper includes implications for travel service firm managers to consider when structuring contracts with digital platforms to focus on profit optimization. Profit-sharing contracts are most preferable when cost and revenue data are fully shared between parties, while cost-sharing contracts are preferable over fixed-cost contracts.
Originality/value
This study extends prior investigations into the utility of different contract types on the optimal profit of a travel service firm (hotel)-digital platform provider relationship. The research fills a gap in the literature concerning the contracts used in these relationship types.
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Han Jia, Sumin Shin and Jinfeng Jiao
This paper aims to offer a framework explaining how product experience (i.e. think vs feel) and product involvement (high vs low) influence the helpfulness of online reviews. It…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to offer a framework explaining how product experience (i.e. think vs feel) and product involvement (high vs low) influence the helpfulness of online reviews. It also reexamined how online consumer review dimensions help to build online review helpfulness under different contexts.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected using content analysis on 1,200 online customer reviews on 12 products from four categories to measure the relationships between online review dimensions and the helpfulness of reviews. The regression analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to test the hypotheses.
Findings
The findings indicate that the effectiveness of length of a review is moderated by product type; for think products, longer reviews yield higher helpfulness. Furthermore, the level of consistency between individual review ratings and overall product ratings is associated with review helpfulness. The length of product descriptions and product ratings is moderated by the level of involvement. For products with high involvement, longer descriptions yield higher helpfulness.
Originality/value
A conceptual connection to customer interaction is proposed by online customer reviews that vary by product type. The findings provide implications for online retailers to better manage online customer reviews and increase the value of product ratings.
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Suhaily Mohd-Ramly and Nor Asiah Omar
The global retail landscape has changed drastically. The rising role of Asia as one of the fastest growing international retail penetration and expansion will continue to make the…
Abstract
Purpose
The global retail landscape has changed drastically. The rising role of Asia as one of the fastest growing international retail penetration and expansion will continue to make the region to be the driving force in world economic growth. However, the ambitious expansion plans are making the retail sector to be more challenging. Emphasizing on the customer experience and enhancing the value proposition to customers are undeniably vital factors for the long-term survival of any retail business. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of store attributes on customer experience and customer engagement in the context of department store in Malaysia. Subsequently, the influence of customer experience on customer engagement is also analyzed.
Design/methodology/approach
Using drop and collect survey, 484 valid responses of department store cardholders of age 18 years and above in the area Klang Valley, Malaysia, were collected. PLS structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses of this study.
Findings
Results revealed that customer experience is influenced by merchandise, store atmosphere, and loyalty program, while customer engagement is influenced by merchandise, communication, interpersonal communication, and loyalty. In contrast, post-transaction services were found to have non-significant impact on both customer experience and customer engagement. Analysis also revealed a strong relationship between customer experience and customer engagement.
Research limitations/implications
This study is carried out on customers of department store in Malaysia. However, the researchers urge other researchers to replicate the study from different countries and category of department stores.
Originality/value
Retail researchers recognize little knowledge on the contribution of store attributes to customer experience and customer engagement. This paper represents original research that encourages foreign retailers to employ service-dominant logic as a new marketing thought in designing strong customer engagement and experience strategies to capture the Malaysia market.
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Irene Gil-Saura, M. Eugenia Ruiz Molina and Gloria Berenguer-Contri
In the current competitive environment in which retailers operate, store equity is seen as a key differentiating factor. In view of the scarce research on the dimensionality and…
Abstract
Purpose
In the current competitive environment in which retailers operate, store equity is seen as a key differentiating factor. In view of the scarce research on the dimensionality and correlates of brand equity related to the retailer, this paper aims to analyze the relationship between store equity and behavioral intentions and the influence of information and communication technology on this relation.
Design/methodology/approach
From a sample of 820 customers of store chains, a multigroup structural equation model is estimated considering the level of technological development of the retailer as a moderating variable.
Findings
The authors find evidence in favor of the positive influence of store equity on consumer behavioral intentions toward the retailer and the role of technology as a moderator in this relationship.
Research limitations/implications
This paper provides evidence about the multidimensionality of store equity and its positive influence on behavioral intentions towards the retailer. Furthermore, the authors find support for the notion that information and communication technology (ICT) solutions implemented by the retailer contributes to reinforce the positive impact of store equity on behavioral intentions.
Practical implications
Technology may be used to differentiate the retail chain from competitors. The retailer should concentrate its investments in ICT solutions that contribute to enhance the customer experience in the store.
Originality/value
Research on the brand equity concept in the context of retailing is still scarce. The results of this research provide support to the role of loyalty, service quality, product quality and perceived value as the dimensions of store equity. In addition to this, to the best of authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper that addresses the role of technology in the relationship between store equity and behavioral intentions.
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Abstract
Alagtaihert Al lies in the marginal areas of Altai which belongs to Mongolia. Mineral resources are rich, especially copper, and the degree of exploration is poor in this area. Based on the investigation and analysis about regional strata, geological structure and previous researches, it is considered that magma activity supplied sources of copper deposits and tectonic movement accelerated mineral dressing. Through electrical geophysical detection, it is indicated that the strike of copper belt is NNW, zonal distribution and sectional concentration are the characteristics about copper deposits. Combined geological and geophysical properties to present the metallogenic mechanics and model: Metal mineral crystallization was formed with metasomatism happened in hydrothermal process; the type of hydrothermal copper belt was formed far away from the rock after the period of pegmatite and gas-hydrothermal; the depth of copper deposits is about 300m and most of them were collected from 22 to 150m.
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Jinfeng Yu, Xiequan Liu and Xinhua Ni
Composite ceramic has the excellent properties at normal and high temperatures, especially when the structure of the composite eutectic is triangular symmetrical. Obviously…
Abstract
Composite ceramic has the excellent properties at normal and high temperatures, especially when the structure of the composite eutectic is triangular symmetrical. Obviously, mechanical behavior and fracture properties of composite ceramic closely relates to the micro-structure of symmetrical triangular eutectic. In order to reveal the mechanical properties of eutectic composite ceramic, it is necessary to determine the intrinsic strength of triangular composite eutectic. Since the fiber and matrix of triangular symmetrical composite eutectic sharing a same covalent bond, the theoretical cohesion strength of symmetrical triangular eutectic was obtained by the combination-separation displacement of intrinsic bond. Basing on micro-structure plastic deformation before fracture of composite eutectic matrix, the dislocation pile-up model of eutectic composite ceramics was established. And then intrinsic bond fracture shear stress of triangular symmetrical composite eutectic was given by using the theory of dislocation pile-up. According to the macroscopic structure properties of triangular symmetrical composite eutectic and the distribution of stress field of composite eutectic, intrinsic strength of eutectic was obtained. The results shows that intrinsic strength of triangular symmetrical composite eutectic possessed clear size-dependence and the stress decreases with the increases of the diameter of fiber inclusions.