Sanghee Kim, Leslie Cuevas and Hyo Jung (Julie) Chang
With luxury brands extending into restaurants and cafés, the definition of luxury consumption no longer refers to tangible products alone but to intangible and authentic…
Abstract
Purpose
With luxury brands extending into restaurants and cafés, the definition of luxury consumption no longer refers to tangible products alone but to intangible and authentic experiences as well. Drawing on the Stimulus–Organism–Response framework (SOR) and the costly signalling theory, this study explores the sequential mechanisms of experiences in luxury brands’ restaurants and cafés among Korean and US consumers.
Design/methodology/approach
This study distributed online surveys in South Korea and the US and recruited 419 participants (South Korea = 210; US = 209). PLS-SEM and multigroup analysis were used to test the hypotheses.
Findings
Perceived quality influenced perceived luxury values positively and led to consumers’ loyalty to both the parent brand (i.e. luxury fashion brand) and extended brand (i.e. luxury restaurants and cafés).
Originality/value
Luxury brands seek to offer their consumers authentic and extraordinary experiences. By merging luxury fashion with gastronomy, these brands can foster synergistic long-term relationships with consumers and enhance their brand equity in the global luxury market. Our results also demonstrated that such expansion contributes to competitive advantages in luxury fashion retailing by increasing their intangible values in addition to their parent luxury fashion brands. Further, in the context of globalisation, this research provides insights into how luxury retailers’ novel approach to the F&B sector can enhance consumers’ loyalty across different cultures and strengthen their global luxury retail strategy.
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The purpose of this paper is to determine employment satisfaction of middle-aged and older workers who obtain a job after their initial retirement, and describe factors affecting…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to determine employment satisfaction of middle-aged and older workers who obtain a job after their initial retirement, and describe factors affecting employment satisfaction among workers focusing on family and employment types, and their mediating effects.
Design/methodology/approach
This study performed a secondary data analysis on data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (fifth wave of KLoSA) of the Korea Employment Information Service. The author used data from 1,307 middle-aged and older workers who obtained a new job after leaving the previous workplace from the 2014 KLoSA, and determined their employment satisfaction, family type and employment type.
Findings
In this study, high scores were indicated in turnover intentions of the participants, and job stability presented was lowest in the subcategories of employment satisfaction. Employment type showed a significant mediation effect between dwelling type and re-employment satisfaction (p<0.05).
Social implications
Middle-aged workers are a key human resource for economic growth in South Korea, which is faced with a “super aging” population. Recently, international society has encountered the same problems of low-birth rate and aging in their economically viable/or engaged. Our society and its members should realize the changes in population structure facing the world today and find effective strategies to stabilize employment among middle-aged workers. This study provides evidence for one of the differing perspectives on understanding employment turnover in middle-aged workers.
Originality/value
The South Korean Government could use this study’s findings in formulating a strategy concerning family types that improves re-employment satisfaction among middle-aged and older workers. Also, the path of mediation effects, such as choice of employment type, will need to apply to a strategy of work stability for middle-aged and older workers.
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The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of brand and message framing on consumers’ evaluations and purchase intentions of smart health-care clothing. The study also…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of brand and message framing on consumers’ evaluations and purchase intentions of smart health-care clothing. The study also examines the mediating effect of consumers’ evaluations on the effects of the brand and message framing on purchase intentions.
Design/methodology/approach
Through an experimental approach, a total of 240 US consumers’ evaluation of smart health-care clothing is compared according to the existence of a well-known brand (vs. none) and message framing (technology-focused vs. fashion-focused).
Findings
The results show that consumer evaluation of smart health-care clothing is higher when the product is from a well-known brand, where consumers’ fashion consciousness and health consciousness positively influence such an evaluation as covariates. Message framing, however, did not have an influence that revealed any significant difference between technology-focused and fashion-focused messages. The consumer’s evaluation of smart health-care clothing eventually increased their purchase intentions and mediated the effects of brand on purchase intentions.
Originality/value
Smart health-care clothing refers to clothing that measures, records and manages the user’s activity and health status through conductive fibers or sensors that are woven in the clothes. Despite its benefits, smart health-care clothing is still not widely adopted among consumers, except for a few successful examples. Closing this gap, the results of this study provide implications regarding whether and how brand and message framing maximize consumers’ evaluations toward smart health-care clothing, which the developers and marketers of such products can use to increase the product’s market penetration.
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According to the perspective of evolutionary economic theory, the marketplace continuously evolves over time, following the changing needs of both customers and firms. In…
Abstract
Purpose
According to the perspective of evolutionary economic theory, the marketplace continuously evolves over time, following the changing needs of both customers and firms. In accordance with the theory, the second-hand apparel market has been rapidly expanding by meeting consumers’ diverse preferences and promoting sustainability since 2014. To understand what changes in consumers’ consumption behaviors regarding used apparel have driven this growth, the purpose of this study is to examine how the second-hand apparel market product types, distribution channels and consumers’ motives have changed over the past five years.
Design/methodology/approach
This study collected big data from Google through Textom software by extracting all Web-exposed text in 2014, and again in 2019, that contained the keyword “second-hand apparel,” and used the Node XL program to visualize the network patterns of these words through the semantic network analysis.
Findings
The results indicate that the second-hand apparel market has evolved with various changes over the past five years in terms of consumer motives, product types and distribution channels.
Originality/value
This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the changing demands of consumers toward used apparel over the past five years, providing insights for retailers as well as future research in this subject area.
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– The purpose of this paper is to determine employee retention rates and describe factors affecting employee retention among older workers.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to determine employee retention rates and describe factors affecting employee retention among older workers.
Design/methodology/approach
This study conducts a secondary data analysis using data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA) of Korea Employment Information Service. The authors use data on 1,264 newly employed older workers from the 2010 KLoSA and determine their employment retention status based on data from the 2012 KLoSA.
Findings
The employee turnover rate of older workers was 37.1 per cent between 2010 and 2012, indicating that one-third of older workers stopped work within the two years under study. The factors affecting the employment retention of older workers were education level, job position, job type, work-related stress, health status, and activity limitation due to health status.
Research limitations/implications
This study concentrated on the South Korea context. Given the particular circumstances facing South Korea (as outlined in the study) it is unlikely that the findings would provide a base for informing employment retention strategies for older workers in other societies.
Practical implications
The South Korean government could use this study’s findings in formulating a policy for improving welfare in workplaces to increase the employment retention rate among older workers. Employers employing or intending to hire older workers would have a better understanding about factors affecting their retention. To reduce their work-related stress, older workers require a safe and healthy work environment that considers their health status.
Originality/value
This study is the first one to look at the factors affecting the retention of older workers in South Korea.
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Heejun Kim and Sanghee Oh
This study investigated information needs on COVID-19 by identifying topics discussed on social questions and answers (Q&A) about daily routines, problems, and health issues for…
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigated information needs on COVID-19 by identifying topics discussed on social questions and answers (Q&A) about daily routines, problems, and health issues for survival. A layered model of contexts for everyday life information seeking (ELIS) was adapted for interpreting topics to better understand the contexts in which users could relate information needs.
Design/methodology/approach
Questions and answers posted on Naver Knowledge-iN were collected and analyzed during the first nine months following the outbreak. Time distribution, topic modeling, and association rule mining were applied to examine the topics on COVID-19 and their temporal variation.
Findings
Numerous topics related to the cognitive context (symptoms and masks) and situational contexts (international affairs, financial support, study, and work) were discovered. Topics related to social context were discussed moderately, but the number of questions on this topic increased with time. Strong associations were observed between terms related to symptoms, indicating their importance as a COVID-19 topic in health.
Originality/value
This study investigated topics of information needs using social Q&A data in which not only information inquiry but also information sharing coexist. The findings can help bridge the theory of ELIS to topic modeling in practice. The insights gained from this study can be used by information service providers for developing guidance and programs about how to survive during a pandemic.
Peer review
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-10-2021-0547.
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This study aimed to examine the impact of perceived risks of COVID-19 and users’ intention to continually use social media for COVID-19 information, thereby revealing social media…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to examine the impact of perceived risks of COVID-19 and users’ intention to continually use social media for COVID-19 information, thereby revealing social media users’ perceptions and behaviors regarding the pandemic.
Design/methodology/approach
The Health Belief Model was used to develop the research model. Data were collected from social media users in Korea using an online survey.
Findings
The findings showed that social media users’ intention to continually use social media for COVID-19 information explained 46.5% of the variance in their perceived severity, perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, and perceived barriers. The degree of impact and relationships varied across the constructs. Two age groups were examined, and it transpired that perceived risks and perceived use were more highly recognized by young users than old users.
Research limitations/implications
This study focused on Korean social media users, providing valuable insights but limiting its generalizability. The proposed research model and methodology can include participants from various countries or cultures to enhance global relevance and diversified perspectives on how perceived risks impact social media use for health information.
Practical implications
This study’s findings can be used to provide tailored health information services to those with different levels of perceived risks, social media use, and different age groups.
Originality/value
This study adopted the Health Belief Model to understand users’ perceptions of COVID-19 information on social media and examined users’ intentions to continue using social media as a channel for COVID-19 information.
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Sanghee Lee, Wooree Shin and Eun Joo Park
Neuroarchitecture is a new interdisciplinary research field combining neuroscience and architecture that has developed and expanded since 2000. Neuroarchitecture originated from…
Abstract
Purpose
Neuroarchitecture is a new interdisciplinary research field combining neuroscience and architecture that has developed and expanded since 2000. Neuroarchitecture originated from the divergence of previous multidisciplinary studies on the relationship between humans and the environment. However, scoping reviews of neuroarchitecture in relation to the experience of the built environment are lacking. Thus, this study aimed to provide the background and research trends of neuroarchitecture to contribute to discussions on the built environment.
Design/methodology/approach
A general form of scoping review was adopted, following the PRISMA-ScR checklist. For this scoping review emphasizing the embodied implication of neuroarchitecture for the built environment, an evaluation framework was developed consisting of four categories: health, performance, aesthetics and emotion.
Findings
This study explores objective techniques, including electroencephalography and functional magnetic resonance imaging, electrocardiogram, electrodermal activity and saliva cortisol, to measure neurophysiological impacts, adopting real, virtual and images of environmental settings. An in-depth review of 25 selected papers revealed the existing empirical research on neuroarchitecture using human physiological measurement tools and representational environment settings to examine the impact of human–environment relationships.
Originality/value
A meta-analysis of theoretical and intervention studies on neuroarchitecture that investigates the multisensory characteristics of the environment is lacking. In addition, the development and application of wearable tools to meet the needs of real environment settings can improve the effectiveness of neurophysiological measurement tools.
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This study explains the variation of government responses to the pandemic by focusing on how centralization/decentralization in politics and administration creates conflicts and…
Abstract
Purpose
This study explains the variation of government responses to the pandemic by focusing on how centralization/decentralization in politics and administration creates conflicts and coordination problems. Specifically, the authors make comparisons between the U.S. and South Korea to reveal differences in macro-level structures and associated responses. One of the key points of comparison is the centralized, hierarchical governance system, which may thwart or facilitate a coordinated response.
Design/methodology/approach
This is an in-depth comparative case study of the two countries that showed different trajectories during the initial response to COVID-19. The comparison allows us to highlight the long-standing debate about centralization/decentralization and offers implications for government responses to crises shaped by political systems and administrative structures.
Findings
While there are inherent pros and cons to decentralization, the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the institutional limitations in American federalism and the advantages that centralized administrative coordination creates during times of crisis. American federalism has unveiled systematic problems in coordination, along with the leadership crisis in polarized politics. The response from South Korea also reveals several issues in the administratively centralized and politically polarized environment.
Research limitations/implications
While the authors risk comparing apples and oranges, the variation unveils systematic contradictions in polarized politics and offers important implications for government responses in times of crisis. However, this article did not fully account for individual leadership as an independent factor that interacts with existing political/administrative institutions.
Practical implications
There is certainly no one best way or one-size-fits-all solution to mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic in countries under different circumstances. This article demonstrates that one of the essential determining factors in national responses to the pandemic is how the political and administrative dimensions of centralization/decentralization are balanced against each other.
Originality/value
Unlike previous studies explaining the country-level responses to COVID-19, this study focuses on the variance of political and administrative decentralization within each country from the political-administrative perspective and reveals the systematic contradictions in coordination and the leadership crisis in polarized politics.
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Nakyung Kyung, Sanghee Lim and Byungtae Lee
Past literature offered competing predictions of the effect of broadband Internet on suicide. The Internet facilitates suicide by providing suicide-related information and ruining…
Abstract
Purpose
Past literature offered competing predictions of the effect of broadband Internet on suicide. The Internet facilitates suicide by providing suicide-related information and ruining mental health. In contrast, Internet prevents suicide by offering social interaction and online mental treatment. This study aims to solve this tension by empirically examining the effect of broadband Internet on suicide with large-scale panel set.
Design/methodology/approach
This study takes instrument approach with the US county-level panel set for the period 2013–17. This study uses the number of household broadband Internet subscriptions as the measure of broadband and leverages the number of telecommunication carriers as an instrument to address concern for endogenous relationship.
Findings
There exists a positive and significant association between broadband Internet adoption and suicide on average. This study provides empirical evidence that this association is attributable to the Internet's role in leading to a general decline in the mental well-being and in providing suicide-relevant information. This association is more evident in areas with high poverty and low social capital.
Originality/value
This study contributes to literatures that address the dark side of information systems in general and that address how Internet adoption can influence public health and well-being in particular. Results of underlying mechanisms why Internet affects suicide, and heterogeneous effect of Internet by poverty and social capital provide insight for governments to enact proactive regulations to address continuing rise of suicide.