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1 – 10 of 12Wenliang Fan, Pengchao Yang, Yule Wang, Alfredo H.-S. Ang and Zhengliang Li
The purpose of this paper is to find an accurate, efficient and easy-to-implement point estimate method (PEM) for the statistical moments of random systems.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to find an accurate, efficient and easy-to-implement point estimate method (PEM) for the statistical moments of random systems.
Design/methodology/approach
First, by the theoretical and numerical analysis, the approximate reference variables for the frequently used nine types of random variables are obtained; then by combining with the dimension-reduction method (DRM), a new method which consists of four sub-methods is proposed; and finally, several examples are investigated to verify the characteristics of the proposed method.
Findings
Two types of reference variables for the frequently used nine types of variables are proposed, and four sub-methods for estimating the moments of responses are presented by combining with the univariate and bivariate DRM.
Research limitations/implications
In this paper, the number of nodes of one-dimensional integrals is determined subjectively and empirically; therefore, determining the number of nodes rationally is still a challenge.
Originality/value
Through the linear transformation, the optimal reference variables of random variables are presented, and a PEM based on the linear transformation is proposed which is efficient and easy to implement. By the numerical method, the quasi-optimal reference variables are given, which is the basis of the proposed PEM based on the quasi-optimal reference variables, together with high efficiency and ease of implementation.
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Wenliang Fan, Wentong Zhang, Min Li, Alfredo H.-S. Ang and Zhengliang Li
Based on univariate dimension-reduction model, this study aims to propose an adaptive anisotropic response surface method (ARSM) and its high-order revision (HARSM) to balance the…
Abstract
Purpose
Based on univariate dimension-reduction model, this study aims to propose an adaptive anisotropic response surface method (ARSM) and its high-order revision (HARSM) to balance the accuracy and efficiency for response surface method (RSM).
Design/methodology/approach
First, judgment criteria for the constitution of a univariate function are derived mathematically, together with the practical implementation. Second, by combining separate polynomial approximation of each component function of univariate dimension-reduction model with its constitution analysis, the anisotropic ARSM is proposed. Third, the high-order revision for component functions is introduced to improve the accuracy of ARSM, namely, HARSM, in which the revision is also anisotropic. Finally, several examples are investigated to verify the accuracy, efficiency and convergence of the proposed methods, and the influence of parameters on the proposed methods is also performed.
Findings
The criteria for constitution analysis are appropriate and practical. Obtaining the undetermined coefficients for every component functions is easier than the existing RSMs. The existence of special component functions is useful to improve the efficiency of the ARSM. HARSM is helpful for improving accuracy significantly and it is more robust than ARSM and the existing quadratic polynomial RSMs and linear RSM. ARSM and HARSM can achieve appropriate balance between precision and efficiency.
Originality/value
The constitution of univariate function can be determined adaptively and the nonlinearity of different variables in the response surface can be treated in an anisotropic way.
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Anran Zhang, Zhengliang Xu and Xin Yu
Cause-related marketing (CRM) is an increasing popular marketing strategy in which a firm donates a specific amount to a designed cause when customers engage in revenue-providing…
Abstract
Purpose
Cause-related marketing (CRM) is an increasing popular marketing strategy in which a firm donates a specific amount to a designed cause when customers engage in revenue-providing exchanges. Based on balance and attribution theory, this paper aims to explore the interaction effect of donation amount and ad orientation, two important factors of formulation and communication of CRM, respectively, on consumer response and the mediating effect of consumers’ perceived company motives.
Design/methodology/approach
Two 2 (donation amount: small vs large) × 2 (ad orientation: product- vs cause-oriented) between-subjects experimental studies were conducted in marketing course with 284 and 157 Chinese undergraduate students participating in Studies 1 and 2, respectively. ANOVA and regression were used to test the hypotheses.
Findings
Study 1 shows the significant interaction effects of donation amount and ad orientation on consumers’ response. When CRM has a large donation amount, cause-oriented (vs product-oriented) ad leads to consumers’ more positive company attitude and higher purchase intention. The opposite is true for the small donation amount condition. Study 2 shows that the above interaction effect is mediated by consumer-attributed company motives. The attributed motive of sincerely caring about social cause has significant positive effect on consumer response, whereas the attributed motive of increasing sales or improving corporate image does not.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the literature by empirically examining the interaction effect of donation amount and ad orientation on consumer-inferred motives and behavioral response. The findings are valuable because they indicate the importance of matching between factors at formulation and communication stage. In addition, this paper found that consumers are “tolerant” of companies using CRM to promote product sales and improve brand image.
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Baher Rahma, Tomaž Kramberger, Mahmoud Barakat and Ahmed Hussein Ali
In recent years, the global focus has increasingly shifted toward the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) due to growing concerns about environmental sustainability and the…
Abstract
Purpose
In recent years, the global focus has increasingly shifted toward the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) due to growing concerns about environmental sustainability and the imperative of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The transportation sector, a significant contributor to air pollution and climate change, faces increasing pressure to embrace EVs as a solution. However, the resistance exhibited by customers toward adopting new technology poses a substantial obstacle to the widespread adoption of EVs. Drawing on the link between theory of reasoned action (TRA) and self-congruity theory, this research aims to determine the factors that affect the customer intention toward EV.
Design/methodology/approach
The research conducts a questionnaire collecting 950 respondents from the Egyptian market. The research used primary quantitative data from online and self-administered questionnaires.
Findings
The findings indicated that green trust, price sensitivity and reliability have a positive impact on customer’s intention. However, self-image congruence was not affecting customer intention. For the moderating role of financial self-efficacy, it is affecting the relationship between price sensitivity and customer’s purchase intentions toward EV.
Research limitations/implications
This research will expand the theory by conceptualizing its abstract notions through research variables and implementing them in the Egyptian market. Furthermore, it links the two distinct theories. This knowledge can be utilized by policymakers and stakeholders to expedite the adoption of EVs in the Egyptian market.
Originality/value
This study presents a conceptual framework for managers and policymakers about the factors that affect the customer to buy EVs, since the international organizations emphasize eco-friendly transportation systems.
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Meharaj Banu Abdul Sathar, Malini Rajagopalan, Shaik Mohamed Naina and Satyanarayana Parayitam
This study aims to investigate the relationship between perceived usefulness, ease of use and adoption of online banking by customers in the Indian context. Using the technology…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the relationship between perceived usefulness, ease of use and adoption of online banking by customers in the Indian context. Using the technology acceptance model (TAM) as the base, this study underscores the importance of perceived enjoyment, security and trust in influencing customer satisfaction.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a structured survey instrument, this paper gathered data from 476 respondents in the southern part of India. First, the instrument’s psychometric properties were tested, and hypotheses were tested using Hayes’s PROCESS macros.
Findings
The results indicated that (i) perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are positively related to the attitude of the consumers to use online banking, (ii) attitude to use is positively related to adoption intention and (iii) adoption intention positively predicts customer satisfaction. The results also reveal that (i) perceived enjoyment moderates the relationship between attitude to use and adoption intention, (ii) trust moderates the relationship between adoption intention and customer satisfaction and (iii) security (second moderator) moderates the moderated relationship between trust (first moderator) and adoption intention on customer satisfaction.
Research limitations/implications
As with any survey research, self-report measures have the inherent problems of common method bias and social desirability bias. However, the authors have taken adequate care to minimize these limitations. In addition, the research has implications for consumer behavior concerned with online banking.
Practical implications
This study contributes to both practicing managers and the literature on online banking. The study suggests that bank managers need to focus on ensuring security and earning customers’ trust to motivate them to adopt online banking.
Social implications
The study contributes to society by unraveling the antecedent conditions leading to accepting innovative changes initiated by banks. Especially in rural and cooperative banks, customers adopting online banking helps save their time and energy in visiting the physical locations of banks.
Originality/value
This study provides new insights into the complex relationships among variables contributing to customer satisfaction. The double-layered moderated moderated-mediation conceptual model developed and tested in this study is a novel idea that makes a significant contribution to the growing literature on online banking.
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Shilpa Chauhan, Asif Akhtar and Ashish Gupta
This study aims to demonstrate digital banking’s influence on customers’ evaluation of service experience and develop a framework identifying the most significant variables of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to demonstrate digital banking’s influence on customers’ evaluation of service experience and develop a framework identifying the most significant variables of digital banking that influence the financial performance of banks.
Design/methodology/approach
This structured review of literature, guided with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses framework, takes a digital banking perspective to identify 88 articles published between 2001 and 2021, examining distinct aspects of digital banking and their impact on financial performance.
Findings
Customer experience (CE) is determined by functional clues (functional quality, trust and convenience), mechanic clues (website attributes, website design, perceived usability) and humanic clues (customer complaint handling). The study is furthered to combine CE with the service profit chain model. This study also fills the gap to understand the use of “gamification” in technology-driven banking services to enhance CE. Finally, an integrative framework is proposed to link technology-related factors (digital banking clues and gamification), customer-related factors (CE, customer satisfaction and customer loyalty) and performance-related factors (financial performance).
Practical implications
The study conceptualises a “total” CE framework that banks can use to enhance their online presence. Banking service providers could also analyse their financial results based on digital banking’s impact on customers. Besides, banks can use this framework to strategically place “game-like features” in their digital platforms.
Originality/value
This study attempts to significantly contribute to the digital marketing literature related to CE with banks. It is one of the first studies to determine gamification explicitly in banking literature.
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Sachin Kashyap, Sanjeev Gupta and Tarun Chugh
The present work has proposed and employed an innovative hybrid method based on the combination of factor analysis and an artificial neural network (ANN) model to forecast…
Abstract
Purpose
The present work has proposed and employed an innovative hybrid method based on the combination of factor analysis and an artificial neural network (ANN) model to forecast customer satisfaction from the identified dimensions of service quality in India, a developing country.
Design/methodology/approach
The qualitative study is conducted with Internet banking users to understand e-banking clients' perceptions. The data is collected with the help of a questionnaire from randomly selected 208 customers in India. Firstly, factor analysis was performed to determine the influential factors of customer satisfaction, and four factors i.e. efficiency, reliability, security and privacy, and issue and problem handling were extracted accordingly. The neural network model is then applied to the factor scores to validate the key elements. Lastly, the comparative analysis of the actual ANN and the regression predicted result is done.
Findings
The success ability of the linear regression model is challenged when approximated to nonlinear problems such as customer satisfaction. It is concluded that the ANN model is a better fit than the linear regression model, and it can recognise the complex connections between the exogenous and endogenous variables. The results also show that reliability, security and privacy are the most influencing factors; however, problem handling and efficiency have the slightest effect on bank client satisfaction.
Research limitations/implications
This research is conducted in India, and the sample is chosen from the urban area. The limitation of the purposeful sampling technique and the cross-sectional nature of the data may hamper the generalisation of the results.
Originality/value
The conclusions from the study will be helpful for policymakers, bankers and academicians. To our knowledge, few studies used ANN modelling to predict customer satisfaction in the service sector
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Md. Al Amin, Md. Abdul Ahad Mia, Tapas Bala, Mohammed Masum Iqbal and Md. Shariful Alam
The study aims to examine the green finance customers' post-usage continuance behavior based on an extended social support theory (SST). Remarkably, this study explores five…
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to examine the green finance customers' post-usage continuance behavior based on an extended social support theory (SST). Remarkably, this study explores five indirect predictors of green finance continuance behavior (GFCB) (i.e. environmental consciousness (EC), green bank marketing initiatives (GBMI), informational supports, emotional supports (EST) and psychological reactance) and a mediator (i.e. customer satisfaction).
Design/methodology/approach
In this study data were collected from 362 respondents from Bangladesh using a purposive sampling method with a structured self-administrative questionnaire and analyzed by partial least square structural equation and modeling using SMART PLS 3.0 software.
Findings
The results depict that the five predictors, i.e. information supports (ß = 0.367, t-statistics = 2.463, p < 0.001), EST (ß = 0.206, t-statistics = 2.315, p < 0.000), EC (ß = 0.324, t-statistics = 3.484, p < 0.000), GBMI (ß = 0.288, t-statistics = 2.028, p < 0.000), psychological reactance (ß = 0.126, t-statistics = 0.969, p < 0.052) influence GFCB while satisfaction is predicted by four predictors except psychological reactance (ß = 0.126, t-statistics = 0.969, p < 0.052). In addition, customer satisfaction (ß = 0.638, t-statistics = 6.317, p < 0.005) also has an impact on continuance behavior. Besides, the study understood that four predictors indirectly influence GFCB through satisfaction except psychological reactance ((ß = 0.080, t-statistics = 964, z = 0.958p < 0.338). Finally, the coefficient of determinations (R2) indicates that the five predictors explained 65.3% of changes in satisfaction, whereas 72.8% of changes are described by the five predictors and customer satisfactions.
Practical implications
Finally, this study highlights the social and managerial implications for the implementers of the green finance industry. It is recommended to emphasize green finance practice as it plays a crucial role in promoting environmental protection, ensuring social equity and driving economic growth. The green banking service providers, industry analysts, green consumers and respective government authorities can generalize green finance activities as an essential aspect of sustainable development to equalize the economic growth with a view to protecting environmental collapse and promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable agriculture and other environmentally friendly activities.
Originality/value
The study will enormously contribute to the existing literature validating the proposed holistic framework applying SST along with EC, GBMI and psychological reactance in green finance continuance behavior.
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Ahmet Demir, Lubna Maroof, Noor Us Sabbah Khan and Bayad Jamal Ali
In this study, we have collected the response from 200 private university lecturers in Kurdistan Region of Iraq. In order to test the hypotheses, we have proposed structural…
Abstract
Purpose
In this study, we have collected the response from 200 private university lecturers in Kurdistan Region of Iraq. In order to test the hypotheses, we have proposed structural equations modeling (SEM).
Design/methodology/approach
The purpose of this paper is to elaborate the direct and indirect effects of e-service quality on perceived value, satisfaction and willingness to pay for online meeting platforms in the education sector. This study also explores the effect of e-service quality on users' perception and satisfaction.
Findings
The results reveal that e-service quality directly affects the perceived value and satisfaction but has no direct effect on the willingness to pay. Secondly, perceived value and satisfaction mediated the relationships between service quality and willingness to pay. However, it is observed that perceived value has a more significant impact on the willingness to pay compared to satisfaction. It is further reported that perceived value is one of the antecedents of satisfaction. The study also explores the direct relationship between perceived value and willingness to pay, and introduces satisfaction as a mediating variable between perceived value and willingness to pay.
Research limitations/implications
The sample is geographically limited as only online faculty and staff working at private universities participated in the study. This study has implications for administrators of higher educational institutions and companies providing IT solutions for online meetings. From a managerial standpoint, this study provides and IT companies a broad theoretical basis that designing a successful online meeting platform should specifically emphasize e-service quality, perceived value and customer satisfaction.
Originality/value
There is no study that evaluated the links among e-service quality, value, satisfaction, and willingness to pay for the online meeting platform services. Therefore, this study is useful for the private university administration and online meeting platform developers and investors.
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Huong Ha, Man Chung Wong and Hui Shan Loh
This study examines whether corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives positively impact customers’ selection of retail banks in Hong Kong (HK) and identifies which CSR…
Abstract
Purpose
This study examines whether corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives positively impact customers’ selection of retail banks in Hong Kong (HK) and identifies which CSR domains affect customers’ selection of banks.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopted a quantitative approach. Primary data were collected from 416 customers of 22 retail banks in HK. The theoretical framework of this study was developed from a literature review, prior studies by Oberseder et al. (2013 and 2014), and CSR initiatives implemented by leading retail banks in HK. Descriptive statistics and statistical tests were used to analyze the data.
Findings
The study found that CSR initiatives positively affect customers’ bank selection. CSR initiatives related to the customer and environment domains are likely to have a greater impact on customers than those related to the society domain and are not likely to significantly impact customers’ bank selection.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the CSR literature by offering enhanced insight into the dynamics of CSR and its effects on customer bank selection. Furthermore, this study tests consumers’ perceptions of CSR initiatives in each CSR domain in the banking sector in Hong Kong – a novel approach that has not been previously explored in existing studies. These findings can help banks review the effectiveness of their CSR initiatives and make informed decisions on which initiatives should pursue improved CSR performance and efficient resource allocation.
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