Business Commons^™

“Contemporary Breadlines”: A Field Study Of Fast-Food Drive-Thru Service Delivery, Jon M. Martin

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2017

This study focuses upon US fast-food drive-thru delivery, assesses its cycle times, identifies its common delays and inefficiencies, and proposes solutions for improvement. The author, having become a live-alone bachelor since 2012 admittedly has routinely been a regular fast-food consumer, and as a researcher has over the past 4 years convenience-tallied this field study of fast-food drive-thru delivery. The average drive-thru wait time for these fast-food establishments was .81 minutes with average processing times of 3.6 minutes for a total average of 4.45 minutes with an average standard deviation of 2.1 minutes. This data suggests statistically (assuming a normal distribution) …

How Third Party Observers Respond To Overheard Service Failures: Implications For Frontline Service Employees And The Firm, Ismail Karabas, Jeff Joireman, Shinhye Kim

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2017

Frontline service employees and unhappy customers have generally been the main focus of the service failures research. It is established that service failures are difficult to prevent and are costly to a firm. Therefore, effective service recoveries have been proposed such as apology or compensation. The recent research extended the service failures literature by focusing on a broader audience during service failures: third party observers in the servicescape. The current work investigates the degree to which overhearing another customer’s interaction with a service employee following a service failure will impact third party observers’ evaluations of the service employees and the …

Modeling The Relationship Between Destination Perceived Value And Tourist Souvenir Buying Intention, Wei Wang, Gallayanee Yaoyuneyong, Pauline Sullivan

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2017

While there is an increasing academic research focusing on value perception in the hospitality and tourism industry, not much study has explore the relationship between tourist’s perceived destination attributes and shopping intentions. Therefore, this research explores the influence of value perceptions on tourists’ souvenir purchase decisions. Particularly, this study seeks to answer two specific research questions: 1) will value perception have a direct influence on tourist souvenir buying intentions? and 2) which aspect of perceived value has stronger ties with tourist souvenir buying intentions.

A convenience sample of 380 respondents from a southeastern US university filled out survey instruments. The …

An Examination Of The Marketing Of A Floundering Sport: The Case Of Powerboat Racing, Sam Fullerton

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

A sample of 308 attendees at an APBA sanctioned powerboat race in July of 2015 provided insight regarding a number of key considerations germane to the decision to attend the race. Race organizers were seeking ways to reinvigorate interest in what they see as a floundering – if not sinking – sport. A self-administered survey was distributed at the race with those completing it having a chance to win a souvenir shirt from the races. The results indicate that better marketing is needed. WOM represented the most common means by which attendees learned about the event; much of this was …

Understanding Employer Needs And Expectations From The Perspective Of Human Resources, Tulay Girard, Daniela Ngounou

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2016

This pre-test study attempts to understand employers’ current needs and expectations of recent graduates from a 4-year business program at higher education institutions from the perspective of human resource managers/specialists. After conducting a literature review and a pre-test survey, the authors developed scale items that measure the importance of certain knowledge and skill sets as well as behavioral traits from the perspectives of human resource specialists. The feedback received from the human resource specialists who participated in pre-test survey identified additional skill sets, knowledge areas, and behavioral traits that are most important to employers’ needs. After pre-testing the measurement items …

Influence Of Relationship Marketing Underpinnings On Egyptian Hotel Customer's Satisfaction And Loyalty, Ahmed I. Ghoneim, Amira S. Ahmed

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2014

This study seeks to examine relationship marketing as influenced by service provider's attributes and resulting in customer's satisfaction and loyalty within the Egyptian hotel industry. A conceptual model linking service provider's attributes to relationship marketing underpinnings and the latter to relational outcomes defined as customer's satisfaction and loyalty, was tested using structural equation modeling (SEM) on a sample of 279 hotel customers in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. The results showed that service provider's competency significantly influences relationship marketing underpinnings. On the other hand, the influence of service provider's appearance on customer's perception of commitment and conflict is not supported. Further, relationship …

Moderating Effects Of Service Guarantee, Service Relationship, And Perceived-Risk On Customer Satisfaction, Kungpo Tao

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2014

Customer satisfaction has been one of the most frequently used terms in marketing. With the benefits of customer satisfaction, service providers can save more costs doing customer retention and advertising. Premium pricing, for example, is also the benefit derived from the service’s buffering effect. In service industry, service guarantee and building up service relationship with customers are very common and useful strategies to gain customer satisfaction. Due to the growing competitive industry, marketers have made efforts building the customer-service relationship in order to attract new customers and secure existing relationships with customers. After experienced a service delivery or consumption, customers …

Understanding The Competitive Environment Of Nonprofit Organizations: A Resource-Advantage Theory Approach, Omer Topaloglu, Robert E. Mcdonald

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2014

Competition in the nonprofit sector has dramatically intensified in the past two decades as a result of the increased number of nonprofit organizations (NPOs), decreased and diffused governmental support, and entry of for-profit companies into markets that are traditionally the domain of nonprofits. In an attempt to enhance the understanding of the nonprofit competition, the authors adapt a general theory of competition to commercial nonprofits, those that generate external benefits by commercial activities. Applying resource-advantage (R-A) theory, a dynamic theory of competition adapted from the business literature, we discuss how these entities can leverage their various resources in order to …

Exploring Impact Philanthropy, Altruistic, Hedonic, And Egoistic Motivations To Support Animal Causes, Clinton Amos, Gary R. Holmes, Anthony T. Allred

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2014

Due to unpredictable economic turbulence, it is imperative that nonprofit organizations understand and implement segmentation practices to better target donors to maintain continual growth in donations. While such strategies are well implemented in for-profit arenas, non-profit organizations still lag behind in the implementation of segmentation and targeting practices. The targeting of donors by nonprofit organizations tends to be unfocused and sporadic at best. Early research on the practice of segmenting potential donors suggest that nonprofit firms should resist profiling their existing donors based upon demographic characteristics alone and should rely on examining demographic variables in relation to meaningful motivational forces. …

Tolerance Of Noise In The University Library, Harold Ogden, Hammaad Subhani, Lydia Schreier, Marie Deyoung

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2014

In modern civilization, noise has become a problem in many situations. Traffic noise has been seen to reduce level of health and quality of life (Dratva et. al. 2010). Background noise has been seen to reduce learning ability (Lukits 2012). Even at low levels, noise has been identified as a source of distraction, irritation and low productivity (HR Focus 2006). This study examined the degree to which various sources of noise are a problem to university library users. Preliminary exploratory investigation was conducted with secondary research, as well as informal consultation with library staff, informal discussion with undergraduate classes and …

Online Service Benefits’ Impact On Relationship Strength, Quality, & Continuation Intention, Kendra Fowler, Eileen Bridges

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2014

Many service providers now use social media, both as a way to interact efficiently with their customers, and as a means of gathering customer data needed to better manage customer relationships. Thus, social media can both provide service and assist in developing better future service. In the present research, we examine in detail whether and how social media perform the first of these tasks by examining its use as a tool for online service benefit provision. Then, we consider how benefits customers receive from maintaining relationships with service providers via social media impact outcomes, including reported relationship strength, customer loyalty, …

An Examination Of British Charity Shop Shoppers, Robert Montgomery, Ariana Murray

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2013

An increasing number of nonprofit organizations are developing charity shops to raise resources to support their charitable efforts. The United Kingdom currently has 9000 charity shops that take in annual revenues of 300 million British Pounds. Such stores seek donated merchandise . . . sell it . . . and use the proceeds to support philanthropic endeavors. As such, achieving a better understanding of charity shop shoppers can enhance performance of the charity shop which will, in turn, provide greater resources for helping others. The purpose of this study is to examine the processes by which charity shop shoppers: (1) …

Digital Word-Of-Mouth And The Gender Implications, Deborah H. Lester, Andrew M. Forman, Dolly D. Loyd, Tyra A. Burton

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2013

Consumers can now easily access data and exchange sentiments regarding products and services on an unprecedented scale, and often in real time, through digital connections. The Internet and mobile technologies have made sharing of information and opinions among consumers easier than ever. The capacity of online participants to inspire and transform perspectives has been touted to surpass the radical potency of television when it entered the consumer’s province during the 50’s. Men and women use social media sites to learn about new products, to become smarter shoppers and to feel good about a purchase they might have already made. College …

Examining Organizational Justice In The Context Of Lmx And The Effect Of Lmx On Trust And Job Performance, Yong-Ki Lee, Sally Kim, Mun-Hyun Son, Min-Seong Kim

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2013

Services marketing and organizational behavior researchers have studied factors that have a positive influence on employees’ job performance. They viewed that the manager’s role in dealing with his/her subordinates is critical in producing the desired outcomes such as employee job performance. This study based on organizational justice and Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) theory, presents and tests a model, in which relationships among justice, LMX, trust, and job performance are examined. More specifically, the study examines the impact of organizational justice on the quality of LMX and the effect of LMX on employees’ attitudinal and behavioral aspects (trust and job performance). The …

Gerald Sandusky And Penn State Child Sex-Abuse Scandal: A Case Of Administrative Non-Action Leading To A Severe Crisis., Ania Izabela Rynarzewska

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2013

Penn State/Sandusky scandal was one of the most controversial and publicized cases of 2011 and 2012. A high profile university football coach sexually abused 10 boys over period of 16 years. A problematic part of this case is that the university administration knew about coach’s behavior but did nothing to stop it. Sandusky was sexually abusing minors predominantly on the premises of The Penn State University over a period of 16 years. On June 22, 2012 Sandusky was found guilty of 45 of 48 counts of sex abuse of 10 boys while on October 9 he was sentenced to 30-60 …

Tension And Energy: Components Of Arousal And Their Effect On Intention To Give, Robert E. Pitts, Julia E. Blose, Rhonda W. Mack

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2013

In the current study we explore a multidimensional conceptualization of arousal to better understand the effect of donation appeals incorporating negative messages on intention to give. More specifically, an experiment is conducted to determine whether varying the level of message negativity has an impact on donor intentions to give where the mechanism by which intentions increase is examined. Using structural equation modeling, the relationship between message negativity, two dimensions of arousal (tension and energy) and intention to donate is estimated. We collected data using the background of an on-campus fund raising program for abused Afghani women held at a mid-size, …

Attitude Versus Involvement: Predicting Ethically And Socially Responsible Consumption Behavior, Sacha Joseph-Mathews, Nicole Bieak-Kreidler

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2013

Critics argue that the value gap (difference between what consumers say they care about and what they actually choose to purchase) suggests that ethical consumption is not as important as consumers imply. There is much talk about the ethical consumer “myth’ as consumers often claim to be interested in purchasing ethically and socially responsible products yet sales figures for green products often do not exceed 5% total product sales in any one category with organic fruits and vegetables being the one exception. Traditional models use consumer attitudes to the environment as a predictor of ethically and socially responsible consumption behavior …

Delivering Quality Customer Service: The Interactive Effects Of Employee Job Resourcefulness And Organizational Support, Shawn F. Clouse, Simona Stan, Nader H. Shooshtari

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2013

While front line customer service employees’ motivation and ability to provide high quality customer service is paramount for firm performance, it is unclear how employees’ internal resources may interact with organizational support. This paper advances a theoretical model for the possible interactive effects between customer service employees’ job resourcefulness and the external resource support provided by the organization, in the form of formal training, informal coaching, and rewarding mechanism, in determining the employees’ levels of commitment to customer service quality and the development of customer service skill proficiency. An exploratory study conducted on a sample of 98 student employees at …

Putting On A Happy Face: How Emotional Labor Impacts Frontline Service Employees, Anita H. Whiting

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2013

This study investigates emotional labor and its impact on frontline service employees (FSE). Emotional labor is defined as the stress of regulating one’s emotional displays in response to display rules (Diefendorff and Gosserand 2003). FSE experience emotional labor as they regulate their inner or felt emotions in order to display the appropriate emotions to the customer. Displaying appropriate emotions to customers is very important to service organizations because it affects customer affect and evaluation of service quality (Pugh 2001). Unlike previous research which focuses mostly on the customer’s experience during a service encounter, this paper focuses on FSE and their …

The Role Of Empathy In The Benefits Sought From Volunteering, David J. Burns

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2013

Increasing needs for volunteers have led many nonprofit organizations to seek to understand the benefits sought by individuals from volunteering. This study examines empathy. Empathy is believed to be one of the causes of individuals engaging in helping or prosocial behavior, an activity which includes volunteering. What role does empathy play in the benefits sought by individuals from volunteering? The objective of this study is to examine this question. The relationship between empathy and benefits sought by collegiate business students from volunteering are explored. Individuals who possess relatively higher levels of empathy appear to be more likely to participate in …

Attributes, Ethical Attitudes And Behaviors Of Tax Evaders In A Permissive Collection Society, Yusuf M. Sidani, Abdul Jalil Ghanem, Mohammed Y. A. Rawwas

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2013

Tax evasion remains a fascinating research topic, as it is more often committed by individuals considered by society to be “ethical.” The purpose of this study is to explore the various attitudes of tax evaders and examine them in relation to their personal moral philosophies. The results of the current study found that tax evaders possessed several attributes, and their personal moral philosophy attitudes (idealism or relativism) influenced their ethical behavior. Idealism was found to be negatively associated with self-interest tax evasion behavior while relativism had the opposite effect. Idealism was also found to be positively related to tax evasion …