Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract This study addresses/examines how the conceptual structure of customer engagement in the international context has changed since its emergence. These layers of analysis will assist researchers to uncover the historical basis, and identify the changes in the knowledge structure of customer engagement research in the international business domain. Our bibliometric analysis included 151 customer engagement articles. We employed cluster visualization (VOS) along with text mining to classify the most important and informative research in customer engagement in the international context. PubDate: 2024-08-05
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a popular topic among scholars and business professionals alike. While previous literature has investigated the relationship of CSR and corporate performance extensively, longitudinal research on the CSR reporting practices using a comparative approach remains limited. The current study examines CSR disclosures uncovered within annual reports of the companies representing different industries in the United States. The contribution is twofold. First, the study compared the CSR topics disclosed by the food & beverage and energy sectors and upfolded their similar patterns and different emphases. Second, the study examined the dynamics of CSR reporting practices over 8 consequent years in these industries. A mixed method approach was used in this study, combining topic modeling through the Latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) and complementary content analysis. The empirical analysis was conducted on the CSR disclosures from the annual reports released by six international U.S. organizations (three companies per industry sector) over the period from 2013 to 2020. The results showed that for both industries the social aspect of CSR was significantly reported. Nevertheless, the uncovered topics differed between sectors. Regarding the dynamics of CSR topics, both business sectors revealed variability of CSR aspects covered in the annual reports over the 8 years. Overall, this research sheds light on the relevance of addressing specific topics in CSR reporting as well as how to disseminate information about these topics in the annual reports. PubDate: 2024-07-31
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract A lot of previous research has focused on the public’s intentions to support organizations based on their actions related to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). However, people’s perceptions of CSR during challenging times are yet to be fully explored. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the relationship between the public’s emotional, cognitive, and behavioral responses to CSR during uncertain times (i.e., a global pandemic). A total sample of 407 responses were collected during the first wave of the global pandemic across two countries, representing the European and African continents. The results show that in challenging times, negative emotions appear to fade into the background and do not play a significant role. Interestingly, cognitive evaluations (mind) are the strongest predictors of perceptions of CSR, while positive emotions (heart) are the key drivers of behavioral response toward the company. Theoretical and managerial implications are also discussed. PubDate: 2024-06-26
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract The horn effect bias refers to the phenomenon where a negative trait influences a person's or brand's overall perception. This study examines the influence of psychological perceptions, such as perceived risk, perceived anxiety, and perceived severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, on consumer attitudes toward brands sharing similar names with the coronavirus. Specifically, three brands—Corona Extra, Modelo Especial, and Virus Vodka—with varying degrees of semantic similarity to pandemic names were selected for investigation. Our findings indicate that the consumption frequency of the selected brands did not significantly differ before and during the pandemic. Furthermore, when assessing blame attribution, participants did not hold these brands accountable for the COVID-19 pandemic. Importantly, no evidence was found to suggest a negative shift in perceptions of the pandemic affecting brand feelings and evaluations (i.e., attitude toward the brand). PubDate: 2024-06-21
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract The way in which companies manage social issues can affect how stakeholders perceive these companies and their actions. Research has suggested that proactive issues management strategies may be more effective than reactive strategies. However, this research has mainly focused on environmental management and has not taken into account how the effect of proactivity can depend on characteristics of the issue at hand. The current study examines the effect of proactive versus reactive management of an issue related to consumer health on stakeholder support for the company, and the potential moderating effects of the perceived locus of causality of the issue (either internal or external to the company). The results of an experimental vignette study show that a proactive approach towards the issue leads to a higher willingness to use resources to the benefit of the company than a buffering approach, but did not differ from a reactive approach. However, an exploratory analysis suggests that a proactive approach may specifically lead to a higher willingness to invest in the company than a reactive approach. This effect of proactive issues management on willingness to support the company is observed both when stakeholders perceive the issue as largely caused by the company, and when they perceive it as largely the result of external factors. PubDate: 2024-06-14 DOI: 10.1057/s41299-024-00194-2
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract Based on framing and attribution theory, this study explores the mediator role of CSR skepticism within the relation of media coverage about corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities on reputation and brand attitudes. Within this investigation, we also explore framing and negativity effects. We conducted an experimental design (German speaking sample, N = 207) using media reports on environmental CSR of a (fictitious) airline company. Our results demonstrate that effects on reputation are fully mediated by CSR skepticism, and effects on brand attitudes are partly mediated by CSR skepticism. Additionally, reputation and brand attitudes are contingent with positive and negative valence of media framing and a negativity bias can be found for framing effects on brand attitudes. PubDate: 2024-06-10 DOI: 10.1057/s41299-024-00193-3
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract How consumers perceive corporate social responsibility (CSR) has shifted significantly over the past decades. Initially, a voluntary commitment to solving urgent social problems, CSR was once a source of competitive advantage, specific positioning, and exclusivity in customers’ eyes. Today, however, CSR has become a fundamental prerequisite for a company to function in society, a source of company legitimacy, expected and demanded by many stakeholder groups. As research demonstrates, young people in particular loudly and intensely declare their interest in today’s challenges and vigorously demand that the companies they buy from or work for participate in CSR. On the contrary, in everyday practice, we as scholars and educators have learned that CSR is more of an empty word for consumers, something that is right but of which they have no precise idea. CSR finds itself in a paradoxical situation. Therefore, our study aims to identify the main paradoxes in how millennials perceive CSR. First, it addresses the term paradox and its contextualization within the CSR discourse. Second, the three main paradoxes (authenticity/communication, legitimacy/trust, pay-off/non-pay-off) are outlined and verified through mixed methods research. The paradoxes are identified and confirmed through the ambivalent and inconsistent responses to a questionnaire and, subsequently, multiple focus groups. Finally, implications for the CSR concept are suggested. Furthermore, this paper questions the validity of instruments traditionally used to measure consumer attitudes (not only) in the field of CSR. PubDate: 2024-06-01 DOI: 10.1057/s41299-024-00195-1
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract This research explores the impact of firm-level innovation reputation on both firm value and financial performance, examining these relationships across highly innovative and less innovative industries. Drawing on two studies encompassing a total of 722 firm-level observations, the findings reveal a general positive association between innovation reputation and firm value. However, this relationship proves non-significant for firms operating in highly innovative industries. Intriguingly, within less innovative industries, firms with lower innovation reputations demonstrate significantly higher firm values compared to those with higher innovation reputations, contrary to expectations. The study also unveils mixed effects of innovation reputation on firm performance. While it generally exhibits a positive influence on return on sales, its impact on return on assets is only marginally significant. In highly innovative industries, innovation reputation positively affects return on assets but only marginally influences return on sales. Contrastingly, within less innovative industries, innovation reputation does not significantly influence either financial performance measure. PubDate: 2024-05-20 DOI: 10.1057/s41299-024-00190-6
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract Recognizing the ability of organizational prestige to meet financial, career, social, and status needs, we posit that job seekers will desire employment with prestigious firms in the face of person–organization (PO) misfit feedback. Drawing upon social identity theory, the theory of symbolic attraction, and the motivational model of fit, we suggest that when job seekers disagree with PO misfit feedback, prestige and the imagined benefits of employment motivate job seekers to desire employment. These imagined benefits serve as a needs-meeting mechanism aiding self-esteem, self-worth, and perceived social status. We conducted a between-subjects experiment investigating PO fit feedback, agreement with PO fit feedback, and employer image to explore this phenomenon. Notably, we found that when job seekers disagreed with misfit feedback, they reported greater organizational desirability when the organization was impressive (versus respectable). We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of job seeker reactions to PO fit feedback and organizational prestige as a needs-meeting mechanism. PubDate: 2024-05-18 DOI: 10.1057/s41299-024-00188-0
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract The purpose of this study is to increase the understanding of two extreme brand relationships, namely brand love and brand hate, and their interrelatedness. This qualitative study employs abductive reasoning and naturally occurring, public, social media data. A political personal brand is chosen to represent an understudied, yet information-rich, context for both brand love and hate. This study shows that brand love and hate are conceptually close to each other and share several mechanisms, such as word of mouth (WOM), strong emotions and strong attitudes. Further, this study shows how these two brand relationships are publicly expressed in social media. This study provides guidance for brand managers in responding to expressions of brand love and hate and in understanding the interconnectivity between the underlying reasons customers express brand love and hate. Interestingly, this study shows how brand love and hate with a personal brand may have spill-over effects with organisations the personal brand presents and vice versa. The study contributes to the intersection of extreme brand relationships, personal branding and political branding. PubDate: 2024-05-15 DOI: 10.1057/s41299-024-00189-z
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract Many contemporary brands have been embracing the dynamic spirit that currently defines society by assuming more flexible processes, increased levels of interaction with the public, mostly sustained by social media, and an orientation towards customer/user experience and storytelling. Such characteristics should be conveyed by the brand’s visual identities, often redesigned in order to accommodate this new communicative need, frequently adopting a dynamic and prone to mutation design approach, where numerous brand narratives can emerge, many of them crafted by the audiences. The main goal of this conceptual article is to identify the different levels of audience’s participation in the design of brands’ visual narratives, in the context of dynamic mutant brands. Grounded on speculative design and visual content analysis, in this research seven brand identities were mapped within two dimensions (Narrative Design Strategy and Audience’s Interaction), leading to the identification of four different realms of participation. It provides both practitioners (brand managers/designers) and academics with not only a framework for the anticipatory definition and evaluation of the degree of participation but also a bi-dimensional model with the four realms of participation in the narrative design of dynamic/mutant visual identities, to support the planning of the level of contribution the audiences can have in a brand’s storytelling. PubDate: 2024-05-01 DOI: 10.1057/s41299-021-00134-4
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract Delivering valuable in-store experiences to customers has become a key concern for brands. However, current retail design practice does not yet adequately integrate this aspect. Prior research has shown that the experiential dimension of the store design is still considered post-concept development when it should be reflected upon prior to this one. The same research has also already shown which key components contribute to designing a valuable in-store experience, namely: brand, customer, offer/service, physical space, and an “unexpected factor” (referring to bringing to customers more than they expect.). However, which specific aspects of these key components should be considered from the view of practice still remains to be clarified. This paper reports on a study conducted to identify, for each component, specific topics to consider at the pre-concept phase (e.g., the analysis) in the design process of a valuable in-store experience for the fashion/ lifestyle sector. For this purpose, a qualitative interdisciplinary research approach combining marketing and retail design academic knowledge with (documented and new) insight from the field of retail design was used to draft a detailed list of topics to consider at this specific stage of the retail design process. Through a prototyping phase including again the view from the field, this list was then verified and complemented. PubDate: 2024-05-01 DOI: 10.1057/s41299-022-00137-9
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract The introduction of innovations can be more successful when launched under an established brand name, e.g. as a brand extension. However, the role of the appearance of the design is often underexposed, whereas the visual appearance of products is known as a critical determinant of consumer response and product success. Based on current literature, designers and design managers only know what to design, but suffer from a lack of knowledge how to design more successful brand extensions. When designing the visual appearance of these extensions we can rely on the strong and recognizable identity of the brand (typicality), but also have to create a completely new product (novelty) referring to the much-debated MAYA Principle (Most Advanced, Yet Acceptable). In this paper we recognize the limitations of the MAYA principle and claim that the success of brand extensions cannot be explained by a simple negative linear equation of opposites as typicality versus novelty. The results of two design case studies about speakers and headphones show that at least three determinants play an important role when designing the appearance of brand extensions; product typicality (does the design look like the archetype product), novelty (how novel is the design) and brand fit (does the design refer to the brand characteristics). Besides that we argue that the optimal balance between those three actors will also be determined by the type of product (archetype or multitype). The results indicate a higher importance of a novel visual styling for speakers and a stronger connection between typicality and brand fit for headphones. To support the design process even further, we will present our findings with the aid of the Triangular Designers space that helps designers and design managers to strategically make decisions to launch successful brand extensions. PubDate: 2024-05-01 DOI: 10.1057/s41299-022-00145-9
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract Retail design authenticity has seen global brands expressing a growing interest in unique as opposed to standardised expressions of store design. To express authenticity, global brands may opt for localised retail store design (retail stores that express the place in which the store is designed) as a form of unique retail design that offers an experience that is rooted in a time and place. Localised retail design differs from conventional modes of retail design in that designers source inspiration from both brand and place (as opposed to brand only). This poses risks to brand recognition as the resultant retail store is not standardised nor aligned exclusively to the reflection of brand identity. This necessitates consideration in the mediation of global brand and local authenticity when localising retail design. This study asks: What are the areas for mediating global brand and local authenticity when localising retail design' Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, we conducted eighteen interviews with retail designers based worldwide. The interviews are augmented with a theoretical sampling of twenty artefacts of localised retail design for four global brands. It was found that global brand and local authenticity can be mediated in three main areas when localising retail design. These are in the authorship, informants, and inhabitation of retail design. In the authorship of the retail store, authenticity can be attained by appointing both brand and local designers who work collaboratively on localised retail design. In sourcing informants to the retail design, designers should derive inspiration from both brand and local essence to enhance authentic representation. In inhabitation, the retail store should communicate the brand to local consumers while platforming experiences on local consumer culture. The contribution of the study is a novel conceptual model founded on these three areas for mediating brand and local authenticity in localised retail. This model has implications for both retail designers and brand managers in the development of localised retail experiences of global brands. PubDate: 2024-05-01 DOI: 10.1057/s41299-021-00133-5
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of sustainability reporting toward corporate reputation and the consequences in terms of financial performance in the sensitive and non-sensitive industry, grounded by the stakeholder theory. In addition, we intent to understand the moderating role of third-party assurance toward Sustainability Reporting and corporate reputation. A sample size of 200 enterprises in Malaysia was chosen using proportionate stratified random sampling to encompass each stratum of sensitive and non-sensitive sectors, and the data were analysed using partial least squares technique. The results confirmed that sustainability reporting has a positive effect on financial performance. However, this association is stronger in non-sensitive industries. Sustainability reporting has a significant impact on corporate reputation. Financial performance also can be predicted by corporate reputation in both sensitive and non-sensitive industries. The results also indicated that third-party assurance positively moderates the relationship between sustainability reporting and corporate reputation in both sensitivity and non-sensitivity industries. The results provided evidence of indirect effects of sustainability reporting on financial performance, mediated by corporate reputation. Current research is among the first attempts to compare the role of sustainability reporting, corporate reputation, third-party assurance, and financial performance in sensitive and non-sensitive industries. PubDate: 2024-04-25 DOI: 10.1057/s41299-024-00185-3
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract Young consumers are increasingly taking on the mantle of champions for sustainable behavior. However, notwithstanding the long-established and rich debate on sustainable consumption, studies are missing that delve deeper on how young consumers, especially Millennials and Gen Z, dialogically frame their sustainable consumption choices and their favor for sustainable brands. We conduct an in-depth netnographic investigation that provides a deep cultural understanding of the motivations and priorities that young consumers associate with sustainable choices in their social media conversations, which represent the most common ground where sustainable commitments are discussed. Considering that plastic-free refillable water bottles are emerging as the daily consumption choice that young consumers are adopting to pursue a more sustainable lifestyle, we see in that a compelling research context in which the motivations that young consumers prioritize when they embrace plastic-free brands can be explored. Our findings visually map and dig deeper into the complex constellation of the dominant themes and interplays among them that young consumers discuss in their conversations about the adoption of plastic-free refillable water bottles. Across all the conversations we analyzed, the notion of care emerges as the key priority for young consumers and sustainable consumption is depicted as a holistic form of self-care. Our paper contributes to delve deeper into those conversational dynamics in and through which the priorities related to sustainable consumption choices are shaped and constructed through the expressive and material capacities of the different social formations that are engaged into the discussion of sustainability issues. Our paper also provides a methodological blueprint for the investigation of the dialogic process of sustainable brand building. PubDate: 2024-04-20 DOI: 10.1057/s41299-024-00186-2
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Abstract: Abstract Induced by worsening environmental conditions, pursuing purpose, not solely profit, now constitutes an ethical obligation for leaders of business organisations, towards future generations. Consequently, increasing numbers of businesses seek to become purpose-led (PLBs), but challenges exist. Despite the significant growth in PLB research since the turn of the millennium, attention has mainly focussed on multinational companies, although small- and medium-sized businesses (MSBs) hugely impact any economy. This research sets out to better understand the challenges faced by leaders of companies undergoing purpose-led MSB transitioning. Thematic analysis of the interview data from founders and leaders of B-Corp certified purpose-led MSBs revealed six specific challenges consistent with literature findings, but also provided uniquely useful insights from the leaders’ perspectives. Integrated business strategies or solutions, which meet multiple challenges simultaneously, revolve around a strong corporate reputation and organisational identity driven by corporate communication. Corporate communication engages stakeholders, builds trust, reinforces reputation, and serves as a strategic intervention for differentiating purpose-led MSBs in the marketplace, shaping organisational identity. Overall, the work provides leaders of MSBs with a practical guide for navigating their challenges and developing leadership practices to enable purpose-led transformations. PubDate: 2024-04-17 DOI: 10.1057/s41299-024-00181-7
Please help us test our new pre-print finding feature by giving the pre-print link a rating. A 5 star rating indicates the linked pre-print has the exact same content as the published article.
Hybrid journal (It can contain Open Access articles)
[2468 journals]
