The Mechanisms through Which Certain Variables Influence Customer Loyalty: The Mediating Roles of Perceived Value and Satisfaction

This study surveyed 123 bank users who experienced problems with their banks’ online banking services, with the aim of understanding the mechanisms through which certain variables influence customer loyalty. Principally, the possible mediating roles of value and satisfaction on the relationships between recovery and loyalty and between ISO 9001 and loyalty were scrutinized. The dimensionalities of the scales were assessed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Thereafter, structural equation modeling and multiregression analyses were used to test the proposed model. The overall results showed that service recovery can be used to enhance customers’ satisfaction and perception of value and, therefore, customer loyalty. This study also confirmed the partial mediating roles of customers’ satisfaction and perception of value in the relationship between service recovery and loyalty. In contrast, ISO 9001 has no influence on perceived value, satisfaction, and loyalty; the mediating roles of both perceived value and satisfaction were not supported in the relationship between ISO 9001 and loyalty. In practice, even though ISO 9001 appeared to offer few extras to satisfy and retain customers, its use is still advisable because of the other potential benefits that it provides.     

Customers’ perceptions and intention to adopt Internet banking: the moderation effect of computer self-efficacy

In the past, the conventional concentration of Internet banking (IB) research has been on technology development, but this is now shifting to user-focused research. It has been suggested that potential users of IB services in Malaysia may not adopt the system even if they are available, due to their perceptions of this application and their level of confidence in using it to solve their banking needs. This study therefore employs the extended technology acceptance model as the theoretical framework for assessing the influences of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived reliability, and computer self-efficacy on IB adoption in Malaysia. This study scrutinizes the moderation effect of computer self-efficacy on perceptions–intention relationships. Based on data from a sample of 133 Internet-using bank customers collected through a field survey, it was found that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use were strong determinants of behavioral intention to adopt IB, while perceived reliability has no direct relationship with intention. Computer self-efficacy significantly moderates the relationship of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use with intention.     

Investigating the nonlinear and conditional effects of trust—The new role of institutional contexts in online repurchase

Trust is paramount to developing and maintaining long-term relationships in all stages of the customer lifecycle, including the repurchase stage. This research goes beyond the simple finding documented in the extant trust literature that the effect of trust will diminish. It sheds light on the role of institutional contexts and develops a nuanced understanding of the boundary conditions under which trust operates in the repurchase stage, where knowledge-based trust becomes more predominant. Drawing on a different theoretical tenet, prospect theory, we find that customers exhibit distinctively different transaction intentions in the two perceptual conditions of high and low trust in institutional contexts. Specifically, the nonlinear relationship between trust and repeat online transaction intention is inverted U-shaped curvilinear when trust in institutional contexts is high, but is U-shaped when trust in institutional contexts is low. With data collected from both e-commerce and mobile banking contexts using two different measures of institutional contexts, we employed a new and advanced latent moderated structural (LMS) equations approach for analysis and provided robust results. Our findings largely confirm the hypotheses and offer theoretical, methodological, and practical implications.     

Antecedents of customer satisfaction with online banking in China: The effects of experience

This study investigates the antecedents of customer satisfaction with online banking in China, and explores the effects of experience on the relationships between the antecedents and customer satisfaction. Based on prior research, the six antecedents of customer satisfaction – ease of use, design, speed, security, information content and customer support service – are proposed, and the effects of experience on the relationships between these and customer satisfaction are analyzed using a structural multi-group (a high-experience group and a low-experience group) model.     

Higher Price: A Benefit of Online Value Co-Creation Activities in Sponsored Communities

This study examines how online value co-creation activities benefit brands in the form of willingness to pay a higher price (WPHP). We propose a framework of value co-creation in three management fields (product design, marketing, and after-sales service) and empirically examine the relationships among co-creation activities, customer-brand relationships, and customers’ WPHP. Interestingly, we find that the co-creation activities in two of the three management fields can enhance both customers’ brand passion and self-brand connection, which increases their WPHP only through the full mediation of brand satisfaction. Our findings contribute to theories on IT value and value co-creation.     

The relationship between perceived e-service quality and brand equity: A simultaneous equations system approach

Using the data collected from the online banking users in Taiwan, we build a hierarchical model of e-banking service quality and investigate the relationships among e-service quality, trust, satisfaction, loyalty, and brand equity. Moreover, the simultaneous equations system approach is also applied to transfer the traditional satisfaction-loyalty path into the simultaneous relationships between trust and loyalty, and between satisfaction and loyalty. As the structural form coefficients demonstrate the direct relations between our research constructs, the reduced form estimates further disclose the total impacts of the quality of e-banking service on trust, satisfaction, loyalty, and brand equity, respectively. The results indicate that the perceived quality formed through interaction with an online banking service positively affects customer trust and satisfaction, which in turn influence loyalty and brand equity. The significant simultaneous relationships between trust and loyalty, and between satisfaction and loyalty, are confirmed by our data, implying that these relationships must be determined simultaneously, rather than sequentially.     

The impact of customer interface quality, satisfaction and switching costs on e-loyalty: Internet experience as a moderator

Customer interface quality has been confirmed to critically influence the success of electronic commerce, and there has been extensive discussion about the effects of customer interface quality on consumer behavior. However, few studies have examined how customer interface quality affects e-loyalty. Furthermore, although satisfaction and switching costs are expected to be antecedents to customer loyalty, few studies have systematically examined how these elements are related to customer interface quality. This study proposes an integrating theoretical framework for testing the relationships among customer interface quality, satisfaction, switching costs, and e-loyalty. Moreover, this study argues that the relationships among these constructs are moderated by Internet experience. Empirical analyses are performed using structural equations modeling analysis. The findings confirm that customer interface quality, including customization, interaction, convenience and character, contributes to generating e-loyalty. Particularly, the results show that convenience directly enhances e-loyalty. Additionally, this study finds that customer interface quality positively influences switching costs for customers with higher Internet experience, a phenomenon that has not previously been explored.     

Effect of trust level on mobile banking satisfaction: a multi-group analysis of information system success instruments

Mobile banking is increasingly being used for banking service applications. However, few empirical studies have been conducted on mobile banking services. Therefore, the current study focuses on whether or not trust in mobile banking influences the relationship between customer satisfaction and perceptions of the system quality, information quality and information presentation of mobile banking. Using the partial least squares approach, the analysis reveals that information quality and system quality influence customer satisfaction, whereas information presentation does not have an effect on customer satisfaction. Moreover, the research model articulates how perceptions of the system quality, information quality and information presentation of mobile banking moderated by trust influence customer satisfaction with this type of service.     

When online meets offline: A field investigation of modality switching

In order to explore the differing theoretical predictions of the cues-filtered-out perspective, SIDE model, and hyperpersonal model for online-to-offline relationships outside of the laboratory, a longitudinal survey study was conducted. Participants from a large online message board community who met up with an online acquaintance face-to-face completed surveys regarding their relationship with that individual before and after meeting their acquaintance face to face. Results indicated that the amount of communication with the online acquaintance was related to greater relation development whereas connection to the group was only related to greater individual closeness not satisfaction or predicted outcome value. In general the face-to-face meeting resulted in improved closeness, satisfaction, and predicted outcome value. An exploration for curvilinear effects as predicted by the hyperpersonal model revealed that predicted outcome value at time 1 had a curvilinear effect on closeness at time 2.     

网上银行的安全问题及对策

网上银行以网络技术为手段,向客户提供信息服务和金融交易服务,是一种新兴的银行服务模式,给用户办理银行业务提供了快捷和便利。通过对网上银行发展的现状和存在的安全问题进行分析,提出了解决网上银行安全问题的对策建议,旨在促进网上银行健康有序地发展。     

Factors influencing the adoption of internet banking: An integration of TAM and TPB with perceived risk and perceived benefit

Online banking (Internet banking) has emerged as one of the most profitable e-commerce applications over the last decade. Although several prior research projects have focused on the factors that impact on the adoption of information technology or Internet, there is limited empirical work which simultaneously captures the success factors (positive factors) and resistance factors (negative factors) that help customers to adopt online banking. This paper explores and integrates the various advantages of online banking to form a positive factor named perceived benefit. In addition, drawing from perceived risk theory, five specific risk facets – financial, security/privacy, performance, social and time risk – are synthesized with perceived benefit as well as integrated with the technology acceptance model (TAM) and theory of planned behavior (TPB) model to propose a theoretical model to explain customers’ intention to use online banking. The results indicated that the intention to use online banking is adversely affected mainly by the security/privacy risk, as well as financial risk and is positively affected mainly by perceived benefit, attitude and perceived usefulness. The implications of integrating perceived benefit and perceived risk into the proposed online banking adoption model are discussed.     

Commitment to multiplayer online games: An investment model approach

Multiplayer online games have highly committed players who continue playing these games for years. In the present study, commitment to multiplayer online games was examined from an investment model perspective. The investment model was originally developed to explain persistence in romantic relationships, ultimately identifying the three predictors of commitment as satisfaction, quality of alternatives, and investment size. Furthermore, commitment has been linked to greater accommodation (i.e., constructive responses) in relationship conflicts. The present study extended the model to the context of multiplayer online games. Participants (N = 176) who regularly played a multiplayer online game completed modified versions of the investment model and accommodation scales in an online questionnaire. Structural equation modeling analyses showed that satisfaction and investment predicted greater game commitment, which in turn predicted greater accommodation toward the game's problems (i.e., lower endorsement of exit behaviors, greater endorsement of voice and loyalty behaviors). Findings showed that the investment model provides a valid framework for examining game commitment.     

Connection between customer emotions and relationship quality in online music services

Previous research focuses primarily on studying the influence of emotions on satisfaction in online music services, whereas few studies analyse their effects on trust and commitment. This study specifically examines the interaction role of emotions in relationship quality (i.e. a higher-order construct composed of commitment, satisfaction and trust). We hypothesise that emotions will exert a direct effect on relationship quality, but will also moderate the relationship between its components. An empirical survey is used to test the hypotheses. Data are collected from a total of 408 users of online music services from the UK, Germany and Denmark. The results provide strong support for the proposals that, on the one hand, satisfaction and trust lead customers towards developing high commitment to online music services; and, on the other hand, emotions are important quasi-moderators to engage in online service relationships. The results of this study could help online music service providers (a) to create a successful business model; and (b) to determine the main drivers of online loyalty.     

Recovery of online service: Perceived justice and transaction frequency

Recovery of online service is an issue in need of study. The current study empirically examines (1) the relationships among perceived justice, satisfaction with recovery of online service and repurchase intention of online service/failure encounters; and (2) the moderating effects of transaction frequency on these relationships. The current study collects 187 self-administered questionnaires to gather customers’ perceptions of actual online service/failure encounters. Research findings demonstrate that distributive justice, interactional justice and procedural justice can positively lead to satisfaction with recovery of online service and repurchase intention toward online service. These results further show that customers with low transaction frequency tend to focus more on interactional justice to establish their satisfaction with recovery of online service. On the other hand, customers with high transaction frequency focus more on procedural justice.     

Satisfaction with employee relationship management systems: the impact of usefulness on systems quality perceptions

The ability to effectively manage external customer satisfaction through IT-based Customer Relationship Management systems (CRM) is well documented in the literature. The concept of applying such technologies in Business to Employee relationships to manage the firm's relationships with its employees is not. By extending the CRM paradigm to consider the service of internal customers, we characterize the emergent concept of Employee Relationship Management systems (ERM) for investigation. We find that employee satisfaction with ERM systems designed to provide access to benefits and other important employee services is largely a function of systems quality perceptions, as moderated by employee perceptions of system usefulness. Specifically, we believe our results suggest that high-quality systems implementations will not produce high degrees of employee satisfaction with ERM systems unless such systems are also found by the employee to be highly useful for their intended purpose. This highlights the critical role of accurate assessments of user requirements matched to specific needs from human resources-based systems support in the analysis phase of system design.     

An exploratory study of buyers’ participation intentions in reputation systems: The relationship quality perspective

Drawing upon a relationship quality framework, this study identifies how satisfaction, trust and different styles of handling conflict influence online buyers’ participation intentions in reputation systems associated with a C2C online shopping platform. Furthermore, we investigate how these effects are moderated by social conformity and the perceived value of knowledge. The results of a survey of 269 online buyers indicate that satisfaction, trust and an accommodating conflict handling style positively impact the intention to submit positive ratings, whereas an avoiding conflict handling style negatively affects the intention to submit positive ratings. Implications and suggestions for future research are provided.     

The moderating effect of user experience on satisfaction with electronic banking: empirical evidence from the Spanish case

The aim of this paper is to contribute to the field of satisfaction research from the perspective of electronic banking users—a topic of great interest to financial institutions as they formulate business strategies. In this context, we analyze the possible moderating effect of user experience with the products of a specific institution. A comprehensive review of the scientific literature justified the development of a behavioral model that explains satisfaction using a set of constructs or endogenous variables and the moderating effect of experience. Data was collected from a self-administered Web survey in the authenticated section of the electronic banking service of a prestigious Spanish National financial institution. The analysis tests the relationship between the proposed variables (ease of access, trust, ease of use and usefulness) and demonstrates the moderating effect of electronic banking experience on them. The study was limited to the data of a single financial institution. Caution should therefore be exercised in generalizing the results. The research results provide a number of valuable conclusions for financial institutions. This paper is a pioneer study of satisfaction with electronic banking, especially with regard to the causal relationships between satisfaction and its main determinants.     

Understanding factors affecting trust in and satisfaction with mobile banking in Korea: A modified DeLone and McLean’s model perspective

As mobile technology has developed, mobile banking has become accepted as part of daily life. Although many studies have been conducted to assess users’ satisfaction with mobile applications, none has focused on the ways in which the three quality factors associated with mobile banking – system quality, information quality and interface design quality – affect consumers’ trust and satisfaction. Our proposed research model, based on DeLone and McLean’s model, assesses how these three external quality factors can impact satisfaction and trust. We collected 276 valid questionnaires from mobile banking customers, then analyzed them using structural equation modeling. Our results show that system quality and information quality significantly influence customers’ trust and satisfaction, and that interface design quality does not. We present herein implications and suggestions for further research.     

Combining visual customer segmentation and response modeling

Customer relationship management is a central part of Business Intelligence, and sales campaigns are often used for improving customer relationships. This paper uses advanced analytics to explore customer behavior during sales campaigns. We provide a visual, data-driven and efficient framework for customer-segmentation and campaign-response modeling. First, the customers are grouped by purchasing behavior characteristics using a self-organizing map. To this behavioral segmentation model, we link segment-migration patterns using feature plane representations. This enables visual monitoring of the customer base and tracking customer behavior before and during sales campaigns. In addition to the general segment-migration patterns, this method provides the capability to drill down into each segment to visually explore the dynamics. The framework is applied to a department store chain with more than 1 million customers.