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Embedded with artificial empathy, artificial intelligence (AI) companions (ACs) can create, communicate, and deliver value to customers. This article analyzes current and emerging ACs in order to explore AI's role in transforming customer journeys and establishing long-lasting customer relationships. It also identifies existing business challenges in developing user-AI companionship and offers a remedial strategy matrix. Purely functional or emotional capabilities lead to interest in the companion plummeting with time. The findings reveal the need to design holistic ACs with a hybrid of functional, emotional, and conversational capabilities to mitigate the uncanny valley problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the impact of virtual fitting experience on consumers purchase in- tention, literature research method was used to put forward research hypotheses based on virtual fitting experience. Five dimensions of virtual fitting experience were determined, and a theoretical model among virtual fitting experience, perceived authenticity, and consumer purchase intention was established. The hypotheses were proposed, and multiple regression analysis was carried out on the valid data. The results show that the sensory experience.emotional experience, thinking ex- perience, action experience and related experience in the virtual fitting experience have a positive impact on consumers' purchase intention; perceived authenticity plays a partial mediating role in the sensory experience, emotional experience.action experience and related experience in the vir- tual fitting experience, but it plays a complete mediating role in the thinking experience. The re- search results can provide reference for merchants with virtual fitting experience to improve the virtual fitting experience mode and marketing strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the impact of virtual fitting experience on consumers purchase intention, literature research method was used to put forward research hypotheses based on virtual fitting experience. Five dimensions of virtual fitting experience were determined, and a theoretical model among virtual fitting experience, perceived authenticity, and consumer purchase intention was established. The hypotheses were proposed, and multiple regression analysis was carried out on the valid data. The results show that the sensory experience.emotional experience, thinking experience, action experience and related experience in the virtual fitting experience have a positive impact on consumers' purchase intention; perceived authenticity plays a partial mediating role in the sensory experience, emotional experience.action experience and related experience in the virtual fitting experience, but it plays a complete mediating role in the thinking experience. The research results can provide reference for merchants with virtual fitting experience to improve the virtual fitting experience mode and marketing strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A constructive learning experience for postgraduate students is important for higher educational institutions, particularly in emerging markets such as South Africa. The context of the student and supervisor relationship, operating in an intensive service delivery system, is also vitally important in this context, in order to secure a positive and successful learning outcome for the student. This study's aim is to evaluate postgraduate students' learning experience in an intensive higher educational service delivery system. It places the student at the center of a service design and relationship marketing approach, and highlights several areas of exploration. The study adopted a qualitative approach. Several online interviews were conducted with masters and doctoral students. The data was collected online and analysed using inductive content analysis. The main results indicate that, overall, the students' experience and emotions were positive, but that the lecturer, as internal stakeholder in the service system, should receive more support. The contributions of this study are in the practical implementation of an improved service design experience, and the elimination of possible service gaps, to secure customer loyalty and effective service delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Customer relationship management (CRM) has become increasingly important as a result of the pressure organizations are under to remain competitive. CRM has been and is widely promoted as essential to a company's ability to survive. According to this study, CRM is more than just a computer program or software package. We believe that for organizations to use CRM effectively, it must be viewed from a strategic point of view. Therefore, this study focuses on the consequences of digital marketing on business performance, specifically, the consequences of customer relationship orientation and the use of CRM technologies as a support for analysis, data integration, and access on business performance. This study addresses a contemporary and relevant research problem that has national and international relevance. The research is based on quantitative methods to test hypotheses. Data were gathered from 73 organizations. The findings show the relationships between CRM and customer satisfaction, market effectiveness, and profitability. Customer relationship orientation positively affects customer satisfaction, market effectiveness, and market profitability. CRM technologies significantly improve business performance. This research contributes to the existing knowledge by shedding light on the complex relationships among CRM, customer relationship orientation, market effectiveness, market profitability, and customer satisfaction. Based on the research results, we provide practical recommendations for managers and decision makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of market vendors at urban informal markets in Papua New Guinea are women. They face vulnerabilities related to safety, security and infrastructural support. They operate within male-dominated mediation structures where women's contributions to mediation and market governance are often invisible. However, in this article, we demonstrate how women market vendors contribute to the social aspect of market governance, particularly addressing issues of law and order within Awagasi market. Through the efforts of women vendors in mediation and conflict management, safety in the market and normal operation of the informal market have improved. The study involved 18 women market vendors, as well as male market vendors, at Awagasi market. It used focus group discussions, interviews and creative mapping to examine the different roles of women market vendors regarding mediation and market governance at Awagasi market. The study revealed the different roles women play and their social innovations in keeping peace and order in the market. Recognising women's agency in conflict management can support the promotion and strengthening of safe market spaces in urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to investigate how indigenous socio-cultural (ISC) practices within informal networks, such as guanxi and wasta, provide benefits beyond mere access. Specifically, the authors explore their global impact on B2B relationships, focusing on reciprocity. A multiregional sample extends research on ISC practices in B2B relationships by examining contingency effects of informal network ties. Design/methodology/approach: The authors surveyed 404 buyers in two developed (Hong Kong and Portugal) and two emerging economies (Kuwait and Colombia), and also categorized by strong and weak informal network ties. Using structural equation modeling, the authors examined a relationship marketing (RM) model from a typology (Clubs, Sociocracies, Clans and Compadres) for assessing contingency effects. Findings: The study reveals that in developed economies with strong formal institutions, negative aspects of favor reciprocity norms intensify unless informal networks are driven by strict sociomoral obligations. This supports research indicating that contractual governance competes rather than complements relational governance. Moreover, trust-building processes are crucial in regions with low uncertainty tolerance to mitigate adverse effects. Practical implications: Suppliers from developed nations need more than cultural communication insights when engaging in business in emerging markets. We acknowledge changes buyers may expect adherence to reciprocity rules embedded in the ISC practices of their informal networks. Originality/value: This study pioneers a typology of social structures to analyze ISC practices across buyers with varying formal institutional strength and informal network ties. It sheds light on institutional dynamics, trust-building processes, and nuances surrounding both positive and negative aspects of reciprocity practices. Furthermore, it broadens the scope of RM to Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Events and experiential marketing are a standard for many brands in practice, but they remain relatively underaddressed in the academic literature. While advertising and marketing scholarship has examined some experiential marketing and branded events, it is not typically done from a tourist consumer perspective. Thus, through the theoretical lens of the Mehrabian–Russell (M-R) model and the concept of perceived value, the current research examines event marketing and branded experiences using two field studies conducted in a leading U.S. tourist destination city (an aquarium experience, n = 340, and a retail brand–sponsored fashion show, n = 396). Study 1, with a tourist sample, takes a pre-event perspective. Findings demonstrate that prior to experiencing the event, consumers' affective evaluation of the event environment impacts both expected event entertainment (EEE) and perceived event quality (PEQ). However, only PEQ enhances tourists purchase intentions (PI) toward the event sponsor. Study 2 adopts a post-event perspective and demonstrates a boundary condition of tourist type (locals, domestic tourists, and international tourists). Findings suggest that the relationship between actual event entertainment (ACEE) and PI is stronger for international tourists, but the effect of product knowledge on PI is stronger for domestic tourists and locals (versus international tourists). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the current paper is to study how customer loyalty varies in time according to customer segments and external factors. In the first part of the paper, the authors have reviewed in a funnel-like manner the relevant literature, starting with relationship marketing and customer relationship management theories, and ending with customer loyalty. To achieve the paper’s research purpose, buying behavior data (recency of last transaction, buying frequency and monetary value spent) from a company’s internal information system was analyzed for 2019 and 2020, respectively. RFM model was applied on the 2019 data and resulted in three segments: heavy, medium, and low users - segments which varied in their loyalty for the year 2020. Based on the obtained findings, the authors concluded that the more intense a customer’s buying behavior is, the higher their probability is of being loyal in the future. A second conclusion assumes that customers characterized by intense buying behavior are less vulnerable to external threats, the Covid-19 pandemic in our case.

Long memory in test statistics can either originate from fractional integration or be spuriously induced by a short memory process with a structural break. This research estimated and detected long memory from the two causes by simulations and empirical analysis. The simulation results showed that fractional integration and structural break processes could demonstrate long memory properties. The 2ELW estimator was stable for fractional integration but not stable for time series with structural breaks. The modified W statistic based on 2ELW was efficient in discriminating fractional integration and structural breaks. Moreover, we found that six volatility time series of stock indexes and individual stocks in the Chinese market experience significant long memory and structural breaks, and the fractional differencing parameter is overestimated without controlling structural breaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Taiwan Journal of Sociology of Education is the property of Taiwan Association for the Sociology of Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: This study aims to embark on a bibliometric journey through the International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management (IJR&DM) to delve into its rich repository of applied retailing research. Design/methodology/approach: 626 publications in IJR&DM between 2015 and 2023 have been retrieved from Scopus for performance analysis of the journal's publication (productivity) and citation (impact) trends as well as a science mapping of the journal's collaborators (contributors) and major themes (contributions). Findings: The performance analysis highlights the growth in the productivity and impact of IJR&DM alongside its most cited publications, most prolific contributors, most relied-on journals, as well as the authors, institutions, countries, and journals that the journal has impacted the most. The co-authorship analysis reveals the collaboration (i.e., international with a high concentration in Europe and North America along with an emerging presence in Asia) of IJR&DM. Keyword co-occurrence analysis and bibliographic coupling reveal eight themes. Our exploration revealed close interconnections among various domains including retailing and adaptive strategies, channel strategies, customer experience, market innovations, operations management, relationship marketing, shopping motivation, and sustainability. Research limitations/implications: Although this study delivers a state-of-the-art overview of the retail industry through the scientific contributions from IJR&DM, it remains limited to the insights from a single authoritative source of knowledge on retailing. Originality/value: No review, to date, has been conducted for IJR&DM. This study provides the inaugural retrospective of the scientific contributions of IJR&DM, outlining publication and citation trends alongside the intellectual structure of its body of knowledge on retailing. Theoretically, this retrospective is pivotal in charting the intellectual growth and thematic nuances inherent in retail research. Practically, this study serves as a guide for practitioners, enabling them to make strategically informed decisions and craft forward-looking strategies in sync with current realities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the impact of product market competition on firms' systematic risk. Using a measure of total product market similarity, we document a strong negative relationship between market power and market betas. The effect more than triples in the most recent period of low competition. Anticompetitive mergers result in a significant reduction in market betas. Firms facing less competition seem to be partially insulated from systematic discount‐rate shocks. Lower equity costs therefore imply that market power is partly self‐perpetuating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While waiting has been a prevalent and mentally taxing experience for consumers in marketing scenarios, little research has explored situational factors that enhance consumer patience. Drawing on the priming theory, attachment theory, and conservation of resources theory, the current research examines how cuteness as a situational factor affects consumer patience. Across five experiments (N = 1030), we demonstrate that exposure to cuteness enhances consumer patience (Study 1). Moreover, we uncover that the effect is driven by perceived social support employing both mediation (Study 2) and moderation approaches (Study 3). Furthermore, we identify time pressure as the moderator, such that the effect of cuteness on consumer patience only exists among individuals under low time pressure and disappears for those under high time pressure (Study 4). Finally, we examine the downstream consequence of consumer patience for word-of-mouth positivity (Study 5). These findings contribute to the literature on cuteness, patience, and perceived social support, while also offering practical implications for companies seeking to enhance consumer patience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyze the influence of service quality, relationship marketing, perceived value, and satisfaction on intention to continue relationships in the business-to-business context of lubricant companies in Indonesia. We utilized the theoretical perspectives of the Social Exchange Theory and Expectation–Confirmation Theory. The research sample comprised 135 distributors of lubricant companies in Indonesia selected through saturated sampling. Data collection employed a survey method, and data were analyzed using PLS-SEM. The results indicate that service quality and relational marketing significantly affect perceived value while perceived value significantly influences satisfaction. However, the direct influence of perceived value on the intention to continue relationships was not significant. Conversely, satisfaction was found to have a significant positive influence on the intention to continue relationships. These findings underscore the importance of integrating sustainability principles into service quality, relationship marketing, and satisfaction strategies to foster long-term business relationships in the B2B context within the lubricant industry in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As museums shift their responsibilities and functions towards audience-centered approaches, research on exploring museum cultural communication strategies through visitor experiences has gained increasing attention from both academia and industry. This study focuses on the newly opened Nan Song Deshou Palace Relics Site Museum in Hangzhou, China, completed at the end of 2022, and its visitors. Data were collected through on-site surveys and in-depth interviews. The research findings indicate that the current motivations of museum visitors manifest primarily in three forms: knowledge exploration, social interaction, and psychological restoration. After evaluating the existing museum service quality based on the field of experiential value in marketing management, two main issues and features were identified. The issues include sub-optimal visitor pathways and layout, dissatisfaction with staff services, and shortcomings in promotion and communication. The overall cultural learning and interactive experience for the entire visitor base also require improvement. The features are characterized by differentiated cultural and creative consumption in the museum and the emergence of interrelated consumer demands. Based on these findings, the study provides targeted recommendations for future museum construction and communication strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neoliberal approach to globalization is in crisis. This supposes a conjunctural moment in terms of questioning the current framework or world order. Under this context, the role of the state in its relationship with the market is theoretically examined, explicating, in general form, the neoliberal globalization's main implications towards peripheral regions in terms of its origin, evolution, and underlying premises. After, given the connotation and limits of these implications, the main governance mechanisms that could shape this process towards the construction of a more inclusive and equitable world order are explained, as an alternative proposal to guide the advance of globalization in the neoliberal capitalism context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The marketing mix is a core business that is very closely related to the targeted patients, so that hospital efforts are specifically closely related to patient behavior in utilizing services. The aim of this research is to determine the relationship between the marketing mix and the patient's decision to choose health services in outpatient and inpatient installations at Sandi Karsa Hospital, Makassar. The type of research used is quantitative research with a cross sectional study design. The population in this study was 97 outpatients and 76 inpatients. Sample determination was carried out using the accidental sampling method. Data analysis used univariate, bivariate with chi square test and multivariate with multiple logistic regression test. The results showed that in outpatient installations, there was a relationship between product (p=0.003), staff (p=0.009), physical evidence (p=0.001), process (p=0.000), and performance (p=0.000), there was no relationship between price (p=1,000), promotion (p=0.554), place (p=1,000), and strength (p=1,000) with the patient's decision to choose health services at Sandi Karsa Hospital. Meanwhile, in inpatient installations there is a relationship between product (p=0.005), place (p=0.017), staff (p=0.000), process (p=0.002) and physical evidence (p=0.006), there is no price relationship (p= 0.674), promotion (p=1.000), performance (p=1.000), and strength (p=0.358) with the patient's decision to choose health services at Sandi Karsa Hospital Makassar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The present study aims to propose a conceptual model for the management of destination marketing on the consumer side in order to fill a research gap in the literature regarding the ability of experiential value quality to increase destination loyalty. Design - The research, designed as a quantitative research, included data provided by 208 respondents related to culinary destination experience quality, value-oriented storytelling, destination image, and destination loyalty. Methodology - This quantitative study involved tourists visiting the culinary destination of Semarang city in Indonesia. The data collected from 208 visitors were analysed using a structural equation model (AMOS software). Findings - The primary finding of the research emerged from the result of the serial mediation hypothesis test, which stated that improving the quality of experience of a culinary destination would enhance the effectiveness of value-based storytelling, which in turn would improve the image of the culinary destination and strengthen the loyalty of the destination. Originality- The originality of this research lies in the introduction of two new concepts -- first, the experiential quality of a culinary destination in two dimensions, hard-value experience and soft-value recall, and second, the concept of value-based storytelling developed as a perspective of service-dominant logic theory. We have integrated both concepts into a conceptual model and successfully tested them with tourists in culinary destinations.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Academic research has intensively analyzed the relationship between market concentration or market power and banking stability but provides ambiguous results, which are summarized under the concentration-stability/fragility view. We provide empirical evidence that the mixed results are due to the difficulty of identifying reliable variables to measure concentration and market power. Design/methodology/approach: Using data from 3,943 banks operating in the European Union (EU)-15 between 2013 and 2020, we employ linear regression models on panel data. Banking market concentration is measured by the Herfindahl–Hirschman Index (HHI), and market power is estimated by the product-specific Lerner Indices for the loan and deposit market, respectively. Findings: Our analysis reveals a significantly stability-decreasing impact of market concentration (HHI) and a significantly stability-increasing effect of market power (Lerner Indices). In addition, we provide evidence for a weak (or even absent) empirical relationship between the (non)structural measures, challenging the validity of the structure-conduct-performance (SCP) paradigm. Our baseline findings remain robust, especially when controlling for a likely reverse causality. Originality/value: Our results suggest that the HHI may reflect other factors beyond market power that influence banking stability. Thus, banking supervisors and competition authorities should investigate market concentration and market power simultaneously while considering their joint impact on banking stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the current research is to explain and investigate the pattern of using experiential marketing in building tourism dreams. In terms of purpose, this research is applied, in terms of data collection, it is descriptive-survey and quantitative research. The research community was formed by tourists visiting Khuzestan province during the years 2020-2021 (the last 10 years), whose number is unlimited and uncertain. The sample size based on Cochran’s formula was 384 people who were selected by simple random method. Data collection was done through a closed questionnaire, and its reliability and validity were confirmed through the conducted tests. The mentioned questionnaire was prepared based on the results of data analysis related to the data obtained from interviews with experts in the design stage of the model. To test the model of using experiential marketing in the construction of tourism dreams, the structural equation model test was used, which was done through PLS software. The results showed that there is a significant relationship between the model variables. In such a way that the causal conditions have a positive effect on the central phenomenon; The central phenomenon, background conditions, and intervention conditions have a positive, positive, and negative effect on strategies, respectively; And finally, the strategies had a positive and significant effect on the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The paper aims to reveal the impact of relationship marketing (RM) practices adopted by companies in emerging markets on their market and financial performance (FP) over a long-term, 13-year perspective. Design/methodology/approach – The research design combines primary empirical data from 229 Russian companies, based on the Contemporary Marketing Practices (CMP) survey, and objective FP data from official statistical databases for 2008–2020 to verify the impact of RM practices on market and FP in the long term. Findings – The research underlines the significant impact of RM practices. It is important to notice that the effect of product development (PD) on marketing performance is mediated by competitor orientation. PD affects market and FP, whose roles vary with the return on assets (ROA). Research limitations/implications – Research design supplements the subjective survey data with the objective FP data on the ROA to avoid common method bias. Practical implications – Implementation of RM practices by Russian companies can increase their effectiveness of performance in the long term. Originality/value – This research shows the positive impact of RM practices on the FP of Russian firms over the past 13 years.

Bitcoin futures exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are recent innovations in cryptocurrency investment. This article studies the price-volume relationship in this market from an information perspective. We first propose effective mutual information which has better estimation accuracy to analyze the contemporaneous relationship. Using half-hourly trading data of the world's largest Bitcoin futures ETF, we find that trading volume changes and returns contain information about each other and are contemporaneously dependent. Then, we employ effective transfer entropy to examine the intertemporal relationship. The results show that there exists information transfer from volume changes to returns in most of our sample period, suggesting the presence of return predictability and market inefficiency. However, information transfer in the opposite direction occurs much less frequently, and the amount is typically smaller. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the potential economic and labour market impacts of a hypothetical but plausible migration scenario of 250,000 new migrants inspired by Austria's experience in 2015. Using the agent-based macroeconomic model developed by Poledna et al. (Eur Econ Rev, 151:104306, 2023. 10.1016/j.euroecorev.2022.104306, the study explores the detailed labour market outcomes for different groups in Austria's population and the macroeconomic effects of the migration scenario. The analysis suggests that Austria's economy and labour market have the potential to be resilient to the simulated migration influx. The results indicate a positive impact on GDP due to increased aggregate consumption and investment. The labour market experiences an increase in the unemployment rates of natives and previous migrants. In some industries, the increase in the unemployment rates is more significant, potentially indicating competition among different groups of migrants. This research provides insights for policymakers and stakeholders in Austria and other countries that may face the challenge of managing large-scale migration in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, there has been a lot of interest in industry and academia in virtual influencers (VIs). This study aimed to augment the understanding of VI marketing by exploring the relationship between VI's characteristics (i.e., their humanlikeness level and operator type), their social media post characteristics (i.e., emotional expression, use of pronouns, use of punctuation marks), and consumer engagement. The analysis of three popular VIs' Instagram profiles and posts revealed that VIs with less humanlike appearances tend to exhibit stronger positive emotional expressions. Interestingly, the level of humanlikeness in appearance was not associated with VI's other post characteristics, suggesting other intrinsic factors (e.g., the VI's character and virtual universe) may play a pivotal role. Whether a brand operates the VI or not made a statistically significant difference in the VI's post characteristics. Assessment of user engagement metrics (i.e., number of likes and comments) showed that users prefer hyper-realistic VIs and VIs operated by non-brand agencies, underscoring the importance of perceived authenticity in the digital realm. The emotions expressed by VIs, along with their use of punctuation, were positively related to user engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the connectedness and the tail risk spillover between clean energy and oil firms, from January 2011 to October 2021. To this, we use the Tail-Event driven NETworks (TENET) risk model. This approach allows for a measurement of the dynamics of tail-risk spillover for each sector and firm. Hence, we can provide a detailed picture of the existing extreme relationships within these markets. We find that the total connection between the markets varies during the period analysed, showing how the uncertainty in oil price plays a critical role in the risk dynamics for oil companies. Also, we find that relationships between energy firms tend to be intrasectoral; that is, each sector receives (emits) risk from (to) itself. These results can have important practical implications for risk management and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the link between retail and modernity and bring as case study the Romanian perception of the future of the store. The research combines insights from secondary data consumer perception study with the potential applications of AI research. We explore convergences and divergences between AI-generated perspectives and actual consumer beliefs and expectations, focusing on technology integration, sustainability, and experiential retail. While both AI and the the consumer perception study highlight the importance of technology, the research reveals specific consumer concerns like affordability and cultural nuances that AI might not fully capture. The combined analysis offers valuable insights into Romanian consumer preferences and identifies potential future trends in the retail landscape. By acknowledging limitations like the scope of AI analysis and data source restrictions, we emphasize the need for further research integrating AI with diverse research methods for a comprehensive understanding of the future of retail in Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global manufacturing landscape is undergoing a profound shift, and the paradigm of service-led industrial evolution has taken on paramount importance. Service-oriented manufacturing has emerged as a pivotal conduit for the transformation and elevation of China's sporting goods manufacturing sector. However, we acknowledge that the current state of service-oriented transformation in this sector is still in an embryonic phase. The nuanced interplay between the level of servitization and its consequent impact on corporate performance, along with the intricate forms of interference exerted by various factors in the process of servitization, are shrouded in ambiguity. This article, which is predicated upon the financial disclosures of China's sporting goods manufacturing enterprises listed on the A-share and New Third Board markets, presents a rigorous investigation. Through the construction of an imbalanced panel dataset covering the period of 2007 to 2022, we embark on an empirical journey examining the intricacies of a moderated mediation model to ascertain the mechanisms underlying the influence of servitization on the performance of sporting goods manufacturing entities. Through this research, we unearth a compelling revelation: (1) Within the cohort of sampled enterprises, an elevation of servitization evokes a modest suppressive effect on corporate performance, thus resulting in the enigmatic "servitization paradox." (2) A total of 29.1% of the servitization impact on enterprise performance is achieved through marketing intensity; that is, there is a partial mediating effect of marketing intensity on the relationship between servitization and enterprise performance. (3) Market power play a negative regulatory role in this relationship, which drives the servitization paradox in sporting goods manufacturing but can also promote the positive impact of servitization on marketing intensity. In addition, with the expansion of market power, corporate servitization does not need to impact corporate performance through marketing activities. (4) R&D intensity negatively affects the relationship between marketing intensity and corporate performance, promotes the inhibitory effect of marketing intensity on corporate performance, and aggravates the inhibitory effect of servitization on corporate performance through marketing intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study adopts a cross-cultural perspective and investigates the ways in and the extent to which the pragmatic choices made by the authors of COVID-19 signs announcing business closures in the UK and in Greece could reflect the Relationship Marketing approach. The data for the study comes from a large corpus of COVID-19 related public signs that appeared in London and Athens between 2020 and 2022. The analysis of the data focuses on the extent to which the relationship between the businesses and the customers is treated as personal and intimate. To this end three types of pragmatic choices are examined in detail: (i) (in)directness and (in)formality of directives used on the signs, (ii) conveyance of emotions, and (iii) the extent to which future encounters and transactions with the customers are thematised. The analysis shows that the pragmatic choices of UK sign authors reflect the Relationship Marketing approach to a far greater extent than those of their Greek counterparts. This finding is discussed in the light of observed cultural differences and the possible impact of Relationship Marketing on language use. • Cross-cultural investigation of the influence of Relationship Marketing on COVID-19 signs in Greece and the UK. • Data drawn from a large corpus of business closure signs that appeared in the two countries during the first two lockdowns. • Both UK and Greek messages seek to establish and maintain a relationship with their customers. • UK authors tend to be more direct, informal and emotional than their Greek counterparts. • The influence of the Relationship Marketing approach is found to be much bigger in the UK than in the Greek signs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of GeSec: Revista de Gestao e Secretariado is the property of Sindicato das Secretarias e Secretarios do Estado de Sao Paulo (SINSESP) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The public sector's possibilities of using geospatial technologies are vast and can improve public management. In the Brazilian Federal Government, the use of geospatial technologies is unknown, nor is it known the main applications and public and private actors involved. This research proposes to analyze the geospatial technologies market in the Federal Government between the years 2011 and 2019 through public data of contracts. Through the individual analysis of 600 contracts, we concluded that R$ 804,747,626.99 were negotiated during the period. The contracts mainly involved Remote Sensing and Aerophotogrammetry (50%) and Geographic Information Systems (33%) solutions, applied primarily in the thematic areas of Oil & Gas (39%), Infrastructure (19%), and Environment & Natural Resources (10%). Fototerra was the leading company, providing R$ 155,553,107.03 in products and services. The foremost acquiring institution was the Ministry of Mines and Energy, contracting R$ 410 million, of which Petrobras acquired R$ 311 million. This paper showed how different federal institutions use Geography's technological bases to fulfill their missions, improve social well-being, and contribute to a more developed, less unequal, and fairer country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Fomento Social is the property of ETEA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Ad-gnosis is the property of Ad-gnosis Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Evidence from the literature emphasize the role of Farmers’ Markets (FMs) in enhancing economic benefits for both producers and consumers, improving social outcomes and benefiting the environment. Therefore, FMs can be conceived not just as an alternative to the market, but also as a specific way of shaping producers-consumers relationships, which influences and is at the same time the result of their respective selling-buying models. This article aims at investigating the hypothesis of FMs as a specific and structural form of producers-consumers relationships, and collecting evidence on their perceptions, motivations and behaviour at the markets, and on the impact of selling and purchasing at these FMs on sustainability dimensions. For this purpose, we selected a sample of FMs in the north of Tuscany (Italy) and submitted two in-person semi-structured questionnaires, to both producers and consumers. The methodology was based on actors’ self-assessment supported by guiding interviewers. Results showed how producers and consumers participating in FMs, although with differences across FMs types, do not only activate market relationships, but share, learn and build values together. Indeed, FMs are perceived by the actors involved as a structural and alternative framework, giving space and shaping alternative producers-consumers connections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The predominant tradition in the literature is to scrutinise the competitive performance of passive and active investment strategies with less regard to the prevailing market climate. The thesis of this paper is that volatile market conditions may necessitate investment strategy adjustments. Such readjustments may confound empirical comparison of passive and active investing if econometric models do not adapt accordingly. Currently, the literature cannot give a stylised fact of whether the historical claims of passive-active relationships relate to normal market conditions or not, which is a flaw. The present study reduces the flagged knowledge gap by answering the question whether passive investment outperforms active investing under normal market conditions. The study applies the parametric and non-parametric risk-adjusted models of the Jensen alpha and Sharpe index. The empirical analysis is based on the weekly returns of 16 unit trusts listed on South Africa's Johannesburg Stock Exchange for ten years (between 2009 and 2019). Consistent with the hypothesis of inefficient capital markets in developing economies, the study finds that active investing significantly outperforms passive investment strategy under normal market conditions. The results should benefit investors and policymakers in the era of increasing competitiveness, digitalisation, and globalisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to provide a systematic review of consumer privacy literature in the context of smartphones and undertake a comprehensive analysis of academic research on this evolving research area. Design/methodology/approach: This review synthesises antecedents, consequences and mediators reported in consumer privacy literature and presents these factors in a conceptual framework to demonstrate the consumer privacy phenomenon. Findings: Based on the synthesis of constructs reported in the existing literature, a conceptual framework is proposed highlighting antecedents, mediators and outcomes of experiential marketing efforts. Finally, this study deciphers overlooked areas of consumer privacy in the context of smartphone research and provides insightful directions to advance research in this domain in terms of theory development, context, characteristics and methodology. Originality/value: This study significantly contributes to consumer behaviour literature, specifically consumer privacy literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Evaluating existing literature can lead to a better understanding of a scientific journal's state of the art. In this sense, this study aims to analyze the global research evolution of the Revista Europea de Dirección y Economia de la Empresa (REDEE) and the European Journal of Management and Business Economics (EJMBE). Design/methodology/approach: A bibliometric analysis was conducted to acknowledge the most contributing authors, impactful articles, publication trends, keyword analysis, co-occurrence networks and collaboration networks. A total of 454 articles published between 2006 and 2022 were analyzed. Findings: The results suggest that the international strategy set in 2014 has resulted in a steadily growing number of publications and a significant increment in citations. Relationship marketing and the connections between innovation, performance and entrepreneurship are topics of interest for the EJMBE. Originality/value: Mapping existing EJMBE research through identifying the contributing authors, most impactful articles, publication trends, keyword analysis, co-occurrence networks and collaboration networks is missing to encourage new research projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This research aims to investigate whether smartphone brands have gender from the perspective of Iranian users and examine the relationship between different genders of smartphones and brand equity with mediating role of customer loyalty. This is a quantitative study that uses inferential statistics to evaluate hypotheses. A standardized questionnaire with 26 questions was used as the research instrument. The statistical population consisted of users of the six most widely-used smartphone brands in Iran (Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi, Huawei, Sony and Nokia), who could participate in the online survey through social networks (Instagram, WhatsApp, and Telegram). The simple random probability sampling method involved 472 samples. Smart PLS version 3 and SPSS version 26 were used to analyze the data. The research was carried out from June 2022 to February 2023. The results show that smartphones have gender from the perspective of Iranian users. Brand femininity and masculinity correlate significantly and positively with customer loyalty to smartphones. Customer loyalty has a significant and positive relationship with brand equity in smartphones. Both brand femininity and masculinity increase brand equity through customer loyalty, with brand femininity having a more significant impact on brand equity than brand masculinity. The biological gender of smartphone users has no relationship with customer loyalty and does not affect their perception of brand femininity and masculinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aimed to measure the effect of relationship marketing in achieving value for the customer. The research was conducted in a sample of private Iraqi commercial banks in Baghdad, which are represented by ten banks listed on the stock market. The real problem that the banks in the research sample suffer from is the severe and continuous acceleration in environmental conditions and customer tastes. And the rapid technological changes, which

Customer Success Management (CSM) is an emerging B2B strategy designed to prioritize and maximize customers’ value-in-use. Scholars have questioned whether CSM represents a rebranding of extant customer management practices or an evolution of customer management practices. This research investigates key differences between CSM and Relationship Marketing (RM) through a literature review of definitions and statements, and by comparing and contrasting specific tasks of CSM and RM amongst eight categories of analysis. The study found significant differences between CSM and RM, particularly around sales orientation, goals and outcomes, integration/partnership, company performance, and value. Overall, our findings offer a solid view of how CSM fits with and builds upon existing RM practice.

There is a widely believed tradition that good or high-quality agency–client relationships make for superior advertising campaigns, with many scholars highlighting the benefits agency professionals bring to the advertising creative development process. However, not all agree, and some scholars point to a "dark side" of apparently good relationships—an alternative tradition that is based on agency theory. This approach suggests agencies can take advantage of clients who are highly committed. Our research focuses on the agency perspective to this question and collects data on 518 campaigns from London and Amsterdam agencies. We show both traditions have merit in that the two processes operate simultaneously. When agencies perceive that the quality of their client relationship is low, the professionalism of agency personnel shines through developing original, strategic, and creative work. But when relationship quality is considered high, dark side problems emerge. However, there is a bright side to good relationships. Creativity theory suggests that a good relationship can increase the intrinsic motivation of agency staff such that their increased passion for the work offsets dark side problems—something for which we find empirical support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study develops and tests a thesis derived from the law of requisite variety. We contend that the greater the experiential variety of a top management team, the more likely it is that the complexity and consistency of the firm's competitive repertoire will be calibrated to relevant external variety. In addition, for firms that achieve such calibrated repertoires, we expect that their financial performance will be superior to that of their peers. We then integrate these arguments and examine whether top management team experiential variety indirectly, through calibrated repertoires, contributes to firm performance. Analyzing hand-collected data for firms operating in the 3D printing industry over the past three decades (1986-2017), we find support for the overall thesis and associated hypotheses. The discussion section elaborates on the study's contributions, limitations, and future research potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the relationship between design, branding, and marketing in the context of the complex and unpredictable landscape of contemporary businesses. It highlights the blending of boundaries between service sectors and the concept of the 'Experience Economy'. The article emphasizes the importance of customer value and its role in shaping business strategies. It also discusses the symbiotic relationship between marketing and design, noting that the successful synergy of these disciplines is crucial for organizations seeking to thrive in the competitive marketplace. The article includes several papers that delve into various aspects of theory and practice, such as brand hate, localized retail store designs, flexible brand visual identities, marketing assets in the hospitality and tourism sector, the visual appearance of product brand extensions, and the development of a tool for retail designers. Overall, these papers offer valuable insights into brand reputation, customer experience, and value creation in today's dynamic business environment. [Extracted from the article]

Farm to Table Business is one of the platform for selling agricultural products by digital marketing that really needs a relationship marketing strategy to add customers and increase customer loyalty by increasing customer gratitude. Relationship marketing is a form of strategy to retain customers. The purpose of this research is to analyze the effect of relationship marketing on customer gratitude and the effect of customer gratitude on customer loyalty at Farm to Table Business. This study used a purposive sampling technique to determine the sample with a total of 100 respondents. The data analysis technique in this study used SEM PLS (Partial Least Square) with Warp PLS 7.0 software. The results of this research show that: (1) Relationship marketing has a positive and highly significant effect on customer gratitude by 0.22; (2) Customer Gratitude has a positive and highly significant effect on customer loyalty by 0.56.

The digital transformation fostered by the increasing leverage of artificial intelligence (AI) has been a critical influencing factor unleashing the next wave of enterprise business disruption. Marketing is one of the business streams witnessing this transformation on a very intense scale. Contemporary marketing has begun to experiment with modern, cutting-edge technologies, such as AI, deploying them in mainstream operations to ensure accelerated success. This article explores the use of AI in marketing as an emergent stream of research. Based on inferences from earlier studies, the study categorizes marketing into five distinct functional themes—integrated digital marketing, content marketing, experiential marketing, marketing operations, and market research—and 19 sub-functional themes (activity levers). Across the chosen themes and sub-themes, the study further dovetails into and identifies 170 featured use cases of the extant literature, where AI is leveraged by marketing in delivering superior quality outcomes and experiences. By way of a systematic literature review (SLR), the article evaluates 57 qualifying publications in the context of AI-powered marketing and qualitatively and quantitatively ranks them based on their coverage, impact, relevance, and contributed guidance, and elucidates the findings across various sectors, research contexts, and scenarios. The study discusses the practitioner and academic research implications and proposes a future research agenda to study the continuous transformation fostered by accelerated adoption of AI across the marketing landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]