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Employs a case study method, using in-depth interviews of 29 corporate managers and experts, to understand the current state of mobilization in the life insurance industry. Suggests a conceptual framework and formulates possible research propositions incorporating several variables. Suggests 10 key success factors for implementing mobilization in the life insurance industry. (Author/AEF)

This study examines consumer perceptions toward the increasing number of luxurious high-tech products (LHTPs) on the market. LHTPs have two distinctly different natures of technology and luxury elements as that a luxury good suggests long-term and eternal use when the high-tech product implies quick obsolescence. However, currently, no theoretical framework exists for predicting the purchase intention of such products. Thus, this work integrates the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the brand luxury index (BLI) as a research framework. An online survey (N = 318) of three real-world LHTPs was conducted to test the research hypotheses. Results show that two variables (usefulness and ease of use) from the TAM and two variables (hedonism and extended self) from the BLI are positively associated with purchase intentions. In addition, the positive effect of ease of use on purchase intention can be enhanced when participants perceive high hedonism. The findings indicate the main and moderating effects of luxury perceptions when applied to LHTPs, which encourage high-tech product designers to include the luxury attributes in their designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The article presents information on the characteristics of Internet book reviews and its effects on consumer purchase intentions. This offers internet bookstores with a reference for managing their book reviews. They can also assist the librarians in collection development and book circulation promotion. Internet book reviews not only assist consumers in their book purchasing decisions by providing useful information, but they also provide important information for librarians choosing books. Recent research on book reviews indicated that the general reading public often considers certain professional book review magazines to be important reference sources in making book selections. The majority of reviews were written either by professionals hired by book publishers or by professional book reviewers proactively publishing their reviews in the media. Not only do book reviews need to explain the important concepts in a book but they also need to criticize it. Additionally, librarians could reference the results to assist their borrowers to manage and utilize internet commentaries and internet word-of-mouth communications.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate how customer participation (CP) influences the two contrasting relationship maintenance mechanisms: dedication and constraint, and identifies its antecedents in the context of business-to-business information technology (IT) services.Design/methodology/approach An empirical study was conducted through a survey of 126 firms receiving IT services in Taiwan. The partial least squares method was used to test the conceptual model of the study.Findings The results indicated that CP positively relates to IT service quality, thereby influencing satisfaction (i.e. dedication). In addition, CP was also found to be positively associated with switching costs (i.e. constraint). Both satisfaction and switching costs have significant influences on loyalty. Furthermore, IT capabilities, organizational compatibility, and role clarity are positively related to CP.Research limitations/implications Longitudinal studies are needed to explore how CP affects the dual mechanisms in different phases of customer-firm relationships.Originality/value The study contributes to a thorough understanding of the influences of CP on relationship maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Stimulated by trends in group purchasing and online social communities, consumers are changing their shopping behavior and increasingly turning to websites for their shopping needs. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how website quality influences shopping websites to create value for the customer and promote loyalty among customers, as well as moderating effects of online shopping experience.Design/methodology/approach This study collected data from 275 respondents for testing against the proposed research model by means of the partial least squares (PLS) path modeling. ADANCO software was used to assess the reliability and validity of the measurement model, conduct an analysis of the goodness of model fit for the overall model, and test the hypotheses through structural modeling.Findings Empirical results demonstrate that system quality and electronic service quality (e-service quality) have a significant positive effect on the perceived value of consumer/seller relationship; the perceived value of the consumer/seller relationship has a significant positive effect on online loyalty; online shopping experience does not exert a moderating effect on the relationship between website quality and the perceived value of consumer/seller relationship.Originality/value This study applied the PLS path modeling approach using ADANCO variance-based structural equation modeling software to verify that website quality plays an important role in distinguishing a brand from other brands in e-tailing, making it an essential factor of a shopping website’s business success. This study further verified that the amount of previous online shopping experience a consumer has does not interfere with the positive influence that website quality exerts on the perceived value of the consumer/seller relationship. The above indicates that it is imperative for website managers to adopt online shopping experience of consumers as a market segmentation variable so as to enhance website quality, increase the perceived value of consumer-seller relationships, and win consumer loyalty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this research is to explore, through the lens of a resource-based view and dynamic capability theory, how new ventures in high-technology industries accumulate resources to survive and sustain competitive advantage. Design/methodology/approach - This study used the multiple case study approach completed for three integrated circuit (IC) design companies in Taiwan by conducting in-depth interviews with senior executives in each case. Through the aforementioned case studies, the paper was able to summarize and verify the key elements and steps to find the customer and achieve the firm growth. Findings - It was found that three core elements, technology, networking and legitimacy are necessary. In addition, there are emerging and embedding steps adopted by each case in this study for new ventures to successfully penetrate the market and sustain the competitive advantage. Research limitations/implications - The findings are focused on one country, and three cases of a specific industry in Taiwan. Future research can be conducted in different cultural contexts and different industries. Practical implications - New ventures in high-technology industries can follow the elements and steps suggested in this research paper to accumulate their initial resources. The strategy has been proven by the case studies therein and can be considered highly applicable. Originality/value - The paper concludes that three key resources for sustaining a company's competitive advantages are necessary. Moreover, a well-orchestrated management is especially essential for new ventures in high-technology industries to succeed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - Enterprise mobilization refers to the provision by an enterprise of the means for its employees to update information at any time and any place through the use of a wireless network system and related equipment. The implementation of enterprise mobilization can be separated into two main methods, non-enforceable and enforceable. Non-enforceable implementation refers to those situations where, although an enterprise encourages its employees to use a mobilized system, it does not enforce such use, whereas the reverse is true in the case of enforceable methods. Aims to examine this situation. Design/methodology/approach - Since this is a relatively new research topic with very little previous research having been undertaken in this area, this paper employs a triangulation. This method enables integration of both quantitative and qualitative data, to investigate the critical success factors (CSFs) for the implementation of non-enforceable mobilization by enterprises. The data were collected by means of in-depth interviews with corporate managers and specialists from 29 enterprises and comprise 126 samples of employees currently using mobilization systems. Findings - The study reveals a total of six CSFs for the implementation of non-enforceable mobilization by enterprises, comprising cooperation with a good solution "value added reseller"; appropriate planning and the support of senior management; user participation and minimization of any resistance to the installation of the system; open communication channels; enhancement of the understanding of mobilization itself and of employee requirements and effective mobilization equipment Originality/value - This paper will be of interest to organizations looking to implement a wireless network system. The results provided can be used as references for industry and businesses in general, to support their decision-making processes concerning the introduction of mobilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The choice of medical services affects an individual's treatment and health. However, few studies have focused on medical electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM), which has the greatest impact on such choices. This study was performed to explore the need for and general public's attitude toward medical eWOM and provide a reference for government, media, and medical practitioners. In this study, 84% of the respondents had experience using online evaluation platforms to search for eWOM, and those who were satisfied with the online evaluation platforms substantially outnumbered those who were dissatisfied. The respondents generally believed that there is a need for physician evaluation platforms, although a difference remained between respondents who needed the online evaluation platforms (72.0%) and were willing to reference them (72.0%) and those who trusted them (46.5%) and were willing to provide their opinions (55.0%). These results could signify that despite the public's need, the public remains doubtful of the information provided by these online evaluation platforms.