Antonio Lobo

Organic food products in China: determinants of consumers’ purchase intentions

This article aims to investigate the dimensions influencing consumers’ purchase intentions of organic food products in urban China. The conceptual model for this study was developed based on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), consumer decision-making process (CDP) and the hierarchy of effects model. The original survey instrument comprised of 52 statements and data were collected in China in two stages, i.e. 200 valid online responses were collected for the purpose of the pilot study and later 960 paper-based responses were obtained from four major Chinese cities. Data analysis was performed using exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM). The findings of this study revealed that Chinese consumers’ purchase of organic food products is influenced by the following dimensions: product, regulatory and lifestyle (variety seeking and self-indulgence). Additionally, the above-mentioned dimensions had a direct or indirect impact on pre-purchase evaluation and purchase intentions. Consumers’ beliefs and attitudes towards the purchase of organic food products influenced pre-purchase evaluation, and finally pre-purchase evaluation impacted on the behavioural intention of existing and potential consumers.

Evaluating entrepreneurs' perception of success: Development of a measurement scale

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the insights of founding entrepreneurs to understand what they consider as indicators for achieving entrepreneurial success. Using this information, the construct entrepreneurial success was conceptualized and a scale developed for use in subsequent testable models. Design/methodology/approach – Through qualitative research, the concept of entrepreneurial success was explored with ten founding entrepreneurs. Themes emerged from this enquiry process which informed the development of nine indicators. The indicators were subjected to exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis in a subsequent study, comprising 213 founding entrepreneurs. The result is an early attempt to produce a measurement scale for entrepreneurial success, as perceived by the entrepreneur. Findings – Entrepreneurs perceive entrepreneurial success as the presence of both personal and macro level variables. This research supports theorizing that suggests entrepreneurial success is a multi...

An empirical model of home internet services quality in Thailand

Purpose – This study aims to investigate the antecedents to service quality and their relationship with affective evaluations of customers of internet service providers (ISPs) in Thailand. Design/methodology/approach – In order to achieve the research objectives, a model is proposed. The literature review and formulation of hypotheses related to each construct are then discussed. Findings – The findings reveal that service quality is influenced by network quality, customer service, information support, privacy and security. Service quality in turn also impacts customer loyalty attributes, including satisfaction, value, trust and commitment. Satisfaction is a determinant of customer trust, whereas the direct relationship between value and customer commitment is not supported. Research limitations/implications – The model in this study was tested in the Thai ISP context which may be different in other service industries as well as in other countries. Practical implications – By enhancing service quality, fi...

Children as agents of secondary socialisation for their parents

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the body of knowledge associated with consumer socialisation. The authors investigate how children function as socialisation agents for their parents in influencing their purchase intentions of computer and high‐tech products – essentially the idea of the young educating the old.Design/methodology/approach – A review of the extant literature relating to consumer socialisation, social power and knowledge about computer related and small high‐tech products yielded meaningful hypotheses. A structured survey which was required to be completed by dyads (i.e. children and parents) was mailed to Australian families in the state of Victoria. Data obtained from 180 usable responses from the dyads were analysed to test the hypotheses.Findings – Children are seen to possess expert power over their parents with regards to computer related and small high‐tech products; which make them an important agent of secondary socialisation for their parents. Men are percei...

The influence of cultural values on green purchase behaviour

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of consumers’ collectivism and long-term orientation (LTO) cultural values on their purchase intention in relation to environment-friendly products. Design/methodology/approach This research adopts a hypo-deductive research design. A unique conceptual model was developed by linking cultural values to key determinants of green purchase behaviour. This model was then tested using a quantitative survey of 682 shoppers in popular Vietnamese electrical appliance stores. Findings Analysis using structural equation modelling reveals that consumers with greater adherence to collectivism and LTO tend to engage in green purchase behaviour owing to their positive environmental attitudes, strong subjective norms and tolerance of inconvenience associated with eco-friendly product purchase. Gender is found to moderate the relationship between the determinants and purchase intention. Practical implications Marketers including manufacturers and policymakers must endeavour (change globally) to reduce or eliminate perceived inconvenience associated with green purchases. They should also effectively communicate messages stressing that eco-friendly product purchases are crucial for environmental protection and benefit consumer groups including family, peers and society in the long-run. Originality/value This research is the first of its kind which links consumers’ cultural values at a personal level to all the elements of the theory of planned behaviour. This research also extends current knowledge about green purchase behaviour in emerging markets by focussing on Vietnam.

Evaluating the drivers of sustainable behavioral intentions: An application and extension of the theory of planned behavior

Marketers have long recognized that, despite calls to protect the environment, we live in a disposable society, in which the adoption of sustainable initiatives is low. Taking a consumer’s perspective, this study uses an extension of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to investigate the drivers of sustainable behavioral intentions using a cross-section of 511 Australians aged 18 years and older. Two models were tested, one using the 3 original TPB constructs and the other using the extended version of TPB, with the latter model justifying the inclusion of internal ethics and moral intensity. We encourage marketers to work together to encourage sustainable practices that have a long-term benefit to the planet and to increase consumers’ knowledge and appeal to their motivations, particularly their internal ethics.

Evaluating consumer response associated with sponsorship of major sporting events in Australia

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the key determinants of positive consumer behaviour associated with sports sponsorship. Using the consumer decision-making process and classical conditioning principles as an underpinning framework, it examines consumer perceptions of a sponsor, sponsored property and sponsorship activity relative to their intention of purchasing a sponsors product or service. The purchase intention of consumers is analysed as an outcome of five significant constructs: event factors, sponsor factors, sponsorship factors, a pre-purchase response and the transfer of image values. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from approximately 700 respondents using a validated survey instrument. Factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used to analyse survey data. The conceptual model and hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling. Findings – The findings revealed that personal beliefs of consumers, sponsor-event fit and image transfer h...

Achieving customer loyalty through service excellence in internet industry

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the antecedents to attitudinal and behavioural loyalty of customers of Internet service providers (ISPs). In addition, this study endeavours to identify the relationship between overall service quality and cognitive as well as affective evaluations of customers. An assessment of service quality dimensions is also included to fill the void of research on modelling service quality in high tech services. Design/methodology/approach – The paper reviews the most cited articles on the topic published in academic journals with a view to identify dimensions that customers use to evaluate the quality of a service providers, and to determine loyalty formation through customer cognitive and affective evaluations in Internet industry. Findings – The exogenous constructs of the conceptual model include influential factors such as network quality, customer service, information support and security which make up the perception of overall service quality. The endogenous constructs...

Green brand benefits and their influence on brand loyalty

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the formation of green brand image through customers’ perceptions of the functional and emotional benefits associated with green brands and the influence of green brand image on purchase behavioural response. Additionally, the influence of a moderating variable (green perceived risk) on this formation process is examined. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected using an online survey administered to a consumer panel in China. Structural equation modelling was used to test the conceptual model. Findings The results demonstrate that the provision of utilitarian benefits and self-expressive benefits directly enhance the brand’s green image. Also, utilitarian benefits and green brand image have direct influences on green brand loyalty. Green perceived risk negatively moderates the relationship between utilitarian benefits and green brand image. Research limitations/implications This study extends previous research by examining the development of green brand image and investigating the moderating role of green perceived risk in this process. Also, this study enriches research on green brand and corporate branding by investigating the relationship between green brand image and brand loyalty. Originality/value Although previous research has examined how perceived benefits influence the development of corporate brand image, the issue has not been investigated from a green branding perspective. Moreover, the moderating role of green perceived risk in the formation of green brand image has not been explored, despite the concerns relating to greenwash which have been raised in several green brand studies. Finally, green brand image was found to be a strong antecedent of brand loyalty, besides the predominant elements of green trust and green satisfaction.

The influence of Vietnamese consumers’ altruistic values on their purchase of energy efficient appliances

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how consumers’ altruistic values influence their personal norms, environmental attitudes, subjective norms and perceived barriers, all of which in turn influence their pro-environmental behaviour (i.e. the purchase of energy efficient household appliances).,This research follows a hypothetic-deductive approach. A unique conceptual model examines the role of consumers’ altruistic values in relation to their environmentally responsible purchase behaviour. Structured questionnaires were administered to randomly selected Vietnamese consumers who visited busy electronics and appliance specialist stores, which yielded 682 usable responses.,Structural equation modelling revealed that consumers’ altruistic values tend to positively influence their personal norms, environmental attitudes, subjective norms and mitigate their perceived barriers in relation to the purchase of energy efficient appliances.,Marketers, policymakers and sustainability campaigners should develop relevant communication and education programmes that emphasise the importance of purchasing energy efficient appliances for the environment and society, arousing consumers’ sense of moral obligation and societal responsibility to purchase such products. They should also provide a convenient and easily accessible shopping environment for consumers.,This research makes an important contribution by presenting and testing a new altruistic-values-based model that seeks to understand consumers’ environmentally responsible purchase behaviour. This model could serve as a blueprint for future studies in the domain of pro-environmental behaviour, especially those in emerging markets.