M.G.M. Wetzels

Effectiveness of corporate employment web sites: How content and form influence intentions to apply

Purpose - Although research is emerging, the knowledge base on the evaluative determinants of the effectiveness of corporate employment web sites is still limited. This paper attempts to narrow this gap by investigating how potential job applicants evaluations of web site content- and form-related attributes contribute to corporate employment web site effectiveness. Design/methodology/approach - The approach takes the form of an empirical study using PLS path modeling. Findings - Applicants attitude toward a corporate employment web site is found to be differentially influenced by the web sites content- and form-related evaluations. In turn, attitude toward the web site influences intentions to apply. This relationship is fully mediated by attraction toward the organization. The latter is also influenced by attitude toward corporate employment web sites in general, which consequently contributes indirectly to application intentions. Research limitations/implications - Using a non-laboratory setting and a broader sample, future research should further apply a person-organization fit perspective to corporate online recruitment and investigate effects of personality-related factors such as risk/security-seeking tendencies. Furthermore, it may be worthwhile to include technology-oriented variables such as technological self-efficacy as well. Practical implications - Corporate employment web sites used to inform potential applicants about employment opportunities should be easy to use. In addition, firms should provide applicants with updated information and make sure that the information provided matches the applicants needs during their information search process.. Persons who hold a more favorable overall predisposition toward corporate employment web sites are more attracted toward an organization using such sites. This suggests that corporate employment web sites may be particularly effective for certain groups of applicants, beyond the effects of web site content and form. Originality/value - Drawing on literature in areas such as job applicant decision making, information systems, and web site effectiveness, the paper develops the understanding of the role of web site features in determining intentions to apply for a job via corporate employment web sites.

The marketing-finance interface towards financial services with special reference to the new services provided by futures exchanges

The financial services industry is one of the fastest growing service industries. The financial services industry includes financial derivatives markets such as options and futures markets. In order to ensure survival, firms providing financial services show a rapid product innovation. However, for financial services the risk of failure is considerable. Argues that a synthesis between the financial approach and the marketing approach towards financial services provides a conceptual framework for analysing the possible success or failure of futures contracts. The synthesis is illustrated by an empirical study of a new futures contract that might possibly be introduced.

Conceptualizing and isolating cultural differences in performance data in international high-tech industrial markets

In high-technology industrial markets, a shift can be observed from the mere delivery of industrial products to a total-product-offering, including both products and accompanying services. Because of the heterogeneity in buyers demands, the measurement of an organizations performance on such total-product-offerings becomes quite difficult. This problem gets even more serious when one is trying to compare the relative performance of international subsidiaries, since factors such as cultural differences and their influence on how customers report on performance have to be taken into account. This article attempts to conceptualize cultural differences and uses these for establishing international equivalence in customer survey data on the performance on a high-tech total-product-offering. The results of an empirical study reveal that cultural differences indeed influence international performance measurement. After correction for these differences, conclusions can be drawn on the relative performance of different subsidiaries. Furthermore, it is shown that intangible service elements in a high-tech total-product-offering have the strongest influence on customer satis-faction.

Beyond the Call of Duty: The Impact of Perceived Support on Attitudes and Behavior of Temporary Call Center Agents

Call centers can be considered as rapidly growing communication channels that companies use to be more customer-oriented. In many cases, temporary staff, employed by specialized temporary helping service agencies, is used within call centers. These agencies play a pivotal role in motivating and establishing desirable behaviors of the agents. In this paper we examine exchange relationships of temporary call center agents with their agency as well as the intermediary working for the temporary employment agency as antecedents to job satisfaction and in- and extra-role behavior. The results indicate that perceived intermediary support has a direct effect on in-role behavior and that perceived organizational support has a direct relationship with extra-role behavior as well as an indirect impact through job satisfaction of temporary call center agents.