Sajad Rezaei

Does value matters in playing online game? An empirical study among massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs)

Abstract A few study examined the impact of value and aspects of behavioral intention in virtual environment. The aim of this study is to examine the impact of emotional value (VE), social value (VS), price-value for money (VP), performance-quality value (VQ) and repurchase intention (RI), willingness to pay a premium price (WTP) and word of mouth (WOM) among massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs). A total of 228 valid questionnaires were collected from cybercafe customers in Klang Valley-Malaysia. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed using partial least squares (PLS) analysis to assess measurement and structural model for reflective construct. Our result reveals that there is a positive relationship between VP and RI, VQ and RI while there is no positive relationship between VE and RI, VS and RI. VE, VP and VQ value positively impact WOM but VS does not. VE and VP have positive while VQ and VS did not explain WTP. This study contributes to literature on the new phenomena of online game and is considered as few studies in examining value in Second Life setting. The practical and social implications of study are discussed along with research limitation and implication.

Online repatronage intention: an empirical study among Malaysian experienced online shoppers

Purpose – Prior studies mostly investigate initial shopping intention in developed countries. The purpose of this paper is to sketch and determine the impact of perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), perceived value (PV), trust (TRT), perceived risk (PR), privacy concern (PC), internet literacy (IL), satisfaction (SAT) on online repatronage intention (ORI) among Malaysian experienced online shoppers. Design/methodology/approach – A total of 219 valid questionnaires were collected via an online survey among experienced online shoppers across young and old students aged 18-31. Subsequently, the two-step structural equation modelling (SEM) technique was employed to empirically examine the proposed integrative theoretical research framework and model fit with maximum likelihood estimation. Findings – The statistical analyses support the relationships between PU, PV, TRT and SAT with ORI while the relationships between PEOU, PR, PC and IL with ORI were rejected in which all the factors affect...

User satisfaction with mobile websites: the impact of perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU) and trust

Purpose – The purpose of the study is to investigate the impact of perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU) and trust on mobile website satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach – A total of 302 valid questionnaires were collected to empirically test the research model. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the measurement model and structural models. Findings – The results show that there is a positive relationship between PEOU, PU and mobile users’ satisfaction. PU is positively related to trust and mobile users’ satisfaction. Moreover, trust positively influences mobile users’ satisfaction. Practical implications – Drawing on the technology acceptance model and trust theory, this study develops and empirically examines a model for consumers’ satisfaction to use mobile services. This study contributes new insights concerning the marketing literature by examining the impact of PU, PEOU and trust on mobile users’ satisfaction. Originali...

Job satisfaction and organizational commitment: An empirical investigation among ICT-SMEs

Purpose The aim of this study is to examine the structural relationship between Spector’s nine job satisfaction facets (supervision, nature of the work, communication, contingent rewards, co-worker, fringe benefits, payment, promotion and operating procedures), organizational commitment facets (normative commitment, affective commitment and continuance commitment) and the influence of employees’ years of experience on satisfaction and commitment relationships. Owing to the nature of the industry, employee satisfaction, retention and commitment in Information and Communications Technology-Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (ICT-SME) is a matter of great concern. Design/methodology/approach A total of 256 valid questionnaires were collected among employees of Information and Communications Technology-Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (ICT-SMEs) to evaluate the measurement and structural model using partial least squares path modelling approach. Findings The findings indicate that payment, promotion, fringe benefits, co-worker, communication, operating procedures and nature of the work are positively associated with affective commitment. Furthermore, payment, promotion, fringe benefits, supervision, contingent rewards, operating procedures and nature of the work have a positive relationship with normative commitment. Considering employees’ years of experience as a categorical moderating variable, the results of partial least squares multi-group analysis show how the discrepancies between employees’ years of experience influence their level of commitment. Originality/value This study reveals that employees’ affective and normative commitments are positively associated and their continuance commitment is contingent upon their affective commitment, and not normative commitment. There are only three factors, i.e. promotion, fringe benefits and operating procedures, that are conductive to employees’ continuance commitment. Contributions, implications and limitations of the study are discussed.

Online impulse buying of tourism products: The role of web site personality, utilitarian and hedonic web browsing

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the structural relationship between web site personality, utilitarian web browsing, hedonic web browsing and online impulse buying of tourism products. Design/methodology/approach – A total of 405 valid online questionnaires were collected to empirically test the measurement and structural model using partial least square path modelling approach, a variance-based structural equation modelling technique. The study sample includes experienced online shoppers who performed shopping tourism products and services via internet medium. Findings – The results imply that web site personality is a second-order reflective construct comprising solidity, enthusiasm, genuineness, sophistication and unpleasantness. web site personality positively influences utilitarian web browsing, hedonic web browsing and online impulse buying; and both hedonic web browsing and utilitarian web browsing positively influence online impulse buying. Originality/value – Online impulse buying of tourism products has not been profoundly explored in current literature, despite its important implication for managers, academicians and consumers alike. This study contributes to the field of e-commerce marketing, retailing and e-tourism research.

Examining retailers’ behaviour in managing critical points in Halal meat handling: a PLS analysis

Purpose– This research aims to examine the casual relationship between normative belief (NB), subjective norms (SN), retailer’s behavioural belief (RBB), retailer’s attitude (RATT), retailer’s behaviour intention (RBI), retailer’s actual behaviour (RAB) and retail performance (RetailP). Managing Halal meat becomes an issue for retailers due to consumers’ concerns for their religious belief. Design/methodology/approach– A total of 230 questionnaires were distributed among Malaysian meat retailers of which 178 useful questionnaires were collected to empirically test the proposed seven critical points in Halal meat handling. Partial least squares, a structural equation modelling approach was used to examine simultaneously the structural components of both the measurement and causal model for reflective and formative constructs. Findings– RBI and RAB are positively related to NB, SN, RBB and RATT in which motivate retailers for high RetailP and critical points in Halal meat handling. The empirical assessment supports the proposed hypotheses and supports RetailP as a formative construct measured by sales revenue, market share and customer satisfaction. Research limitations/implications– Empirically it was found that theory of reasoned actions (TRA) can be used to predict RetailP in addition to RAB. This study has significant policy implications alongside research implications despite some limitations. Practical implications– The current literature and stated policies are focussing solely on consumers to understand the issues in Halal market which may not reach the strategic standpoint for firms and the state in general. The Malaysian Government should appreciate the importance of the Halal business markets in which NB, SN, RBB and RATT are influenced by certain elements discussed in this study. Originality/value– This study is among the first few attempts towards “Islamic Retailing”. Prior literature applied TRA in a customer market verses this study examine the attitude and behaviour of businesses market (retailers) in Malaysia. This study explores retailers’ behaviour towards Halal value chain by integrating TRA and critical points in Halal meat handling.

Examining online channel selection behaviour among social media shoppers: a PLS analysis

Online social media shoppers channel selection behaviour have been neglected despite its significant effect on purchase decision in both offline and online markets. The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of transactive memory system (TMS) factors (specialisation, credibility and coordination), knowledge sharing (KS) and communication quality on online social media channel selection for shopping activities. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was performed using partial least squares (PLS) analysis to examine measurement model and structural model for reflective constructs. A total of 336 online questionnaires were collected from users of collaborative projects, social networking sites, blogs, content communities, virtual game worlds, and virtual social worlds. Our results reveal that TMS factors, KS and communication quality positively influence online channel selection. In addition, specialisation, credibility and coordination statistically contribute to TMS as a second order construct. This study extends the social exchange theory (SET) and TMS model in B2C retail context rather than B2B. Practical implications, limitations and directions for future research are discussed.

Gender differences and consumer’s repurchase intention: the impact of trust propensity, usefulness and ease of use for implication of innovative online retail

The importance of online consumer behavioural retention among different group has been recognised as an issue for online marketer in light of expansion of e-commerce and implication for online retailing innovativeness and continuous improvements. As such, gender differences beg attention for further studies in internet retiling context. This study endeavours to examine the impact of perceived ease of use (PEOU), perceived usefulness (PU) and trust propensity on repurchase intention (RI) in which the role of gender differences is concerned with implication of website innovativeness. The online and offline surveys among Malaysian online shoppers performed to empirically test the proposed research framework with a total of 300 valid questionnaires. The findings suggest that there is significant difference between males and females in determining RI, thus, gender can be used to predict RI. Moreover, PU and trust propensity found to be key predictor factors in online shopping behavioural intention while PEOU does not. Specifically, gender differences between males and females found higher in trust propensity rather than PU, PEOU and overall RI. The social implication, practical implication and theoretical contribution of research with concern of limitation are discussed.

Examining shopping mall consumer decision-making styles, satisfaction and purchase intention

Abstract Understanding consumer decision-making (CDM) styles is essential for market segmentation, positioning and crafting marketing strategies within a market. Few studies have examined the structural relationship among decision-making styles that consumers exhibit during mall shopping, level of satisfaction and purchase intention. The purpose of this study was to examine CDM styles as the antecedents and predictors of level of satisfaction and purchase intention. Based on the Consumer Styles Inventory, eight CDM styles that individual exhibit during shopping mall activities are proposed in terms of utilitarian and hedonic perspectives. We hypothesize these eight CDM styles as a set of predictors of customer satisfaction and purchase intention. A total of 327 valid paper-and-pencil questionnaires were collected from several shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Partial least squares (PLS) path modelling approach, a structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique was performed to test the proposed structural relationships. The empirical assessment supports that hedonic shopping styles consumers that exhibit high level of habitual, brand consciousness, fashion consciosness, recreational conscious style have lower levels of satisfaction and purchase intention during mall shopping while novelty and fashion conscious style consumers have lower level of satisfaction but do not unveil lower purchase intention. Utilitarian shopping styles consumers that exhibit high level of price conscious, confused by overchoice and high-quality conscious style have higher levels of satisfaction while impulsive/careless shoppers do not; and while price conscious, impulsive/careless, confused by overchoice consumers have higher levels of purchase intention but the high-quality conscious consumers do not unveil higher purchase intention. Further, there is a positive relationship between satisfaction and purchase intention. The practical and managerial implications are discussed.

Online social shopping: the impact of attitude, customer information quality, effectiveness of information content and perceived social presence

Socialisation through online social media has changed the pattern in which customers behave. Few studies have examined the implication of social network website in online retailing context by extending the social presence theory and inclusion of attitude (ATT), customer information quality (CIQ) and effectiveness of information content (EIC) in understanding shopping behaviour among social networks users. Thus, this study attempts to examine the influence of ATT, CIQ, EIC and perceived social presence (PSP) on social shopping (SS) intention among social network users. Quantitative techniques, snowball sampling procedure and cross sectional data collection approach used to empirically test the hypotheses within structural equation modelling (SEM) using SmartPLS software for assessment of measurement model (internal consistency, indicator reliability, convergence and discriminant validity) and structural model (structural model for collinearity, the significance of the path coefficients, the level of the R² values, the f² effect size and the predictive relevance). A total of 326 valid online questionnaires were analysed. The findings indicate that CIQ, EIC, PSP and ATT are significant predictor toward SS intention. This study contributes to literature by examining social factors of shopping intention and examining Malaysian online social groups. Finally, the study limitations, implication and social contribution are discussed.