The concept of customer perceived value occupies a prominent position within the strategic agenda of organisations, as firms seek to maximise the value perceived by their customers as arising from their consumption, and to equal or exceed that perceived in relation to competitor propositions. Customer value management is similarly central to the marketing discipline. However, the nature of customer value remains ambiguous and its measurement is typically flawed, due to the poor conceptual foundation upon which previous research endeavours are built. This investigation seeks to address the current poverty of insight regarding the nature and measurement of customer value. The development of a revised conceptual framework synthesises the strengths of previous value conceptualisations while addressing many of their limitations. A multi-dimensional depiction of value arising from customer experience is presented, in which value is conceptualised as arising at both first-order dimension and overall, second-order levels of abstraction. The subsequent operationalisation of this conceptual framework within a two-phase investigation combines qualitative and quantitative methodologies in a study of customer value arising from subscription TV (STV) consumption. Sixty semi-structured interviews with 103 existing STV customers give rise to a multi-dimensional model of value, in which dimensions are categorised as restorative, actualising and hedonic in type, and as arising via individual, reflected or shared modes of perception. The quantitative investigation entails two periods of data collection via questionnaires developed from the qualitative findings, and the gathering of 861 responses, also from existing STV customers. A series of scales with which to measure value dimensions is developed and an index enabling overall perceived value measurement is produced. Contributions to theory of customer value arise in the form of enhanced insights regarding its nature. At the first-order dimension level, the derived dimensions are of specific relevance to the STV industry. However, the empirically derived framework of dimension types and modes of perception has potential applicability in multiple contexts. At the more abstract, second-order level, the findings highlight that value perceptions comprise only a subset of potential dimensions. Evidence is thus presented of the need to consider value at both dimension and overall levels of perception. Contributions to knowledge regarding customer value measurement also arise, as the study produces reliable and valid scales and an index. This latter tool is novel in its formative measurement of value as a second order construct, comprising numerous first-order dimensions of value, rather than quality as incorporated in previously derived measures. This investigation also results in a contribution to theory regarding customer experience through the identification of a series of holistic, discrete, direct and indirect value-generating interactions. Contributions to practice within the STV industry arise as the findings present a solution to the immediate need for enhanced value insight. Contributions to alternative industries are methodological, as this study presents a detailed process through which robust value insight can be derived. Specific methodological recommendations arise in respect of the need for empirically grounded research, an experiential focus and a twostage quantitative methodology.

With the emergence of the internet as a new business channel and its impact on the overall role of today's customers, existing models for the measurement of perceived quality, satisfaction and loyalty are worth revisiting. This is specifically important in light of the prominent progress of some of the new business concepts, particularly customer experience management, and the rising emphasis on customers' hedonic and emotional needs. This study attempts to bridge the gap in existing literature by examining the online customer experience in its entirety, attending within the study to both the utilitarian and hedonic needs of online customers and giving special attention to emerging aspects in the online environment, such as customer engagement in self-driven experiences. Therefore, the study includes a comprehensive review of a large body of knowledge, both in consumer behaviour and marketing literature as well as quality management literature, in addition to a scrutiny of 50 studies for different evaluation models in the online environment. This is in order to identify a list of attributes and factors that impact customer evaluations of online experiences. Upon the synthesis of the list of attributes and factors that impact customer evaluations of online experiences, an online blog was created as an environment for asynchronous focus groups. The online blog was beneficial in creating a deeper understanding of what online customers want and what impacts their experiences. Following, an online questionnaire was administered in two stages, once for measure purification purposes which received 90 pilot responses and once for mass data collection purposes which received 366 responses. As a result of this study, an integrated model for the measurement of online customer experience that emphasises the significance of the emotional component was proposed. The model consists of three components, each serve a specific measurement purpose. The XQual construct which consists of 7 attributes and 30 factors, is a performance measure of the experience in relation to specific aspects that address customers' utilitarian and hedonic needs. The satisfaction continuum consists of four factors and is an output measure for each experience or transaction with the online firm. The loyalty continuum consists of four factors and is an outcome measure that indicates customers' attitudinal commitment towards the online firm.

Technology is becoming more central to people’s lives than ever before, and the most widely embraced technological device on the consumer market are mobile phones. This creates an ever-increasing market place for mobile apps, which during 2016 had revenues amounted to 88.3 billion U.S. dollars. The number is expected to increase, and together is estimated to generate 188.9 billion U.S. dollars in revenues 2020. One of the industries affected by this strong online presence is direct selling, where branded mobile apps have started to be used as a sales tool for sales representatives. The apps aim to facilitate the sales representatives’ daily work and bring new opportunities to engage with the end customers in a more convenient way. However, limited research exists about how the sales representatives experience the branded mobile apps in the industry. The purpose of this paper is to explore the sales representatives’ behavior and attitude towards using branded mobile apps within the direct selling industry. This study has been conducted by a quantitative descriptive and exploratory study using a survey. Sales representatives that placed an order exceeding 100 Euros during the last three weeks in five Western culture countries for one direct selling company were targeted. In total, 460 responses were gathered. The result gave some valuable insights although the initial hypothesized benefits could not be confirmed. The findings instead suggest separate items that contributed the most to sales representatives’ satisfaction and purchase intentions. In order to increase satisfaction among sales representatives, branded mobile apps used in direct sales should 1) facilitate the interaction with the company, 2) be easy to navigate with, 3) provide relevant information, 4) be convenient to shop from, and finally 5) work as a good conversation topic in a social context. Further on, the item identified to have the greatest contribution to purchase intentions is how convenient the app is to shop from, i.e. the same as number 4) above. The future challenge for the direct selling industry and its managers is thus to take advantage of these insights and further study how the attributes more practically can be implemented for their business. By focusing on these actions in the creation and development of branded mobile apps, the direct selling industry can expect to achieve higher satisfaction among their sales representatives and also increase their purchase intentions. / Dagens teknik har blivit en allt mer central del i människors liv, och den vanligaste enheten på konsumentmarknaden idag är mobiltelefoner. Detta har skapat en ständigt ökande marknad för mobilappar, som år 2016 genererade 88.3 miljarder U.S. dollar. Antalet appanvändare framöver förväntas att öka, och tillsammans generera 188.9 miljarder U.S. dollar i intäkter år 2020. En av de branscher som påverkats av denna starka närvaro online är direktförsäljning, där appar har börjat användas som försäljningsverktyg för konsulenterna. Apparna syftar till att underlätta konsulenternas dagliga arbete och ge nya möjligheter att engagera sig med slutkunderna på ett lättare och mer fördelaktigt sätt. Dock existerar det lite forskning och kännedom om hur konsulenterna upplever användandet av appar i branschen. Syftet med detta examensarbete är att undersöka försäljningsrepresentanternas beteende och attityd gentemot att använda appar inom direktförsäljningsbranschen. Studien har varit både beskrivande och undersökande, och har genomförts genom en samla in kvantitativ data med hjälp av en enkätundersökning. Kunder som har lagt en order över 100 Euros de tre senaste veckorna i fem västeuropeiska länder för ett direktförsäljningsföretag har studerats. Totalt erhölls 460 svar. Resultatet gav flertalet värdefulla insikter, även om de initiala hypoteserna syftade till att undersöka olika fördelar inte kunde bekräftas. Resultaten föreslår istället separata aspekter med störst påverkan på hur nöjda konsulenterna är, samt deras köpintentioner. För att öka nöjdheten bland konsulenter bör appar som används i direktförsäljning 1) underlätta samspelet med företaget, 2) vara lätta att navigera med, 3) tillhandahålla relevant information, 4) vara bekväm att handla från och slutligen 5) fungera som ett bra samtalsämne i ett socialt sammanhang. Vidare kunde det ses att den identifierade aspekten som bidrar mest till konsultenternas köpintentioner är hur bekvämt appen är att handla från, det vill säga samma aspekt som identifierades för konsulenters tillfredställelse under nummer 4) ovan. Den framtida utmaningen för direktförsäljningsindustrin och dess chefer är således att utnyttja dessa insikter och studera vidare hur dessa aspekter kan lämpas mer i praktiken för deras företag. Genom att fokusera på dessa åtgärder vid skapandet och utvecklingen av appar kan direktförsäljningsindustrin räkna med att erhålla högre tillfredsställelse bland sina konsulenter, samt att även öka deras köpintentioner.

A experiência dos clientes no ambiente varejista, seja físico ou virtual, ganha destaque na literatura e nas discussões de marketing devido a seu importante papel nos delineadores do comportamento de compras, influenciado por inúmeros fatores, entre os quais as próprias experiências. O estudo das características do varejo experiencial visa compreender as técnicas contemporâneas para a criação e o gerenciamento de experiências atraentes e marcantes para os clientes. Proporcionar experiências positivas de consumo é um dos atuais desafios da gestão de marketing, seja em âmbito estratégico ou operacional, proporcionando diferenciais de mercado perante os concorrentes. Apesar de a literatura apresentar teorias seminais sobre as experiências do consumidor desde a década de 1960, o assunto ganha mais relevância quando as ofertas são comoditizadas; as empresas devem apresentar propostas de valores diferenciadas. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar como as dimensões da integração dos ambientes off-line e on-line estão presentes no gerenciamento da experiência do cliente, sob a perspectiva de varejo supermercadista. Ressalta-se que se realizou o estudo a partir da perspectiva do varejista, abordando suas implicações gerenciais em um relevante segmento da economia e do cotidiano dos clientes. Essa perspectiva envolve características culturais, capacidades dinâmicas, orientações estratégicas e dificuldades operacionais para integrar os diferentes canais disponíveis aos clientes. Realizou-se uma pesquisa exploratória, com método qualitativo, tendo o estudo de caso como estratégia de pesquisa. Coletaram-se os dados por meio de entrevistas com roteiro semiestruturado, utilizando o modelo de projeto de gerenciamento de experiências dos clientes de Schmitt (2004). Realizou-se o estudo de caso no maior varejo supermercadista do Brasil, considerado o valor de faturamento, com entrevistas da diretora de marketing da operação brasileira e com um diretor de operações de hipermercado. Após as transcrições, os dados foram codificados, gerados atributos específicos também codificados, o que possibilitou a análise de conteúdo. Os resultados foram apresentados seguindo a codificação dos atributos e as etapas do modelo mencionado. Encontraram-se balizadores na literatura e na pesquisa empírica que permitiram confirmar os dois pressupostos iniciais do estudo: (1) a integração dos canais físico e virtual tem levado o cliente a mudar seus comportamentos e (2) o varejo deve agregar serviços às atividades no ambiente físico para melhorar a experiência de consumo. Também apresentou-se um novo constructo envolvendo o gerenciamento das experiências especificamente no varejo supermercadista. Esta concepção implementa o constructo de Terblanche (2018) e, por isso, é nomeada de constructo da experiência ampliada do cliente no supermercado, com uma dimensão adicionada: a integração das operações off-line e on-line. Essa nova dimensão congrega o acesso ou conhecimento dos clientes no canal físico do supermercado, integrando recursos, tecnologias e características do ambiente digital, tendo abrangência de operações dos canais sob a concepção omnichannel. Os principais objetivos desse constructo são: implementar as experiências do cliente no ponto de venda e fornecer vantagem competitiva ao varejista. O trabalho apresenta implicações acadêmicas e contribuições gerenciais que possibilitaram sistematizar aspectos da gestão de varejo, considerando o gerenciamento das experiências dos clientes. / Customer experience in the retail sector, whether physical or virtual, gains prominence in the literature and marketing discussions because of its important role in the delineators of shopping behavior, influenced by many factors, including experience itself. The study of the experiential retail characteristics aims at understanding contemporary techniques for creating and managing attractive and striking customer experiences. Delivering positive customer experiences is one of the current challenges of marketing management, whether strategic or operational in scope, providing market differentials. Although the literature has presented seminal theories on customer experience since the 1960s, the issue becomes more relevant when deals are commoditized; companies must submit differentiated value propositions. The objective of this study was to identify how the dimensions of off-line and online environments integration are present in the management of customer experience, from a supermarket retail perspective. It should be emphasized that the study was carried out from the perspective of the retailer, addressing its managerial implications in a relevant segment of the economy and the customers\' daily lives. This perspective involves cultural characteristics, dynamic capabilities, strategic orientations and operational difficulties in integrating the different channels available to clients. Exploratory research was carried out through a qualitative method, with a case study as a research strategy. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, using Schmitt\'s (2004) customer experience management project model. The case study was carried out in the largest supermarket retailer in Brazil, considering the billing value, with interviews of the marketing director of the Brazilian operation and an operations director of a single hypermarket. After the transcriptions, the data and the specific attributes generated were coded, which enabled content analysis. The results were presented following the coding of the attributes and the steps of the mentioned model. We have found indicators in the literature and empirical research that allowed us to confirm the two initial assumptions of the study: (1) the integration of the physical and virtual channels has led clients to change their behaviors and (2) the retailer must aggregate services to the activities in the physical environment in order to improve consumer experience. We also presented a new construct involving the management of experiences specifically in the supermarket retail. This conception implements the Terblanche (2018) construct and, therefore, is named the expanded construct of customer experience in the supermarket, with an added dimension: the integration of offline and online operations. This new dimension brings the access or knowledge of the customers together in the physical channel of the supermarket, integrating resources, technologies, and characteristics of the digital environment, covering the operations of the channels under the omnichannel conception. The main objectives of this construct are to implement customer experiences at the point of sale and provide a competitive advantage to the retailer. The study presents academic implications and managerial contributions that enabled systematizing of aspects of retail management, considering the management of client experience.

La satisfaction client et la création d’expérience de service positives sont des enjeux forts pour les entreprises. Il faut désormais envisager ces concepts comme des processus évolutifs au fur et à mesure que se construit la relation client. Cette thèse s’inscrit qualitativement et quantitativement dans cette démarche. Elle propose, dans le cas d’expériences de services hédoniques, d’étudier l’évolution de la structure de la satisfaction client au fur et à mesure qu’il multiplie ses expériences. Le secteur spécifique des jeux vidéo est choisi ; un accord a été passé avec une entreprise privée. La partie qualitative, par des entretiens de joueurs, d’experts et des données secondaires, permet de définir l’expérience client autour de quatre dimensions (cognitive, affective, sensorielle, sociale). Ces dimensions sont confirmées par une première étude quantitative portant sur un jeu de quêtes et d’aventures auprès de 2198 joueurs américains. Une seconde étude quantitative est menée auprès de 2208 joueurs dont la satisfaction est mesurée à trois moments de la relation client afin d’observer l’évolution dans le temps du poids des dimensions de l’expérience. Les résultats démontrent qu’au cours du temps il y a bien une évolution du poids des dimensions sur la satisfaction avec notamment un rôle croissant de la dimension affective. Nous avons également pu conclure à l’importance des éléments cognitifs de l’expérience dont le poids sur la satisfaction devient constant dans une phase de relation longue avec le service. Ces apports permettent d’envisager la mise en place d’actions managériales permettant d’améliorer la gestion de l’expérience de service hédonique au cours du temps. / Customer satisfaction and the creation of positive service experiences form part of the main stakes of companies nowadays. It is now necessary to consider these concepts in a time dynamic perspective observing their changes during the different stage of the customer relationship. It is the approach followed quantitatively and quantitatively in this thesis. We propose in the case of hedonic service experiences, to study the evolution of the structure of customer satisfaction as experiences accumulate. We focus on the specific sector of video games – an agreement has been signed with a private company. Thanks to semi-structured interviews, experts’ interviews and secondary data, the first qualitative part aims to define the customer experience around four dimensions (cognitive, affective, sensorial, social). These dimensions are confirmed in a first quantitative study with a panel of 2198 American gamers of a quest and adventure video game. A second quantitative analysis based on 2208 American gamers has been done to observe the evolution of the weight of experience dimensions on satisfaction over time. Measuring their satisfaction at three different stages of the customer relationship, the results demonstrate that, over time, there is an evolution of experience dimensions weight on satisfaction. We underline a growing role of the affective dimension as experiences accumulate. We also conclude about the importance of the cognitive dimension even if it becomes constant as the customer goes into a long-term relationship. In a managerial perspective, this thesis offers some cues to better manage the customer hedonic service experience over time.

The customer journey is a re-submerged subject which has become increasingly relevant. The focus derives from the increased focus on customer experience as touch points are increasing as well as becoming more accessible. This is creating problems for companies to allocate their resources in marketing. Previous literature on customer journeys are also limited, mostly originating from research on customer experience. This motivates research within the field with the purpose of exploring the customer journey and connected phenomena.    The basis of this thesis was the customer journey which derives from customer experience. Further, the theoretical framework presents theories about customer experience, consumer buying decisions, customer journey and its touch points. The theoretical framework also presents two conceptual models concerning customer journey and customer experience. Focus was here on exploring the formulation of the customer journey, its steps and components. But also, on investigating how customer experiences affects customer journeys. This thesis had a qualitative research strategy and empirical material was collected through interviews. The empirical findings and the analysis resulted in several conclusions as this was an exploratory study. Reason for use of route, use of different touch points, customer experience impact and were found. Furthermore, the customer journey itself was identified as a reason for conducting a purchase. The result of this thesis might help companies allocate their resources more efficiently between touch points. As well as understanding how to create positive customer experience and the importance of it.

Este estudo apresenta e discute o conceito de experiência do cliente com especial enfoque para a gestão da experiência do cliente em empresas do setor automotivo no Brasil. Neste estudo, o termo \"experiência do cliente\" é referido pelo termo em inglês customer experience. Percebe-se que as limitações conceituais se referem a tratamentos parciais de customer experience, ora focando na visão do cliente, ora focando na visão da marca. Esses tratamentos conceituais parciais de customer experience são refletidos também nos principais modelos conceituais publicados, modelos estes que buscam, muitas vezes, representar a realidade do mercado. Nos últimos anos, o setor automotivo, influenciado por um novo perfil de consumidor, mais exigente e menos interessado na posse de veículos e por alterações na sua jornada, decorrentes da digitalização dos canais, vem buscando alternativas para reter seus clientes através do desenvolvimento de estratégias de customer experience. Dessa forma, a partir de limitações encontradas, este estudo levanta os principais conceitos e modelos de customer experience publicados e os confrontam com a aplicação dessa ferramenta em grandes marcas comercializadoras de veículos no Brasil, através da venda ou do aluguel. A partir dos dados coletados e do cruzamento com a teoria e os modelos teóricos, dois achados importantes derivam deste estudo: a definição de um novo conceito de customer experience, mais abrangente, respeitando a visão do cliente e das marcas, e a descoberta de um grupo de quinze elementos utilizados em customer experience, interpretados a partir dos modelos teóricos analisados e que são confrontados com a aplicação prática nas empresas do setor automotivo pesquisadas, demonstrando haver uma vasta e abrangente aplicação de customer experience no setor. Dessa forma, este estudo avalia a aplicação de customer experience no setor automotivo do Brasil, aprofunda o desenvolvimento conceitual do tema e orienta sua aplicação prática para os gestores e profissionais de marketing. / This study presents and discusses the concept of customer experience with a special focus on the management of customer experience in companies in the automotive sector in Brazil. It can be seen that the conceptual limitations refer to partial treatments of customer experience, sometimes focusing on the vision of the client, sometimes focusing on the vision of the brand. These partial conceptual treatments of customer experience are also reflected in the main published conceptual models, models that often seek to represent the reality of the market. In recent years, the automotive sector, influenced by a new consumer profile, more demanding and less interested in vehicle ownership and changes in the customer\'s journey, due to the digitization of the channels, have been seeking alternatives to retain the customer through the development of strategies of customer experience. Thus, based on limitations found, this study raises the main concepts and models of published customer experience and confronts them with the application of this tool in major brands that commercialize vehicles in Brazil, through their sale or rent. Based on the data collected and the intersection with theory and theoretical models, two important findings derive from this study: the definition of a new concept of customer experience, more comprehensive, respecting either the vision of the client and the brands and the discovery of a group of fifteen elements used in customer experience, interpreted from the theoretical models analyzed that are confronted with the practical application in the companies of the automotive sector researched, demonstrating a vast and comprehensive application of customer experience in the sector. Thus, this study evaluates the application of customer experience in the Brazilian automotive sector, deepens the conceptual development of the theme and guides its practical application for managers and marketers.

The main purpose of this doctoral dissertation is to investigate factors affecting B2B brand building by applying the brand equity perspective in the professional services context. Three peer-reviewed and published articles and one book chapter examine different aspects related to the enhancement of brand equity and brand building in the B2B context. The first paper entitled “Brand equity in the business-to-business context: Examining the structural composition” (Biedenbach 2012) investigates the structural composition of brand equity and the interrelationships between the dimensions of brand equity in the B2B context. By specifying the multidimensional model, which can be utilized for measuring and managing B2B brand equity, the paper provides initial knowledge on how the companies can build a strong B2B brand across four dimensions of brand equity. The second paper entitled “B2B brand equity: Investigating the impact of contextual factors” (Biedenbach 2010) examines the impact of contextual factors in the organizational decision making process on the formation of B2B brand equity. The book chapter expands knowledge on B2B brand building by portraying how such characteristics of customers as relative size of their company and its industry sector can affect B2B brand building. The third paper entitled “The impact of customer experience on brand equity in a business-to-business services setting” (Biedenbach and Marell 2010) investigates the impact of customer experience on brand equity in the professional services setting. The study clarifies how customer experience can be utilized for building a strong B2B brand. The fourth paper entitled “Brand equity in the professional service context: Analyzing the impact of employee role behavior and customer-employee rapport” (Biedenbach, Bengtsson, and Wincent 2011) examines whether factors related to customers’ perception of employees’ role behavior in terms of customer perceived role ambiguity, role overload, and customer-employee rapport influence the development of brand equity in the professional service context. The paper advances knowledge on B2B brand building by considering the potential role of the company employees and consequences that their behavior can lead to in this process. To conclude, the doctoral dissertation demonstrates that the brand equity perspective can serve as a valuable foundation for theoretically understanding and practically managing B2B brand building.

The importance of customer experience in the banking sector is steadily increasing due to product similarity, competition and the global expansion. Additionally, in the twenty-first century, the focus has shifted from a service-based to an experience-based economy where senses, feelings, impressions, perceptions and emotional connections have become central. The global expansion in the banking sector has created a need for cross-cultural studies of customer experience, because of the increase of success when the service delivery is in tune with the cultural differences of customers. Despite the scarcity of cross-cultural studies, the few existing studies have shown significant results. The purpose of this study is hence to compare the perceived customer experience in the banking sector in Sweden and the United States. These two countries are culturally different on the masculinity versus femininity dimension explained by Hofstede in the universally acknowledged study on cross-cultural dimensions. The study has a positivistic, deductive, cross-sectional approach. A questionnaire survey is used based on the three most critical factors affecting customer experience: convenience, employees and servicescape. The findings are significant, showing how culture is affecting customer experience. Swedish respondents have a more positive perception of the total customer experience despite scoring lower on the critical factors than their American counterparts. This can be linked to the high degree of femininity in Sweden, meaning that Swedish customers are putting emphasis on balance, care for others and the quality of life, rather than being materialistic, goal-oriented and competitive. The original value of this dissertation is a better understanding of the impact of cultural differences in customer experience in banks in two culturally different countries: Sweden and the United States.

Digital and mobile channels has dramatically changed the retailing environment. New technologies allow companies to integrate information between different channels, in order to create a seamless and personal shopping experience for its customers. This is termed omni-channel retail strategy. In previous research it is discussed that this is the only way for retail companies to survive in the new retail environment. Previous research has focused on customer attitudes and values ​​but not on their actual behaviour. Thus, more research is required on how customers combine different channels during their buying process and how they experience the interaction. The purpose of the thesis is to create an understanding of how the omni-channel customer experiences its interaction with retailing channels. The goal is for companies to be able to use this study to better understand their customers experiences, and thereby improve their omni-channel strategy. In order to achieve the purpose of the study, a theoretical model, S-O-U, has been designed based on the classical Stimulus-Organism-Response model, which  often is used to describe consumer behaviour. The theoretical model has been used as a basis for the study's implementation and analysis. The study has a qualitative research strategy, and the data has been collected through focus groups. The collected data has been analysed based on the theoretical framework of the study, and the result shows that the customer uses different channels during its buying process to maximize their exchange. Furthermore, it has been found that the customer has different needs during the phases of the buying process. At the beginning of the buying process the customer is primarily driven by utilitarian values, while at the end of the buying process it is rather driven by hedonic values. The selection of channel depends on how well the channel can meet the customer's needs. Although the customer is driven by different values during the buying process, the result has clearly shown that both utilitarian and hedonic values ​​are necessary for the customer to have a positive experience of the interaction with different channels.