The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value differentiation in the polymer industry in South Africa by rating the polymer customers’ experience in this regard. This study is important in the light of increasing polymer competition worldwide. No records of similar studies in this industry in South Africa have been found. As such this study could make a contribution that could spur polymer manufacturers and suppliers in improving their competitive advantage by offering value-added services to enhance the customer experience and, as a result increase customer satisfaction levels. The type of research conducted was a descriptive research applying the quantitative research methodology. The non-probability quota sampling method was employed. The study population consisted of a select group of customers from a South African polymer manufacturer and supplier. A questionnaire was e-mailed to the select group of polymer customers, many of whom purchase polymer locally and abroad. A response rate of 74% was obtained from a sample of 68 customers approached. The survey results show statistically that a positive satisfaction level was attained, but also highlighted some areas where certain value drivers such as company image, supply and distribution, and information lack attention. Polymer suppliers could gain the competitive advantage by focusing on the drivers that many customers value to ensure that customer satisfaction levels are sustained or improved on. More importantly, polymer suppliers should focus on the low scoring satisfaction levels recorded from the survey, from which they could build by enhancing the total value proposition. Limitations of the study were identified. Recommendations for future research were made. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Globally, trade and industry has shifted its focus from the traditional service delivery approaches to various alternative practices to be more successful, cost efficient, customer orientated, flexible and innovative. This shift in focus has lead to organisations applying a customer centric approach in their business. In order to understand customer centricity, it is necessary to be familiar with the term customer service. Customer service is the offering of services to customers before, during and after a purchase. It is a series of activities designed to enhance the level of customer satisfaction, i.e. the feeling that a product or service has met the customer’s expectations. Although it seems to be difficult to create and maintain a positive service culture, the implementation and upkeep of service excellence hold numerous advantages for organisations in both the short and the long term. Excellent customer service leads to an increase in profits as well as assist organisations in achieving a competitive advantage. Organisations with a customer centric approach can expect to experience a 30% higher return on investment on their marketing efforts compared to their peers not embracing customer centricity. Moreover, exceptional customer service will lead to customer satisfaction, which in turn, may well lead to customer loyalty which is crucial in the current volatile economic market. Recent economic instability triggered financial uncertainty in trade and industry. This causes difficulties for organisations to gain a competitive advantage and predict consumer behaviour. The organisations that will survive and outlive these uncertain circumstances will be those that maintain a customer centric focus. A customer centric focus implies that organisations place their customers first by concentrating on their needs and behaviours. These organisations will also attempt to eliminate internal factors that constrain service offerings to customers. Furthermore, customer centricity includes the alignment of resources of the organisation to successfully respond to the ever-changing needs of the customer, while building mutually profitable relationships. The main difference between customer service and customer centricity appears to relate to meaningful changes that customer centric organisations make in addressing their customers’ expectations and providing reciprocal support. Customer centricity seems to take customer service thus a step further with regards to service delivery. The healthcare environment forms an important part of trade and industry and economic instability also affects this sphere. In this study, the focus filters to the healthcare industry in South Africa and the role and importance of a customer centric approach to doctors. The South African healthcare environment consists of two sectors, namely large public (managed by government) and smaller, higher quality private healthcare. The South African healthcare system is unique to those of other countries as it is dynamic and multifaceted. The legislative framework within the healthcare system gives South African citizens the right to access healthcare services. Due to a skewed financing system in healthcare, this framework has a major impact on both the public and private sectors. The private healthcare industry in South Africa has grown dramatically with the number of beds doubling between 1988 and 1993. This was mainly due to the international trends toward privatisation and advanced by government's policies for privatisation. This resulted in the migration of doctors from public service to private practices. Specialists play an integral part in providing healthcare services. The private hospital industry provides admitting and treating facilities where doctors prescribe the care that hospitals should deliver to patients. This interplay between private hospitals and specialists emphasises that specialists are important customers of private hospitals. The importance of obtaining and retaining doctors is also highlighted in the vision and mission of the top three private hospital groups in South Africa, namely Mediclinic, Netcare and Life Healthcare. Many challenges exist to grow and maintain patient volumes for the private hospital sector. One thereof is to establish doctor (and their practices') support by building an optimum mix of loyal specialist and general practitioner (GP) networks for the hospital. The management and nurturing of relationships with doctors through these networks could lead to a competitive advantage for private hospitals. A study was therefore conducted to gain insight as to how specialists define customer centricity as well as their expectations of private hospitals when applying a customer centric approach towards doctors. The research was of qualitative nature. An experimental research design was applied and included 11 participants. Semi-structured interviews with specialists from one of the top three private hospital groups were conducted in order to gather relevant data. The interviews were transcribed and coded. Results were analysed and interpreted via thorough content analysis. Participants highlighted the following elements as important when defining customer centricity: customer focus, satisfaction, facilities and resources, accessibility, safety and cost effectiveness. In addition, participants confirmed that the following aspects marked their expectancies of a customer centric organisation: quality patient care and services, facilities and resources, effective communication, support and cooperation, provision of sufficient and well trained staff, mutual financial gains, appreciation, resolving of problems, involvement in decision making and respect. Conclusions and recommendations pertaining to future research were also provided. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Competitive strategies are an essential tool for sustainable competitive advantage. Particularly in the service industry, strategy has its significance as it plays a vital role in achieving customer satisfaction. This study investigates alignment of four service characteristics i.e. servicescape, service quality, quality and value with the firms’ strategy and how this alignment achieves customer satisfaction. A set of hypotheses were formulated to portray the significance of each of the four service characteristics and customer satisfaction in accordance with the firms’ competitive strategy. The investigations were done particularly within the fast-food industry, comparing two well-known fast-food chain restaurants namely, McDonalds and Max. A survey questionnaire covering the four service characteristics was prepared and distributed among the possible respondents. The analysis of the results was done with the help of SPSS. The results do not show any significant difference in McDonald’s or Max’s strategy in alignment of the four service characteristics. This thesis helps to understand the strategy dynamics of the service industry firms and what is or is not significant to them when customer satisfaction is to achieved; particularly for the fast-food industry.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Within the realm of business it is about the triple bottom line and being able to sustain the viability of the profits that accrue. Yet, business cannot exist without customers and therefore customer satisfaction is a key to long term business relationships. If a business considers customer satisfaction to be important, then a mechanism for the measurement of the customer's satisfaction needs to be determined and monitored; thereby enabling improvements and continued support. This has resulted in the establishment of the customer relationship marketing (CRM) concept. Many businesses embark on a marketing drive without any means of measurement and control of the customer relationship. This document gives direction in the implementation and application of a customer satisfaction program (CSP). Some of the well known customer satisfaction index programs are discussed. These focus on creating a common measurement for international, national, regional and individual companies. These are discussed as background to the process of developing a CSP. Aspects that are investigated are leadership, management, development and implementation of a CSP. Consideration is given to the various aspects of questionnaires and how they can influence respondents' answers. Furthermore the emotional aspects of customers are also considered. No program is complete without considering the future and what that might hold for business and hence any program that assists with maintaining business relationships. Therefore a look into what the future of CSP's could be is also discussed in general. Finally, a set of flow diagrams are presented that summarise the various aspects that should be considered when developing and implementing a CSP. The various steps can assist in focussing an organisation in its introduction of such a program. This document is by no means complete, however, it is a foundation upon which a successful CSP can be built. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Binne die gebied van besigheid gaan dit oor die winsgrens en die volhouding van lewensvatbare winste. Tog kan geen besigheid 'n bestaansreg he sonder kliente nie en dus is klientebevrediging die sleutel tot langtermyn besigheidsverhoudings. As 'n besigheid klientebevrediging as belangrik beskou, dan moet daar 'n meganisme bepaal word waardeur klientebevrediging gemeet en gemonitor kan word sodat dit kan lei tot verbeteringe en volhoudende ondersteuning. Die uitvloeisel hiervan is die konsep van klienteverhoudingsbemarking. Menige besigheid het op bemarkingstogte gegaan sonder enige meting van of beheer oor die klienteverhoudings. Hierdie dokument dui die rigting aan in die implementeering en toepassing van 'n klientebevredigingsprogram. Verskeie van die welbekende klientebevredigingsindeksprogramme word bespreek. Die programme fokus op die skepping van 'n gemeenskaplikke meting vir internasionale, nasionale, streeks en individuele besighede. Hulle word bespreek sodat 'n fundament gele kan word vir die ontwikkeling van 'n klientebevredigingsprogram. Die aspekte wat ondersoek word is, leierskap, bestuur, ontwikkeling en implementering van 'n klientebevredigingsprograrn. Oorweging word gegee aan verskeie aspekte van meningspeilingvraestukke en hoe hulle respondente kan beinvloed. Verder word die emosionele aspekte van kliente ook oorweeg. Daar word ook aandag geskenk aan wat die toekoms moontlik kan wees ten opsigte van klientebevredigingsprogramme. Laastens, word 'n stel vloeidiagramme voorgele wat die verskeie aspekte saamvat waarna gekyk moet word wanneer 'n klientebevredigingsprogram oorweeg word. Die verskeie stappe kan help met rigtingbepaling wanneer 'n organisasie dit oorweeg om so 'n program bekend te stel. Hierdie dokument is geensins volledig en kan as 'n fondasie beskou word waarop 'n suksesvolle klientebevredigingsprogram gebou kan word.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / Providing quality primary healthcare services in a scarce resource environment in South Africa is a challenge. This is exacerbated by segments of the population experiencing high unemployment and extreme poverty leading to a prevalence of diseases such as HIV/Aids and Tuberculosis. Long queues and staff shortages have led to the Department of Health decentralising the primary healthcare system into district facilities, with the intention of offering greater access to equitable healthcare for all South Africans. Sexual reproductive health falls under the category of primary healthcare and is a specialised function, often carried out by inadequately trained providers using quota systems, who consider this essential service to be a low priority. The area of sexual reproductive health includes termination of pregnancy, contraception, treatment of sexually transmitted infections and cancer screening. Although termination of pregnancy is legal in South Africa, reluctance on the part of service providers to offer this service, due to conscientious objection has created a shortage of safe, legal healthcare facilities. In an effort to provide these life-saving services, non-governmental organisations are attempting to fill the service delivery shortfall. With the assistance of international donor funding, Marie Stopes South Africa has established a number of sexual reproductive healthcare facilities in townships in Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal. These services take place from basic structures located within communities most in need of healthcare, and offer a range of sexual reproductive health services at low cost to men and women of reproductive age. As the operational focus is on provision of services otherwise not available, the organisation has not measured the levels of customer satisfaction adequately to date. Due to the preventative and potentially life-saving nature of these services, improved customer satisfaction levels could, through word of mouth advertising and customer retention, increase the use of these facilities by community members, reduce numbers of unplanned pregnancies, and ultimately contribute to a decrease in the incidence of maternal mortality due to unsafe abortions. In this study, the SERVQUAL instrument will measure the gap between customer expectations prior to services received, and perceptions of the services post-delivery, in order to establish the current service quality gaps in township healthcare facilities. Management of the organisation will use this information to implement actions to improve customer satisfaction and monitor the impact of these actions, with the aim of increasing positive word-of-mouth advertising, leading to greater use of services and ultimately the long-term sustainability of the facilities.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Northern Timbers Sawmill (NTS), a hardwood sawmill in Tzaneen and part of Merensky Timber (Pty) Ltd, wished to determine their customers’ expectations and perceptions of the products and services offered. In order to assist NTS with this it was decided to develop a customer satisfaction survey that would be a tool for NTS to use to accurately and consistently measure and monitor the satisfaction of their customers with their products and services over time. A thorough literature study was done followed by primary research that included semi-structured interviews and a quantitative survey. Semi-structured interviews were performed on a randomly selected sample of customers from two primary segments, namely wet-off-saw and kiln dried timber. Based on the feedback from the interviews it was decided that the standard SERVQUAL model was the most appropriate framework to use as part of the development of the survey. An additional product quality and related aspects section was also included. The Cronbach alpha results of the SERVQUAL survey was 0.75 and 0.87, for expectations and perceptions, respectively, indicating a high internal correlation and consistency and indicating that the survey provided reliable results. The internal consistency was also confirmed by high Cronbach alpha results for each individual dimension. The primary components of satisfaction that were measured were expectations and perceptions (or performance). The customer satisfaction index for NTS was 89.87 per cent, which was fairly similar to the product satisfaction of 91 per cent attained from the product quality related section. The most important priorities for improvement identified were “Employees in Northern Timbers tell you exactly when services will be performed”, “Employees in Northern Timbers give prompt service to you” and “When Northern Timbers promises to do something by a certain time, they do so.” The effort NTS has made in ensuring that they stack, wrap and paint the select grade timber bundles contributed to the visibility and one of the highest mean scores in the survey of 5.63 out of 6. The fact that customers can contact the production team at the sawmill directly holds advantages for the customers and this was also confirmed by the survey producing the joint highest mean score of 5.63. It is also clear that there is very little interest and value for NTS in selling the FSC timber at a premium or offering pre-planed timber at a premium. The survey will be done twice a year – once during May or June, and once during October or November.

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Control and involvement are well researched concepts in traditional marketing, while interactivity is a relatively new concept associated with Internet marketing and communication. From an Internet interaction perspective, the research examines the impact of interactivity, control and involvement on customer satisfaction and loyalty in an eBanking context. Using Flow Theory as the theoretical foundation, it is proposed that these three Internet communication constructs lead to eService dependency and eService encounter satisfaction, which, in turn, enhance the overall satisfaction and loyalty to the principal bank at corporate level. A mixed methodology using both qualitative and quantitative approaches of data collection is adopted. In-depth interviews with eBankers and focus group studies with eBanking customers support the importance of interactivity, control and involvement in the eService encounter. The in-depth interviews and focus groups facilitate the identification of eService dependency as a new construct in the model. Participants' views also help the operationalisation of constructs and development of questionnaire for quantitative data collection. ii Analysis of the quantitative data using structural equation modelling shows support for all three constructs' hypothesised positive relationships with eService dependency and eService encounter satisfaction i.e. satisfaction at the service encounter level. It is also confirmed that eService dependency and eService encounter satisfaction have a positive impact on overall satisfaction with the principal bank i.e. satisfaction at corporate level. However, the influence of eService dependency and eService encounter satisfaction on loyalty to principal bank is not supported. The research concludes with the theoretical contributions and managerial implications of the research. Strategies to enhance interactivity with, control of and involvement by eBanking customers are recommended to eBankers. Limitations of the research and directions for future research in Internet and eService are also suggested.

追求顧客滿意度極大化向來是企業提升獲利的首要方法，相關研究中亦顯示提高整體顧客滿意度有助於企業整體營運績效提升。然或囿於資料蒐集不易等因素，針對個別顧客之滿意度高低是否實際上能影響其貢獻度的研究卻付之闕如。本研究欲探討顧客滿意度與其貢獻度是否存在明顯之關聯性，故先依據過去學者針對滿意度所提出的理論基礎，修正調整後進行顧客滿意度調查，再針對相對應顧客之實際交易行為進行分析，期望能為缺乏相關研究的顧客滿意度及顧客貢獻度之關聯性，做出學術上的貢獻，並對現在蓬勃發展的銀行理財業務，提出具體的建議。 / 本研究針對個案銀行顧客發放3,000份滿意度調查問卷，並比對回收有效問卷（有效問卷共373份）之個別客戶實際貢獻度資料。本研究主要發現及建議如下： / 一、提高個別顧客的滿意度無法顯著提升（或僅能微幅影響）其貢獻度。 （一）目前銀行業者為了提高顧客滿意度所進行各式各樣的投資，並不具有太多的實質效益，對於現今銀行業發展財富管理的方向而言，不啻為一種警訊。 （二）未來業者發展財富管理業務，不能只把重心放在如何提高顧客滿意度上，或誤認企業獲利的目標等同於顧客滿意度的提升。 （三）銀行業者未來應該將資源分散，不盲目的集中於提升顧客滿意度的投資上，而是積極的尋找其他能真正創造顧客貢獻度的投資標的，諸如經營體質的強化、風險控管的落實、企業形象的提升等。 / 二、在台灣，由於大多數顧客同時與一家以上的金融機構有存款、投資等業務往來，在銀行業務極為競爭的年代，為免造成客戶的移轉或流失，維持與同業相當的顧客滿意度水準仍十分重要。 / 三、產品品質、服務品質與顧客滿意度皆有正向影響，而由於服務業的行業特性，影響銀行業顧客滿意度的主要因素仍為服務品質。本研究建議銀行業者若要藉由提升產品品質、服務品質，來提升顧客滿意度，應特別重視專業度、實體設施，以及產品多樣性這些方面的提升。 / Increasing customer satisfaction has become the guiding principle for many enterprises in order to maximize their profit. Although many researchers have conducted studies regarding the relationship between customer satisfaction and profitability, these studies are mainly focused on the organizational level, comparing organizational performance with customer satisfaction across firms. In contrast, there is limited evidence of the relationship between customer satisfaction and customer contribution at the individual level. In other words, we are not sure whether more-satisfied customers really bring in more profit. / This empirical study examines the correlation between customer satisfaction and customer contribution at the individual customer level. Combining both customer satisfaction survey results and archived customer contribution data, the study examined responders’ satisfaction with their actual contribution to firm profits. / The case studied is a large bank in Taiwan. By sending out 3,000 questionnaires to customers of the consumer banking services, we collected 373 effective responses. The empirical results of this study are as follows. / Both product quality and service quality have positive effects on customer satisfaction, but service quality is more important than product quality in the retail banking business. It was determined that the top three effective ways to improve customer satisfaction are to improve professionalism of financial advisors, to make the facility more customer friendly and more comfortable, and to offer a greater diversity of financial products. However, the findings also indicate that customer satisfaction has very low correlation or even no significant correlation with individual customer contribution. / Although banks today invest much in creating customer satisfaction, this strategy may not be the way to achieve profit maximization. There are numerous other issues involved in profitability increase, including managerial efficiency, corporate governance, corporate image, etc. In fact, the most important factor that influences bank customers’ investment decisions may be the state of the economy (i.e., the stage of the business cycle) rather than customer satisfaction.

Syfte Vårt syfte är att ge en djupare förståelse för det matsvinn som uppstår i livsmedelsbutiker genom att analysera och utreda servicelandskapets, personalens och kundens påverkan på matsvinn. Med koppling till detta syfte har vi valt följande forskningsfråga: På vilka sätt kan livsmedelsbutiker arbeta för att minimera sitt matsvinn med hänsyn till butikernas lönsamhet och kundnöjdhet? Metod Denna uppsats är en kvalitativ studie som haft sin början i ett empiriskt problem som vi ville skapa en djupare förståelse kring, vilket innebär att vår uppsats haft sin början i induktionen. Under processens gång har vi arbetat parallellt med empiri och teori, därför har studien haft ett växelspel mellan induktion och deduktion. Insamlingen av material har skett genom primära och sekundära källor där det empiriska materialet skett genom semistrukturerade intervjuer. Slutsatser I vår arbetsprocess har vi kunnat urskilja att servicelandskapet, personalen och kunden är de faktorer som påverkar matsvinnet inom dagligvaruhandeln. Vi har lyft fram att exponeringar, inköp, service och kunskap är återkommande tendenser som är avgörande för matsvinnet som uppstår. Under arbetsprocessens gång har vi identifierat att butikernas främsta fokus är lönsamhet. Baserat på våra föreslagna arbetssätts möjliga påverkan på matsvinn, försäljning och kundnöjdhet, ser vi att livsmedelsbutikers lönsamhet har potential att öka eller förbli opåverkad, samtidigt som deras matsvinn har potential att minska.