Customer loyalty as a concept is a critical strategic option in today’s competitive environment. It is no surprise therefore that managers and researchers have increased their study and understanding of the concept as a strategic marketing imperative over the past decades to capture market share and improve profitability. Indeed the theoretical perspective is that competitive pricing as well as company image and reputation contribute to customer satisfaction and that service quality along a number of pathways drives customer loyalty and profitability thus: service quality--> customer satisfaction--> customer loyalty --> market share --> profitability. A few empirical studies have found these linkages to be true. However these factors differ in importance based on the cultural setting. We investigate (1) whether these relationships exist and (2) which of these factor(s) is/are important in motivating consumer loyalty from the perspectives of retail banking customers in Ghana. The study draws on customer behaviour and attitude premised on the SERVQUAL and SERVPERF models originated by Parasuraman et al., (1988), Cronin and Taylor (1992), and Brady and Cronin (2001) respectively as well as other researches based on the literature on customer satisfaction and loyalty. We used both quantitative and qualitative research approaches in our study and have drawn from both primary and secondary sources of data. We made use of a 7 point likert scale to develop indexes for the main constructs measured in this study and applied correlation, chi square (χ2) and regression analyses to evaluate the hypothesised relationships. Further we qualitatively analysed aspects of the data hinging on explanatory aspects of our research. The results among other things reveal that whilst service quality (especially empathy and reliability) and bank image and reputation are important instigators of customer satisfaction and loyalty, competitive pricing showed a weak linear relationship with customer satisfaction and loyalty (r < 0.5). On the other hand, increased market share was found to influence banks’ profitability. Finally we discuss the management implications of the study in terms of customer retention and profitability strategies for the banks in Ghana. We emphasise that management strategies that are service quality conscious, use person-organisation fit approaches to recruitment and effectively communicate strategies could help institutionalise a culture that is customer relation centred, help banks survive the competition, retain their customers and in the long run increase their profitability.

Customer loyalty has been investigated in years, and its importance to corporate is understood by managers. The purpose of this paper is to find out what kinds of specific and concrete operational factors have an important impact on Chinese mobile telecom customer loyalty. Firstly, a model was established to represent the relationship between customer loyalty and its influencing factors (customer satisfaction, perceived quality, customer value, switching cost and corporate image). 11 specific and concrete operational factors were found according to Chinese mobile telecom industry which were never been studied by the pre-researchers. Secondly, a survey of questionnaire has been conducted which help to found out that the 9 factors (call quality, coverage of area, SMS quality, the convenience and reliability of Inquiring phone fee system, service quality of service center and hotline, rating price of given quality, customer’s worry of troubles after change cell phone number, social responsibility, advertisements about corporate image) have an important impact on customer loyalty on Chinese mobile telecom industry. Thirdly, separating these 9 factors into 3 groups through investigate the performance of customer loyalty in China Mobile. At last, some recommendations were given to China Mobile

Magistro darbo tikslas – klientų aptarnavimo kokybės tyrimas valstybinėje mokesčių inspekcijoje. Tikslui realizuoti pasirinkti tyrimo metodai: su darbo tema susijusių Lietuvos Respublikos įstatymų, kitų teisės aktų, reglamentuojančių valstybės tarnybą, Viešąjį administravimą bei Lietuvos mokslininkų publikacijų analizė, interviu, anketinė apklausa bei statistinė duomenų analizė. Teorinėje dalyje analizuojami kokybės vadybos metodų taikymo ypatumai viešajame sektoriuje Naujosios viešosios vadybos ir Visuotinės kokybės vadybos aspektu. Darbe nagrinėjama Tarnybos visuomenei Lietuvoje dabartiniu metu samprata, apimtis, paskirtis, kokybinis santykis su paslaugų gavėju. Tyrimo rezultatuose analizuojama VMI Radviliškio skyriaus mokesčių mokėtojų aptarnavimo kokybė. Tyrimas atskleidė valstybinės mokesčių inspekcijos Radviliškio skyriaus mokesčių mokėtojų aptarnavimo kokybės lygį, darbuotojų kompetencijas, vadovų vizijas bei perspektyvas siekiant aukštesnių viešųjų paslaugų kokybės ir geresnių veiklos rezultatų rodiklių bei pačių mokesčių mokėtojų požiūrį į gaunamas paslaugas. / The aim of the master thesis is to reveal the quality of customer service at State Tax Inspectorate. To achieve the aim the following research methods were selected: analysis of laws of the Republic of Lithuania related to the topic of the present thesis, as well as analysis of other legal acts regulating public service and public administration, of publications by Lithuanian scholars, interview, questionnaire survey, and statistical data analysis. The theoretical part analyses the peculiarities of application of methods of quality management at the public sector in the aspect of New Public Management and Total Quality Management. The paper analyzes the concept, scope, purpose of serving the society in Lithuania at present as well as its qualitative relation to service recipient. Quality of taxpayer service at Radviliškis Department of State Tax Inspectorate is analyzed in the research results. The research revealed the level of quality of taxpayer service at Radviliškis Department of State Tax Inspectorate, its employees’ competences, managers’ visions and perspectives in seeking better indicators of public service quality and of activity results, it also revealed taxpayers’ attitude towards the services they get.

Background In recent times the insurance industry has seen rapid migration of clients among the different companies in search of better rates from the latest intermediary. Cancellation and surrenders of policies have marked this migration of clients. Clients are dependent on brokers for advice, thus making client loyalty dependent on the relationship between the intermediary and the client. In this model there is a gap in the relationship between client and company. Objectives The primary objective of this study is to elucidate the preconception that client loyalty is dependent on the relationship that an intermediary has with a client. The secondary objective of this study is to determine how clients' perceptions and attitudes lends itself to either clients remaining with, or leaving a particular insurer in favour of another. Methods Data was collected by means of a research questionnaire received from 50 respondents, made of clients from the Sanlam Broker Services database. Open ended questions and disconfirmation scales were used. One sample chi-square was used to test the hypotheses. Results Despite clients having received expected levels and better than expected levels of service from a company, clients still prefer to deal with an advisor. The factors that affect clients' decision to remain or migrate to another company are service, reputation, performance and rates. The most common factors for discontentment are poor service, misrepresentation, lack of confidentiality, and poor performance. It was also found that that there is a higher degree of awareness and membership among higher income earners than lower income earners. Conclusion It is recommended that more than demographic knowledge be accessed to keep clients loyal. Lifestyle studies need to be conducted and perhaps this information used to develop innovative marketing strategies. Partnerships with successful existing loyalty programmes also need to be explored as a client retention mechanism. Client loyalty cannot be explored in isolation. It must encompass the entire organization. There is ample evidence in the literature review to support this view. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

Drawing on extensive empirical evidence, taken from a regional Employment Service, this PhD explores in depth, how frontliners cope with the experience of customers' violence on the frontline. Analysis of empirical data led to the finding that frontliners cope in a number of ways which were both collective and individual. The coping mechanisms used were influenced by the different organisational constructions of customer violence. This PhD has brought the emotional labour and the organisational violence literature together using insights from both to inform the other and aid understanding of not only organisational violence in general, but specifically the way that frontliners cope with the experience of customer violence. This is an aspect somewhat neglected in both the emotional labour literature and the organisational violence literature to differing extents. Although the emotional labour literature does examine ways that frontliners cope with the difficulties of customer service, it frequently fails to examine the interplay of the formal and informal organisation in influencing the means of coping used by frontliners and it has yet to consider the way that frontliners cope specifically with customer violence. The organisational violence literature tends to take the concept of violence as an unproblematic, objective term and ignores the fact that violence is a constructed subjective concept. I see this as problematic. The more interpretevist literature, which does recognise the polysemic nature of violence, only considers customer violence in passing. This literature completely fails to consider the part that the customer sovereignty plays in this violence, a significant omission, which I believe, has implications for our understanding of organisational violence. A number of theoretical points from this study have wider implications that are applicable to more than just the regional Employment Service explored. It was found that the customer sovereignty ideology played an important role in not only the ways that frontliners cope, but also in customer violence in general. Customer sovereignty underpinned the invisibility of violence and the concern for customers' well-being over those of frontliners. Both these findings were applicable to other frontline organisations. This study also found that the customer service ideology contributed towards conditions which fostered customer violence. This PhD also found that those with hierarchical power will be able, to some extent; to impose their construction of what is violent on those with less hierarchical power. However, this study emphasises the importance of human agency in arguing that those with less hierarchical power will still be able to contribute to creating organisational reality. Workers were not taken to be passive recipients of the dominant approach, but were helped shaped the construction of violence. This finding has implications for not only the construction of customer violence within organisations, but for the nature of power and the construction of organisational reality. This study has outlined many areas that need further consideration. The relationship between the customer service ideology and customer violence is currently under-researchedM. ore studies are needed examining this in different frontline settings, including both public and private sectors. Specifically, research is needed to consider the extent to which this ideology is used to justify customer violence and difficult frontline conditions in general. In examining the ways that frontliners cope with the experience of customer violence; this study integrated both the emotional labour and organisational violence literature. It is hoped that in using insights from both to inform the other, together with my own empirical research, this PhD has deepened understanding of not only the coping devices used by frontliners, but also customer violence in general.

The main purpose of this study was to investigate which enter- and exit barriers that exist on the banking market for small enterprises located within the region of Gotland. The reason was to examine and identify which barriers that could affect the mobility among small enterprise bank customers on the bank market. To identify the barriers, the study was carried out partly by a quantitative survey with 33 small business owners respondents located at three different concentrated small enterprise areas within the region of Gotland. And partly by qualitative interviews that were conducted with two employees at Länsförsäkringar Gotland Bank.The result indicated that the enter barrier mostly depended on the aspect that business owners of small enterprises believed that bank switching were complicated. The business owners did also consider bank switching as time demanding. These two aspects created a kind of behavior loyalty towards the business owners present bank regardless if they are satisfied or truly loyal. Therefore according to us the banks should focus of removing the business owners thought of complication. The exit barrier we believe banks on Gotland should contemplate to preserve their current customers is satisfaction and relation which creates a loyalty towards the bank.The main purpose of this study was to investigate which enter- and exit barriers that exist on the banking market for small enterprises located within the region of Gotland. The reason was to examine and identify which barriers that could affect the mobility among small enterprise bank customers on the bank market. To identify the barriers, the study was carried out partly by a quantitative survey with 33 small business owners respondents located at three different concentrated small enterprise areas within the region of Gotland. And partly by qualitative interviews that were conducted with two employees at Länsförsäkringar Gotland Bank.The result indicated that the enter barrier mostly depended on the aspect that business owners of small enterprises believed that bank switching were complicated. The business owners did also consider bank switching as time demanding. These two aspects created a kind of behavior loyalty towards the business owners present bank regardless if they are satisfied or truly loyal. Therefore according to us the banks should focus of removing the business owners thought of complication. The exit barrier we believe banks on Gotland should contemplate to preserve their current customers is satisfaction and relation which creates a loyalty towards the bank. / Problemet vi undersökte var vilka barriärer banker kan utnyttja för att öka tillflödet av nya småföretagskunder men samtidigt behålla befintliga småföretagskunder. Syftet med studien har varit att urskilja vilka inträdes- och utträdesbarriärer som existerar för småföretagare på gotländska bankmarknaden. En enkätundersökning genomfördes som innehöll både slutna och öppna frågor. Intervjuer genomfördes med anställda på Länsförsäkringar Gotland med avsikt att undersöka en banks perspektiv avseende existerande barriärer. Den teoretiska referensramen baseras på befintliga teorier som behandlar finansiella och icke- finansiella barriärer där de icke- finansiella baserades på faktorerna; kundnöjdhet, kundrelation och kundlojalitet. Utifrån den teoretiska ramen och det empiriska materialet genomfördes en analys.Analysen visade att de existerande inträdesbarriärerna främst beror på uppfattningen bland småföretagsbankkunder att bankbyten är komplicerade. Tillsammans med att gotländska småföretagare anser att det är tidskrävande att genomföra ett bankbyte renderar i en beteendelojalitet vilket baseras på att småföretagare stannar kvar hos deras nuvarande bank oavsett omfattning av nöjdhet och lojalitet. Den identifierade inträdesbarriären borde åtgärdas då den hindrar småföretagarna att utvärdera andra bankaktörer.Priset lokaliserades som viktigt bland de undersökta gotländska småföretagarna, både för att attrahera och behålla bankens småföretagskunder. Utträdesbarriärer som vi anser banker ska fokusera på för behållandet av befintliga småföretagskunder är kundnöjdhet och kundrelation, vilka båda resulterar i kundlojalitet.Problemet vi undersökte var vilka barriärer banker kan utnyttja för att öka tillflödet av nya småföretagskunder men samtidigt behålla befintliga småföretagskunder. Syftet med studien har varit att urskilja vilka inträdes- och utträdesbarriärer som existerar för småföretagare på gotländska bankmarknaden. En enkätundersökning genomfördes som innehöll både slutna och öppna frågor. Intervjuer genomfördes med anställda på Länsförsäkringar Gotland med avsikt att undersöka en banks perspektiv avseende existerande barriärer. Den teoretiska referensramen baseras på befintliga teorier som behandlar finansiella och icke- finansiella barriärer där de icke- finansiella baserades på faktorerna; kundnöjdhet, kundrelation och kundlojalitet. Utifrån den teoretiska ramen och det empiriska materialet genomfördes en analys.Analysen visade att de existerande inträdesbarriärerna främst beror på uppfattningen bland småföretagsbankkunder att bankbyten är komplicerade. Tillsammans med att gotländska småföretagare anser att det är tidskrävande att genomföra ett bankbyte renderar i en beteendelojalitet vilket baseras på att småföretagare stannar kvar hos deras nuvarande bank oavsett omfattning av nöjdhet och lojalitet. Den identifierade inträdesbarriären borde åtgärdas då den hindrar småföretagarna att utvärdera andra bankaktörer.Priset lokaliserades som viktigt bland de undersökta gotländska småföretagarna, både för att attrahera och behålla bankens småföretagskunder. Utträdesbarriärer som vi anser banker ska fokusera på för behållandet av befintliga småföretagskunder är kundnöjdhet och kundrelation, vilka båda resulterar i kundlojalitet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2006. / Advisor: J. Joseph Cronin Jr., Florida State University, College of Business, Dept. of Marketing. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Sept. 27, 2006). Document formatted into pages; contains xi, 209 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (MPhil (Information Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Loyalty programmes have become very popular over the last 10 years and many businesses have chosen to implement such programmes to support their marketing strategies. Fundamental to the functioning and success of such loyalty programmes is the ability to gather, process, analyse and apply information regarding a business' customers. Such information is generated through customers' interactions with the programme and the business to which it is linked, as well as the various services and their providers that make up the programme. The aim of this research project is to investigate the question of whether an information-oriented strategy, based on the principles and paradigm of loyalty manifest in the global phenomenon of loyalty programmes, can deliver value to a business adopting them. In the process of the investigation, the primacy of information as the source of value for any business in the new economy will be discussed. This will be transposed onto the argument that the customer is the source of revenue generation and drives the flow of value in a business system. The results of these two streams of argument will show how the synergy between customers and their information, through the lens of loyalty economics, can be translated into business value with the achievement of core business objectives, i.e. sustainable revenue, growth, profit and competitive advantage. Evidence of these contentions will be provided by presenting and analysing local and international loyalty programmes as case studies manifesting this approach. In conclusion, the various findings of the research will be synthesised in the context of existing, sound business, customer, and information and knowledge management theory to derive an information oriented model of loyalty. This model is intended to be a strategic framework which a business can apply to provide insight into their decision making and assist in the achievement of their objectives. In further research beyond the limits of this paper, the model is intended to be tested. In application, the validated model's purpose will be to introduce to businesses and their leadership the paradigm of loyalty as a strategic tool. Furthermore, the model could be used as a foundation to assist in the creation, evaluation and development of loyalty programmes and their business implications in practice. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die afgelope 10 jaar het lojaliteitsprogramme baie populer geword en baie besighede het verkies om sulke programme te implementeer om sodoende hulle bemarkingsstrategie te ondersteun. Die grondslag vir die funksionering en sukses van sulke lojaliteitsprogramme is die vermoe om informasie oor klante te versamel, te verwerk, te ontleed en toe te pas. Sulke informasie word gegenereer deur die klante se interaksie met die programme en die besigheid waaraan die program verbind is, asook die verskeie dienste en diensverskaffers waaruit die programme bestaan. Die doel van hierdie navorsingsprojek is om ondersoek in te stel na die vraag of 'n informasie georienteerde benadering, gegrond op die basis van lojaliteit, gemanifesteer in die wereldwye verskynsel van lojaliteitsprogramme, waarde kan toevoeg vir besighede wat hulle aanneem. Die belang van informasie as die bron van waarde vir enige besigheid in die nuwe ekonomie sal as deel van die ondersoek bespreek word. Dit sal saamgevat word in die argument dat die klant die bron is van inkomstegenerasie en dat die klant die vloei van waarde in 'n besigheidsisteem dryf. Die resultate van hierdie twee argumentlyne sal aantoon hoe die sinergie tussen die klante en hulle informasie, deur die lens van lojaliteitsekonomie, bydra to besigheidswaarde deur die bereiking van kern besigheidsdoelwitte, bv. volhoubare inkomste, groei, wins en mededingende voordeel. Bewyse van hierdie stellings sal verskaf word deur plaaslike en internasionale lojaliteits programme te beskryf en ontleed as gevallestudies wat hierdie benadering weerspieel. Ten slotte sal die verskillende bevindings van die navorsing saamgevat word in die konteks van bestaande, goeie besigheids-, klante- en informasie en kennisbestuur ten einde 'n informasie georienteerde lojaliteitsmodel te skep. Hierdie model se doel is om 'n strategiese raamwerk te skep wat 'n besigheid kan toepas om insig te gee in strategiese besluite en om doelwitte te bereik. In verdere ondersoek buite die bestek van hierdie werkstuk sal die model getoets word. In toepassing is die gevalideerde model se doel om besighede en hulle leiers bekend te stel aan die paradigma van lojaliteit as 'n strategiese hulpmiddel. Verder kan die model gebruik word as grondslag vir die skepping, evaluering en uitbreiding van lojaliteitsprogramme en hulle besigheidsimplikasies in die praktyk.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Competition in the long-term insurance industry is intense and is increasing. This market is highly sophisticated and competitive and has developed substantially over the last few years with increasing integration into the world economy. Many companies have come to a crossroad as far as expansion of their market share is concerned. They have to operate in this highly competitive market and are under increasing pressure from legislation. New customers are in a short supply and competition is fierce. These facts are forcing companies to look at alternative ways of increasing their market share, especially through projects that try to maximise the value of existing clients. This paper looks intrinsically at information quality and how it coincides with customer relationship management projects for it to be effective and to give companies a competitive advantage. Through qualitative exploratory methods I was able to get a clear picture of how one of South Africa's biggest insurance companies tries to increase its market share in such a saturated market using information about their customers to gain competitive advantage. I first develop a thorough theoretical background on the terrain of information quality and how it relates to customer information management, which in turn has a great impact and forms the foundation of customer relationship management. Then, I explain how the company sees customer relationship management and how customer information management and information quality playa role in this view. Finally, I look at practical examples of quality information management at work within a framework of customer relationship management. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kompetisie in die langtermyn versekerings-bedryf is intens. Die mark is hoogs gesofistikeerd en kompeterend en het substansieel ontwikkel in die afgelope paar jaar met 'n verhoogde integrasie in die wêreld-mark. Vele maatskappye bevind hulself tans by 'n kruispad- met betrekking tot die uitbreiding van hulle aandeel in die mark. Besigheid moet gedoen word in 'n baie kompeterende mark en dan is daar ook die ewig toenemende druk wat toegepas word met betrekking tot wetlikheid en konformiteit. Dit, tesame met die feit dat kliënte al hoe minder raak, dwing maatskappye om na alternatiewe maniere te kyk om verdienstes op te stoot, en spesifiek deur projekte wat probeer om die waarde van bestaande kliënte te verhoog. Die werkstuk kyk spesifiek na informasie-kwaliteit en hoe dit verband hou met kliënte verhoudingsbestuur projekte om dit effektief te maak. Daar word ook gekyk na hoe dit die maatskappy 'n kompeterende voordeel gee. Deur kwalitatiewe ondersoekende metodes kon ek 'n helder beeld kry van hoe een van Suid Afrika se versekerings-maatskappye probeer om verdienstes te verhoog in so 'n versadigde mark deur gebruik te maak van informasie oor hulle kliente om 'n kompeterende voordeel te verkry. Eerstens ontwikkel ek 'n deeglike teoretiese agtergrond oor die gebied van informasie kwaliteit, en hoe dit verband hou met kliënte informasie-bestuur, wat op sy beurt weer 'n groot impak het en die grondslag vorm van kliënte verhoudingsbestuur. Tweedens verduidelik ek hoe die maatskappy kliënte verhoudingsbestuur sien en hoe kliënte informasie bestuur en informasie-kwaliteit 'n rol speel in die siening. Laastens kyk ek na praktiese voorbeelde van kwaliteit informasie-bestuur en die impak wat dit het op kliënte verhoudingsbestuur.

This thesis deals with customer relationship management and detailed analysis of examined company's customer satisfaction. The thesis goal is to emphasize the importance of CRM as a factor in the development of care for corporate clients and based on the results of analysis, to suggest possibilities for further development of care for corporate clients in the examined company. The proposal part of the thesis contains a complex solution to the problems that were identified in the examined company's current customer relationship management.