abstract: In two thematically related chapters, I explore the benefits incurred as companies actively respond to consumers who share positive word of mouth in digital environments (eWOM). This research takes a multi-method approach by first addressing the psychological impact of company response on the sharing consumer, followed by an examination of real behavioral consequences in a social media setting. Across six studies in Chapter 1, I find support for a conceptual model indicating that consumers who receive a company response to their positive eWOM experience greater satisfaction compared to no response, leading to increased intentions to engage in future positive eWOM on behalf of the company, both through social media and online review websites. Furthermore, I find that consumer perceptions of response personalization lead to judgments of company effort and that these two elements mediate the effect of response on consumer satisfaction. In Chapter 2, using a dataset of firm responses to positive consumer feedback on Twitter (tweets) from 79 apparel retailers, I find that company responses to positive consumer tweets can generate consumer engagement behavior in the form of continued interaction. Company responses that use consumer-oriented language increase the likelihood of consumer interactivity. However, this effectiveness depends on whether the consumer's audience is the company or their broader network of followers. I also show that, in some conditions, companies achieve higher consumer engagement by personalizing responses with the consumer's name. Together, the findings from these two chapters point to the need for companies to strategically practice positive eWOM management, both to promote consumer engagement behaviors and to avoid the negative outcomes associated with unresponsiveness. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Business Administration 2017

Encontramos no Brasil uma precisa descrição etnográfica do significado experiencial em possuir uma motocicleta Harley-Davidson em que os consumidores tendem a emular e apreciar a imagem rebelde ao se relacionar com a motocicleta e a marca. As comunidades da referida marca amplificam essa sensação por meio da sociabilidade entre seus membros, que compartilham similares valores, atitudes e comportamentos inerentes ao significado da marca, e em muitos casos, essa forma de organização social e o comportamento são apresentados como diferentes ou opostos à organização social e comportamentos do cotidiano desses mesmos indivíduos. O presente trabalho propõe um framework teórico que confirma a hierarquia dos constructos da marca Harley-Davidson a partir do constructo \"Entusiasta\" pela marca Harley-Davidson, para logo em seguida ao constructo \"Orgulhoso\" para finalmente concluir com o constructo \"Evangélico\" (mediada pelo constructo \"Prazer Tribal\") da marca Harley-Davidson com a moderação negativa do \"Nível Educacional\" dos respondentes. Foram encontrados claros indícios que corroboram com a tese de que existem significantes quantidades de proprietários das motocicletas Harley-Davidson com tendências de serem consumidores evangélicos da marca, apesar de relevantes reservas quanto a atendimento e serviço em pós-venda, qualidade e modernidade do produto, desempenho e o preço de peças. No entanto, todos esses fatores são esquecidos quando avaliamos a relação com a marca, lealdade e, principalmente, quando aferimos que os índices dos atributos comportamentais da marca avaliados pelos indivíduos são sempre significantemente superiores quando comparados aos mesmos índices comportamentais em relação a eles próprios. O presente estudo sugere que possuir uma motocicleta Harley-Davidson, para muitos brasileiros, é uma espécie de \"rito de passagem\" para um mundo onde sua opinião e afirmação podem ser validades pela simples aquisição da marca. / We find in Brazil a precise ethnographic description of the experiential meaning of owning a Harley-Davidson motorcycle in which consumers tend to emulate and appreciate the rebellious image when relating to the motorcycle and the brand. Harley-Davidson brand communities amplify this feeling through sociability among their members, who share similar values, attitudes, and behaviors inherent in the meaning of the brand, and in many cases, this form of social organization and behavior are presented as radically different or opposites to the social organization and behaviors of the daily life of these same individuals. Our work proposes a theoretical framework that confirms the hierarchy of the Harley-Davidson brand constructs from the \"Enthusiast\" by the Harley-Davidson brand, soon after to the construct \"Proud\" to finally conclude with the \"Evangelical\" construct (mediated through the construct \"Tribal Pleasure\") with the negative moderation of the \"Educational Level\" of the respondents. We find clear evidence corroborating with the thesis that there are significant amounts of individuals owning Harley-Davidson motorcycles with acute tendencies to be evangelical consumers of the brand, despite significant reservations about after-sales service, quality and modernity of the product, performance and the price of parts. However, all these factors are neglected when assessing the relationship with the brand, loyalty and especially when we realize that the indices of the behavioral attributes of the brand evaluated by individuals are always significantly higher when compared to the same behavioral indices in relation to themselves. In other words, the study suggests that owning a Harley-Davidson motorcycle for many Brazilians is a kind of \"rite of passage\" for a world where your opinion and assertion may be valid by simply purchasing the brand.

ABSTRACT Purpose The aim of this study is to provide an insight into relationship marketing from a strategic view in Chinese context.Meanwhile, it analyzes how empirical study such as self-financed overseas study consulting agency could use this relationship marketing as a strategic tool to help it to achieve competitive advantage.   Theoretical methodology Theoretical methodology covers theoretical considerations that influence how the study is designed and conducted.   Theoretical framework and literature review This section gives readers a general understanding with related literature. . In order to access this perception, this study employs a related theory as the main conceptual framework for examining theories and major findings. Furthermore, by studying empirical findings, it acts as mirror to reflect prior scholar’s literature in order to have a critical and in-depth research study.   Practical methodology Several practical techniques were chosen for this research, such as qualitative approach, semi-constructed interviews, samplings etc. The purpose of this study is to find out how relationship marketing can bring to a self-financed overseas study consulting agency in China sustainable competitive advantage based on customer satisfaction and customer retention perspective.   Empirical observation and analysis The thesis is based on the case studies within the Chinese market, with two special Agencies: Hubei Education Service Center for Scholary Exchange, Hubei Jinmao Foreign consultants Managerial co., Ltd. The questions are addressed using information obtained in interview with respondents from the agencies and from secondary data. (Documentary secondary data)   Conclusion The author found that by using customer retention to ‘individual clients’ and by using customer satisfaction (eventually by using word of mouth) to individual clients can bring a self-financed overseas study consulting agency in China sustainable competitive advantages based on the commitment and trust mechanism. However, author could not find out the evidence to prove that using relationship marketing tools is the single solution to compete more successfully than without it. It is further argued by author that relationship marketing is just one aspect strengthening the generic strategy in order to gain sustainable competitive advantage.

The context of this study is Bangladesh`s food retailing sector. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between Customer Relationship Marketing (CRM) and customer retention. Since Independence in 1971, Bangladesh has made solid progress and made substantial improvements in its economy, with GDP growth of 5-6% consistently over the past decade. With the real economic growth coupled with rapid urbanisation, the country has witnessed a new form of organised retailing that started to emerge in early 2000. This organised retail format is undergoing a period of unprecedented expansion, something that is driving additional demand and as well as creating opportunities for further enterprise. There are clear signs of substantial and potential growth in future. The economic growth coupled with the growth of urbanisation, changes in demographic factors, increases in employment and income levels has had a profound influence on consumers shopping behaviour and hence, Customer Relationship Marketing. The core aim of Relationship Marketing is to build a long lasting mutually bonded relationships with customers and various other important stakeholders. The concept has attracted considerable attention among scholars in recent decades and has appeared in service marketing literature as a new marketing paradigm. The concept is considered to be critical to the success of any organisation as it has been an accepted phenomenon that maintains that existing customers are far easier to retain than is the process of acquiring new customers. In order to stay in business and cope with the challenging business dynamism, organisations are continuously searching for reliable and serviceable strategies to be employed in order to increase customer retention. However, there is a lack of an accepted level of consensus among researchers on the core antecedents of relationship marketing that can be used to achieve the above aims, especially while the concept is new in the context of organised retailing sectors in Bangladesh. In response, this thesis developed a conceptual framework of customer retention strategy to conduct an empirical investigation in one holistic model: (i) the relationships between relationship quality and customer retention; (ii) how bonds influences the relationship quality? As well as (iii) the effect of CRM on customer loyalty and retention. The model incorporates bonds, service quality and components of relational quality (Trust, commitment and satisfaction) into one relationship model to show the relationship between these five constructs and customer loyalty and finally the independent variable of customer retention. The model establishes eleven hypotheses to understand the relationships between various constructs. Furthermore, in order to understand the intensity of grocery food consumers loyalty, Oliver`s Four Stages loyalty model was used. A sample of 202 grocery food retail customers were selected in a random sample from four selected superstores located in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Data were collected via mail questionnaires. The questionnaires content validity was tested by conducting a pre-test of 50 households before conducting the final survey. The results support hypothesized relationships built on the model. Correlation analysis indicates that all the coefficient correlate significantly except commitment that shows the least strengths of the correlation coefficient. Nevertheless, correlations were statistically significant. Therefore, all eleven hypotheses are confirmed to some degree. The findings indicate that service quality, trust, bond and customer satisfactions are vital for creating positive customer loyalty which in turn creates customer retention. In regards to the intensity of four types of loyalty (cognitive, affective, co-native and action) results indicate that the intensity of cognitive loyalty was higher than affective loyalty, co-native and action loyalty. Co-native loyalty is also higher than action loyalty. This thesis provides evidence for the first time in Bangladesh of various linkages between bonds, service quality, relationship quality, loyalty and retention and hence, contributes to both theoretical and practical knowledge. The findings suggest that by employing adequate service quality provisions and bonds it is possible to enhance and build quality relationships between parties.