Word of mouth (WOM) communication has been a form of additional information for consumers wishing to make a purchase decision where there was uncertainty, lack of knowledge or just a general desire for more information. The increased access and use of social media as well as anonymous opportunities for consumers to provide their reviews on products or services is changing how WOM is used and sought. There is little research on the impact and use of WOM with respect to consumer decision making in a recreation and leisure context. Much research has been focussed on retail experiences and more tangible outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore the process consumers undertake to seek out, listen and engage in WOM communication when making service purchase decisions. This study took place in a municipality in York Region that offered swimming lessons to the public. Participants were chosen using convenience sampling methodology. 500 surveys were distributed with 301 returned surveys completed to some degree. Study participants were recruited from observers watching a swim class offered by a municipal recreation provider. The survey instrument asked participants to describe themselves in terms of their experience level with municipal recreation programs. It also included three scales relating to susceptibility to influence, self confidence and need for cognition. Participants were exposed to one of five scenarios – one control message contained no treatment information and four scenarios with treatment messages relating to self-confidence and perceived risk. Treatment group members received information suggesting either high and low levels of perceived risk with purchase and high and low levels of self-confidence with knowledge (regarding the purchase decision). Respondents in this study possessed a very high level of self confidence in their program selections; they knew where to find the information and also how to explore program options. Overall this seemed a very well informed and confident group. Results suggest that susceptibility to influence (t = 5.889, p = .000) and self confidence (t = -2.174, p = .037) influenced their search for WOM communication. Need for cognition did not influence the likelihood they would seek WOM communication (t = -1.098, p = .280). Together all three variables explained 50% of the variance (adjusted R2 = .505) in the dependent variable (likelihood they would seek out WOM to make the purchase). These results indicate that participants were more likely to seek WOM when they were susceptible to influence and when their self confidence levels were low. Results also suggest that consumers were open to on line sources of word of mouth communication. More than that, study participants were generally willing to trust online reviews from people who were not necessarily known to them. As a result, online reviews could greatly influence the program registration numbers. A key question for future research could focus on the role shared experience plays in the evolution of trust between strangers. Many of these respondents would trust the advice of others simply because they reported having shared experience. How far does this trust go? How much risk must be present before they hesitate to take advice from unknown individuals? What are the characteristics or traits that consumers look for when assessing the validity of the reviews. Word of mouth seems a very pervasive and resilient concept. This may be particularly important in situations characterized by risk. Additional research could further explore the concept of word of finger and its influence on the traditional concept of WOM communication.

Made available in DSpace on 2010-04-20T20:48:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 3 98392.pdf.jpg: 11293 bytes, checksum: 8a79246985a15176f2dd421d6775239b (MD5) 98392.pdf: 541072 bytes, checksum: 0abb34ffbabe305d0e3aef7068b0fb3c (MD5) 98392.pdf.txt: 221637 bytes, checksum: 0c7c9f71701b0881cedc3b5a57a242ee (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-09-27T00:00:00Z / Confronted with alarming social discourse favouring the perception of food risk, modern consumers find themselves in a situation of psychological discomfort caused by consumption of foodstuffs coming from the agricultural and foodstuff industry. To eliminate this discomfort the consumer may change their purchasing and consumption habits or introduce some measures for the reduction of risk. Since Bauer first introduced the marketing world to the concept, perceived risk has had a long and varied research tradition, yet many authors have failed to recognize in their research how pervasive the construct is in all the stages of the buying process. Hundreds of studies have measured risk perception in wide variety of contexts but, in the vast majority of cases, the stage of decision process in which the consumer found himself/herself in at the time of measurement was not considered. Then, this research brings an innovation in this sense once it considers the whole decision make process in its analysis. Another important contribution of this work is to break with the traditional view of risk reduction models where the risk reduction is mainly linked to the search of information and done on the level of handled risk to consider that risk reduction may happen also with the help of practices and cognitive developments and can be done in two levels: inherent risk and handled risk. Hence, the aim of this work is to understand the way consumers perceive risk in the whole decision making process and to present a typology of risk reduction strategies taking into account the diversity of buying and consumption practices. / Confrontado com o alarmante discurso social que favorece a percepção do risco do alimento à saúde, os consumidores modernos encontram-se em uma situação de desconforto psicológico causada pelo consumo de alimentos que vêm da indústria agrícola e de gêneros alimentícios. Para eliminar este desconforto, o consumidor pode mudar seus hábitos de compra e de consumo ou introduzir algumas medidas para reduzir este risco. Desde que o mundo do marketing foi introduzido a este conceito por Bauer, a teoria de risco percebido teve uma longa e variada tradição na pesquisa, contudo muitos autores não reconheceram em suas pesquisas a dispersão dessa construção em todos os estágios do processo de compra. As centenas de estudos mediram a percepção do risco em uma larga variedade de contextos mas, na grande maioria dos casos, o estágio do processo de decisão de compra, em que o consumidor se encontra inserido em grande medida, não foi considerado. Assim, esta pesquisa traz uma inovação neste sentido, uma vez que considera em sua análise o processo decisório da compra de forma integral. Uma outra contribuição importante deste trabalho está na quebra da visão tradicional dos modelos de redução do risco, onde a redução do risco é ligada principalmente à busca da informação e feita ao nível do risco manipulado, de forma a considerar que a redução do risco pode acontecer também com a ajuda das práticas e de desenvolvimentos cognitivos, podendo ser feita em dois níveis: risco inerente e risco manipulado. Por fim, o objetivo deste trabalho é compreender a maneira pela qual os consumidores percebem o risco, considerando todo o processo decisório, e apresentar uma tipologia das estratégias de redução do risco, identificando a diversidade de práticas de compra e de consumo que fazem parte da escolha do cliente. Palavras-chaves: consumo, processo de decisão de compra do consumidor, risco percebido, redução do risco, carne bovina.

Made available in DSpace on 2010-04-20T20:59:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 4 Rodrigo de Santi.pdf.jpg: 2532 bytes, checksum: 0213df0b6dbfe7971ab55d1ee306a56f (MD5) Rodrigo de Santi.pdf.txt: 135255 bytes, checksum: a91dd070d8bf8695037dd3d11064c280 (MD5) license.txt: 4712 bytes, checksum: 4dea6f7333914d9740702a2deb2db217 (MD5) Rodrigo de Santi.pdf: 1004709 bytes, checksum: a129a3ee39343107d951514e154050a4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-10-22T00:00:00Z / Mobile phones have turned into an essential part of our lives during the last years, not only due to the easiness of communication they provide us, but also because they are part of our own way to express ourselves and how we want to be perceived. However, there are few academic studies dealing with the reasons behind the consumer decision making process among different handsets and mobile calling plans, and how valuable (money-wise) mobile phones features are. This paper casts light on how much consumers accept to pay for mobile phones and calling plan attributes providing hedonic price analyses of Brazilian handset market during 2008. A dataset was compelled on 48 different handsets, from six manufacturer brands and three mobile operators, in nine different mobile plans weekly over the period from January to December, summing up 27 different aspects and 292.410 observations. In addition, Brazilian market is interpreted by Economics of Telecommunications theory, and true price indices are estimated using hedonic techniques and taking into consideration mobile phones features and quality change. / Apesar dos aparelhos celulares terem se tornado parte fundamental da comunicação pessoal durante os últimos dez anos, há escassez de pesquisas de ordem acadêmica dedicadas à valoração das diferentes características dos planos e aparelhos celulares. Vários fatores precisam ser levados em conta para se conhecer a percepção de valor dos atributos dos planos e aparelhos celulares, desde as condições microeconômicas que afetam a evolução do mercado de aparelhos celulares em geral, até as decisões e motivações pessoais do processo de decisão de compra de um consumidor. Este estudo procura responder quais atributos são mais valorizados pelo consumidor brasileiro em um aparelho celular pós-pago, bem como o preço destes atributos no mercado. Para isto aplicou-se o método de preços hedônicos a uma base de dados de 48 modelos de celulares diferentes, de seis marcas presentes no mercado brasileiro, de três operadoras, em nove diferentes planos de assinatura, com observações de preços semanais ao longo do ano de 2008, totalizando 27 atributos diferentes e 292.410 observações. Por fim, também é apresentada nesta dissertação uma interpretação do mercado brasileiro pela ótica da Economia das Telecomunicações, e é realizado o cálculo da deflação ocorrida no mercado brasileiro de aparelhos celulares pós-pagos no ano de 2008 levando-se em consideração as mudanças de qualidade, funcionalidades e características destes aparelhos ocorridas ao longo do ano mencionado.

Historically, consumer perceptions towards dairy products have been measured using a rational cognitive approach. However, recent consumer insights suggest that emotions play a dominant role in consumer decision making. The South African dairy industry therefore identified a need to determine emotive reactions to educational messages in addition to the reasons underpinning dairy consumption. Using a mixed method research approach, reactions from 81 South African dairy consumers were obtained, using three different, but interrelated measuring instruments. Descriptive statistics, hierarchical ladder maps and correlation analyses were used to examine emotive and cognitive consumer reaction to a number of generic dairy messages and products. The findings indicate that certain communication messages appear to have a stronger impact on consumers due to specific emotions that these messages elicit. Personal values underpinning dairy consumption decisions were also identified within the context of emotive reactions to the selected dairy products. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

Abstract Word-of-mouth (WOM) personal referrals are more efficient and influential than other forms of advertising; however, there is a lack of information regarding the value of referral programs. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perceptions of business owners, staff, and customers of alternative health care organizations in a Midwestern U.S. state about efficient referral strategies, measuring the effect of those strategies, and motivations of consumers to make referrals. Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory of motivation and customer decision-making theories provided the conceptual framework. The research questions addressed how industry leaders perceived and ranked referral strategies and addressed customers' perceptions and motivations to make personal referrals. Data collection consisted of semistructured interviews with 4 business owners, 2 staff members, and 10 client participants. Data were analyzed using constant comparative analysis methods, and member checking enhanced the accuracy of the findings. Results indicated that participants viewed WOM personal referrals as the most efficient nontraditional strategy to make or receive referrals, and they perceived referrals from impartial and trustworthy sources as the most valued information. This research has implications for positive social change. Findings may be used to enhance business owners' understanding of the value of personal referrals in their marketing mix, and of the motivation for customers to make referrals. WOM personal referrals may be used as a marketing strategy to increase sales and lower costs of formal advertising, which may contribute to the growth of the business.

No description available.

В работе проведён комплексный анализ информационного сопровождения процесса принятия решения о покупке образовательных онлайн-продуктов дополнительного профессионального образования (ДПО) в интернет-среде. Рассмотрены существующие модели принятия решения о покупке и их развитие, определена сущность информационного сопровождения и факторы цифровой среды, влияющие на процесс покупки. Методом экономико-статистического анализа определены характеристики онлайн-рынка образовательных продуктов и тенденции его развития. С помощью информативно-целевого анализа изучен опыт информационного сопровождения лидеров рынка, а так же определены потребительские предпочтения в организации информационного сопровождения методом глубинных интервью. Результатом работы является усовершенствованная модель принятия решения о покупке образовательного продукта уровня ДПО с учётом особенностей информационного сопровождения в современной интернет-среде, проверенная методом A/B-тестирования. Результаты исследования могут широко применяться при построении маркетинговых и коммуникационных стратегий создателями образовательных продуктов и рекламными агентствами. / The paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the informational support of the decision-making process on the purchase in EdTech market. The author considered existing models of customer decision-making process, the definition of informational support and digital era factors that influence a decision-making process. The economic and statistical analysis was held to measure the EdTech market. The author applied an informative and targeted analysis to define how market leaders organize informational support. In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted to determine consumer preferences. The result of the work is an improved model of decision-making on the purchase of an educational product on the EdTech market. The model was tested with the A/B-testing method. The results of the study can be widely used in the development of marketing and communication strategies both by EdTech product owners, and advertising agencies.

The study addresses the limited and fragmented approaches of consumer behaviour studies in the existing literature and a lack of comprehensive integrated theoretical models of online consumer behaviour. The aim of the study is to propose a conceptual integrated theoretical model for online consumer behaviour which suggests a deviation from the existing purchasing approaches to consumer behaviour - hence a move towards an understanding of consumer behaviour in terms of two new approaches, namely the web-based communication exposure and internal psychological behavioural processes approaches, is proposed. The study addresses two main research problems, namely that inadequate knowledge and information exist on online consumers’ behavioural processes, especially their internal psychological behavioural processes during their exposure to web-based communication messages and their progression through the complete web-based communication experience; and that there is no conceptual integrated theoretical model for online consumer behaviour in the literature. This study, firstly, allows for systematic theoretical exploration, description, interpretation and integration of existing literature and theory on offline and online consumer behaviour including the following: theoretical perspectives and approaches; determinants; decision making; consumer information processing and response; and theoretical foundations. This systematic theoretical exploration and description of consumer behaviour literature and theory commences with the contextualisation and proposal of a new definition, perspective and theoretical approaches to online consumer behaviour; the discussion and analysis of the theory of the determinants of consumer behaviour; the discussion and analysis of decision-making theory; the proposition of a new online information decision-making perspective and model; the discussion and analysis of consumer information-processing and response theory and models; the discussion and analysis of the theoretical foundations of consumer behaviour; and the identification of theoretical criteria for online consumer behaviour. Declaration – acknowledgements - abstract Secondly, the study develops a conceptual integrated theoretical model for online consumer behaviour, thereby theoretically grounding online consumer behavioural processes in the context of internal psychological behavioural processes and exposure to web-based communication messages. It is hence posited that the study provides a more precise understanding of online consumers’ complicated internal cognitive and psychological behavioural processes in their interactive search for and experience of online web-based communication and information, which can be seen as a major contribution to the field of study. / Communication Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Communication)

本研究目的是探討在資訊超載的狀況下，不同極大化程度分類消費者在決策準則偏好和購後認知失調程度上的差異；以及其採用了不同的決策準則後，對購後認知失調程度所造成的影響。在極大化程度的分類方面，消費者主要分為追求最佳化產品的極大化者，以及尋求滿足自身需求產品的滿足化者 (Schwartz et al., 2002)；在決策準則的分類上，則細分為補償性決策準則，和非補償性決策準則中的逐次刪除法、排除法和連結法。 本研究設定的資訊超載情境為六個產品方案□六項屬性的資訊量，並經由前測選出數位相機為測試產品，以電腦平台模擬呈現符合消費者屬性偏好的選擇方案，各方案代表不同決策準則下可能選出的結果，並輔以語意探測法確認受測者之決策準則。購後認知失調程度的測量，主要透過操弄產品屬性使受測者產生失調感受，再以四題語意差異法七點量表和五題Likert-type七點量表組成的購後認知失調量表加以測量。極大化程度分類判定，則以十三題Likert-type七點量表之極大化量表來進行衡量。 根據170位政治大學非商學院大學生的抽樣結果發現，在資訊超載下，極大化者與滿足化者在決策準則有顯著不同的偏好，其中極大化者較多採用補償性決策準則，滿足化者較多採用逐次刪除法和連結法則；此外，購後認知失調程度主要是受到消費者極大化程度的影響，而非決策準則的偏好影響，其中極大化者的購後認知失調程度高於滿足化者。細部分析，滿足化者不會因為採不同的決策準則而影響購後認知失調程度，但極大化者若採用較耗費心力的排除法進行決策，則會比極大化者採用逐次刪除法有更顯著的購後認知失調感受。 整體而言，消費者面對資訊超載的情境，若以找出滿足自身需求的產品即可的心態來作選擇標準，將可以減低發生購後認知失調所帶來心裡不舒服感受；若消費者以找出最佳產品的心態做選擇，則應該避免採用排除法，以免因本身耗費心力進行方案比較，外加此決策準則很難找出最佳選擇的雙重投入下，更加深本身的購後認知失調感受。 本研究引入決策準則的概念，對於學術上所討論之決策理論有更進一步的探討；在實務上，對於廠商研擬產品屬性訴求方面亦提供相關行銷建議。

因應Web 2.0 的關鍵技術及應用發展，傳統行之多年的行銷思維及作法開始面臨極大挑戰。過去沒有人可以想像消費者能在網站上公開評價商品，或直接發表對特定品牌的體驗；也無法想像主題式社群網站能集結社群、部落格的心得文可以影響消費者行為；品牌的行銷活動比過去更多元且富創意，為的就是吸引消費者的眼球注意力；企業甚至願意花時間經營網站社群，為這群利基消費者發展新品牌及產品線。這些現象的背後，反映出我們所處的行銷環境已大不如前，而消費者、企業與品牌之間的關係改變，無疑地，Web 2.0是促成改變的關鍵原因之一。企業面臨網路科技所帶來的思維轉型，該如何有效因應，並調整其行銷思維及作法，是本研究欲探討的重點。 由於現有文獻或研究多半以Web 2.0 對企業單一構面的影響，或是針對特定產業的深入研究，缺乏全面性且多元的比較研究。因此本研究採用探索性研究法的個案研究法，以文獻探討內容為本，並透過深度訪談法獲取第一手資訊，以發展出行銷 2.0 與傳統行銷的比較命題。 經過文獻探討與個案分析後，本研究歸納出九個命題： 1、Web 2.0 平台有助企業體現市場導向思維。 2、Web 2.0 時代的消費者握有行銷研究的主導權，並由他們決定如何建立關係。 3、Web 2.0 時代下，網路使用者因應共同的興趣及目標聚集形成社群，而企業也開始將主題式社群作為市場區隔的依據。 4、Web 2.0 網站平台較能幫助企業有效評估區隔。 5、Web 2.0 網站平台有助廠商蒐集並了解消費者意見，共同打造符合需求的市場定位。 6、Web 2.0 增加企業與消費者的接觸點，也增加 7P 行銷組合的內涵及作法。 7、行銷2.0 不再是企業單方面由上而下決定品牌內涵，而是由企業與消費者共同打造品牌體驗與價值。 8、Web 2.0 平台強化消費者角色本質的轉變，由孤立變為聯合、由無知變為資訊靈通、由被動變為主動。 9、Web 2.0 平台將傳統單向線性的消費者決策模式，轉變為完整迴圈式的流程。 研究發現，Web 2.0 平台賦予消費者十足的空間及舞台，在商業體系中扮演更積極主動的角色，他們不再一味接受企業透過大眾傳媒所傳遞的訊息，反而開始握有行銷研究的主導權，主動調查有興趣的產業及品牌。而消費流程也不再是單次決策，其購後評價及心得也透過Web 2.0 平台反饋，繼續影響其他消費者的購物行為。Web 2.0 在企業與消費者之間扮演的中介角色，不僅讓雙方在對等的平台上良性互動外，也化解過去因為資訊不對稱所造成的誤解及無效率。而消費者行為的種種轉變，對於企業未來在決定市場區隔、目標市場以及行銷組合7P 等均有決定性的影響。 企業不只要妥善經營實體環境的公共關係，虛擬網絡世界的關係也得花心思好好打理，尤其必須掌握科技及網絡世界的溝通經驗，讓網路使用者中的意見領袖發揮其影響力和說服力，為品牌發言也為品牌形象加值，在每個接觸點都不能放過與消費者互動的機會，因為他們也是共同打造品牌體驗的重要角色。未來的行銷是接觸點戰爭，能夠在與消費者的接觸點出奇制勝、良性互動並獲得有利情報的企業，才有機會扭轉劣勢，力創新局。 / In recent years traditional marketing concepts have been evolving and encountering great challenges due to the online applications commonly described as Web 2.0 or social community websites. No one had foreseen that consumers would evaluate products or services directly after purchase on the thematic social media and publish their brand experience openly through Internet. No one had expected that the thematic social media or Blogs could appeal and gather so many members and opinions towards specific topics, which might influence consumers’ decision. Nowadays, marketers are rushing to integrate various forms of social media into marketing planning and are highly motivated to initiate more attractive and creative events to appeal the consumer's eyes. Some enterprises are even willing to develop new product line or sub-brand to fulfill the customer’s needs. Therefore, due to the emergence of Web 2.0, the current marketing environment is quite different than what we are accustomed to. The relations and power structure between customers and brands have been changing. This research focused on how the enterprises reacted to the Web 2.0 technology and changed their mindset, especially marketing concepts and practices. Since there exists no generally accepted definition and demarcation of the term Web 2.0, the majority of studies have been focusing only on changes in certain industries or specific effects that Web 2.0 has brought to marketing. Therefore, we adopted a more general perspective based on previous results and conducted case studies to gather first-hand information and real practice from the industry. Further, we developed and concluded 9 points and made a comparison table (traditional marketing concept versus marketing concepts in Web 2.0 era) to clarify the differences of marketing concepts between traditional and Web 2.0-driven marketing. The key results of the research are: 1. Web2.0 helps enterprises to better form their marketing strategy and because all the departments within the organization can gather valuable information from each interaction point with the customers. Therefore, the consensus and responsiveness is achieved more easily, which means the Market Orientation concept could be realized. 2. Consumers in Web 2.0 era are capable of initiating market research and it is the consumer, rather than the enterprise, that decides how and with which company relations are built up. 3. Web users form communities due to common interests and objectives in Web 2.0 era, and the industries have begun to segment the market based on the different communities. 4. Web 2.0 applications help the enterprises efficiently evaluate if the market segmentation is effective and worthy of investment. 5. Web 2.0 mechanism support the enterprises to gather information and know more about the consumer insights, and also enables the two parties (enterprise and consumers) to collaborate and create the right market positions. 6. Web 2.0 not only increases the interacting points for enterprises and consumers, but also enriches the insights and possibilities of marketing-mix 7Ps (Product/Price/Place/Promotion/People/Physical environment/Process). 7. In Marketing 2.0 era the enterprise could not decide the essence of brands top down, but have to co-create the value and experiences of brands with the customers. 8. Web 2.0 platform enhance the change of the consumer inner character and behavior, from isolation to union, from ignorant to well-informed, from passive to proactive. 9. Web 2.0 platform transformed the traditional consumer decision-making from one way process to completed circles, where individual experience as valuable feedback influences the decisions of other consumers via Web 2.0 applications. As a consequence, the Web 2.0 is affecting not only the field of technology development but also the domains of business strategy and marketing practice. The Web 2.0 platform empowers the consumer and enables them to play more proactive and aggressive roles in the business system. The consumers do not just accept the message from mass media any more, but initiate marketing research themselves, investigating the brands and industries which they are interested with. The purchase decision making is not single and one way process as the personal comments that are disseminated and discussed on the Web 2.0 platforms keep on influencing other consumers’ behavior. The intermediate role that Web 2.0 plays between enterprises and consumers enables new and equal interactions, diminishing the misunderstanding and inefficiency resulted from the past asymmetric information that was mostly dictated by the enterprises. What comes along with the changing consumer behavior is a revolution in market segmentation, target, position and marketing-mix (7Ps). As Web 2.0 is not a clear-cut concept, some researchers have been regarding it as a mere temporary phenomenon that has emerged with new technology. However, its effects on marketing and wide public acceptance suggest that Web 2.0 is here to stay. Indeed, Web 2.0 has a substantial effect on consumer behavior and has contributed to an unprecedented customer empowerment. Therefore in the future, marketers have to pay more attention and put more effort to co-exist and communicate with a powerful customer instead of old-fashioned pushing marketing. Especially the enterprise should capitalize on the experience gained from the Web 2.0 platforms, utilizing the influences and convictions that web opinion leader possess to advocate for the brand. They should not disregard the many interaction points that could build up the brand experience with the consumers. Only those who could capitalize on Web 2.0 applications to gain more insight on consumer behavior, could win the ultimate victory and survive in the extremely competitive marketing war.