Online reviews provided from consumers who had previous experiences have become major information resource for consumers and marketers. The blogs then becomes the Web-based consumer opinion platform; the Internet enables consumers to share their experience with other consumers as the online word-of-mouth (WOM) communication. Online reviews on traveling and food tasting and by consumers who previously experienced have become a major information source for consumers and marketers regarding to the tourist spots and restaurants. The study extends previous existing research on the effects of WOM and consumer decision making by conducting the in-depth interview with bloggers and an online survey on blog viewing and information searching behaviors. With the development of Web 2.0, word-of-mouth marketing is able to influence the consumers interactively. The user-generated contents created spread among the consumers soon and marketers become able to access millions of potential consumers over the world by understanding the new ways of communication. Word-of-mouth (WOM) marketing is the most honest form of marketing because consumers are sharing their own opinions, independent of messaging and manipulation (Throne, 2008). In the study, the researcher will discuss how the blog readers rely on the source of word-of-mouth conversations and the further suggestions on consumer behaviors and marketing insights, analyzed from the perspectives of user satisfaction, information credibility and consumer loyalty. Keywords: blog marketing, consumer decision making, online word-of-mouth (WOM).

Purpose: The authors have found a common interest to investigate how the use and impact of reviews online can be applied within the subject of tourism. The purpose of the study is to investigate how consumers use reviews in their information search process. The purpose is also to investigate how and if consumers are influenced by online reviews regarding hotel stays. Method: The study is based on a qualitative method in the form of ten semi structured interviews as primary collection. The study has a support from secondary data consisting of a literature review in the chapter of previous research. Theory: The theoretical background is based on three theories. The theories are The PrePurchase-Information process, The Major Influences On Individual Travel Behaviour and the theory From Word-Of-Mouth to Electronic Word-Of-Mouth. Empiricism: The empiricism consists of a presentation of ten semi structured interviews with anonymous respondents regarding their own experiences and beliefs about the topic of the study. The chapter also includes an overview of the previous research about the topic to support and enhance the primary empirical interview material. Findings: The digital society has led to an increased online presence, critical thinking and interest on how consumers travel and what hotels they choose. Impact is constantly present in their contact with reviews and surroundings. The individuals own interpretation and perception of reality is based primarily on how they use and are influenced by reviews. In combination with critical thinking there is an insight that anyone, can write anything.

Problemställning: Konsumentbeteendet showrooming är ett hot mot den fysiska butikens kundlojalitet. För att företag med fysiska butiker ska kunna bemöta detta beteende i deras lojalitetsarbete behöver de veta vad som får konsumenter att engagera sig i detta beteende och varför. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att bidra till förståelsen för showrooming genom att undersöka hur olika kanalattribut och produkttyper driver ett urval svenska konsumenter till att engagera sig i showrooming. Forskningsfråga: Vilka olika kanalattribut och produkttyper leder till att urvalet av konsumenterengagerar sig i showrooming? Vilka kanalattribut respektive produkttyper har störst påverkan på deras engagemang i showrooming? Resultat: Urvalet engagerade sig i showrooming och deras beteende påverkades av kanalattribut och produktkategorier men på olika sätt. Vidare visade det sig att vissa av attributen och produktkategorierna inte alls ledde till att urvalet engagerade sig i showrooming. Kunskapsbidrag: Denna studie har bidragit med kunskap om friåkningsbeteendet showrooming genom att bidra med kunskap om vilka kanalattribut och produktkategorier som får konsumenter att engagera sig i detta shoppingbeteende och varför / Problems: The consumer behaviour called showrooming is a threat towards the customer loyalty of the physical store. In order for these companies to great this behaviour in their loyalty work they need to know what leads to consumers engaging in this behaviour and why Purpose: The purpose of this study is to contribute to the understanding of showrooming through an investigation about how different channel attributes and product types leads a selection of Swedish consumers to engage in showrooming. Research question: Which different channel attributes and product types leads to the selection of Swedish consumers engaging in showrooming? Which channel attributes and product types have the biggest impact on the consumers engagement in showrooming? Result: The selection engaged in showrooming and their behaviour was affected by channel attributes and product categories, however, differently. Furthermore, it became visible that some channel attributes and product categories did not lead towards consumers engaging in showrooming. Knowledge contribution: This study has contributed with knowledge about the phenomena showrooming through contribution of what channel attributes and product categories leads towards consumers engaging in this consumer behaviour.

The world today faces many challenges in terms of sustainability and how the world will be able to continue to meet demands of future generations. Sustainability aspects are considered by customers and organizations to a greater extent today than ever before. Businesses need to find new ways forward to encourage sustainable consumption to be able to exist in the future. The increasing amount of food waste represents one of many sustainability challenges and is a stated problem in developed countries. In Sweden, the households stand for the biggest amount of food waste along the entire supply chain. Producing something that is later wasted is an inefficient use of resources. This study aims to identify barriers for consumers to act pro-environmentally when consuming products of low involvement and find ways for the industry to overcome them. The thesis is commissioned for a large bread company in Sweden, who is in the starting blocks of start selling frozen bread, something that is not done to a great extent today. Frozen bread is a more environmentally sustainable alternative than substitute products and it will serve as the low-involvement product in focus of this study. The theoretical framework is built on theories regarding consumer decision-making, consumer behavior, sustainability and sustainable consumption. Through in-store observations of customers accompanied by follow-up interviews, a solid amount of data was gathered which allowed the authors to address the gap between intentions and behavior. Semi-structured interviews with the manager of the grocery store and the commissioned company give insights to the industry perspective of sustainability and consumer behavior. The empirical findings are presented from each data collection instance and are later analyzed and discussed with regard to four sub-purposes and the theoretical framework. The results have shown that existing barriers relate to customers’ habits, inertia, attitudes and lack of knowledge. The industry has the opportunity to bring forward sustainable products without tradeoffs, to create a win-win situation. By appealing to the customers’ hedonic needs and informing them about environmental benefits it is possible to influence customer norms to achieve a pro-environmental behavioral change.

<p>Millions of households around the world rely on intermittent water supply systems (IWS), where piped water supply is limited to specific hours during the day or on specific days during the week. Households relying on IWS systems, as their primary water source, often adapt to supply intermittency by installing in-house water storage and/or supplying water from non-piped sources (for instance, in the form of water tanker trucks). The piped water distribution network (WDN) in IWS systems is subject to short-term disruptions that cause dynamic behavior and interactions of the system’s stakeholders, including households, vendors of non-piped water, and the water utility. During disruptions of the WDN, households make decisions about obtaining water from different non-piped sources at different prices and wait times. These decisions, made by a large number of households, have an impact on the dynamics (in particular, the prices and availability) of the non-piped water market, which may in turn affect each household decision. Prior studies on the literature of the analysis of IWS systems focused on analyzing each of the components (namely the WDN, households, vendors of non-pied water, and the water utility) of the IWS in isolation, assuming static behavior of the other components.</p><p>The overreaching objective of this dissertation is to bridge the gap in knowledge and practice in analyzing the short-term dynamics within each component of the IWS system (focusing on the WDN and the households) and the interactions among all components of the IWS system when responding to physical disruptions of the WDN. First, a new framework for quantifying and analyzing the resilience of intermittent WDNs is presented. The framework incorporates the aspects of intermittent supply (including household storage and supply scheduling) into a hydraulic model that examines the network’s hydraulic performance and its topology to assess three resilience capacities: absorptive, adaptive, and restorative, against various types of physical disruptive events. The evaluation of the model, using the IWS network of a case study city in the Middle East, shows that household storage capacities, timing and length of the disruption, supply inequity, and the supply scheduling are significant factors in determining the resilience of the WDN, and the interactions of these variables result in different combinations of direct and post effects on households. The framework was also used to evaluate the impact of temporary modifications of the supply schedule on the network’s resilience. The results show that this short-term utility adaptive measure can significantly improve the resilience of the network. The proposed framework can assist utilities in the operation of the intermittent WDN under normal conditions and in the evaluation of the impact of different short- and long-term resilience enhancement strategies.</p><p>Next, based on empirical data from a survey of households in a city in the Middle East, the households’ decision-making in response to disruptions of the WDN was evaluated using econometric methods. A set of Binary Probit models were developed to model the decision of households regarding their risk attitudes toward running out of water (represented by the timing of their response actions), their willingness to pay for faster delivery of non-piped water, and their willingness to wait in-line to obtain water from a non-piped source. The results show how variables related to household characteristics, wealth, age and occupation of the household’s manager, knowledge of household manager about their households’ water situation, and prior experience with disruptions affect the households’ decisions when the piped-network is disrupted. The outputs of the econometric models can assist the city’s water managers in understanding the behavior of households that affect the demand and prices of different non-piped water sources.</p><p>The final component in this research integrates the two previous components into an Agent-Based Model (ABM) to evaluate the dynamics of the stakeholders’ interactions in response to disruptions of the WDN and to evaluate the impact of these interactions on the resilience of the whole system. The ABM examines the interactions between households and vendors of water tankers under utility’s policies that regulate the water tanker market while integrating variables that describe the response of the WDN to the disruption. The demonstration of the model using a representative subset of the IWS system in the case study city shows dynamic behavior patterns in: (a) the dynamics of households, and (b) the performance of the non-piped water market under different deterministic and stochastic scenarios of disruptions of the WDN.</p><p>The results of this research address many IWS systems in the Middle East and around the world that are characterized by household storage, as well as households’ dependency on the piped network as the main water supply. The models developed in this dissertation are expandable to adopt various systems’ configurations in terms of types and capacities of household storage, types and attributes of non-piped water sources, and attributes and preferences of households. The results of this doctoral research can assist water managers in cities in understanding the behavior of their IWS system (including the WDN and the system’s stakeholders), evaluating long-term resilience enhancement policies, and planning for short-term response to disruptions of the WDN.</p>

Electric vehicle adoption is one of the most prominent discussions currently facing the automotive industry, as this is an inevitable change towards a more sustainable future of transportation. Traditionally, car manufacturers adapt to consumer needs changing, thus prompting high relevance for understanding the consumer perspective and purchasing influences. This study aims to build a deeper understanding of the importance of internal and external factors on the EV consumer decision-making process, as well as to explore how the perception of such factors change upon adoption of electric vehicles. The study follows a positivism approach by conducting deductive research. A conceptual framework is developed based on review of research literature of rational choice theory, the consumer decision-making model, and factors impacting EV consumers, and constructing a model from the findings. Quantitative survey data is then collected following the model presented, and results are obtained using SPSS. Finally, the analysis applies the social identity theory, innovation diffusion theory, and theory of planned behavior for further evaluative discussions. The findings show that internal factors such as environmental awareness and fears and anxieties have a vital impact on consumers’ decisions of EV adoption and evaluation of EV alternatives, while social influences have a relatively small impact on the decision. The findings suggest a link between the theory of planned behavior and changing perceptions upon adoption of EV, in which factors relating to attitudes and perceived behavioral control are more susceptible to changing, while factors relating to subjective norms are not.

Abstracts in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa / Consumers are an important part of business and understanding their behaviour, wants, and needs plays a vital role in the success of any business. This study focussed on the health and fitness industry in South Africa and the consumers making use of their services, as well as the non-users of these services. The primary objective of this study is to develop a consumer typology for health and fitness centres, based on the consumer behaviour of its members. Non-gym member responses were also solicited. A questionnaire was developed and sent out via email and Facebook, using convenience and snowball sampling to gather quantitative data. In total, 209 responses were received of which 98 were gym members and 111 not. Various statistical analyses were conducted on the data. A factor analysis was done to create a more manageable number of variables, while a cluster analysis was done to indicate whether certain profiles existed within the data. Cross-tabulations were carried out on the profiles to identify any significant differences in terms of their consumer behaviour. A T-test was performed to determine whether any differences existed regarding the choice of a specific health and fitness centre, while two binary logistical regressions were done to identify which factors could predict gym membership. The results indicated that two distinct gym member profiles, and two non-gym member profiles, could be identified. / Verbruikers is ʼn belangrike deel van besigheid en ʼn deeglike begrip van hul gedrag, begeertes en behoeftes speel ʼn deurslaggewende rol in die sukses van enige sakeonderneming. Hierdie studie fokus op die gesondheid- en fiksheidbedryf in Suid-Afrika, die verbruikers wat van hierdie dienste gebruik maak, asook dié wat nie daarvan gebruik maak nie. Die hoofoogmerk van hierdie studie is om ʼn verbruikertipologie vir gesondheid- en fiksheidsentrums te ontwikkel op grond van die verbruikersgedrag van die lede. Niegimnasiumlede is ook aangemoedig om deel te neem. ʼn Vraelys is ontwikkel en via e-pos en Facebook versprei. Gerieflikheid- en sneeubalsteekproefneming is gebruik om kwantitatiewe data in te samel. Altesaam 209 response is ontvang, waarvan 98 gimnasiumlede is en 111 nie gimnasiumlede is nie. Verskeie statistiese ontledings van die data is uitgevoer. ʼn Faktorontleding is gedoen om ʼn meer hanteerbare aantal veranderlikes te kry, terwyl trosontleding gebruik is om te bepaal of daar sekere profiele in die data bestaan. Kruistabellerings is op die profiele uitgevoer om enige noemenswaardige verskille ten opsigte van hul verbruikersgedrag te identifiseer. ʼn T-toets is gedoen om te bepaal of daar enige verskille rakende die keuse van ʼn spesifieke gesondheid- en fiksheidsentrum is, terwyl twee binêre logistieke regressies gedoen is om te identifiseer watter faktore gimansiumlidmaatskap kan voorspel. Die resultate het getoon dat twee afsonderlike gimnasiumlidprofiele, en twee nielidprofiele, geïdentifiseer kan word. / Badiriši ke karolo ye bohlokwa ya kgwebo gomme go kwešiša maitshwaro a bona, dihlokwa le dinyakwa go bapala karolo ye bohlokwa katlegong ya kgwebo efe le efe. Nyakišišo ye e lebantše go intasteri ya maphelo le tša boitekanelo ka Afrika Borwa, badiriši bao ba šomišago ditirelo tša yona, le bona bao ba sa šomišego ditirelo tše. Maikemišetšomagolo a nyakišišo ye ke go bopa thaepolotši ya badiriši ba disenthara tša maphelo le tša boitekanelo, go ya ka maitshwaro a badiriši ba maloko a tšona. Dikarabo tša maloko a go se šomiše lefelo la boithobollelo le tšona di kgopetšwe. Lenaneopotšišo le dirilwe gomme le rometšwe ka imeili le Facebook, go šomišwa sešupo sa boiketlo le sa koketšo go kgoboketša datha ya khwalitheithifi. Ka moka, go amogetšwe dikarabo tše 209 tšeo 98 ya tšona e lego ya maloko a lefelo la boithobollelo gomme tše 111 ga se tša maloko. Ditshekatsheko tša go fapana tša dipalopalo di dirilwe godimo ga datha. Tshekatsheko ya dintlha e dirilwe go bopa palo ye e laolegago bonolo ya dintlha, mola tshekatsheko ya sehlopha e dirilwe go laetša ge eba diprofaele tše itšeng di gona ka gare ga datha. Mekgwatshekatsheko ya go fapana e dirilwe godimo ga diprofaele go hlaola diphapano dife le dife tše bohlokwa go ya ka maitshwaro a bona a bodiriši. Teko-T e dirilwe go laetša ge eba go bile le phapano efe le efe mabapi le kgetho ye itšeng ya senthara ya maphelo le boitekanelo, mola dikakanyo tša lotšistiki tša go menagana gabedi di dirilwe go hlaola ntlha yeo e kago bonelapele boleloko bja lefelo la boithobollelo. Dipoelo di laeditše gore diprofaele tše pedi tša go fapana tša maloko a lefelo la boithobollelo, le diprofaele tše pedi tše e sego tša maloko a lefelo la boithobollelo, di ka hlaolwago. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

Denna studie undersöker användarrecensioners påverkan på konsumenters beslutsprocess vid köp av produkter eller tjänster och faktorer som påverkar förtroendet för dessa recensioner. Studien visar att användarrecensioner har en betydande inverkan på konsumenters köpbeslut, med subjektiva normer och upplevd beteendekontroll som viktiga faktorer i beslutsprocessen. Det finns signifikanta skillnader i preferenser och beteende mellan olika åldersgrupper. Studien bidrar till ökad förståelse för konsumenters beteende och preferenser vid online-shopping och ger vägledning för framtida forskning inom detta område. Företag och e-handelsplattformar kan använda studiens insikter för att förbättra sina produkter, tjänster och marknadsföringsstrategier, genom att ta hänsyn till användarrecensioners betydelse och de faktorer som påverkar konsumenters förtroende för dessa recensioner. / This study examines the impact of user reviews on consumers decision-making process when purchasing products or services and factors that influence trust in these reviews. The study shows that user reviews have a significant influence on consumers purchasing decisions, with subjective norms and perceived behavioral control as important factors in the decision-making process. There are significant differences in preferences and behavior among different age groups. The study contributes to a better understanding of consumer behavior and preferences in online shopping and provides guidance for future research in this area. Companies and e-commerce platforms can use the insights from the study to improve their products, services, and marketing strategies by considering the importance of user reviews and the factors that influence consumers trust in these reviews.

The foundation for this study is based on prior research (Sproles & Sproles, 1990) that determined that learning styles are significantly related to consumer decision-making styles. Decision making involves a process of cognitive learning. Since the study was published, other studies have investigated these consumer decision-making styles. However, no additional studies have further investigated the relationship between learning styles and consumer decision-making styles for college students, especially first-year, first semester college students. Numerous studies have documented that students enter college as consumers but may lack basic knowledge and skills to make consumer decisions and avoid potential debt. The focus of the current study was to determine whether a relationship exists between beginning college students' self-reported mind styles, consumer decision-making styles, and shopping habits. To investigate this relationship, a purposive sample was targeted consisting of first-year, first semester college students. Three instruments were administered: the Gregorc Style Delineator, the Consumer Styles Inventory, and a Demographic Survey. A Chi-Square Test of Independence showed that there is a significant relationship between gender and self-reported shopping habits. Females tend to self-report purchases of clothing more frequently than males. Males tend to self-report purchases of food away from home and gas/auto expenses more frequently than females. No significant relationship was found between students' perception of family income and self-reported shopping habits, suggesting that these students purchase consumer goods frequently regardless of their perceived family income. A Chi-Square Test of Independence also revealed a significant relationship between gender and self-reported, dominant, Gregorc mind styles. Females were more likely than males to self-report their dominant mind styles as Abstract Random. Males were more likely than females to self-report their dominant mind style as Concrete Random. Although the current study's results did not support multiple consumer decision-making styles from previous studies using the Consumer Styles Inventory, an exploratory factor analysis revealed one, overall consumer decision-making style, Recreational/Hedonistic. A Mann-Whitney Rank Sum Test showed that there is a significant relationship between gender and the Recreational/Hedonistic consumer decision-making style. Females tend to be more recreational shoppers than males. A summary, discussion of the results, and recommendations for further research, practice, policy, and families are proposed. / Ph. D.

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)