Title: Brand loyalty in the Swedish beer market: A consumer study about the relations between brand loyalty, perceived quality, brand awareness and brand associations. Authors: Emmelie Gustafsson and Camilla Sjödahl-Essén Supervisor: Ossi Pesämaa Department: School of Management, Blekinge Institute of Technology Course: Bachelor’s thesis in Business Administration, 15 credits Purpose: This study aims to study how brand loyalty of three Swedish beer brands is affected by brand associations, brand awareness and perceived quality. The study contributes to explain the differences between the three brands to highlight their strength and weaknesses as well as comparing with each other with the result of this study. Method: Three surveys accounted for the empirical data, which furthermore was statistically analyzed with SPSS and Excel. Results: The result of the three brands show that perceived quality is a closer influencing factor to brand loyalty than brand associations and brand awareness. The three brands also differed where Norrlands Guld proved to be the strongest brand with high brand awareness and brand loyalty.

Sammandrag: Företag strävar kontinuerligt efter att bygga ett välkänt och framgångsrikt varumärke. De strävar efter att tillfredsställa konsumenters behov för att öka varumärkets värde, brand equity. Genom att försöka avgöra konsumenters inställning till ett visst varumärke och deras förhållning till ett utökat sortiment i en ny produktkategori syftar denna uppsats till att diskutera och utforska förändringen av varumärkets brand equity. Vid denna undersökning har H&Ms varumärke och deras nya sportkollektion använts som exempel. Teorin behandlar varumärkets värde, brand equity, utifrån ett konsumentperspektiv samt utvidgning av produktutbud hos varumärken. Konsumenter styr ett varumärkes värde och då studien undersöks från ett konsumentperspektiv, var det av intresse att fokusera på Consumer Based Brand Equitys, CBBEs, fyra olika dimensioner: lojalitet, medvetenhet, upplevd kvalitet och associationer. Genom en kvantitativ enkätundersökning fick respondenterna bland annat svara på i vilken utsträckning de förknippade olika faktorer med H&Ms varumärke och därefter i vilken utsträckning de förknippade samma faktorer med den nya sportkollektionen. Några faktorer som användes var kvalitet, modeinriktat, pris, exklusivitet, känt m.fl. Med det teoretiska ramverket tolkades de empiriska resultaten för att kunna besvara uppsatsens syfte. Resultaten visade, till viss mån, en positiv förändring av värdet för varumärket på grund av den nya sportkollektionen, samt att det finns tendenser till fortsatt överensstämmelse mellan H&Ms varumärke och en sportfokuserad produktkontext.

Providing service via theWeb differs from other service provision environments in that it is possible for the unexpected arrival of a massive number of service requests in a small time-frame, a situation commonly referred to as a flash crowd. Events of this nature are beyond the control of the service provider, and have the potential to severely degrade service quality and, in the worst case, to deny service to all clients completely. The occurrence, severity and sought Web content of a flash crowd is beyond the control of service provision software. How this software reacts to such a flash crowd, however, is not. Given the short-lived nature of flash crowds, it is unreasonable to expect such systems to increase the system resources they can apply to a particular flash crowd event. It is also difficult to predict the particular nature of any flash crowd, and subsequently which system resources will bottleneck. The driving hypothesis of this research is that, if we are to reasonably expect to have software react effectively to flash crowd events, we need to alter that software at runtime to remove system bottlenecks, whilst a flash crowd event is in progress. This is a special case of what is usually known as "unanticipated software evolution". This thesis reports on an investigation into how unanticipated software evolution can be applied to running Web service provision software to remove system bottlenecks. It does so by introducing automated dynamic Web content degradation to running software currently subject to simulated flash crowd events. The thesis describes and validates appropriate runtime extensions to allow generative object communication architectures (a promising class of architecture for unanticipated software evolution) to be converted initially into a Web application server, and then later accept further runtime behaviour changes. Such changes could alter system bottlenecks by replacing the key programming logic causing system bottlenecks at runtime.

Σκοπός της παρούσας έρευνας είναι να μελετήσει πως τα αισθητηριακά ερεθίσματα επηρεάζουν την αντίληψη της ποιότητας μιας καλλυντικής κρέμας προσώπου, την ικανοποίηση, την πίστη και τα συναισθήματα που αναπτύσσει ο καταναλωτής απέναντι στην κρέμα. Πλέον οι καταναλωτές θεωρούν δεδομένα τα λειτουργικά χαρακτηριστικά των προϊόντων και αποζητούν το συναισθηματικό δέσιμο με το προϊόν. Ο σκοπός του μάρκετινγκ των αισθήσεων (sensory marketing) είναι να ενισχύσει το συναισθηματικό δέσιμο των καταναλωτών με τα προϊόντα μέσω της χρήσης των πέντε βασικών αισθήσεων. Δεν έχουν πραγματοποιηθεί ακόμα πολλές έρευνες πάνω στο μάρκετινγκ των αισθήσεων και στο πως επηρεάζει την αντίληψη των καταναλωτών για το προϊόν. Το θεωρητικό εννοιολογικό πλαίσιο της συγκεκριμένης έρευνας προέκυψε από τη συγχώνευση του συμπεριφοριστικού μοντέλου S-O-R (Mehrabian and Russell, 1974) και του εννοιολογικού μοντέλου για το μάρκετινγκ των αισθήσεων της Krishna (2011). Το εργαλείο με το οποίο μελετήθηκε η επίδραση των αισθητηριακών ερεθισμάτων στην αντίληψη της ποιότητας της καλλυντικής κρέμας ήταν ένα ερωτηματολόγιο που μοιράστηκε σε 9 φαρμακεία της Θεσσαλονίκης και συμπληρώθηκε από 154 άτομα. Μέσα από την ανάλυση παραγόντων (factor analysis) προέκυψαν 11 καταναλωτικά προφίλ. Τα ερευνητικά συμπεράσματα υποδεικνύουν πως τα αισθητηριακά ερεθίσματα επηρεάζουν την αντιλαμβανόμενη ποιότητα θετικά, οδηγώντας σε ένα ισχυρό (συναισθηματικό και λογικό) δέσιμο του καταναλωτή με την κρέμα που έχει επιλέξει. / The purpose of this study is to explore how sensory stimuli influence emotions associated, perceived quality, satisfaction and loyalty towards a face cream brand. Nowadays consumers believe that the functional attributes of products are granted and look for an emotional attachment with each product. The aim of sensory marketing is to reinforce the attachment between a product and its consumers, through the involvement of human senses. Sensory marketing is yet a new practice, thus the number of studies concerning its effect on brand perception are limited. Two conceptual frameworks, the stimulus-organism-response (S.O.R.) behavioral framework (Mehrabian and Russell, 1974) and the conceptual framework of sensory marketing, (Krishna, 2011), were merged and elaborated to construct the research model of this study. The use of sensory marketing at this study was explored by administrating an anonymous self-completed questionnaire, which was distributed to 154 face cream buyers, within 9 pharmacy stores across Thessaloniki, Greece. For the purposes of the study, an exploratory principal component analysis was conducted. The factor solution identified 11 factors. All factors were labeled, interpreted and discussed in the light of existing knowledge in order to understand better the consumer behavior in relation to sensory stimuli. The findings indicate that sensory stimuli influence brand perception positively leading to a stronger (rational and emotional) bond between the brand and the consumer.

Pas de résumé / Pas de résumé

O objetivo geral deste trabalho foi construir e aplicar uma estrutura de avaliação da qualidade percebida dos serviços administrativos prestados por servidores técnicos-administrativos em uma Instituição Federal de Ensino Superior (IFES). Para isto, o trabalho se dispôs a: i) levantar um conjunto de atributos e dimensões de qualidade percebida para os serviços administrativos prestados pelos técnicos-administrativos em uma IFES; ii) construir um instrumento de avaliação da qualidade percebida dos serviços administrativos prestados por técnicos-administrativos de uma IFES; iii) analisar gaps de qualidade percebida em serviços administrativos de uma IFES, usando a abordagem IPA (Importance-Performance Analysis), sob a perspectiva de docentes, técnicos-administrativos e discentes; e iv) identificar atributos críticos de qualidade e sua relação com os instrumentos de avaliação de desempenho e de planejamento estratégico na IFES em estudo. Entre as contribuições teóricas deste trabalho estão: i) uma estrutura de atributos para avaliação da qualidade dos serviços administrativos segundo importância e desempenho; e ii) um procedimento metodológico que abrange a hierarquização atributos, a analise dos gaps entre importância e percepção de desempenho, a elaboração e a interpretação da matriz de importância-desempenho. Já as principais contribuições práticas foram: i) a proposta de aperfeiçoamento de instrumentos de avaliação e controle existentes no âmbito da universidade; e ii) a aproximação ao usuário final do serviço, conhecendo sua percepção de qualidade e aspectos valorizados. Assim, ao adotar os procedimentos propostos neste estudo, entende-se que a Universidade estaria promovendo melhorias significativas nos serviços administrativos e avançando na busca pela excelência e qualidade. / This study aims to build and apply a structure of evaluation of the perceived quality of administrative services provided by the administrative staff in Higher Education Federal Institutions (HEFI). For this, the work is organized to i) create a set of attributes and dimensions of perceived quality of administrative services provided by administrative staff in a HEFI; ii) build perceived quality assessment instrument of the administrative services provided by HEFI's administrative staff; iii) analyze perceived quality gaps in administrative services of an HEFIs, using the IPA (Importance-Performance Analysis) approach, from the perspective of teachers, administrative staff, and student; and iv) identify critical attributes of quality and their relationship with instruments of performance and strategic planning in the IFES under study. Among the theoretical contributions of this work are i) an attribute structure to evaluate the quality of administrative services according to importance and performance; and ii) a methodological procedure that includes hierarchical attributes, gap analysis between importance and perception of performance, elaboration and interpretation of the importance-performance matrix. The main practical contributions were i) the proposal to improve existing evaluation and control instruments within the university; and ii) the approach to the end user of the service, knowing its perception of quality and evaluated aspects. Thus, when adopting the procedures proposed in this study, it is understood that the University would be promoting significant improvements in administrative services and advancing in the quest for excellence and quality.

O objetivo geral deste trabalho foi construir e aplicar uma estrutura de avaliação da qualidade percebida dos serviços administrativos prestados por servidores técnicos-administrativos em uma Instituição Federal de Ensino Superior (IFES). Para isto, o trabalho se dispôs a: i) levantar um conjunto de atributos e dimensões de qualidade percebida para os serviços administrativos prestados pelos técnicos-administrativos em uma IFES; ii) construir um instrumento de avaliação da qualidade percebida dos serviços administrativos prestados por técnicos-administrativos de uma IFES; iii) analisar gaps de qualidade percebida em serviços administrativos de uma IFES, usando a abordagem IPA (Importance-Performance Analysis), sob a perspectiva de docentes, técnicos-administrativos e discentes; e iv) identificar atributos críticos de qualidade e sua relação com os instrumentos de avaliação de desempenho e de planejamento estratégico na IFES em estudo. Entre as contribuições teóricas deste trabalho estão: i) uma estrutura de atributos para avaliação da qualidade dos serviços administrativos segundo importância e desempenho; e ii) um procedimento metodológico que abrange a hierarquização atributos, a analise dos gaps entre importância e percepção de desempenho, a elaboração e a interpretação da matriz de importância-desempenho. Já as principais contribuições práticas foram: i) a proposta de aperfeiçoamento de instrumentos de avaliação e controle existentes no âmbito da universidade; e ii) a aproximação ao usuário final do serviço, conhecendo sua percepção de qualidade e aspectos valorizados. Assim, ao adotar os procedimentos propostos neste estudo, entende-se que a Universidade estaria promovendo melhorias significativas nos serviços administrativos e avançando na busca pela excelência e qualidade. / This study aims to build and apply a structure of evaluation of the perceived quality of administrative services provided by the administrative staff in Higher Education Federal Institutions (HEFI). For this, the work is organized to i) create a set of attributes and dimensions of perceived quality of administrative services provided by administrative staff in a HEFI; ii) build perceived quality assessment instrument of the administrative services provided by HEFI's administrative staff; iii) analyze perceived quality gaps in administrative services of an HEFIs, using the IPA (Importance-Performance Analysis) approach, from the perspective of teachers, administrative staff, and student; and iv) identify critical attributes of quality and their relationship with instruments of performance and strategic planning in the IFES under study. Among the theoretical contributions of this work are i) an attribute structure to evaluate the quality of administrative services according to importance and performance; and ii) a methodological procedure that includes hierarchical attributes, gap analysis between importance and perception of performance, elaboration and interpretation of the importance-performance matrix. The main practical contributions were i) the proposal to improve existing evaluation and control instruments within the university; and ii) the approach to the end user of the service, knowing its perception of quality and evaluated aspects. Thus, when adopting the procedures proposed in this study, it is understood that the University would be promoting significant improvements in administrative services and advancing in the quest for excellence and quality.

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2017-04-18T12:25:54Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) DISSERTAÇÃO - MPA - JOSÉ ORLANDO.pdf: 1683147 bytes, checksum: dceefacc13fbb80c75b08210bf27154d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-18T12:25:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) DISSERTAÇÃO - MPA - JOSÉ ORLANDO.pdf: 1683147 bytes, checksum: dceefacc13fbb80c75b08210bf27154d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-07-27 / As organizações hospitalares compreendem uma das mais complexas unidades gerenciais, exigindo do gestor hospitalar da cadeia logística de medicamentos que, neste trabalho, são os antirretrovirais, uma proficiência no seu gerenciamento. Pois uma falha na sua distribuição, a percepção, quanto à qualidade do serviço oferecido, é imediatamente comprometida. Esta pesquisa foi realizada no Hospital das Clínicas da UFPE e objetivou avaliar a percepção da qualidade em relação à prestação de serviços logísticos no programa de medicamentos antirretrovirais. Este é um estudo exploratório-descritivo de natureza qualitativa, realizado por meio de entrevista semiestruturada, junto aos farmacêuticos e técnicos em farmácia do hospital em estudo e coordenadores logísticos do programa HIV/AIDS da Secretaria Estadual de Saúde. Um pilar, para o entendimento da qualidade em relação à prestação de serviços logísticos, é a visão sistêmica do funcionamento da cadeia de distribuição através da Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), a qual permitiu compreender seu funcionamento a partir das diferentes percepções. Desta situação adveio à importância também em avaliá-la, com base nas dimensões da qualidade percebida em serviços logísticos, quais sejam: confiabilidade no prazo de entrega; confiabilidade da quantidade e do produto correto; flexibilidade no serviço prestado; disponibilidade; apoio pós-entrega; armazenamento etc.; no sentido de realizar um monitoramento mais apurado dos processos ou propor ações que previnam problemas futuros no atendimento às necessidades dos profissionais do programa e usuários convivendo com o HIV/AIDS. Os resultados obtidos possibilitaram uma avaliação detalhada do funcionamento da cadeia logística dos medicamentos antirretrovirais, a importância de uma gestão eficiente do estoque, do fluxo de informações e do planejamento real da demanda. Entende-se, então, a necessidade de repensar a estrutura física atual no sentido de possibilitar um atendimento humanizado aos usuários e familiares, e rever, junto à coordenação logística estadual, as cláusulas contratuais firmadas. Por fim, ficou evidente que algumas dimensões avaliadas demandam mudanças operacionais, tendo em vista o alto valor monetário agregado; e que o acesso contínuo a terapia traz consigo, não só a satisfação dos profissionais e usuários, a credibilidade dos serviços e a construção de uma imagem positiva, mas principalmente, o aumento da sobrevida desses usuários. / Hospital organizations have one of the most complex unit managements, demanding from drugs supply chain hospital manager, which in this paper is antiretroviral, a proficiency in management. As a distribution failure occurs, the perception about the service quality offered is immediately compromised. This research was conducted at the Hospital das Clínicas, UFPE and aimed to evaluate the perception of quality related to logistic services provision in the antiretroviral drug program. This is an exploratory-descriptive qualitative study, conducted through semi-structured interviews with the study hospital’s pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and logistical coordinators of the HIV/AIDS program from the State Department of Health. A foundation to understand the quality associated to logistic services provision is a systemic view about the supply chain operation through Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), which allows the operation understanding from different perceptions. This situation also originated the importance to evaluate it based on dimensions of perceived quality in any logistic services: reliability in prompt delivery, amount and correct product reliability, service flexibility, availability, post-delivery support, etc., in order to achieve a more accurate monitoring process or propose actions to prevent future problems to program’s professionals and users living with HIV/AIDS. The results enabled a detailed assessment of the supply chain functioning from antiretroviral drugs, the importance of an efficient stock management, the information flow and the real demand planning. It made to understand the need to rethink the current physical structure in order to allow a humanized care to patients and families, and review along with the state logistic coordination the contract terms signed. Finally, it was clear that some dimensions evaluated require operational changes, considering the high monetary value; and the continued access to therapy brings not only the professionals and users’ satisfaction, the credibility of services and building a positive image, but mainly increasing these users survival.

This essay focus on the development and implementation of a model to evaluate consumer perceived value. Initially, itâs discussed the perceived value concept, its importance under strategy and marketing perspectives and its relation to price and quality. The model is presented, considering each step to be followed: perceived quality study of brands in the market; consumerâs perceptions of competitorâs prices; and the value map development, defined considering the relation quality/price for each brand in the market. The model applicability was tested in a soft drink category study in Fortaleza market, based in a survey with 400 consumers. The application shows that the model, built under consumerâs point of view, can provide a descriptive panel of competitorâs positions and relevant information to be used in market diagnoses. The information and the descriptive panel mentioned can be useful, not only in strategic analyses, but also in price formulations. / Esta dissertaÃÃo està centrada no desenvolvimento e utilizaÃÃo de um modelo para a avaliaÃÃo do valor percebido pelos consumidores. Inicialmente, à discutido o conceito de valor percebido, sua importÃncia sob as perspectivas estratÃgicas e mercadolÃgicas e sua relaÃÃo com o preÃo e a qualidade. O modelo à apresentado a partir da descriÃÃo dos passos necessÃrios para sua aplicaÃÃo: o estudo da qualidade percebida de cada marca; o levantamento das percepÃÃes dos consumidores com relaÃÃo aos preÃos dos concorrentes; e o desenho do mapa de valor, que à traÃado a partir das relaÃÃes qualidade/preÃo definidas para cada marca do mercado. A aplicabilidade do modelo foi testada atravÃs de um estudo da categoria de refrigerantes no mercado de Fortaleza, que envolveu uma pesquisa do tipo survey junto a 400 consumidores. Verificou-se que o modelo fornece um quadro descritivo dos posicionamentos mercadolÃgicos dos concorrentes e outras informaÃÃes relevantes para o diagnÃstico de mercado, considerado sob a Ãptica dos consumidores. As informaÃÃes e o quadro descritivo citados podem ser utilizados para anÃlises e formulaÃÃes estratÃgicas e para a formaÃÃo de preÃos.

Submitted by Geandra Rodrigues (geandrar@gmail.com) on 2018-07-24T14:00:49Z No. of bitstreams: 1 sheylamaraschreider.pdf: 2299776 bytes, checksum: 84f8ed707e0526e8398dd54738ae99b4 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2018-07-25T12:17:16Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 sheylamaraschreider.pdf: 2299776 bytes, checksum: 84f8ed707e0526e8398dd54738ae99b4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-25T12:17:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 sheylamaraschreider.pdf: 2299776 bytes, checksum: 84f8ed707e0526e8398dd54738ae99b4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-04-04 / O mercado de beleza no Brasil ocupa o quarto lugar no ranking mundial de consumo mostrando a importância do setor para a economia. Muitos estudos vinculam que a satisfação do cliente é fundamental para a fidelização e lealdade dos mesmos. Especialistas acreditam que a qualidade percebida é um determinante da satisfação e pesquisas separadas incluem outras variáveis como expectativas, desejos pessoais, emoções, preço, valor, imagem organizacional e desconfirmação das expectativas como determinantes da satisfação. A concorrência acirrada e a exigência crescente dos clientes fazem com que as empresas procurem compreender as necessidades e expectativas dos clientes e assim, direcionar esforços para alcançar a qualidade no serviço e satisfação destes clientes. Identificar e relacionar esses determinantes poderia auxiliar no direcionamento de esforços dos profissionais da área de beleza. O presente trabalho objetivou identificar como os determinantes de satisfação dos clientes de salões de beleza de Juiz de Fora estão relacionados. A metodologia utilizada no trabalho foi o estudo exploratório e descritivo. A escolha deste método se deu pela necessidade de adquirir maior contato com o fenômeno pesquisado e descrevê-lo. Optou-se por usar como base a metodologia proposta por Tinoco mas para a busca dos resultados a análise de correspondência foi a ferramenta utilizada. Para as pesquisas foram utilizados dois questionários já validados. A primeira pesquisa foi elaborada a fim de identificar a relação entre as variáveis determinantes da satisfação e assim criar um mapa perceptual de correlação desses determinantes e a segunda procurou identificar e hierarquizar os atributos de qualidade percebida em serviços. Os resultados mostraram a grande relação de dependência entre qualidade percebida, desconfirmação das expectativas e satisfação. Foi possível observar, também, grande correlação entre imagem, valor e confirmação das expectativas e entre emoções e confirmação das expectativas. Outra dependência encontrada foi entre os determinantes valor e preço. As dimensões que tiveram maior importância atribuída foram funcionários e interação cliente-funcionários. Dentre os determinantes de maior destaque estão competência técnica, higienização e individualização de utensílios, entendimento das necessidades dos clientes, limpeza do ambiente, localização conveniente, horários convenientes de atendimento, possibilidade de marcar hora, compromisso com horário marcado, exatidão do serviço realizado e segurança. / The beauty market in Brazil occupies the fourth place in the world ranking of consumption showing the importance of the sector for the economy. Many studies link that customer satisfaction is fundamental to their loyalty and fidelity. Specialists believe that perceived quality is a determinant of satisfaction and separate searches include other variables such as expectations, personal desires, emotions, price, value, organizational image and disconfirmation of expectations as determinants of satisfaction. The fierce competition and the increasing demand of the clients make the companies try to understand the needs and expectations of the clients and, therefore, direct efforts to reach the quality in the service and satisfaction of these clients. Identifying and relating these determinants could help guide the efforts of beauty professionals. The present work aimed to identify how the determinants of satisfaction of the clients of salons of Juiz de Fora are related. The methodology used in the study was the exploratory and descriptive study. The choice of this method was due to the necessity of acquiring more contact with the phenomenon researched and to describe it. We chose to use as basis the methodology proposed by Tinoco but for the search of the results the correspondence analysis was the tool used. For the surveys, two validated questionnaires were used. The first research was elaborated in order to identify the relationship between the determinants of satisfaction and thus create a perceptual map of correlation of these determinants and the second sought to identify and hierarchize the attributes of perceived quality in services. The results showed the great relationship of dependence between perceived quality, disconfirmation of expectations and satisfaction. It was also possible to observe a great correlation between image, value and confirmation of expectations and between emotions and confirmation of expectations. Another dependency found was between the determinants value and price. The dimensions that were given the most importance were employees and customer-employee interaction. Among the most important determinants are technical competence, hygiene and individualization of utensils, understanding of customer needs, cleanliness of the environment, convenient location, convenient service schedules, possibility of appointment, appointment with schedule, accuracy of service performed and security.