Title: Sensory Marketing - Does music influence customers? Effects of music on customer behaviour, emotion and perceived atmosphere towards a specific product category Background A new area of research within the field of marketing have grown since the 2010’s. This type of marketing is called Sensory Marketing and it can be used to trigger subconscious emotions within consumers by using the human senses: sight, hearing, smell, feeling and taste. In order to make products more attractive for the customers. Purpose The object of this study is to conduct an experiment where music is added to a specific product category located in specific part of the service environment. The goal of the experiment is to find out if the music changes the customers perceived atmosphere, emotions and actual behaviour when they are being exposed to music near a specific product category. The study aims to increase the understanding of customers emotions, perceived atmosphere, quantity of products bought and how long customers stay in a area of a service environment that is being targeted with music. Method and theory Through reviews of relevant literature within Sensory Marketing twelve hypotheses was created, which either got confirmed or rejected after 4 days of observations and questionnaires done on a sample consisting of 300 customers in a service environment. Results Most of the hypotheses were confirmed and the results shows that there is a significant correlation between music and customers emotions, behaviour and perceived atmosphere of a specific section in a service environment.

Dans un contexte de forte concurrence les hôtels de luxe cherchent à différencier leurs offres et affirmer leur identité au travers d’une stratégie marketing bien définie, fondée sur l’investissement dans le lieu du service. Ce travail doctoral ambitionne d’apporter des éléments de réponse à une question crucial liée à l’efficacité de la mise en scène de l’espace hôtelier et à la conception d’un environnement gratifiant et exclusif comme une technique destinée à influencer positivement les clients de manière à les fidéliser. En écho au modèle intégrateur de Bitner (1992), nous avons proposé un cadre conceptuel de l’effet exercé par l’environnement du service. Une méthodologie quantitative a été mobilisée pour tester notre modèle conceptuel et valider les hypothèses sous-jacentes. Plus précisément, une enquête par questionnaire a été menée auprès des clients des hôtels 4 ou 5 étoiles en région PACA, ce qui a permis d’obtenir un échantillon global de 354 réponses. Les tests statistiques réalisés successivement ont montré que la perception de l’environnement du service n’influence par directement l’intention de fidélité, mais plutôt les états émotionnels (plaisir et stimulation) et la qualité globale perçue du service, qui influencent à leur tour positivement l’intention de la fidélité du client à l’hôtel. . Ils indiquent également que l’importance des relations structurelles du modèle varie en fonction de certains variables situationnelles et socio-démographiques. / In a context of strong competition, luxury hotels seek to differentiate their offers and affirm their own identity through a well-defined marketing strategy based on investment in the place of service. This research aims to provide answers to a crucial question related to the efficiency of the conception of a pleasant and exclusive environment as a technique designed to positively influence Customers in order to gain their loyalty. Based on Bitner’s (1992) framework, we proposed a conceptual model of the effect of service environment. A quantitative methodology was used to test our conceptual model and to validate the underlying hypothesis. Specifically, a survey questionnaire was conducted to guests of 4 and 5 stars hotels in PACA, resulting in a sample of 354 responses. The statistical tests carried out showed that the perception of service environment does not directly influence loyalty intention but rather emotional states (pleasure and stimulation) and overall perceived service quality, which in turn positively affect customer’s loyalty intention. They also indicate that the model structural paths vary according to certain situational and socio-demographic variables.

This study deals with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) of a department of an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of trackless mining equipment. The study was done from the service deliverer's perspective. The aim of the study was to determine an effective Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) in order to assist the OEM to deliver superior satisfaction to its customers in the Aftermarket service delivery environment. It also aims to determine what the OEM needs to do to meet the customers' demands in order to develop a meaningful relationship for both the customer and the service provider. The gap in the perceptions of the customers and the perceptions of the managers of the OEM's Aftermarket service contracts were identified, to reveal the Key Performance Areas (KPAs) for improvement. In order to reveal these KPAs, a literature study was conducted, as a first part of the study. The literature study also helped to create a better understanding of CRM, superior customer value and satisfaction in the service environment. The second part of the study consisted of an empirical investigation. Customers and managers of the OEM's Aftermarket service contracts had to complete questionnaires. Completed questionnaires were received from the total population of the customers and managers. The analysis of the database that was compiled from the questionnaire's responses was done by using Microsoft's ® Office 2007 Suite, supported by Levine, Stephan, Krehbiel and Berenson's textbook Statistics for Managers Using Microsoft ® Excel. The analysis identified a significant difference in seven out of the seventy-eight aspects, in the responses from the customers' perceptions versus the perceptions of the OEM's managers. The analysis also provided a base for the CSI. The combination of these aspects and the CSI exposed five KPAs which need to be improved by the service provider to meet the customers' demands. Improvement of the exposed five KPAs will assist to develop a meaningful relationship for both the customer and the service provider. This study recommended that the OEM develops an action plan based on the climate survey that was done in 2008 in the company and that the OEM improves the communication to the customers related to the OEM remuneration strategy. Furthermore, it was recommended that the importance of the information provided is emphasised by changing the reporting lines, that the defects with regard to the service exchange components' repairs are reported according to the ISO9001 system. A further recommendation is that the benefits to the customer to promote the OEM's service contracts should be communicated to the customer. Lastly, training to the OEM's managers to manage a service level agreement (SLA) successfully was recommended. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

This study deals with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) of a department of an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of trackless mining equipment. The study was done from the service deliverer's perspective. The aim of the study was to determine an effective Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) in order to assist the OEM to deliver superior satisfaction to its customers in the Aftermarket service delivery environment. It also aims to determine what the OEM needs to do to meet the customers' demands in order to develop a meaningful relationship for both the customer and the service provider. The gap in the perceptions of the customers and the perceptions of the managers of the OEM's Aftermarket service contracts were identified, to reveal the Key Performance Areas (KPAs) for improvement. In order to reveal these KPAs, a literature study was conducted, as a first part of the study. The literature study also helped to create a better understanding of CRM, superior customer value and satisfaction in the service environment. The second part of the study consisted of an empirical investigation. Customers and managers of the OEM's Aftermarket service contracts had to complete questionnaires. Completed questionnaires were received from the total population of the customers and managers. The analysis of the database that was compiled from the questionnaire's responses was done by using Microsoft's ® Office 2007 Suite, supported by Levine, Stephan, Krehbiel and Berenson's textbook Statistics for Managers Using Microsoft ® Excel. The analysis identified a significant difference in seven out of the seventy-eight aspects, in the responses from the customers' perceptions versus the perceptions of the OEM's managers. The analysis also provided a base for the CSI. The combination of these aspects and the CSI exposed five KPAs which need to be improved by the service provider to meet the customers' demands. Improvement of the exposed five KPAs will assist to develop a meaningful relationship for both the customer and the service provider. This study recommended that the OEM develops an action plan based on the climate survey that was done in 2008 in the company and that the OEM improves the communication to the customers related to the OEM remuneration strategy. Furthermore, it was recommended that the importance of the information provided is emphasised by changing the reporting lines, that the defects with regard to the service exchange components' repairs are reported according to the ISO9001 system. A further recommendation is that the benefits to the customer to promote the OEM's service contracts should be communicated to the customer. Lastly, training to the OEM's managers to manage a service level agreement (SLA) successfully was recommended. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

The thesis work intends to provide architecture for mobile local information search service using Wireless LAN and cellular integration. Search technology has been popular and driving business bodies with increasing e-commerce opportunities. The search technology has been recently brought to portable devices such as mobile phones and PDA devices by extending the research scope. Mobile search revenues are expected to surpass Internet search revenues in near future. Mobile local search on the other hand is getting much popular with growing number of mobile subscribers. Mobile phones have been chosen to provide mobile local search services because of its high possessivity and portable nature. In this thesis work, the author would like to propose a generalized architecture for mobile local information search in a new perspective by involving cellular service provider directly with a minimum co-operation from consumers and retailers. When providing mobile local search services, cellular operator has to maintain a replica of databases of all the existing retailers. Updating the replica at cellular operator at regular intervals has been leading to synchronization problems that produce out-dated results to mobile users. The aspects that have driven the author towards proposing the architecture are solving database synchronization problems and thriving for effective search results. The existing architecture of web search, mobile search and mobile local search are analyzed to identify the domain specific challenges and research gaps. Proposed architecture is designed and evaluated by using an approach called Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method (ATAM). The architecture is evaluated against its quality attributes and the results are presented. / Sridher Rao Sidduri Lindblomsvagen, 97, Rum no 555, 372 33 Ronneby, Sweden E-mail: srsi05@student.bth.se

本研究目的是從注意力恢復理論的觀點檢驗服務環境中的人際因素如何影響恢復體驗，進而帶給顧客注意力幸福感。人際因素有顧客小群體的人際融洽、其他顧客的相似性、外表及行為適當性、以及服務人員的服務友誼、顧客導向行為與銷售導向行為。本研究執行兩個研究，研究一將會透過量表建構過程發展一個恢復體驗量表，適用於享樂型人身處理或心理刺激處理類型的服務業，並得知恢復體驗的概念內涵與組成要素。研究二將檢驗恢復體驗的前因與後果，以及恢復體驗是否會中介人際因素與注意力幸福感之間的關係。研究一結果指出恢復體驗由內容迷戀、暫時逃離、動機相容、能力相容、活動新奇感與心流六個子構面組成，該量表共以21題衡量，並具有良好的信度、收斂效度、區別效度與外在效度。研究二結果指出服務環境中的人際因素會顯著的影響恢復體驗，而恢復體驗亦會帶來顧客的注意力幸福感，恢復體驗會完全中介人際因素與注意力幸福感之間的關係。根據研究結果討論理論、方法與管理意涵。在服務業情境的恢復體驗概念內涵比大自然情境多了過程迷戀面向，但是少了一致性面向。恢復體驗的前因應不只限於與大自然有關的實體因素而已，因為人際因素亦是恢復體驗重要的前因。恢復體驗與其子構面間的關係應被建模為反映型而非形成型。本研究提供服務業者指南，告知其如何透過人際因素的形塑與管理，帶給顧客注意力幸福感。由於小群體融洽相對於其他人際因素而言對顧客的恢復體驗影響較大，服務業者應將較多資源分配在管理顧客小群體上，並促成其產生小群體融洽。最後，提出研究限制與未來研究方向。 / The purpose of this research is to examine how interpersonal factors in service environment influence restorative experience, which in turn facilitates attention-related well-being of customers from the perspective of attention restoration theory. Interpersonal factors include small groups (i.e., interpersonal rapport), other customers (i.e., similarity, physical appearance, and suitability of behavior), and service providers (i.e., service friendship, customer orientation, and selling orientation). Two studies were conducted. Study 1 developed a scale of restorative experience applicable to hedonic service industry of people-processing or mental stimulus processing types. Also, the conceptual domain and components of restorative experience were discussed. Study 2 examined the antecedents and consequences of restorative experience and whether restorative experience mediates the relationship between interpersonal factors and attention-related well-being. The results of study 1 indicated that restorative experience is comprised of six dimensions- content fascination, escape, motivation compatibility, competence compatibility, novelty of activity, and flow. The new scale is measured using 21 items and has good reliability, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and external validity. The results of study 2 indicated that interpersonal factors in service environment significantly influence restorative experience, which in turn influences attention-related well-being. Restorative experience completely mediates the relationship between interpersonal factors and attention-related well-being. Theoretical, methodological, and managerial implications are discussed. Compared to natural environment, restorative experience in the service environment contains the dimension of process fascination but has no dimension of coherence. Since interpersonal factors facilitate restorative experience, the antecedents of restorative experience should not be confined to natural elements of physical environment as done in the past studies. The relationships between restorative experience and its sub-dimensions should be modeled as reflective, not formative. This research provides guideline for service marketers to manage and harness interpersonal factors and improve attention-related well-being for customers. Since rapport in customer small group has more influence than other interpersonal factors on restorative experience, service marketers should put more resource in managing customer small groups and facilitating rapport among members in customer small group. In the end, limitations and direction of future research are presented.