Antecedents of Green Purchase Behaviour: An Examination of Moderating Role of Green Wash Fear

This study was designed to examine the effect of customer perceived green wash fear on certain critical antecedents that develop green purchase intentions among customers. The major antecedents such as customer perceived eco-literacy, perceived individual benefits, perceived customer effectiveness and perceived customer social responsibility were identified from prior empirical evidence. The skepticism in the minds of the customer about green claims was demonstrated by verifying the moderating role of perceived green wash fear on development of green purchase behaviour. The constructs in this study were conceptualized as reflective or formative based on theoretical considerations. A cross-sectional study was conducted in which perceptions of 188 retail customers from Cochin area in Kerala state of India were collected using a structured questionnaire. Variance-based structural equation modelling was used to analyze the linkage among variables of importance. The study found that, other than perceived customer effectiveness, all other variables significantly developed green purchase intentions. The perceived green wash fear was found to be significantly moderating all significant antecedents in the theoretical framework. The study concluded that for sustainable development, green-wash practices should be curbed effectively and customers should be properly and correctly informed about green properties of the products. </jats:p

A pre-launch exploration of customer acceptance of usage based vehicle insurance policy

AbstractThis study was designed against the backdrop of observations that the motor insurance pricing in India requires radical innovations to become more acceptable, fair, and affordable to customers. Customer perceptions about usage based pricing were collected using a structured questionnaire. The model containing critical variables was validated to identify statistically significant linkages among perceived individual benefits, perceived social benefits, perceived value, perceived easiness to understand and acceptance intentions. The perceived risk to privacy was not found to influence the acceptance intentions of the customer. The study concluded that customers are likely to accept the concept of usage based pricing once implemented

PATIENT CENTEREDNESS IN HEALTH CARE: PERSPECTIVES FROM AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION

Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the formation of wellness perceptions and satisfaction from antecedents that explain various attributes regarding service quality perceptions about doctors by patients. The topic is of contemporary relevance as health-care firms are reengineering their competencies to deliver personalized health services to for unmatched experience to develop long-term relationships with patients.Methods: Responses from 280 patients about service quality attributes of doctors, wellness perceptions, and their satisfaction are collected using a structured questionnaire. An exploratory factor analysis was performed using SPSS. 20 to identify significant dimensions of doctor's service quality. The theoretical model developed with these dimensions, wellness perceptions, and patient satisfaction was estimated using partial least square-based structural equation modeling approach to test hypotheses about linkages among these constructs.Results: The dimension structure of doctor's service quality contained constructs such as price affordability of medicines,†quality of diagnosis,†interaction quality of doctor,†appropriateness of tests prescribed,†and quality of usage prescriptions.†These service quality dimensions of doctor significantly develop wellness perceptions and satisfaction among patients. Wellness perceptions act as a mediator in satisfaction development.Conclusions: Patient satisfaction and wellness perceptions are of primary importance in improving service quality in health care and to remain competitive. The health-care firms should train their professionals to interact with the patients more efficiently by adhering to the philosophy of patient centeredness in their service process

Challenges and interventions in water resource management for horticultural crop production in rural and tribal communities in India

This study aims to investigate the multidimensional challenges faced by farmers in Ransai village in managing water for agriculture and to identify practical interventions for sustainable agricultural water management. Employing a qualitative approach, the study used participant observations to obtain current information on farming practices and daily issues encountered by farmers, resource mapping and transect walks to understand the spatial challenges associated with water management and distribution of the village’s water sources, and focus group discussions (FGDs) to capture the collective perspectives of farmers. In addition, the Crop Water Assessment Tool (CropWat model) was utilized to determine the irrigation and crop water requirements for the main horticultural crops cultivated in the study area. The study identified various critical challenges, including water scarcity, lack of rainwater harvesting systems, outdated irrigation methods, lack of land ownership, limited agricultural extension services, land fragmentation, fragmented community efforts, limited access to credit, cultural practices and beliefs, and insufficient knowledge of water conservation practices. The intricate and intertwined nature of these challenges necessitates a multipronged approach to help farmers navigate them and achieve sustainable agricultural water management. The findings of this study provide policymakers and other relevant stakeholders with practical insights that can guide the development of targeted interventions for enhancing water management in tribal agricultural settings

Information seeking behavior causing satisfaction modification intentions

Purpose Customer satisfaction in a service encounter mainly depends on quality of the service provided. However, technological advancements and higher internet usage rates led to an over dependence of customers to social media. A research to identify the role played by information in the formation of satisfaction in service encounters is warranted. Thus, this study aims to examine the importance given by customers to various types of information in evaluating a service encounter and attempts to conceptualize the hierarchical process of formation, retention and modification of customer satisfaction under perceived information importance. Design/methodology/approach Perceptions of 385 bank customers were collected on their information-seeking behavior (ISB), importance of information on satisfaction, satisfaction modification intentions (SMI) and loyalty using a structured questionnaire. A variance-based structural equation modeling helped to identify significant linkages among variables such as satisfaction developers, satisfaction retainers, satisfaction modifiers, ISB, SMI and information allied loyalty. Findings The study could identify three distinct dimensions such as developers, retainers and modifiers for satisfaction construct under perceived importance to information measured using various attributes relevant to a service setting. ISB of customer emerged as an antecedent that cause paradigm changes in satisfaction as well as loyalty feel. The study could also establish that SMI significantly moderates loyalty from satisfaction dimensions even though intensities are different. Research limitations/implications Theoretically, this study examined the manner in which information intervenes in the satisfaction–loyalty link, but many predispositions of the customer about service capabilities of the service provider might have critically influenced their modification intentions. Practical implications Providing customers with consistent and reliable information is critical to the development of stable satisfaction judgements. Understanding the true impact of information and its role in modifying satisfaction can help marketers to fine tune their strategies for effective relationship management. Now, to remain competitive, firms must constantly analyze the implications of emerging information and the importance customers assign to such information. Originality/value This paper helped marketers to identify new areas to focus their attention to ensure lasting customer loyalty. </jats:sec

Role of impulsiveness in online purchase completion intentions: an empirical study among Indian customers

Purpose Online cart abandonment is a severe issue posing challenges to e-commerce growth. Emerging economies such as India fascinates global marketing practitioners because of favorable demographics and high levels of internet penetration. This study aims to consider the role of certain exogenous factors in developing shopping motivations that sequentially mediate to online purchase completion through impulsiveness under risk perceptions. The primary motivation behind this study is to understand the mental mechanism among online customers that develop purchase completion intentions, which prevent cart abandonment significantly. Design/methodology/approach Impact of e-commerce exogenous factors related to e-commerce such as website attributes, product features, promotional excellence and decision-making easiness on shopping motivations, impulsiveness and purchase completions intentions under the moderating effect of risk was estimated from the perceptions of Indian online customers (n = 243) using variance-based structural equation modeling and SPSS process macro v.3.0. Findings The most important exogenous variable that can influence purchase completion directly, sequentially through shopping motivations is decision easiness and promotions. Even though utility motivations are dominant in purchase completion intentions, hedonistic aspects are more critical in developing impulsiveness. The translation of impulsiveness to purchase completion is happening, but risk perception significantly moderates impulsiveness formation. Research limitations/implications Theoretically, this study examined online purchase completions being the most sought response by a customer to various stimuli in e-commerce. The study adopted a moderated mediation analysis in which shopping motivations and impulsiveness were mediators and risk as moderator. The interaction effect of risk on purchase completions was significant even when the mediating effects were prominent. Practical implications Contributes to the current knowledge-related online buying behavior in virtual retail formats and helps marketers in streamlining their focus in using impulsiveness as a strategic tool in reducing cart abandonment. Originality/value This study helps in understanding emerging trends in online buying behavior in India. </jats:sec

Business customer experience in B2B2C service settings: a scale development

Purpose Business-to-business (B2B) relations will become more prevalent in many areas such as delivery services, based on current trends supporting e-commerce proliferation. In addition, hyperlocal e-commerce, which focuses on customers in a small geographic region, relies heavily on another business to handle the supply chain. Emerging trends in business to business to customer (B2B2C) experiences provide retailers with opportunities to develop strategies for better customer service. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a scale for measuring business customer experience in the B2B2C aggregator business model. Design/methodology/approach Using the psychometric scale development procedure, the researchers devised a 29-item, six-dimensional scale measuring business customer experience with the help of two cross-sectional studies. Restaurant managers who rely on delivery partners to serve their customers were surveyed twice. The authors validated a scale for assessing business customer experience using exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling. Findings Based on fit criteria, a higher-order formative structure was best suited to the scale. The dimensions identified were shared vision, interaction experience, end-customer focus, relationship experience, service experience and outcome focus. According to the study, business customer experience is more objective and utilitarian than existing paradigms on customer experience. Research limitations/implications Theoretically, this research helps to understand the underpinnings behind the formation of business customer experience and attempt to bring transformative service research focus in the B2B2C trilogy as better experiences predict the well-being of members of the business centre in the B2B. Practical implications Practically, this research helps businesses to revisit their strategies for a better relationship with business partners for jointly offering an improved experience to the end customers. Originality/value This study explains a pioneer attempt to develop a scale for business customer experience in the context of B2B2C aggregator business models. </jats:sec

Major barriers to adoption of improved postharvest technologies among smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia: A systematic literature review

To help address the mismatch between the successful development of improved postharvest technologies and the low adoption rate among the target users in developing countries, this study examines the major barriers to the adoption of these technologies by smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses method, a total of 41 studies were discovered. Our main findings are as follows: (i) the key barriers to the adoption of improved postharvest technologies in the study area were the high cost, local unavailability, and limited knowledge and awareness about improved postharvest technologies; (ii) there is very limited information about adoption constraints pertaining to policy, rules, regulations, and behavioral aspects; (iii) most of the studies focused on postharvest storage technologies (47%) followed by overall postharvest management practices (25%), processing technologies (19%) and packaging technologies (3%); (iv) much of the information was found on cereals (58%), especially maize (44%); (v) Nigeria had the most studies (27%), followed by Kenya (12%) and India (10%), while Sri Lanka had no studies. The findings of this study suggest that future postharvest research should include a comprehensive assessment of adoption barriers and a wide range of improved postharvest technologies beyond hermetic technologies and a limited number of processing technologies. Nevertheless, more information about the operational efficiency of implemented technologies and their related financial benefits is also needed to drive widespread adoption