Context-driven progressive enhancement of mobile web applications: a multicriteria decision-making approach

Personal computing has become all about mobile and embedded devices. As a result, the adoption rate of smartphones is rapidly increasing and this trend has set a need for mobile applications to be available at anytime, anywhere and on any device. Despite the obvious advantages of such immersive mobile applications, software developers are increasingly facing the challenges related to device fragmentation. Current application development solutions are insufficiently prepared for handling the enormous variety of software platforms and hardware characteristics covering the mobile eco-system. As a result, maintaining a viable balance between development costs and market coverage has turned out to be a challenging issue when developing mobile applications. This article proposes a context-aware software platform for the development and delivery of self-adaptive mobile applications over the Web. An adaptive application composition approach is introduced, capable of autonomously bypassing context-related fragmentation issues. This goal is achieved by incorporating and validating the concept of fine-grained progressive application enhancements based on a multicriteria decision-making strategy

The effects of shelf display on online grocery choices.

Research on shelf effects in traditional grocery stores has shown that a product's absolute and relative shelf position may strongly affect consumer choices. In this paper, we examine whether and how such shelf effects translate into an online grocery context. We find that a product's choice probability increases when presented on the first screen or located near focal items - especially when the latter are out-of-stock. These primacy and proximity effects have a stronger impact on choice decisions when assortments are more difficult to evaluate and when a clear shelf organization facilitates the use of shelf-based choice heuristics.Effects; Shelf; Choice;

Enablers of post-COVID-19 customer demand resilience: Evidence from fast-fashion MSMEs

This study aims to analyse the resilience of customer demand management in post-coronavirus disease (COVID) 2019, using fast fashion as an example. The paper provides insights for potential applications to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Based on the qualitative analysis and an integrated PDCA-DEMATEL-fuzzy technique for order of preference by similarity to the ideal solution (TOPSIS) methodology of fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making, we explored and prioritised the enablers of resilience management for fast-fashion MSMEs. The results reveal that the highest priority enabler is maintaining customer loyalty. Other enablers are associated with e-commerce endorsement, a customer-focused assortment of items, and flexible store operations. The study findings will enable fast-fashion MSMEs to develop effective actions and priorities in operations efforts to promote post-pandemic recovery. Despite the importance of the resilience project and the changing fast-fashion customer patterns, only a handful of studies have explored how resilience can be managed in this field. Thus, the findings can contribute to closing this gap in the context of operations resilience research as well as MSME operations

New Consumers' Behaviour Trends in the food world: A Marketing Perspective

Food has been part of human culture since the origin of the species. The human being has evolved alongside his ability to provide food for himself in ancient times, and today food and restaurant industry follows societal changes. Globalisation has spread food cultures worldwide, technological innovations have changed how we produce and consume our food, and ethical concerns have been raised towards the health of the food we eat and the sustainability of the sector. Marketing research has followed these changes closely (Earle, 1997; Santeramo et al., 2018) since humans daily deal with food consumption choices. One of the most relevant stimuli towards change has undoubtedly been represented by the challenges caused by climate change, which has pushed western society to question their modus operandi in food production and restaurant industries. The need for more environmentally sustainable food production processes has pushed the debate around novel foods, both inside and outside academia. The discussion has flourished in recent years following two significant streams: (i) the impact of food production in terms of environment and animal welfare, and (ii) the novel consumers' needs, specifically in terms of health and ethical concerns (Tuorila and Hartmann, 2020). Environmental sustainability, animal welfare (Ankamah-Yeboah et al., 2019), and pursuing a balance between demand for innovation and naturalness (Coppola et al., 2014) are what the market demands nowadays. Even if new food technologies and novel foods increase food quality, availability, safety, and sustainability (Davis et al., 2020), consumers may not accept them easily. This reaction may be driven by price, attachment to traditions, disgust, unnaturalness, unpleasant sensory expectations (Tuorila & Hartmann, 2020) or a short trust in the production process (Cox and Evans, 2008). On the other hand, technological innovations in the food and restaurant industry are widely accepted and widely used among westerners, like food delivery (Wen et al., 2022) and online reviews (DeNicolò et al., 2023) platforms. These are examples of how innovations represent another significant stimulus for changes in the food and restaurant industry. These have shaped the way consumers get informed on what and where to eat (Kwon et al., 2021) on a global scale, arriving up to the point in which, paradoxically, the excess of information provided by online reviews does not allow consumers to take an informed decision (Ganzaroli et al., 2017, 2020). Globalised trends in food cultures and the widespread use of online platforms are just two examples of how humankind, nowadays, is as interconnected as ever. However, is that so? Are we as equal in our eating habits as these findings suggest? This will be the starting point of the following dissertation, which aims to explore, from a marketing perspective, these new trends in the food world. From the similarities that customers display when deciding to dine out to how online reviews of restaurant relates to customers' perception of service quality, passing through consumers' dysfunctional traits in accepting a novel and more sustainable food, this dissertation will offer a discussion on these themes exploiting meta-analysis and quantitative methodologies.Food has been part of human culture since the origin of the species. The human being has evolved alongside his ability to provide food for himself in ancient times, and today food and restaurant industry follows societal changes. Globalisation has spread food cultures worldwide, technological innovations have changed how we produce and consume our food, and ethical concerns have been raised towards the health of the food we eat and the sustainability of the sector. Marketing research has followed these changes closely (Earle, 1997; Santeramo et al., 2018) since humans daily deal with food consumption choices. One of the most relevant stimuli towards change has undoubtedly been represented by the challenges caused by climate change, which has pushed western society to question their modus operandi in food production and restaurant industries. The need for more environmentally sustainable food production processes has pushed the debate around novel foods, both inside and outside academia. The discussion has flourished in recent years following two significant streams: (i) the impact of food production in terms of environment and animal welfare, and (ii) the novel consumers' needs, specifically in terms of health and ethical concerns (Tuorila and Hartmann, 2020). Environmental sustainability, animal welfare (Ankamah-Yeboah et al., 2019), and pursuing a balance between demand for innovation and naturalness (Coppola et al., 2014) are what the market demands nowadays. Even if new food technologies and novel foods increase food quality, availability, safety, and sustainability (Davis et al., 2020), consumers may not accept them easily. This reaction may be driven by price, attachment to traditions, disgust, unnaturalness, unpleasant sensory expectations (Tuorila & Hartmann, 2020) or a short trust in the production process (Cox and Evans, 2008). On the other hand, technological innovations in the food and restaurant industry are widely accepted and widely used among westerners, like food delivery (Wen et al., 2022) and online reviews (DeNicolò et al., 2023) platforms. These are examples of how innovations represent another significant stimulus for changes in the food and restaurant industry. These have shaped the way consumers get informed on what and where to eat (Kwon et al., 2021) on a global scale, arriving up to the point in which, paradoxically, the excess of information provided by online reviews does not allow consumers to take an informed decision (Ganzaroli et al., 2017, 2020). Globalised trends in food cultures and the widespread use of online platforms are just two examples of how humankind, nowadays, is as interconnected as ever. However, is that so? Are we as equal in our eating habits as these findings suggest? This will be the starting point of the following dissertation, which aims to explore, from a marketing perspective, these new trends in the food world. From the similarities that customers display when deciding to dine out to how online reviews of restaurant relates to customers' perception of service quality, passing through consumers' dysfunctional traits in accepting a novel and more sustainable food, this dissertation will offer a discussion on these themes exploiting meta-analysis and quantitative methodologies

Applicability of artificial intelligence in e-commerce fashion platforms

A inovação tecnológica e a democratização da inteligência artificial (IA) têm vindo a alavancar o potencial de sucesso em todas as áreas que conhecemos hoje, com expectativas do que ainda está para vir. A presente dissertação propõe uma análise das aplicações da IA na indústria da moda, particularmente nas plataformas de marcas de moda do comércio eletrónico, e de que forma está a ter impacto na esfera pessoal do consumidor, particularmente no processo de tomada de decisão dos consumidores da Geração Z. O âmbito da IA tem vindo a evoluir de tal forma que permitiu às empresas não só melhorar a sua oferta e a procura dos clientes, como também proporcionar uma experiência de compra que vai para além da “seleção e compra” mecânica: os pontos de contacto impulsionados pela IA influenciam e enriquecem cada fase do processo de tomada de decisão, seja de forma mais positiva ou negativa. Em última análise, esta dissertação pretende proporcionar ao leitor um melhor conhecimento sobre a IA e o comércio eletrónico de moda, bem como delinear o seu impacto no comportamento online do consumidor.Technological innovation and democratization of artificial intelligence (AI) have been leveraging the potential success in every field we know today, while more is yet to come. The following dissertation proposes an analysis of AI achievements within the fashion industry, particularly in e-commerce fashion brand platforms, and how it is impacting the consumer personal sphere, particularly the decision-making process of Gen-Z consumers. The field of AI has been evolving in such a way that allows companies to not only improve their supply and customer demand, but also provide a shopping experience that goes beyond the mechanical “select and buy“: AI-driven touchpoints influence and enrich each stage of the decision-making process, whether more positively or negatively. Ultimately, this dissertation intends to provide the reader a better knowledge of AI and fashion e-commerce joining applications, and to delineate its impact on the online customer journey

Determining Resource Distribution for the Elements of Marketing Communication Mix Using TOPSIS Method

Decisions about marketing communication focused on developing relations between firms and customers bear critical value in today’s competition environment.  The aim of this study is to determine the priority of an international firm with a powerful position in Turkey’s insurance and individual retirement market while allocating resources for life insurance, non-life insurance and individual retirement products from marketing communication budget to elements of marketing communication. In line with this aim of the study, the data acquired through an interview with the marketing manager of the firm were analysed using TOPSIS Method. As a result of the study, the priority of the firm while allocating resources for life insurance, non-life insurance and individual retirement products from marketing communication budget to elements of marketing communication is determined to be advertisement, promotion, public relations and personal selling. This result supports the need for making the society in Turkey conscious about insurance. Insurance and retirement products should be promoted through advertisements and their importance should be emphasized. Also, premium productions should be supported through promotions and reputation of insurance companies should be raised through public relations efforts as well as developing relations with customers through personal selling. Keywords: Marketing communication, TOPSIS Method, Advertisement, Public relations, Personal selling, Promotio

A Quantitative Model for Decomposing & Assessing the Value for the Customer

The research presented in this paper proposes a novel quantitative model for decomposing and assessing the Value for the Customer. The proposed approach builds on the different dimensions of the Value Network analysis proposed by Verna Allee having as background the concept of Value for the Customer proposed by Woodall. In this context, the Value for the Customer is modelled as a relationship established between the exchanged deliverables and a combination of tangible and intangible assets projected into their endogenous or exogenous dimensions. The Value Network Analysis of the deliverables exchange enables an in-depth understanding of this frontier and the implicit modelling of co-creation scenarios. The proposed Conceptual Model for Decomposing Value for the Customer combines several concepts: from the marketing area we have the concept of Value for the Customer; from the area of intellectual capital the concept of Value Network Analysis; from the collaborative networks area we have the perspective of the enterprise life cycle and the endogenous and exogenous perspectives; at last, the proposed model is supported by a mathematical formal description that stems from the area of Multi-Criteria Decision Making. The whole concept is illustrated in the context of a case study of an enterprise in the footwear industry (Pontechem). The merits of this approach seem evident from the contact with Pontechem as it provides a structured approach for the enterprises to assess the adequacy of their value proposition to the client/customer needs and how these relate to their endogenous and/or exogenous tangible or intangible assets. The proposed model, as a tool, may therefore be a useful instrument in supporting the commercialisation of new products and/or services

Think Twice Before You Buy! How Recommendations Affect Three-Stage Purchase Decision Processes

Consumer decision-making is usually modeled as a two-stage process of initial screening and subsequent in-depth consideration of attractive alternatives. Recent evidence indicates, however, that consideration is not necessarily the direct precursor of choice: consumers may narrow their consideration sets further to the choice set. We examine how choices in a three-stage purchase decision process evolve by observing consumer behavior in an online shopping experiment. Specifically, we examine the effects of system- and user-generated recommendations (SGR and UGR) moderated by gender. Our contribution to information systems research is threefold. First, we suggest a new experimental design for observing the stages in purchasing processes. Second, we show that effects of SGR and UGR indeed vary between stages. UGR reduce consideration set size and increase females’ choice probability while SGR reduce males’ transition probabilities. Third, our results suggest that omitting choice set formation can lead to incorrect estimates of choice probabilities