Examining the influence of corporate website favourability on corporate image, corporate reputation, consumer company identification and loyalty: a study of consumers’ perception in the context of the financial setting in the United Kingdom and Russia

The main aim of this study is to add to the current knowledge about the corporate website favourability within the discipline of marketing by developing a rigorous conceptual framework of factors that influence corporate website favourability, and to explore how corporate website favourability contributes to building corporate image, corporate reputation, consumer-company identification and loyalty within the context of the financial setting in the UK and Russia. This research addresses two main questions: 1) what is the impact of the specific antecedents of corporate website favourability on corporate image, corporate reputation, consumer-company identification and loyalty? 2) what are the main favourable influences of corporate website favourability on corporate image, corporate reputation, consumer-company identification and loyalty? To achieve the goals of this research, the thesis adopts a mixed method research design - a predominantly quantitative approach, which is supported by insights from an exploratory phase that embodies in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The thesis draws on attribution, social identity and signalling theories. Based on the multi-disciplinary approach, this study resulted in the introduction of a validated conceptual framework that explains the phenomenon of corporate website favourability. The conceptual framework was supported and enhanced by a qualitative study (in-depth interviews and focus groups) that added three factors which influence corporate website favourability: customer service, website credibility and perceived corporate social responsibility. The conceptual framework was empirically evaluated through the insights from 555 questionnaires in the UK and 563 questionnaires in Russia. The sample of respondents permitted multivariate data analysis to be conducted in both contexts. The data from two contexts (consumers from HSBC in the UK and Sberbank in Russia) were analysed separately. This research employed exploratory factor analysis (EFA), cronbach’s alpha, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to ensure that the scales developed and adapted were robust in terms of validity and reliability. Afterwards, structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to conduct the hypothesis testing for each context. The model confirmed a good fit to the data, good convergent, discriminant and nomological validity and stable reliability in both contexts. The proposed conceptual model showed that 17 hypotheses in the UK and 14 hypotheses in Russia were supported out of the 19 hypotheses. Thus, overall, the research framework was generally supported in both contexts. The results indicated that navigation, information, security, availability, perceived corporate social responsibility, and perceived corporate culture influence corporate website favourability in the UK and Russia. Furthermore, the findings showed that the usability factor does not influence corporate website favourability in either country. Unexpectedly, the visual, customisation, website credibility, and customer service factors were rejected in Russia, but accepted in the UK. Additionally, corporate website favourability was found to have a direct positive affect on corporate image and satisfaction in both the UK and Russia. However, the relationship between attractiveness and corporate image was only supported in Russia, and not in the UK. In addition, in both contexts, corporate image was positively related to corporate reputation, corporate reputation was positively connected to consumer-company identification, and, finally, consumer-company identification was positively related to loyalty. This study is the first systematic research which has conceptualised and operationalised the notion of corporate website favourability, its antecedents and its consequences. It is anticipated to be of value in advancing existing knowledge by proposing a threefold theoretical contribution to the literature: 1) theoretical extension (level of conceptualisation and measurement); 2) assessment of theory; and 3) investigation of generalisation. Additionally, it is hoped that the findings of this research would make a substantial managerial contribution to the understanding of marketing and communication managers and website designers regarding the entire association among corporate website favourability, its antecedents and consequence. Furthermore, it is expected that this examination will enhance the knowledge of company decision-makers, communication professionals and website specialists about the building of a favourable corporate website in line with the corporate identity strategy of the company. Corporate website favourability should be adopted by companies, as part of the overall corporate identity management

Tourist's destination image through regional tourism: from supply and demand sides perspectives

As an outcome of the phenomenal development of the place branding in the travel industry, scrutinizing its potential influences on tourism and travelers destinations is of supreme prominence. The aim of this study was to identify how branding of places influences both supply and demand sides’ perspectives, and leads to changes in travelers’ behavior towards Tatarstan, Russia. Based on 78 interviews with tourists (22), managers (34) and 3 focus groups (22), a conceptual model was designed which illustrates that the tangible and intangible factors of place identity influence archetypical nation trait and reginal place brand, which further results in a positive place image, authentic lifestyle, and entrepreneurship. Implications for tourism planning and management are provided

"Marxisme et philosophie du langage" (1929) de V. Volochinov et sa réception chez R. Chor : deux voies du développement de la science du langage «marxiste» dans les années 1920 en Russie

Malgré le succès de  « Marxisme et philosophie du langage » (par la suite MPL) de V. Volochinov, ce texte n'a suscité que trois comptes rendus. Le quatrième est ébauché par A. Romm. Resté à l'état de notes, ce compte rendu est bien étudié par les chercheurs contemporains. En revanche, le compte rendu écrit par R. Chor n'a jamais été analysé de façon détaillée. Notre article a pour but de combler cette lacune et porte sur le contenu de l'analyse critique de MPL faite par Chor. Son examen révèle que le compte rendu écrit par cette dernière et MPL de Volochinov représentent la formulation de principes de base diamétralement opposés de la science du langage «marxiste». Cela se manifeste dans la réception des idées de F. de Saussure. Si Chor considère la conception de ce dernier comme fondement de la linguistique «théorique» portant sur la langue en tant que système de signes (ou de «signifiances» dans les termes de Chor), Volochinov rejette la théorie de Saussure. Il la considère comme «abstraite», d'où le nom «objectivisme abstrait» qu'il donne au saussurisme. En élaborant la philosophie du langage «marxiste», il s'appuie sur la néo-philologie idéaliste (les idées de Vossler et de son Ecole) définie dans MPL comme «subjectivisme individualiste». Volochinov propose d'étudier la «langue» comme fait réel, accessible à l'observation immédiate et non pas comme objet d'étude «théorique». Ce fait constitue une cible de la critique adressée par Chor à Volochino

Les conceptions du dialogue et leurs sources chez Lev Jakubinskij et Valentin Volochinov

Le texte «De la parole dialogale» écrit par Lev Jakubinskij est considéré par un certain nombre de chercheurs comme la source principale de la conception du dialogue chez Valentin Volochinov. Cet article remet en question la légitimité de cette thèse. L'analyse détaillée des notions de dialogue élaborées par Jakubinskij et Volochinov montre que leurs bases théoriques ne coïncident pas. Si Jakubinskij s'appuie sur la psychologie dite objective (la réflexologie), Volochinov élabore sa conception du dialogue sur une base sociologique. Les travaux des sociologues marxistes et non marxistes constituent la source principale de sa notion de dialogu

Horndeski Genesis: strong coupling and absence thereof

We consider Genesis in the Horndeski theory as an alternative to or completion of the inflationary scenario. One of the options free of instabilities at all cosmological epochs is the one in which the early Genesis is naively plagued with strong coupling. We address this issue to see whether classical field theory description of the background evolution at this early stage is consistent, nevertheless. We argue that, indeed, despite the fact that the effective Plank mass tends to zero at early time asymptotics, the classical analysis is legitimate in a certain range of Lagrangian parameters.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figur

PRINCIPLES AND METHODS OF ANALYSIS OF LINGUOCULTURAL ARCHETYPES AND STEREOTYPES IN MODERN COMPARATIVISTICS

The principles of the analysis of an archetypical concept FIRE are defined in the article. Semantic, onomasiological, functional principles, on the basis of which the complex technique of reconstruction and comparison of motivational signs of its nominators are developed; among them are those which express stereotypical ideas of fire in consciousness of English and Ukrainian language native speakers

Intrusive growth of sclerenchyma fibers

Intrusive growth is a type of cell elongation when the rate of its longitudinal growth is higher than that of surrounding cells; therefore, these cells intrude between the neighboring cells penetrating the middle lamella. The review considers the classical example of intrusive growth, e.g., elongation of sclerenchyma fibers when the cells achieve the length of several centimeters. We sum the published results of investigations of plant fiber intrusive growth and present some features of intrusive growth characterized by the authors for flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) and hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) fibers. The following characteristics of intrusive growth are considered: its rate and duration, relationship with the growth rate of surrounding cells, the type of cell elongation, peculiarities of the fiber primary cell wall structure, fibers as multinucleate cells, and also the control of intrusive growth. Genes, which expression is sharply reduced at suppression of intrusive growth, are also considered. Arguments for separation of cell elongation and secondary cell wall formation in phloem fibers and also data indicating diffuse type of cell enlargement during intrusive growth are presented

Communication skills at job interview: pedagogical insight into the problem

The aim of the study is to justify the need of teaching students how to use communicative skills in foreign language during the job interview; to demonstrate how to form the corresponding verbal competences based on the analysis of the certain communicative situation. Methods. The complex of complementary research methods are used in order to achieve the set goal: theoretical methods – analysis, synthesis, generalization of research papers; empirical methods – discourse-analysis of institutional communication; methods of data collection and storage; experimental methods – experimental learning, implementation. Results and scientific novelty. It is shown how to build up pupils’ competence of speech behavior during business dialogue, proceeding from a communicative situation. For the first time the job interview was described from the communicative point of view (strategic goals and verbal behavior of both communicators) based on the recordings of real job interviews. Practical significance. The study results presented in the paper may be used in direct teaching communicative skills at the job interview, in theoretical courses (delivering lectures on cross-cultural education, teaching foreign languages, the language of the specialty, etc.)Цель статьи – обосновать необходимость обучения студентов навыкам общения на иностранном языке во время собеседования-интервью. Методы. В исследовании применялся комплекс взаимодополняющих методов: теоретических – методов анализа, синтеза, обобщения научно-методических работ, соответствующих теме работы; эмпирических – дискурс-анализа институциональной коммуникации, сбора и накопления данных; экспериментальных – опытного обучения, внедрения. Результаты и научная новизна. На конкретных примерах показано, как формировать у учащихся компетенции речевого поведения во время делового диалога, исходя из коммуникативной ситуации. Впервые на материале серии записей реальных собеседований рассмотрена и изучена коммуникативная структура собеседования-интервью, продемонстрирован процесс выбора его участниками стратегических целей и возможных вариантов поведения. Практическая значимость. Материалы, представленные в статье, могут быть использованы в учебном процессе при непосредственном практическом обучении студентов навыкам общения на собеседовании-интервью, а также в теоретических лекционных курсах при обучении межкультурному общению, методике преподавания иностранных языков, языку специальности и т. п