The Antecedents of Consumer-Generated Media Adoption for Travel Planning: A Literature Review

Web 2.0 provides different platforms through which tourists can share text, photos and videos of their travel experiences. Consumer-generated media (CGM) are considered honest and are thus trusted more than marketer-generated content. Different factors account for why tourists adopt CGM. This study aims to review extant studies on CGM to identify the antecedents of CGM adoption for travel planning and the theories, models and frameworks used in these studies; it also seeks to analyze the strengths of these antecedents in predicting the adoption of CGM for travel planning. A total of 54 studies from 2005-2016 were found. The study found that distinct and heterogeneous theories and frameworks were used with 61 different antecedents to predict intentions. The technology acceptance model (TAM) was the most commonly used model. Trust predicted attitude more than the other antecedents. Implications and research directions are suggested

Customer value framework and recommendation intention: the moderating role of customer characteristics in an online travel community

The aim of this study was to develop and test a model that examined the interactions among the customer value framework, recommendation intention and customer characteristics in an online travel community (OTC). Data were obtained using Amazon Mechanical Turk from 251 members of an OTC as a sample. The partial least squares method was used to analyse the data. We found that all the variables of the customer value framework, including functional value, hedonic value and social value, were positively related to recommendation intention. In addition, using multi-group analyses, the study found differences between how different customer segments perceive each of the value dimensions and their effect on recommendation intention. Theoretical and managerial implications are offered

Application of information and communication technology for internationalization of Nigerian small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises

Information and communication technology (ICT) has fundamentally transformed business transactions. While its uses have become ubiquitous in the advanced economies, emerging and developing economies are still struggling with the mode and manner of the deployment of ICT for business. Thus, this study seeks to investigate how small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) utilize ICT in Nigeria for business internationalization. To achieve the goal of the study, a mixed‐method was employed. A questionnaire was administered to 265 people consisting of SMEs staff, managers, and owners. Similarly, interviews were conducted with seven SME decision makers. Findings revealed that Nigerian SMEs used ICT tools, such as websites and social media platforms, for internationalization. The findings also revealed that the challenges of ICT did not affect its application by these SMEs, which contrasts with many previous studies. Furthermore, this study identified privacy concerns, internet problems, cyber insecurity, trust, and system anxiety as new challenges facing the application of ICT tools by SMEs. Similarly, the findings showed that lack of ICT competence and strategic focus of ICT applications are internal problems facing Nigerian SMEs. These findings provide insight for practitioners and academia on the internationalization of Nigeria SMEs and the application of ICT to promote business growth.</p

Exploring consumer motivations, engagement and customer value in online brand communities: A perspective from tourism, travel and hospitality services

Digital technologies have dramatically changed consumers’ buying behaviours. Overtime, different social media platforms have emerged with varying features that target specific groups. In the tourism domain, these social media platforms and travel sites provide communities where reviews can be shared among members. Against this backdrop, there is little doubt that these communities exert significant influence over consumers’ buying behaviour regarding tourism services. However, recent reports have highlighted that the growing trend of online deviant behaviour is negatively affecting consumers’ interest in these communities, with the concomitant effect of some firms shutting down their online communities. This dissertation provides a synthesis of the literature on this topic and specifically examines consumer motivations, engagement and customer value and how they affect continuous participation. Five research articles (two literature reviews and three quantitative studies) were used to examine different angles of the topic. The findings indicated that different antecedents influence consumers’ interests in online travel communities (OTCs). Additionally, by integrating the social presence theory with customer value, this research found that offline activities are critical to creating mechanisms in OTCs. Specifically, while hedonic value and social value were positively related to offline activities, support was not found for functional value. This implies that offline communication fundamentally contributes to social ties, cohesiveness and pleasure in OTCs. However, firms should be cautious about relaying commercial messages during offline events. This study also found that customers who perceive functional value, hedonic value and social value in OTCs will engage in positive word of mouth to recommend the platform to peers and friends. Moreover, those who visit the platform frequently will recommend it to others for locating useful travel information; however, those who spend a longer time on it will not recommend it for its entertainment features. Finally, platform credibility could be enhanced by allowing both favourable and unfavourable content. However, live editors are needed to screen out content that is misleading, exaggerated and/or offensive to others. Keywords: online travel community, customer value, source credibility, customer engagement, continuous participationDigitaaliset teknologiat ovat merkittävästi muuttaneet kuluttajien ostokäyttäytymistä. Viime aikoina erilaiset sosiaalisen median palvelualustat ovat kehittyneet uusilla ominaisuuksilla, joilla tavoitetaan valikoidut kohderyhmät. Turismin kontekstissa nämä sosiaaliset mediat ja matkailusivustot ovat luoneet verkkoyhteisöjä, joissa arvosteluja voidaan jakaa yhteisön jäsenten kesken. Tätä taustaa vasten ei ole epäilystäkään siitä, että nämä yhteisöt vaikuttavat merkittävästi kuluttajien matkailupalveluiden ostokäyttäytymiseen. Viimeaikaisissa tutkimuksissa on kuitenkin korostettu, että verkossa korostuva negatiivinen verkkokäyttäytyminen (esim. arvosteluissa) vaikuttaa kielteisesti kuluttajien kiinnostukseen näitä yhteisöjä kohtaan, minkä vuoksi osa yrityksistä on sulkenut verkkoyhteisöpalvelunsa. Tämä väitöskirja antaa synteesin aiheeseen liittyvästä kirjallisuudesta ja tarkastelee erityisesti kuluttajien motivaatioita, sitoutumista ja asiakasarvoa sekä miten ne vaikuttavat jatkuvaan osallistumiseen. Aiheen eri näkökulmien tutkimiseksi kirjoitettiin viisi tutkimusartikkelia (kaksi kirjallisuuskatsausta ja kolme kvantitatiivista tutkimusta). Väitöskirjan tulokset osoittivat, että erilaiset tekijät vaikuttavat kuluttajien kiinnostuneisuuteen matkailun verkkoyhteisöitä kohtaan. Tutkimus myös osoitti, että, yhdistämällä sosiaalisen läsnäoloteorian asiakasarvon teoriaan verkkoympäristön ulkopuoliset aktiviteetit ovat kriittisiä matkailun verkkoyhteisöissä. Tarkemmin sanottuna, vaikka hedoninen arvo ja sosiaalinen arvo selittivät positiivisesti offline-aktiviteetteja, toiminnalliselle arvolle ei löytynyt tukea. Tämä tarkoittaa, että offline-viestintä vahvistaa pohjimmiltaan sosiaalisia siteitä, yhtenäisyyttä ja nautintoa matkailun verkkoyhteisöissä. Yritysten tulisi kuitenkin olla varovaisia kaupallisten viestien välittämisessä offline-tapahtumien aikana. Tutkimuksessa havaittiin myös, että asiakkaat, jotka kokevat saavansa toiminnallista arvoa, hedonista arvoa ja sosiaalista arvoa matkailun verkkoyhteisöstä suosittelevat yhteisöpalvelua myös muille. Ne, jotka vierailevat sivustolla usein, suosittelevat palvelua sitä hyödyllisen matkailutiedon löytämiseksi. Kuitenkin käyttäjät, jotka viettävät palvelussa enemmän aikaa, eivät suosittele yhteisöpalvelua sen viihdeominaisuuksien vuoksi. Lopuksi, verkkoyhteisön luotettavuutta voitaisiin parantaa sallimalla sekä positiiviset että negatiiviset julkaisut. Tästä huolimatta verkkoyhteisöille tarvitaan toimittajia, jotka käyvät julkaistavan sisällön läpi sen osalta onko julkaisu harhaanjohtava, liioiteltu tai hyökkäävä muita kohtaan. Avainsanat: matkailun verkkoyhteisö, asiakkaan kokema arvo, lähteen uskottavuus, asiakkaan sitoutuminen, jatkuva osallistumine

Adapting and Validating Scale of Customer Engagement in Online Travel Communities

Increasing attention towards customer engagement has caused its measurement to remain a highly debated issue among scholars. This study adapts and validates measurement scales for customer engagement in Online Travel Communities. It builds on previous studies on scale development for customer engagement. Data were collected from 450 members of Online Travel Communities in eight countries: Australia, Canada, Hong Kong (Chinese territory), New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The process of adapting and validating the scale involved exploratory factor analysis, testing for differential item functioning, examination of item response theory, confirmatory factor analysis, testing for invariance and criterion validity. The results found that three dimensions (affection, absorption, and interaction) suitably and adequately measure customer engagement in Online Travel Communities.peerReviewe

The role of hedonic features on use and continuous use of mobile retail apps

The cost of developing a mobile retail app is high, so retailers get value for money when shoppers utilise mobile retail apps for their shopping. However, some shoppers either do not use such shopping platforms or those who use it discontinue its use shortly after their first usage. While extant studies predominantly examine adoption, literature is scarce on a mobile app that examines post-adoption consequences. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to examine factors influencing mobile retail app use and continuous use. This study collects data from 235 experienced Finnish mobile app users and utilised structural equation modelling technique for the data analysis. Findings show that the relationship between performance expectancy and use is stronger than continuous use. Cognitive features that enhance learning the platform have also shown to influence use, while privacy and affective components were critical determinants of continuous use. Finally, the study offers implications and recommendations.peerReviewe

Evaluation of Nigeria universities websites quality:a comparative analysis

Abstract The use and continuous use of the website in the developed countries universities are predominant, and the developing countries universities are heightening their effort in the aspect of education technology. The reason why one university website is better than the other concerning quality and accessibility is the focus of this study and this prompt evaluation of 141 Universities in Nigeria across the Federal, State, and the Private ownership. We opted for a hybrid approach to cover the gap in the previous studies. WebQual and SITEQUAL as a framework is adopted based on the web analytical tools. The study contributes theoretically by combining two website quality theories to explain the inhibitors, improvement, quality and future updates of Nigeria Universities websites based on ease of use, processing speed, aesthetic design, interactive responsiveness, entertainment, trust and usefulness and come up with a new WebFUQII model. The contributes to methodology by using web diagnostic hybrid tools that gives more explanatory power. The study also gives managerial implications and guides future direction

Female unemployment in an emerging economy : A study of online social support as a coping strategy

The increased use of social media has resulted in active participation of women on social media platforms, specifically Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. However, very little research has been carried out, specifically, on how women cope with the challenges of unemployment using social media networks. Thus, many women resort to different means as a coping strategy during their unemployment. In the face of rapid diffusion of social platforms, it is unclear how women personality traits influence their use of the social media. Similarly, it is also unclear how women’s experiences with these social networks, as a medium of online social support, serve as a coping strategy in the period of unemployment from the perspective of an emerging market. A quantitative research was employed. Hence, a questionnaire was used as its research instrument. Women Facebook users were contacted to fill the questionnaire between May and July 2019. There were 1,473 respondents. Their responses were utilized with SPSS for regression analysis, mediation analysis, and moderation analysis. This finding shows that educational achievement is a crucial factor in the ability of unemployed females to leverage online social support for employment. This study touched on the limitations of the previous works and areas for future study.peerReviewe

Female unemployment in an emerging economy:a study of online social support as a coping strategy

Abstract The increased use of social media has resulted in active participation of women on social media platforms, specifically Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. However, very little research has been carried out, specifically, on how women cope with the challenges of unemployment using social media networks. Thus, many women resort to different means as a coping strategy during their unemployment. In the face of rapid diffusion of social platforms, it is unclear how women personality traits influence their use of the social media. Similarly, it is also unclear how women’s experiences with these social networks, as a medium of online social support, serve as a coping strategy in the period of unemployment from the perspective of an emerging market. A quantitative research was employed. Hence, a questionnaire was used as its research instrument. Women Facebook users were contacted to fill the questionnaire between May and July 2019. There were 1,473 respondents. Their responses were utilized with SPSS for regression analysis, mediation analysis, and moderation analysis. This finding shows that educational achievement is a crucial factor in the ability of unemployed females to leverage online social support for employment. This study touched on the limitations of the previous works and areas for future study