Consumers’ health-locus-of-control and social distancing in pandemic-based e-tailing services

Purpose COVID-19 and its precautions, including social distancing, have revolutionized traditional retailing- and consumption patterns. In this turbulent environment, the purpose of this study is twofold. First, this paper explores the direct effect of consumers’ internal/external health locus-of-control on their hygiene consciousness, which, in turn, affects their social distancing behavior. Second, this study posits that social distancing, in turn, impacts consumers’ current online grocery shopping behavior and their future online grocery shopping intentions, thus uncovering important insight. Design/methodology/approach To address these gaps, this paper develops a model that links consumers’ internal/external health locus-of-control to their adoption of e-tailing-based grocery services. Data collected through a web-based survey was analyzed by using partial least squares-based structural equation modeling. Findings The results indicate that consumers’ health locus-of-control indirectly affects the way they shop for their groceries during the pandemic. In particular, consumers’ internal (external) health locus-of-control drives higher (lower) hygiene consciousness and greater (lower) social distancing behavior. In turn, consumers’ online grocery shopping behavior was found to increase during the pandemic, with their corresponding intent to continue this behavior in the future. Moreover, this study finds the effects of consumers’ social distancing on their current grocery shopping behavior and future intentions to be contingent on consumer age, with stronger effects identified for older consumers. Originality/value This study shows how consumers’ internal/external health loci-of-control exert opposing effects on their social distancing behavior, as mediated by hygiene consciousness. Overall, the empirical analyzes corroborate the association of consumers’ social distancing- and online grocery shopping behavior (for consumers of different age profiles), both during and after the pandemic

Light at the end of the tunnel: Visitors\u27 virtual reality (versus in-person) attraction site tour-related behavioral intentions during and post-COVID-19

Consumer behavior is changing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, thus compelling attraction sites to find new ways of offering safe tours to visitors. Based on protection motivation theory, we develop and test a model that examines key drivers of visitors\u27 COVID-19-induced social distancing behavior and its effect on their intent to use virtual reality-based (vs. in-person) attraction site tours during and post-COVID-19. Our analyses demonstrate that visitor-perceived threat severity, response efficacy, and self-efficacy raise social distancing behavior. In turn, social distancing increases (decreases) visitors\u27 intent to use virtual reality (in-person) tours during the pandemic. We find social distancing to boost visitors\u27 demand for advanced virtual tours and to raise their advocacy intentions. Our results also reveal that social distancing has no effect on potential visitors\u27 intent to use virtual reality vs. in-person tours post-the pandemic. We conclude by discussing vital implications that stem from our analyses

A Study to Determine the Effectiveness of a Stress Management Program at Calvin College

v, 82 leaves. Advisor: Lawrence FanningThe problem. This research proposes to determine if the Broene Counseling Center" stress management program is effective in reducing the stress levels of the participants. It also proposes to determine if an increase in stress management skills results in a more positive self-concept. Procedure. Participants in the Academic Support Program (ASP) were chosen as participants in the stress management program. The existing ASP classes were divided into an experimental and a control group. A pre-test/post-test design was used with both groups. The tests used were The Manifest Anxiety Scale and The Tennessee Self- Concept Scale. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Studies (SPSS) at the Calvin College Computer Center. The pre-test group means were compared to the post-test group means. A two-fold t-test was used to determine if the changes in the group means were significant. The level of significance was determined to be .05. Findings. The research failed to support the hypothesis that participation in this program would result in lowered stress levels. It also failed to support that an increase in stress management skills would result in a more positive self-concept. Conclusion and recommendation. It is recommended that this research be repeated with groups consisting of volunteers and non-probationary students. Also, more emphasis should be placed on the experimental and skill components of the program

Positively and negatively valenced customer engagement: the constructs and their organizational consequences

Until recently, the majority of academic research on customer engagement (CE) has focused on the concept’s positive valence that reflects consumers’ favorable brand-related cognitions, emotions, and behaviors, which typically contribute positively to brand performance. While the existence of negative CE manifestations has been recognized, little is known regarding their particular expressions, characteristics, and position in the broader nomological network, as explored in this chapter. While the antecedents and consequences of unidimensional and multidimensional negatively valenced CE (NVCE) have been explored in the literature, the consequences of multidimensional NVCE, particularly those at the organizational level, remain nebulous, as explored in this chapter. In addition, we examine organizational-level consequences of positively valenced CE (PVCE) that are contrasted to those of NVCE. To achieve these objectives, we first conceptualize positively and negatively valenced CE, followed by an exploration of their respective consequences. We conclude by offering specific managerial recommendations to increase positive CE whilst halting the concept’s negative expressions

Customer Engagement in Emerging Markets: Framework and Propositions

Emerging markets are a major contributor to global GDP, thus offering a primary source for economic growth. However, despite these acclaimed benefits, little remains known regarding customer engagement (i.e., a customer’s resource investment in his/her brand interactions) in emerging markets, thus exposing a pertinent literature-based gap. The development of enhanced insight into customer engagement dynamics in emerging (vs. developed) markets is important, given the idiosyncrasies characterizing these markets (e.g., chronic resource shortages, inadequate infrastructure), thus warranting the undertaking of further research in this integrative area. In response to this gap, this paper develops a framework and an associated set of Propositions of emerging market-based customer engagement, by drawing on Sheth’s (2011) emerging market hallmarks. Specifically, our Propositions postulate that the emerging market tenets of socio-political governance, inadequate infrastructure, market heterogeneity, chronic resource shortages, and unbranded competition uniquely affect emerging market-based customer engagement. We conclude by discussing our findings and by outlining key implications that arise from our analyses

Self-Adaptive Systems for Information Survivability: PMOP and AWDRAT

Information systems form the backbones of the critical infrastructures of modern societies. Unfortunately, these systems are highly vulnerable to attacks that can result in enormous damage. Furthermore, traditional approaches to information security have not provided all the protections necessary to defeat and recover from a concerted attack; in particular, they are largely irrelevant to the problem of defending against attacks launched by insiders.This paper describes two related systems PMOP and AWDRAT that were developed during the DARPA Self Regenerative Systems program. PMOP defends against insider attacks while AWDRAT is intended to detect compromises to software systems. Both rely on self-monitoring, diagnosis and self-adaptation. We describe both systems and show the results of experiments with each

Beyond the dyadic: customer engagement in increasingly networked environments

In recent years, marketing is witnessing a paradigm shift where traditional boundaries between customer and provider roles are blurring, and markets are becoming increasingly interconnected. That is, contemporary customers are no longer simply fulfilling passive end-user roles in relation to firm-based offerings, but are proactively contributing to their interactions with brands, firms and other stakeholders. Through these interactions, customers are therefore increasingly engaged in shaping firms' offering and cocreating value

Beyond the dyadic: customer engagement in increasingly networked environments

Guest editorial </p

Demystifying consumer digital cocreated value: social presence theory-informed framework and propositions

While cocreation research proliferates, existing studies fail to isolate its manifestation through digital (vs. non-digital) platforms. Moreover, extant research predominantly explores the cocreation process (vs. its outcome of cocreated value), which therefore merits further scrutiny, particularly in the digital context. Based on these gaps, we explore consumer digital cocreated value (CDCV), which reflects the consumer-perceived value that arises by interacting, collaborating, or communicating with or through digital platforms (touch-points). We classify digital platforms as (i) human-to-human platforms (H2HPs; e.g. social media), and (ii) human-to-machine platforms (H2MPs), which comprise the sub-types of (a) robotic process automation-based platforms (e.g. call centers), and (b) machine/deep learning-based platforms (e.g. service robots). We next compose a social presence theory-informed framework that explores the effect of perceived platform intimacy and immediacy on CDCV for our proposed platforms. We formalize the framework’s associations by developing a set of Propositions, and conclude by discussing important implications that arise from this research

Zooming out : actor engagement beyond the dyadic

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to broaden extant understanding of actor engagement behavior beyond its currently dominant dyadic (micro-level) focus, by examining it from multiple levels of aggregation within a service ecosystem framework. Design/methodology/approach: This conceptual paper draws on service-dominant logic and structuration theory as theoretical lenses to inform engagement research. Findings: By means of a stepwise exercise of ‘zooming out,’ the paper introduces a multiperspective (micro-, meso-, macro- and meta-level) view of actor engagement that develops understanding of multiple engagement contexts, and suggests that balancing multiple roles may result in actor disengagement behavior. The role of reference groups and role conflict associated with balancing multiple roles is critical to understanding why engaged actor proclivities may wax and wane between contexts. Research limitations/implications: The paper offers a set of five propositions that can be utilized by engagement scholars undertaking further research in this area. Practical implications: Firms need to understand the values and norms embedded in diverse engagement contexts which can affect actor groups’ needs and motivations. Firms should develop appropriate organizational mechanisms to facilitate (rather than impede or obstruct) the desired behaviors of engaged actors. Originality/value: The broader context within which engaged actors operate, and its effects on engagement, has been largely overlooked to date. By broadening the analytical perspective on engagement beyond the dyadic this paper reveals previously unaddressed aspects of this phenomenon, such as the role of disengagement behavior, and the effects of multiple engagement contexts on actors’ future behaviors