손해평고(损害评估): 대전자구비행소적탐색성고찰(对电子口碑行销的探索性考察)

Assessing the Damage: An Exploratory Examination of Electronic Word of Mouth

此研究旨在考察负口碑(即NWOM)对在线行销的影响, 着重分析服务失败的描述以及通信服务商的意向是如何影响消费者对企业竞争力的评估, 对企业的态度, 以及积极的口碑行销和行为意向. 对通信说服力的研究着重于 "谁说了什么; 对谁;通过何渠道;有何影响(Chiu 2007)". 在此我们研究了电子网络发布, 尤其是 "什么" 的两个方面: 通信服务失败的等级以及个人发布的知觉意向. 电子负口碑看似正在毁掉产品或企业的声誉, 这也就不难理解为什么人们总对它带有偏见, 认为其不可靠. 根据归因理论, 人们总会寻求事件的原因, 尤其是那些消极的意外的事件(Weiner 2006). Hennig-Thurau和Walsh (2003)提出 "既然读者的知识和对在线信息的作者信任度都很有限, 可以把电子口碑当做是表达-行为关系的有效调节. 此据此我们提出以下假设: 假设1. 在衡量(a)企业竞争力, (b)人们对企业的态度, (c)积极的口碑, 以及(d)行为意向时, 面临高等级服务失败电子负口碑的对象得分低于面临低等级服务失败电子负口碑的对象. 假设2. 在衡量(a)企业竞争力, (b)人们对企业的态度, (c)积极的口碑, 以及(d)行为意向时, 面临警告意向电子负口碑的对象得分低于面临报复意向电子负口碑的对象假设3. 在电子负口碑中, 服务失败的等级和知觉意向互相影响, 因此在衡量(a)企业竞争力, (b)人们对企业的态度, (c)积极的口碑, 以及(d)行为意向时, 警告意向的电子负口碑的平均反应值大于报复意向的电子负口碑. 主要研究包括一个2 (服务失败的严重性) x 2(警告意向VS报复意向的负口碑)的析因实验. 将通过模拟的在线网络发布信息刺激在线对象. 这一方案描述的服务失败是在传统的零售机构不接受礼物卡, 通过一家在线的研究公司从全国抽样. 共有113个对象参与此研究, 共分析了104份调查问卷. 研究对象认为该方案很现实, 92.3%对此反应强烈. 方案的运作相当令人满意, 所有的措施都经预先的测试验证, 各个项目也经分析证实可靠并有效. 多变量方差分析结果显示多变量间无明显的互相影响, 因此我们只研究主要影响-后倾向和服务失败的严重性. 后倾向主要影响对企业的态度, 积极的口碑和行为意向. 服务失败的严重性主要影响4个因变量: 企业的竞争力, 对企业的态度, 积极的口碑和行为意向. 需特别指出的是, 当电子负口碑描述为严重的服务失败时, 企业的竞争力低于电子负口碑描述为较轻的服务失败时. 当电子负口碑描述为严重的服务失败时, 对企业的态度差于电子负口碑描述为较轻的服务失败时. 当电子负口碑描述为严重的服务失败时, 企业的口碑差于电子负口碑描述为较轻的服务失败时. 当电子负口碑描述为严重的服务失败时, 行为意向低于电子负口碑描述为较轻的服务失败时. 因此, 假设1中的abcd都得到了支持. 另外, 衡量对企业的态度时, 警告意向的电子负口碑得分低于报复意向的电子负口碑. 衡量企业的口碑时, 警告意向的电子负口碑得分低于报复意向的电子负口碑. 衡量行为意向时, 警告意向的电子负口碑得分低于报复意向的电子负口碑. 因此与假设2中的a项不符, 尽管结果指向的是假设方向. 除此之外, 在假设的三个变量中, 后倾向对服务失败的严重性无明显的多变量或单变量影响. 因此, 假设3被推翻. 此研究有研究和管理的双重蕴涵, 如之前的研究一样, 此研究结果证实了服务失败的严重性影响消费者知觉, 态度, 积极的口碑以及行为意向(Weun et al. 2004). 关于进一步的相关性, 在线内容证实了该反应, 这意味着企业需要努力进行服务补救. 至于电子负口碑的知觉意向, 如之前的研究一样, 此研究结果意味着读者对原始资料的意向影响其对知觉, 态度, 积极口碑和行为意向的作用大小. 对管理者的蕴涵在于, 当消费者发现在线交流可靠且有影响力时, 不是所有的交流都同等重要. 电子口碑的好处在于它可以监测潜在的问题并提供纠正的可能性, 即使有潜在的危害.

This study attempts to examine the influence that negative WOM (NWOM) has in an online context. It specifically focuses on the impact of the service failure description and the perceived intention of the communication provider on consumer evaluations of firm competence, attitude toward the firm, positive word of mouth and behavioral intentions. Studies of communication persuasiveness focus on "who says what; to whom; in which channel; with what effect (Chiu 2007)." In this research study, we examine electronic web posting, particularly focusing on two aspects of "what": the level of service failure communicated and perceived intention of the individual posting. It stands to reason electronic NWOM that appears to be trying to damage a product’s or firm's reputation will be viewed as more biased and will thus be considered as less credible. According to attribution theory, people search for the causes of events especially those that are negative and unexpected (Weiner 2006). Hennig-Thurau and Walsh (2003) state "since the reader has only limited knowledge and trust of the author of an online articulation the quality of the contribution could be expected to serve as a potent moderator of the articulation-behavior relationship. We therefore posit the following hypotheses: H1. Subjects exposed to electronic NWOM describing a high level of service failure will provide lower scores on measures of (a) firm competence, (b) attitude toward the firm, (c) positive word of mouth, and (d) behavioral intention than will subjects exposed to electronic NWOM describing a low level of service failure. H2. Subjects exposed to electronic NWOM with a warning intent will provide lower scores on measures of (a) firm competence, (b) attitude toward the firm, (c) positive word of mouth, and (d) behavioral intention than will subjects exposed to electronic NWOM with a vengeful intent. H3. Level of service failure in electronic NWOM will interact with the perceived intention of the electronic NWOM, such that there will be a decrease in mean response on measures of (a) firm competence, (b) attitude toward the firm, (c) positive word of mouth, and (d) behavioral intention from electronic NWOM with a warning intent to a vengeful intent. The main study involved a2 (service failure severity) x2 (NWOM with warning versus vengeful intent) factorial experiment. Stimuli were presented to subjects online using a mock online web posting. The scenario described a service failure associated with non-acceptance of a gift card in a brick-and-mortar retail establishment. A national sample was recruited through an online research firm. A total of 113 subjects participated in the study. A total of 104 surveys were analyzed. The scenario was perceived to be realistic with 92.3% giving the scenario a greater than average response. Manipulations were satisfactory. Measures were pre-tested and validated. Items were analyzed and found reliable and valid. MANOVA results found the multivariate interaction was not significant, allowing our interpretation to proceed to the main effects. Significant main effects were found for post intent and service failure severity. The post intent main effect was attributable to attitude toward the firm, positive word of mouth and behavioral intention. The service failure severity main effect was attributable to all four dependent variables: firm competence, attitude toward the firm, positive word of mouth and behavioral intention. Specifically, firm competence for electronic NWOM describing high severity of service failure was lower than electronic NWOM describing low severity of service failure. Attitude toward the firm for electronic NWOM describing high severity of service failure was lower than electronic NWOM describing low severity of service failure. Positive word of mouth for electronic NWOM describing high severity of service failure was lower than electronic NWOM describing low severity of service failure. Behavioral intention for electronic NWOM describing high severity of service failure was lower for electronic NWOM describing low severity of service failure. Therefore, H1a, H1b, H1c and H1d were all supported. In addition, attitude toward the firm for electronic NWOM with a warning intent was lower than electronic NWOM with a vengeful intent. Positive word of mouth for electronic NWOM with a warning intent was lower than electronic NWOM with a vengeful intent. Behavioral intention for electronic NWOM with a warning intent was lower than electronic NWOM with a vengeful intent. Thus, H2b, H2c and H2d were supported. However, H2a was not supported though results were in the hypothesized direction. Otherwise, there was no significant multivariate service failure severity by post intent interaction, nor was there a significant univariate service failure severity by post intent interaction for any of the three hypothesized variables. Thus, H3 was not supported for any of the four hypothesized variables. This study has research and managerial implications. The findings of this study support prior research that service failure severity impacts consumer perceptions, attitude, positive word of mouth and behavioral intentions (Weun et al. 2004). Of further relevance, this response is evidenced in the online context, suggesting the need for firms to engage in serious focused service recovery efforts. With respect to perceived intention of electronic NWOM, the findings support prior research suggesting reader's attributions of the intentions of a source influence the strength of its impact on perceptions, attitude, positive word of mouth and behavioral intentions. The implication for managers suggests while consumers do find online communications to be credible and influential, not all communications are weighted the same. A benefit of electronic WOM, even when it may be potentially damaging, is it can be monitored for potential problems and additionally offers the possibility of redress.