• Asia pacific journal of information systems
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.29-52
• /
• 2012

Consumers differ in the way they make a purchase. An audio mania would willingly make a bold, yet serious, decision to buy a top-of-the-line home theater system, while he is not interested in replacing his two-decade-old shabby car. On the contrary, an automobile enthusiast wouldn't mind spending forty thousand dollars to buy a new Jaguar convertible, yet cares little about his junky component system. It is product involvement that helps us explain such differences among individuals in the purchase style. Product involvement refers to the extent to which a product is perceived to be important to a consumer (Zaichkowsky, 2001). Product involvement is an important factor that strongly influences consumer's purchase decision-making process, and thus has been of prime interest to consumer behavior researchers. Furthermore, researchers found that involvement is closely related to perceived risk (Dholakia, 2001). While abundant research exists addressing how product involvement relates to overall perceived risk, little attention has been paid to the relationship between involvement and different types of perceived risk in an electronic commerce setting. Given that perceived risk can be a substantial barrier to the online purchase (Jarvenpaa, 2000), research addressing such an issue will offer useful implications on what specific types of perceived risk an online firm should focus on mitigating if it is to increase sales to a fullest potential. Meanwhile, past research has focused on such consumer responses as information search and dissemination as a consequence of involvement, neglecting other behavioral responses like online merchant selection. For one example, will a consumer seriously considering the purchase of a pricey Guzzi bag perceive a great degree of risk associated with online buying and therefore choose to buy it from a digital storefront rather than from an online marketplace to mitigate risk? Will a consumer require greater trust on the part of the online merchant when the perceived risk of online buying is rather high? We intend to find answers to these research questions through an empirical study. This paper explores the impact of enduring product involvement and perceived risks on required trust level, and further on online merchant choice. For the purpose of the research, five types or components of perceived risk are taken into consideration, including financial, performance, delivery, psychological, and social risks. A research model has been built around the constructs under consideration, and 12 hypotheses have been developed based on the research model to examine the relationships between enduring involvement and five components of perceived risk, between five components of perceived risk and required trust level, between enduring involvement and required trust level, and finally between required trust level and preference toward an e-tailer. To attain our research objectives, we conducted an empirical analysis consisting of two phases of data collection: a pilot test and main survey. The pilot test was conducted using 25 college students to ensure that the questionnaire items are clear and straightforward. Then the main survey was conducted using 295 college students at a major university for nine days between December 13, 2010 and December 21, 2010. The measures employed to test the model included eight constructs: (1) enduring involvement, (2) financial risk, (3) performance risk, (4) delivery risk, (5) psychological risk, (6) social risk, (7) required trust level, (8) preference toward an e-tailer. The statistical package, SPSS 17.0, was used to test the internal consistency among the items within the individual measures. Based on the Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ coefficients of the individual measure, the reliability of all the variables is supported. Meanwhile, the Amos 18.0 package was employed to perform a confirmatory factor analysis designed to assess the unidimensionality of the measures. The goodness of fit for the measurement model was satisfied. Unidimensionality was tested using convergent, discriminant, and nomological validity. The statistical evidences proved that the three types of validity were all satisfied. Now the structured equation modeling technique was used to analyze the individual paths along the relationships among the research constructs. The results indicated that enduring involvement has significant positive relationships with all the five components of perceived risk, while only performance risk is significantly related to trust level required by consumers for purchase. It can be inferred from the findings that product performance problems are mostly likely to occur when a merchant behaves in an opportunistic manner. Positive relationships were also found between involvement and required trust level and between required trust level and online merchant choice. Enduring involvement is concerned with the pleasure a consumer derives from a product class and/or with the desire for knowledge for the product class, and thus is likely to motivate the consumer to look for ways of mitigating perceived risk by requiring a higher level of trust on the part of the online merchant. Likewise, a consumer requiring a high level of trust on the merchant will choose a digital storefront rather than an e-marketplace, since a digital storefront is believed to be trustworthier than an e-marketplace, as it fulfills orders by itself rather than acting as an intermediary. The findings of the present research provide both academic and practical implications. The first academic implication is that enduring product involvement is a strong motivator of consumer responses, especially the selection of a merchant, in the context of electronic shopping. Secondly, academicians are advised to pay attention to the finding that an individual component or type of perceived risk can be used as an important research construct, since it would allow one to pinpoint the specific types of risk that are influenced by antecedents or that influence consequents. Meanwhile, our research provides implications useful for online merchants (both online storefronts and e-marketplaces). Merchants may develop strategies to attract consumers by managing perceived performance risk involved in purchase decisions, since it was found to have significant positive relationship with the level of trust required by a consumer on the part of the merchant. One way to manage performance risk would be to thoroughly examine the product before shipping to ensure that it has no deficiencies or flaws. Secondly, digital storefronts are advised to focus on symbolic goods (e.g., cars, cell phones, fashion outfits, and handbags) in which consumers are relatively more involved than others, whereas e- marketplaces should put their emphasis on non-symbolic goods (e.g., drinks, books, MP3 players, and bike accessories).

• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.117-135
• /
• 2007

Globalization changes in market structures and consumer needs, as well as technology innovations force organizations to adopt new structures and collaborative networks to cope with rapidly changing environments. These Collaborative Networks are based on the Idea of virtual enterprise. A virtual enterprise(VE) is a temporary alliance of globally distributed independent enterprises that share core competencies and computer networks. This paper presents a proposal for a methodology to measure a key factor of success and risk First of all, we chose thirty experts' defines on virtual enterprise, fifteen are academic specialist and other fifteen are from industry. For this study we define twenty two factors determining VE's success and seventeen factors determining VE's risk using by Delphi method. And we built the influence model on virtual enterprise. A research model was established according to preceeding research and consensus on experts then the revised model of key factors on virtual enterprise. This survey was based on the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). AHP is an approach to decision making that involves structuring multiple choice criteria into a hierarchy, the assessing the relative important of these criteria, comparing alternative for each criteria, and determining an overall ranking of the alternatives. A model was constructed as 3 level hierarchy. The hierarches are organizational, strategic, technical criteria. for success model on VE has 22 factors and 17 factors for risk model. They are selected by all 30 experts. 14 copies among 30 copies distributed to carry out on the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Consistency ratio confirm high validity and reliability of instrument and support theoretical model. The results of this study are summarized as follows. (1) This study presented success on VE influenced strategic criteria, and essential factor is Creating a value. Risk on VE influenced strategic criteria, and essential factor is Outcome/Distribution. (2) Its enable that ranking the criteria influence on VE. These are supported VE management and using guideline of VE.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.11 no.12
• /
• pp.245-256
• /
• 2013

This study illustrates factors that determine consumer types based on ways in which they alternate between online and offline channels for searching and eventually buying their desired products. This study conducted an online survey targeting 1,040 consumers. As per the study, consumer types fall into five groups: 1) on-on type(online search${\rightarrow}$online buying), 2) off-off type(offline search${\rightarrow}$offline buying), 3) on-off type(online search${\rightarrow}$offline buying), 4) off-on type(offline search${\rightarrow}$online buying), and, 5) on-off-on type(online search${\rightarrow}$ offline search${\rightarrow}$nline buying). The primary factors that determine how the different consumer types switch between online and offline channels are price orientation, convenience orientation,, risk-aversion orientation, and channel familiarity. Although they feel cross-channel shopping can be cumbersome, the findings show that cross-channel consumers would gladly switch channels to buy cheaper and proven products. The findings of this study will be useful for businesses that have both online and offline channels and point out the theoretical aspects of the decision-making process as consumers switch between channels.

• Journal of Distribution Science
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.23-33
• /
• 2013

Purpose - Numerous studies have tried to assess the role of a warranty as an explanatory instrument for product quality. While one study argued that manufacturers signal their superior quality to consumers by extending the duration of a warranty, quality is not necessarily related to warranty and a warranty for a short duration is a sign of high product quality. However, there are limitations to measuring product quality in terms of a single variable such as a warranty. Some other studies have evaluated the influence of brand power or value and price on the supposed quality of a product while the influence of warranty was found to be insignificant. Research design, data, methodology - The study analyzes the influence of brand power and the country of origin effect on consumers' perception of product quality in line with warranty and establishes a priority strategy. Especially, consumer experience has a significant influence on state of the art technology products like applied home electronics as these goods are generally quite expensive and consumers expend significant energy in purchasing them, so the associated warranty and brand can have a critical role in the decision making process. The price of the product was excluded in this discussion as it continually varies with the market share of the product. Results - The results of the analysis are as follows: First, each of the factors such as the standard of the warranty, brand power, and country of origin effect influences the degree of satisfaction of an individual. Second, the factors brand power and quality of the warranty interact both complementarily and synergistically at a time, depending on the brand power. As brand power is more significant, the degree of satisfaction is greater in case of products with low quality warranty compared to those with high quality warranty. Third, the brand power and country of origin effect present a complementary interaction. Fourth, the country of origin effect and quality of a warranty interact synergistically. Conclusions - Thus, the higher the quality of warranty, greater is the increment in the degree of satisfaction. The comprehensive study on the effect of the country of origin on the purchase decision process and the degree of satisfaction compared to the other elements shows that in case of Japanese and Korean markets the brand power of a company is desirable in sustaining the quality of warranty to the industrial average. Also, there is no significant improvement in the perceived quality of the product when the quality of the warranty is lowered. Therefore, the warranty effect diminishes when the value of the brand is known, while it perishes when both the brand power and the country of origin effect are strong enough.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.637-649
• /
• 2011

Environmental protection has become more important than ever because of increasing environmental pollution and abnormal climatic changes caused by the depletion of resources from industrial activities. Fashion products can create various environmental pollutants during the production process. Since they are in direct contact with the body, the environment-friendly features for the fashion industry will become increasingly important and the necessity to execute a detailed study regarding the environment-friendly fashion marketing will also become increasingly important. The purpose of this study was to segment the levels of environment-friendly fashion marketing mixes, that analyze the relationship between consumer decision-making factors and purchasing intentions. We propose effective several marketing strategies. A total of 457 questionnaires were analyzed using frequency analysis, t-tests, correlation analysis, regression analysis, and ANOVA in SPSS. The results are as follows: First, environment-friendly fashion products were segmented into four groups, environment-friendly materials, environment-friendly production, environment-friendly management, and recycling/ disuse of products. Second, the promotion of environment-friendly fashion products were highly ranked, followed by materials used, distribution methods, and production management. Third, women considered usage, management, and price for environment-friendly fashion products as more important than men did. Finally, a total of 39.4% of the respondents had purchased environment-friendly fashion products, with a preference to buy environment-friendly underwear, outerwear, bags, shoes, and accessories. By establishing and executing the environment-friendly fashion marketing mixes, fashion companies execute successful marketing activities in both domestic and international markets.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.149-157
• /
• 2012

This article aims to identify the selection attributes for developing korean-style industrial tourism. Evaluating attributes is the most important stage in consumer decision-making process and culture has a significant influence on this stage. This study is to analyze in the evaluation of selection attributes with the theory of industrial tourism and come up with developing tourism. a survey was conducted to the staff of travel agency in korea. Through factor analysis and multiple regression analysis, authors identified five factors(i.e. business, conveniences, tourism attraction, hospitality, property) were amenable to the industrial tourism, found that the most important attributes had the strongest influence on satisfaction level. According to the results of this study, author suggests that nationality of industrial tourism have an effect on evaluating selection attributes of the korean-style industrial tourism. therefore, nationality could be the basis of target marketing strategy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.33-52
• /
• 2020

Some consumers question the safety of imported fashion products. We examine the effects of the use of an ecolabel, product category, and country of origin on consumer responses such as perceived physical risk, attitude towards a product, subjective norm, and intention to purchase imported fashion products. A sample of 508 adults in their 30s to 40s participated in online survey experiments. The survey experiments used 2 (the use of the ecolabel vs no label) × 4 (country of origin: China, Dominican Republic, Norway, and the United States) between-subjects and 4 (product category: men/women's wear, children's wear, underwear, and accessories) within-sub-jects factorial design. A total of 32 product-catalog images (stimuli) and eight versions of the questionnaire were developed. The use of the ecolabel is identified as having a significantly lower perceived physical risk than the no-label. The consumers' perceived physical risk also differs depending on product category and country of origin. Consumers perceive a higher physical risk about children's wear and underwear than other product categories as well as fashion products sourced from developing countries than from developed countries. The reduction of physical risk is found to facilitate consumers' purchase decision-making process.

• The Journal of Society for e-Business Studies
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.19-36
• /
• 2004

This paper suggests a business process between the collaborative companies that want to extend globally sales and delivery service with restricted physical branches in their own areas. The companies integrate their business processes for sales and delivery services using a shared product taxonomy table. In order to perform the collaborative processes, they need the algorithm to exchange their own products. We suggest a similar product finding algorithm to compose the product taxonomy table that defines product relationships to exchange them between the companies. The main idea of the proposed algorithm is using a multi-attribute decision making (MADM) to find the utility values of products in a same product class of the companies. Based on the values we determine what products are similar. It helps the product manager to register the similar products into a same product sub-category. The companies then allow consumer to shop and purchase the products at their own residence site and deliver them or similar products to another sites.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.271-288
• /
• 2021

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to identify the critical factors that restaurant management should consider strategically when making a decision after COVID-19 under the digital transformation and non-contact service expansions environment. Design/methodology/approach - The thirty six experts and managers who have 5 years or more experience in restaurant industry in Korea participate this study. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and SER-M were used to analyze the experts' opinion Findings - As a result of the analysis, 'management environment' (0.313) showed the highest relative importance priority, followed by 'brand (0.263)', 'management characteristics (0.254)', and 'physical factors (0.17)'. And, as for the sub-factor value, 'lifestyle (0.087)', 'awareness (0.084)', 'consumer desire (0.075)', and 'loyalty (0.068)' were ranked highest among the 19 influencing critical factors. Research implications or Originality - In the case of large restaurant enterprises, it is judged that the subject(CEO, Management) is actively pursuing a strategy to acquire the necessary resources for the given environment of digital transformation and customer demand for non-contact services. On the other hand, in the case of middle and small restaurant enterprises, it seems that they are fully aware of the demand for expansion of non-contact services and the digital transformation required in the post COVID-19 era, but information technology utilization ability, usage experience, technology acceptance ability, and education and training support for this are only available to large enterprises.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
• /
• v.25 no.3 s.87
• /
• pp.119-135
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this study is to find out the level of digital stress that people experience and to investigate the effects of socio-economic variables on that. To collect data, structured questionnaire was developed and 1,200 questionnaires were distributed through internet. There were 2 dimensions in this study to examine digital stress. First dimension was about the devices themselves: computers and the other digital goods. Second dimension was about the time digital stress occurring in consumers' decision-making process: purchasing and using. Based on Yeo&Kim(2004), sub-dimensions of purchasing and using aspects were chosen. 5 sub-dimensions in purchasing side were new technology, cost, variety of alternatives, warranty service, and informational problem 6 sub-dimensions in using field were mal(or impaired)-functioning. physical aspects, immaturity in use, pressure to use, addiction to use, and informational problem. As independent variables, sex, age, educational level, digitalization acceptability and computer usability were used. The overall level of digital stress was around the average point which was not as high as expected. Digital stress of purchasing was higher than that of using. First, in purchasing aspects, the level of digital stress was relatively high in cost, variety of alternatives and warranty service. Hence, clear communications with consumers about the distinctive aspects and cost of digital devices in market are needed. Secondly, in using side, mal-functioning and physical aspects were relatively more powerful stressors. In the other words, the more serious problems were not from the characteristics of individual consumers but from those of products. Producers should put their best efforts to reduce imperfection (defectiveness) and develop user-friendly digital devices. Also, users' individual efforts to overcome the problems that can be solved privately are necessary. Finally, it was discovered that sex and computer usability were very important variables on digital stress. To extend computer usability of consumers and get over digital illiteracy, it is essential to expand the paths to give chances for people to contact with computers and other digital goods. Still there are lots of people whore computer-illiterate or low-skilled at computers. In policies or educational programs made by government, communities, or schools, more attention should be paid to the digitally vulnerable groups.