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Browsing Public Relations Department by Author "Bing, Zhu"
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ItemConsumers' intentions to buy energy-efficient household appliances in ChinaThis study investigates the intentions of Chinese consumers to buy electrical household products labeled as highly energy-efficient, using induction cookers as a case study. Data were collected from June to August 2019 using an online survey among Chinese residents (N = 189) recruited through convenience sampling. The SEM analysis revealed that consumers’ intentions to buy an energy-efficient induction cooker are primarily driven by their attitudes towards doing so, while perceived control also played a role. In addition, multi-group analysis revealed that paying attention to energy labels moderates relationships in the model. For Chinese consumers who do not, in general, pay attention to energy labels, the intention to buy an energy-efficient induction cooker is weakly related to the antecedents proposed by the TPB, and only the attitude towards doing so is significant. However, for consumers who generally pay attention to energy labels, relationships in the model are strong, with all three TPB antecedents being significant and jointly accounting for substantial variation in purchase intentions. This suggests that clear and sufficient information on energy-efficient products and energy labeling is necessary to convince consumers that it is worthwhile to choose energy-efficient products.
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ItemCultures as determinants of innovation - an evidence from European contextCultural studies have played a major role for a better understanding of innovation. In particular, cultural variables have always been integrated in innovation studies at different levels. Referring to Hofstede´s analytical framework, we thereby analyze how different cultural factors may concretely impact innovation at national levels. Data of Hofstede’s cultural dimension and innovation are derived from secondary data sources. 34 European countries with comprehensive scores of cultural dimensions and innovation indexes are finally applied in this study. The data are analysed through correlation test and multiple regression analysis. The correlation test highlighted the importance of low power distance, individualism and low uncertainty avoidance, and the multiple regression analysis revealed the importance of power distance and long-term orientation that foster innovation in Europe. Finally, limitations of the proposed theoretical architecture are discussed and potential consequences for further research are formulated.
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ItemDeveloping and testing relationship quality model: the context of undergraduate business programs in ThailandThe purpose of this study is to develop a concept of the dimensions of relationship quality for students and lecturers, using the Investment Theory. The determinants of relationship quality drawn from the Social Exchange Theory and their outcomes were investigated. Past studies examined relationship quality in various contexts, yet were limited in higher education. Relationship quality dimensions are evolving and mostly capture only “want to” and “ought to” stay in relationships, hence, this study added a “have to” aspect. This study adopted in-depth interviews and a self-administered questionnaire. The 459 useable data from undergraduate students of the international day-program in business of three purposively selected universities were analyzed. This empirical study has found that students’ trust, gratitude, and dependence represent comprehensive dimensions, as justified by the three aspects of relationship based on the Investment Theory, of relationship quality. Effective communication was the most significant predictor of trust. Functional quality was the most significant predictor of gratitude. Mentorship was the strongest predictor of relationship quality. These findings contribute that the Social Exchange Theory can be used to explain the reasons for strong student relationships. Accordingly, higher education institutions are recommended to sustain the effective communication, functional quality, and mentorship qualities of their lecturers.
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ItemMillennial consumers' purchase intention for eco-fashion apparel: a study from Southern ChinaThis study attempts to understand the role of value perceptions and environmental attitudes in influencing millennial consumers’ intentions to buy eco-fashion apparel in Southern China. A total of 385 questionnaire responseswere collected in Nanning via snowball sampling and convenience sampling techniques. The PLS-SEM method was applied to evaluate the data. The findings show that status value presents the strongest relationship with environmental attitude (β=.308, t=7.209, p<.01), followed by uniqueness value (β=.213, t=3.826, p<.01), materialism (β=.242, t=3.398, p<.01), price-quality perception (β=.089, t=2.209, p<.05), and conspicuous value (β=.150, t=2.171, p<.05). Moreover, environmental attitude exhibits the most significant influence on purchase intentions (β=.765, t=31.730, p<.01). Thus, corresponding implications are discussed.
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ItemPreference for organic products and buyers' socioeconomic characteristics in emerging markets: the case of packed rice in China(Bangkok : Assumption University Press, 2023) Zhuoran Zhang ; Shih-Tse Lo ; Bing, Zhu ; Zhizhong KaiOrganic products have been popular in the developed world, and scholars have long explored the acceptance, preference, and perceived benefits of organic products in these affluent countries. However, how and to what extent the consumers in developing countries acquire a taste for organic products is not well understood. Moreover, it remains unclear which segment of the population in these countries is more susceptible to organic products. The study aims to comprehend consumers in emerging markets whether they exhibit any preference for organic food products. We focus on the most prominent emerging economy—China—to investigate whether and to what extent its consumers develop a taste for organic rice over non-organic. Our choice of rice is founded on the fact that rice is the staple food for many low- and middle-income countries, and typically employs traditional farming, which heavily uses inorganic pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. It is, thus, advantageous to explore the Chinese rice market and assess its rice consumers' acceptance or preference for organic products. We conducted a buyer survey that subjects the participants to a choice model experiment. The participants rank-ordered four hypothetical packed-rice products exhibiting four key product characteristics: organic label, price, package size, and product origin. We analyzed the gathered data through several rank-ordered logit regressions. We found that Chinese packed-rice buyers were yet to develop a taste for organic products. Instead, there existed distaste in general. Such distaste was similar in size between high- and low-income groups but more pronounced for the old or those with no tertiary education or males. Consumers generally were sensitive to price changes, except older individuals. Such individuals, or those only with a grade school education level, or males preferred small packages. Imported rice from Thailand was not well received, but the high-income or young or female population appeared less resistant. To our surprise, the acceptance or preference level of organic rice in China did not differ between the high-income and low-income groups. Such a finding suggested that the preference for organic products might not develop along with a growing economy and increases in the per capita income. Our results indicated that organic products and agriculture suppliers should develop strategies to raise awareness and cultivate a taste for such products effectively.