Service-based vs. goods-based positioning of the product concept

Recognizing the legacy of the TQM Journal: a bibliometric analysis of Scopus indexed publications (2008 - 2021)

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the trends in research published by the TQM Journal since its indexing in the Scopus database in 2008. The paper intends to offer a bibliometric analysis of the TQM Journal by highlighting the contributions made by the journal through citations, prominent authors, most frequent keywords and publications across geographical regions.

Design/methodology/approach

The study involved the use of descriptive and visual methods to examine the quantitative and qualitative features of the bibliometric data. The authors made use of Biblioshiny using R-Studio and VoS viewer user interfaces to perform various types of bibliometric analysis on the bibliomteric data of the journal extracted from Scopus database (the largest inter-disciplinary database in social sciences).

Findings

With 85% of cited documents having a total 12,079 citations, the TQM Journal is one of the most reputed and impactful journals in the field of performance, integrated management system total quality management and allied concepts. The publications in the TQM Journal have cited many top-rated journals relevant to the domain. Maximum contributions in TQM Journal are submitted by authors from Italy, India and UK. Major submissions made to TQM Journal have focused on the quality concepts relevant to production and manufacturing sector in particular. In this regard, the TQM Journal has a very bright scope in covering the diverse and latest trends across industries especially during pandemic and changes happening thereof. The contributions of the editorial team along with authors and reviewers are unmatchable in making the reputation of the TQM Journal.

Originality/value

To the best of knowledge of the authors, this is going to be first bibliometric study ever conducted on the TQM Journal on documents published in Scopus database. The work carried out is unique, as it is an attempt by authors to comprehend the legacy of the TQM Journal through bibliometric data and showcase the past trends and explore future directions for the TQM Journal.

Customer-perceived quality, innovation and tradition: some empirical evidence

Purpose

This study aims to explore how customer-perceived quality is affected by innovation in traditional products in the bread, bakery and pastry industry. The study assesses whether innovating traditional products is an effective strategy, especially in traditional industries.

Design/methodology/approach

This study followed a quantitative method of analysis. Data were gathered from a sample of 200 Italian bread consumers and analysed using a two-pronged correlation analysis, and two hypotheses were tested using Pearson’s correlation.

Findings

The results showed the negative relationship between customer-perceived quality and innovating traditional products in traditional industries embedded in closed contexts.

Research limitations/implications

The study has several academic implications. First, by focusing on the traditional food industry, the study contributes to the theory by answering the call for research in this field; second, the findings contribute to the embeddedness construct and, third, to the studies of customer-perceived quality and to the literature on innovation.

Practical implications

The findings are particularly interesting for entrepreneurs and consultants in traditional industries who make decisions on whether it is better to innovate or to remain anchored to tradition.

Originality/value

The present study clarifies the shadowy side of innovation in traditional industries, such as the bread, bakery and pastry industry, and it reveals how tradition plays a meaningful role in those sectors.

Mobile chat servitization in the customer journey: from social capability to social suitability

Purpose

Mobile instant messaging (MIM) is changing how we communicate with customers transforming what we used to buy as products into services. Servitization is the strategy by which the services offered in combination with a product become a central part of the offer and the value. This paper aims to focus on a new way to do business by means of mobile conversational commerce identified as a unique touchpoint for customers who wish to experience the product/service.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses the case study method and mobile content analysis of WhatsApp conversations between customer and manufacturing firm to illustrate how an artisan company succeeded with customers using MIM to track the customer journey and engage the customer during the conversation. The customer journey theory and customer engagement cycle were used to detecting the main themes

Findings

The results demonstrate that by channeling a mix between engagement and service practices into one direct touchpoint, it is possible to follow the customers throughout their journey and detect their satisfaction. Nevertheless, the research finds that new skills are needed: two-way communication skills, suitability and social CRM skills.

Practical implications

The results provide guidance for services providers on how to improve customer experience management by allocating investment to conversational commerce as a new way of promoting the customer experience for the digital transformation of manufacturing firms.

Originality/value

This research investigates the importance of human interaction in the digital servitization as a pillar of commerce in this type of service. The paper analyzes the results from the perspective of the supplier of the service and from the perspective of customer experience.

Online wine purchasing: a comparison between South Africa and Italy

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore South African and Italian consumers' attitude toward online wine purchasing. In detail, through the application of the technology acceptance model (TAM), this research intends to explain the antecedents of consumers actual online purchasing of wine in South Africa and Italy.

Design/methodology/approach

Two questionnaire-based surveys were conducted, yielding a sample of 190 consumers in South Africa and 179 in Italy. Data were analyzed through several techniques including t-tests, principal component factor analyses, and binary logistic regressions.

Findings

Overall, the findings show that South African and Italian online wine consumers are more similar than the offline wine consumers. However, perceived usefulness has an impact on the use of the online channel to purchase wine in Italy but not in South Africa, whereas perceived complexity has an effect in South Africa but not in Italy.

Research limitations/implications

This study adopts a convenience sampling technique, suggesting that the used samples are not representative of the whole population. Moreover, TAM offers a simple and clear understanding of the actual use of wine e-commerce but overlooks other potential explanatory factors.

Practical implications

Targeting online wine consumers in South Africa and Italy opens up the opportunity for using cross-national highly standardized product and communication strategies. However, different approaches are required to convert offline wine consumers to online wine consumers in South Africa and Italy.

Originality/value

This is the first cross-national study investigating consumers' attitude toward online wine purchasing in South Africa and Italy. Moreover, it offers a comparison of online and offline wine consumers in the two countries. In addition, the research offers a new point of view over consumers of Italy and South Africa, two important countries in terms of wine production and consumption that can be very beneficial for wineries owners and managers.