Influence of Electronic Word of Mouth (e-WOM) on Consumer Product Judgment: A Case of Qatar’s Retail Industry
STUDENT NAME: Type your name here
STUDENT NUMBER: Enter your student number
COURSE NAME: Masters in Public Health (Occupational Hygiene)
DEPARTMENT: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health
COURSE CODE: OCEH8V1
SUPERVISOR: Type your supervisor’s name here
DATE OF SUBMISSION: DD MMMM 20YY
CONTENTS
introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3
Background…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3
problem statement……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 4
Overview…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4
Hypothesis……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4
OBJECTIVES AND AIMS…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5
Overall Objective………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5
Specific Aims…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5
BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6
Impact of e-WOM on Product Judgment……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6
Theoretical Framework……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7
Conceptual Framework………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 8
research design and methods……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9
Overview…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 9
Population and Study Sample…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9
Sample Size and Sampling Strategy………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9
Sources of Data……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 10
Collection of Data……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10
Data Management……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 10
Data Analysis Strategies………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 10
Ethics and Human Subjects Issues……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 11
Timeframes…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 11
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Study………………………………………………………………………………………………. 12
Public Health Significance………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 13
Budget and Motivation…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 14
references…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 15
Appendices………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 17
Appendix 1: Questionnaire………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 17
Appendix 2: Interview Schedule……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 18
Appendix 3: Research Ethics Form……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 19
introduction
Background
Marketers, sociologists, and other experts have come to deduce that word-of-mouth (WOM) influences most of all purchase decisions of customers. This approach entails using professional marketing techniques to influence interpersonal communications between customers, and according to Lee and Youn (2009), WOM is regarded as the most influential source of information concerning the marketplace. Consumers trust peer consumers more than marketers and advertisers because the latter have demonstrated their overwhelming desire to complete sales. The advent of the internet and other forms of electronic media have revolutionized informal communications and gave rise to electric WOM. Hennig-Thurau and Walsh (2003) posited that the internet enables a consumer to share vital product or service information with family, friends, acquaintances, and colleagues, as well as with people unbeknownst to them. Businesses are aware of the potential of e-WOM marketing-oriented approaches, especially when it comes to devising platforms to tap into consumer-to-consumer communication. Rialti et al. (2017) underscored the fact that consumers have formed ever-expanding online communities on social media platforms, differentiated by the brands they identify with. Despite this, researchers and experts have continued to question the influence of e-WOM on consumer judgment. Lee and Youn (2009) discovered that, when all other factors maintained, customers recommend products on e-WOM platforms only when reviews are positive. In other words, an unfavourable product or service review will be detrimental towards a customer’s disposition to endorse it to friends. In Qatar, an Arab country in the Peninsular, social media is a common aspect of everyday life. According to Rassed (2015), most of the Qataris are aware and likely to have used social networks (e.g., Snapchat 77% v 39% and Instagram (9% v 65%). E-WOM is, therefore, an important marketing instrument for local Qatar retailers and other businesses. In this sense, this study seeks to evaluate whether the e-WOM influences the product/service judgment of Qatar’s consumers.
problem statement
Overview
The customers’ perception of value has become an important issue in marketing and branding. A product’ value is, therefore, dependent on whether it can satisfy the needs and wants of target customers. Businesses have developed comprehensive product promotion strategies to interact with their customers more closely, particularly social media, multichannel and omnichannel marketing. In online communities, companies advertise their brands to potential customer segments. When customers are satisfied by the value proposition, they invite their friends from e-WOM platforms to try the new product. The potential of e-WOM platforms in marketing is well known among marketers, but not many have considered the influence on customer product judgment. This study seeks to explore this niche by focusing on Qataris and their perceptions concerning the e-WOM platforms used by businesses in the country.
Hypothesis
H0: Positive electronic word of mouth of a product/service leads to positive judgments.
HA: Negative electronic word of mouth of a product/service leads to negative judgments.
OBJECTIVES AND AIMS
Overall Objective
This study’s primary aim is to investigate the relationship between e-WOM and customer attitudes and behavioral intentions concerning retail products in Qatar.
Specific Aims
To determine the attitudes and behavioral intentions of customers towards local retail brands in Qatar.
To investigate the perceived valence of local retail brands marketed through e-WOM strategies in Qatar.
BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE
Impact of e-WOM on Product Judgment
Electronic word of mouth marketing (e-WOM) is increasingly becoming a popular approach to advertising because of its ability to influence the audience based on the characteristics of the content. Lee and Youn (2009) investigated how e-WOM platforms affected consumer judgment by exposing respondents to independent reviews of websites or the actual site. As per this study’s findings, e-WOM platforms had influence over the participants’ willingness to recommend products or services to friends. For instance, a positive review of the product increased the chances of an individual to recommend the item to others. Further testing of this influence is evident in work conducted by Kozinets et al. (2010), which examined how firms are using word-of-mouth (WOM) as a means of influencing consumer-to-consumer interactions and communications, aligning them with the marketing goals of the business. The findings of this investigation were that communal WOM, comprising one of the social media marketing strategies, does not merely amplify or enhance the message. Instead, the marketing message, as well as meanings, are subject to systematic alteration in the process of embedding them, enabling them to target specific audiences.
The essence of investigating the relationship between e-WOM and consumer product judgment is that it influences the final purchasing decision of the client. Huang, Hsiao, and Chen (2012) demonstrate this proposition by examining the relationship between e-WOM, product judgment, and choice. The study was premised on the argument that the communication offered by e-WOM techniques influences the attitudes as well as behavioral intentions of a customer towards an offering in the market. In the research under analysis, the focus was on investigating the perceptions of the customers towards virtual communities moderated the effect of comments attributed to the product on potential consumer attitudes as well as purchasing intentions. The influence of online comments on customers’ comments pertaining to purchase decisions was evident in virtual communities, where trustworthy members communed. In the persuasion model, one of the approaches to influencing the audience involves targeting their attitudes and perceptions, as evidenced by the theory of reasoned action. According to Yousafzai, Foxall, and Pallister (2010), this model endeavors to explain the relationship between the attitudes and behaviors that constitute human action. In this regard, it proposes a means of predicting how people will behave using their behavioral intentions and pre-existing beliefs. A similar approach will be useful in the current study where the attitudes and perceptions of customers of selected retail brands in Qatar will be investigated and correlated against the use of e-WOM strategies.
Regardless, the success of e-WOM strategies is subject to various factors. Whenever an organization employs e-WOM methods in its marketing approach, one of the outcomes it intends to achieve is higher levels of consumer engagement, which can result in certain benefits for the organization. Dessart, Veloutsou, and Morgan-Thomas (2015) define consumer engagement as the connection between an external stakeholder (customer) and the business (brand or organization) observed through specific correspondence channels. This connection can manifest in the form of a reaction, effect, overall consumer experience, or an interaction that occurs either online or offline. Chu and Kim (2011) investigate how social relationship factors interrelate with e-WOM transmitted through online social websites such as MySpace, Friendster, and Facebook. The findings of the study showed a positive correlation between trust, normative and informational influence, and tie strength, with the overall e-WOM behavior that the respondents displayed. Explaining how e-WOM affects the target audience can be approached based on how it relates to their attitudes and behavioral intentions.
Theoretical Framework
The theory of planned behavior (TPB) will comprise the framework that will guide the research effort in the present research. It is a persuasive theory that seeks to explain human behavior based on attitudes. Kautonen, van Gelderen and Fink (2013) assert that one of the central premises of TPB is that it highlights individual action as being subject to behavioral intentions so that the latter is a function of one’s attitudes towards the behavior. In this model, the attitude one has towards a particular practice can be described as his or her negative or positive feelings related to executing the action. One of the benefits of TPB is that it establishes a basis for assessing the attitudes of an individual regarding the consequences that may arise from engaging in a particular behavior as well as how desirable the outcomes are. As demonstrated in the figure below, TPB is a function of three primary factors, namely attitude towards the act, subjective norms and the perceived behavioral control, all of which shape the behavioral control.
Figure 1: Theory of Planned Behavior (Azjen, 1991)
Conceptual Framework
The model that will form the basis for analyzing the impact of e-WOM on the attitudes and perceptions of customers of local retail brands in Qatar is one proposed by Goyette et al. (2010) comprised of WOM dimensions. This study presents a scale that can be instrumental in measuring the effectiveness of WOM in the context of e-service. The model proposes three dimensions that form the basis of the scale, namely WOM intensity, valence, and WOM content. WOM intensity identifies the frequency with which a person is willing to repurchase or reuse a product or service. WOM content highlights the message within the WOM material, while valence highlights the intrinsic goodness or badness of the WOM initiative. For the present study, the valence dimension will be used to meet the objectives set for the present study.
Table 1: Measurement scale for e-WOM (Goyette et al., 2010)
research design and methods
Overview: Research Design, Approach and Timeframe
The proposed research design is quantitative to foster the use of statistical methods to test and evaluate the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. As such, this study utilizes an observational research design, which relies on gathering and analysing quantitative data. Although observation is an essential qualitative skill, its use in quantitative inquiries is dependent on behaviours that can be quantified.
The proposed study will utilize the mixed methods design due to the incorporation of both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis strategies. Unlike the multimethod design, the researcher is permitted to apply both qualitative and quantitative methods on a single dataset (Small, 2011). In this respect, interviews represent the qualitative feature of the proposed research while questionnaires signify the quantitative aspect. On another note, the proposed study will be cross-sectional because the data collection and analysis will be performed at a point in time (Charan and Biswas, 2013). This approach differs from longitudinal studies because cross-sectional designs involve new participants. Longitudinal research entail following the same sample for a lengthy period.
In terms of research approach, this research will combine both inductive and deductive strategies. Induction, which is concerned with the generation of new theories, entails exploring a new phenomenon or using previously conducted research to achieve the same objective (Heit and Rotello, 2010). This aspect will be achieved through the use of interviews in the current study. The deductive approach, on the other hand, frequents in quantitative studies which aim to test theories. In the proposed research, deduction will involve testing the hypotheses and connecting the findings to existing theories.
Population and Study Sample
This research aims to study the opinions of customers of local retail brands in Qatar. These opinions will provide insight into both the prevailing WOM on electronic platforms and attitudes of customers towards various retail brands popularized on social media. Although using the entire population of Qatar customers is currently an impossible feat, this research will rely on a representative study sample.
Sample Size and Sampling Strategy
Convenience sampling technique is the strategy of choice when it comes to gathering the data for this study. According to Etikan Musa and Alkassim (2016), this technique is a non-probability approach to sampling where the selection is based on the accessibility and proximity of the participants. Since the entire Qatar population is too large to incorporate in the study, convenience sampling allows researchers to gather data from a small sample in a manner that is inexpensive, fast and easy. The targeted sample size, therefore, is 150 participants. The number is sufficient to garner an archetypal perspective of customers of Qatar’s retail businesses.
Sources of Data
The proposed study will use primary data, with questions cantered on perceptions, attitudes, and behavioural intentions towards local retail brands in Qatar. Primary data are not only original but also relevant to the current topic of study. The advantage, therefore, is the high degree of accuracy.
Collection of Data
Considering that the research will rely on primary data, questionnaires distributed amongst participants will serve as a source of all information deemed pertinent to realizing the objectives. Questionnaires are adept tools for collecting qualitative information. However, this study’s questionnaires will comprise primarily of closed-ended questions to facilitate the coding process. One particulate goal of the current study is to determine the perceived valence of local retail brands, inferring the need to measure e-WOM using Goyette et al.’s (2010) scale. With respect to the mixed methods design, this study will also utilise semi-structured interviews where the interviewer will not rely strictly on the formalized question list. Rather, the interviews will comprise open-ended questions designed to give the interviewer and interviewee an opportunity to discuss as opposed to providing a straightforward answer. The use of open-ended questions emphasises the qualitative element of the mixed methods research design.
Data Management
Before collection, planning is essential to ensure that processes and resources are allocated and utilized effectively towards realizing the study objectives. The nature of the data to be collected, its quantity, organizing, access, sharing, and privacy issues were all considered during the planning and preparatory phase for the research.
Data Analysis Strategies
After collection, the data were subjected to a rigorous curation process. Errors will be identified and removed. Additionally, missing responses will also be targeted and accounted for during the data entry phase. As such, the questionnaire data will then be coded and entered into the SPSS software to aid its analysis. Since the SPSS software is imbued with necessary statistical tools, the goal of subjecting the data to appropriate parametric tests is achievable. The particulate statistical test to use in this endeavour is regression analysis. In this approach, the focus will be on estimating the strength of the relationship between dependent and independent variables.
Ethics and Human Subjects Issues
This study will indulge human participants as the primary source of raw data for analysis and consumption. The researcher strives to adhere to the principles of research ethics. For example, the participants will be provided with a consent form to request their participation in the study. The study will also ensure the anonymity and confidentiality of all the acquired information. On the same note, the researcher will refrain from collecting sensitive data. Doing otherwise will only risk causing difficulty in getting truthful information from the participants. Besides, collecting non-sensitive data is a way to ensure that the risk of harm is minimized.
Timeframe
The study is expected to last a total of six months and the entire period is set systematically to achieve a particular objective. The primary activities in this project, after completing the proposal, include gathering scholarly sources for the literature review and writing it down, developing the data collection instruments, and distributing the questionnaires, among others. Using the Gantt chart below, these activities have been arranged systematically following the priority of each and the assigned duration.
Figure 2: A Gantt chart detailing the processes and deadlines
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Study
The current study and its groundworks have specific strengths and weaknesses that should be highlighted for improvement purposes. The study will use a quantitative research design, which offers the advantage of generalizing the findings from a representative sample. Unlike exploratory studies, quantitative researches are relatively easier to conduct and analyse (Choy, 2014). For example, the data from the questionnaire will be fed into computer software for statistical analyses processes that would have otherwise be tedious for the researcher plus assistants to accomplish manually. In addition, quantitative data can be quite reliable and consistent, meaning that their correct analysis will provide statistically significant findings.
Other strengths of this study reside in the selected data collection method of choice. In this study, questionnaires were used. These instruments are inexpensive to develop and implement. Questionnaires offer quick strategies for getting results because of the many channels of delivery, including online and over the telephone. The scalability of questionnaires is another advantageous feature. These data collection instruments allow researchers to gather information significantly large audiences. For example, the current study seeks to gather the insights of up to 150 individuals.
Despite having strengths, quantitative research frameworks have weaknesses that should be considered and noted. Sometimes, new topics and hypotheses are difficult to connect to concepts and information from secondary sources due to paucity or inaccessibility. In addition, the lack of sufficient information on the specific contexts increase difficulties in understanding phenomena under study. Quantitative studies rely on robust data to test hypotheses. In the current context, however, only a small sample was included in the research processes designed to test the study’s hypothesis. Apart from the research design, questionnaires have specific limitations that should be highlighted before the research processes can commence. Questionnaires exploit social exchanges as opportunities for gathering pertinent information, but at the same time, subject participants to pressures whose results are unanswered or dishonest answers.
Public Health Significance
This study will delve in e-WOM strategies of marketing, which hold significance in both business and public health dimensions. The focus here is the ability of the findings of this study to improve the public health communication strategies. For instance, health organizations can incorporate e-WOM strategies in their communication plans to sensitive the public on health-related concerns. Healthcare practitioners can form stronger and more beneficial relationships with their clientele in the sense that more people can be attracted through the effective use of communication networks of individuals. Health professionals can influence and motivate masses to adopt acceptable behaviours using e-WOM strategies. This outcome is possible through rigorous health awareness campaigns which include e-WOM strategies in the general communication plan.
Budget and Motivation
The choice of topic was influenced by the observed increase in social media usage not only in Qatar but also around the world. This phenomenon is an opportunity for marketers in all niches to exploit e-WOM platforms to foster the performance of their campaign strategies. The motivation for planning and carrying out this study lies in advocacy for the adoption of social media marketing strategies. After all, social media platforms are examples of e-WOM in action. The budget of this study is currently at $550. The expenses were divided between developing the questionnaires and transport from one location to another while gathering the data from individuals.
Table 2: The budget detailing the expected expenses for the study.
references
Charan, J. and Biswas, T., 2013. How to calculate sample size for different study designs in medical research?. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 35(2), p.121.
Choy, L., 2014. The Strengths and Weaknesses of Research Methodology: Comparison and Complimentary between Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 19(4), pp.99-104.
Chu, S. and Kim, Y., 2011. Determinants of consumer engagement in electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) in social networking sites. International Journal of Advertising, 30(1), pp.47-75.
Dessart, L., Veloutsou, C. and Morgan-Thomas, A., 2015. Consumer engagement in online brand communities: a social media perspective. Journal of Product & Brand Management, 24(1), pp.28-42.
Etikan, I., Musa, S. and Alkassim, R., 2016. Comparison of Convenience Sampling and Purposive Sampling. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, 5(1), p.1.
Goyette, I., Ricard, L., Bergeron, J. and Marticotte, F., 2010. e-WOM Scale: word-of-mouth measurement scale for e-services context. Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences / Revue Canadienne des Sciences de l’Administration, 27(1), pp.5-23.
Heit, E. and Rotello, C., 2010. Relations between inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 36(3), pp.805-812.
Hennig-Thurau, T., Walsh, G. and Walsh, G., 2003. Electronic Word-of-Mouth: Motives for and Consequences of Reading Customer Articulations on the Internet. International Journal of Electronic Commerce, 8(2), pp.51-74.
Huang, J., Hsiao, T. and Chen, Y., 2012. The Effects of Electronic Word of Mouth on Product Judgment and Choice: The Moderating Role of the Sense of Virtual Community1. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 42(9), pp.2326-2347.
Kautonen, T., van Gelderen, M. and Fink, M., 2013. Robustness of the Theory of Planned Behavior in Predicting Entrepreneurial Intentions and Actions. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 39(3), pp.655-674.
Kozinets, R., de Valck, K., Wojnicki, A. and Wilner, S., 2010. Networked Narratives: Understanding Word-of-Mouth Marketing in Online Communities. Journal of Marketing, 74(2), pp.71-89.
Lee, M. and Youn, S., 2009. Electronic word of mouth (eWOM). International Journal of Advertising, 28(3), pp.473-499.
Rassed, 2015. Understanding Emerging Social Media Platforms in Qatar. Effects of the Internet and Information Communication Technologies on Society. [online] Qatar: The Digital Society Department, pp.1-31. Available at: <http://www.motc.gov.qa/sites/default/files/understanding_emerging_social_media_platforms_in_qatar.pdf> [Accessed 17 Mar. 2019].
Rialti, R., Zollo, L., Pellegrini, M. and Ciappei, C., 2017. Exploring the Antecedents of Brand Loyalty and Electronic Word of Mouth in Social-Media-Based Brand Communities: Do Gender Differences Matter? Journal of Global Marketing, 30(3), pp.147-160.
Small, M., 2011. How to Conduct a Mixed Methods Study: Recent Trends in a Rapidly Growing Literature. Annual Review of Sociology, 37(1), pp.57-86.
Yousafzai, S., Foxall, G. and Pallister, J., 2010. Explaining Internet Banking Behavior: Theory of Reasoned Action, Theory of Planned Behavior, or Technology Acceptance Model?. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 40(5), pp.1172-1202.
Appendices
Appendix 1: Questionnaire
Demographic Information
Age
Sex
Education
Elements of TPB
Attitude to e-WOM
I often recommend local brand to my family and friends
Agree: __1__: ___2__: ___3__: ___4__: ___5__: ___6__: ___7___: disagree
I speak of the products’ benefits to my peers
Agree: __1__: ___2__: ___3__: ___4__: ___5__: ___6__: ___7___: disagree
I am proud to tell others that I consume this product
Agree: __1__: ___2__: ___3__: ___4__: ___5__: ___6__: ___7___: disagree
Perceived Norm
Most people close to me do not approve the use of this product
Agree: __1__: ___2__: ___3__: ___4__: ___5__: ___6__: ___7___: disagree
Many people fear using local commodities because it is demining
Agree: __1__: ___2__: ___3__: ___4__: ___5__: ___6__: ___7___: disagree
Perceived Behavioral Control
I believe that using local commodities will lower my economic costs
Agree: __1__: ___2__: ___3__: ___4__: ___5__: ___6__: ___7___: disagree
The decision on whether or not I can use local brands is up to me
Agree: __1__: ___2__: ___3__: ___4__: ___5__: ___6__: ___7___: disagree
Intention
I intend to start using local brands for the next few months
Agree: __1__: ___2__: ___3__: ___4__: ___5__: ___6__: ___7___: disagree
I will recommend local brands to my peers in the near future
Agree: __1__: ___2__: ___3__: ___4__: ___5__: ___6__: ___7___: disagree
Past Behavior
In the past I have been ignoring local brands because I did not believe they could be as effective as imported brands
Agree: __1__: ___2__: ___3__: ___4__: ___5__: ___6__: ___7___: disagree
Appendix 2: Interview Schedule
Opening
(Establish rapport with client) [greetings] I am [Insert Name] and as a pursuant of Master’s in Public Health in Occupational Hygiene, I saw it fit to interview you as part of my research project.
(Purpose) I would like to inquire about your background, education and experiences concerning the use of social media platforms to recommend products to friends and family.
(Timeline) The interview should last for about ten minutes. Are you free to answer some questions now?
(Transition: Lets begin with your background and education.)
Body
Demographic Information
How old are you?
Which level of education have you attained?
Elements of Theory of Planned Behavior
What is your attitude towards e-WOM platforms?
Do you use these platforms to recommend to or talk about local brands with family and friends?
Do people’s approval influence your intention to recommend a product? Explain.
Does using local commodities lower your economic costs?
Who influences your decisions to use local brands?
Do you intend to use local brands or recommending them to peers in the near future?
Have you ever ignored local brands because of the perceived difference in quality?
Closing
Thank you for the information and has been a pleasure to engage with you in this brief encounter.
Appendix 3: Research Ethics Form
Project Details
Title: Influence of Electronic Word of Mouth (e-WOM) on Consumer Product Judgment: A Case of Qatar’s Retail Industry
Statement of Purpose: This study’s primary aim is to investigate the relationship between e-WOM and customer attitudes and behavioral intentions concerning retail products in Qatar.
Research Aims:
To determine the attitudes and behavioral intentions of customers towards local retail brands in Qatar.
To investigate the perceived valence of local retail brands marketed through e-WOM strategies in Qatar.
Proposed Methods: The study will utilise a mixed methods design involving the use of both questionnaires and semi-structured interviews.
Sampling Method: Convenience sampling technique is the selected method for recruiting research participants.
Sample Criteria: The research criterion was that the participants have to consumers of the local Qatar retail businesses.
No. of research participants: A sample size of 150 participants was deemed sufficient for the proposed study.
All Research Applicants:
Please indicate below whether the research addresses these issues.
Have you considered the risks that accompany the current project? Yes.
Research Ethics
Select the most appropriate response.
Does your study involve vulnerable participants or those who cannot be given informed consents, e.g., children, the disabled or students? NO
Will this study’s completion require the cooperation of a community’s gatekeeper to facilitate recruitment of participants, e.g., nursing home residents? NO
Is it necessary for the participants to participate without their consent at that particular time? NO
Will your study touch on sensitive topics, e.g., drug abuse? NO
Will the participants be receiving drugs, placebos or any other experimental substance? NO
Will the participants be required to provide blood or tissue samples? NO
Will the participants be subjected to pain? NO
Will the study involve prolonged testing? NO
Will financial encouragements be provided? NO
Have measures been taken to ensure the confidentiality of the participants’ information? Yes. The research will refrain from collecting sensitive data (e.g., names) and only authorized persons will have access to the information. The presentation of findings will also be limited from mentioning any specific information which can be traced back to individual participants.
Marketing online essay helpYou only have to do the colored part of the outline (III). And this case is about Jelmar, which is a cleaning product company based in Chicago. This outline in meat to answer following questions: How can Jelmar differentiate itself and increase market share in a competitive environment? What steps can be implemented to drive growth of Jelmar?
Outline is based on this idea, you just have to write about “HOW” to do it. I think outline made clear idea about this paper. You need to research and further explain it.
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Contemporary digital issues in the video game industry college essay helpSummative Assessment 2: Individual report 70% (3000-4000 words)
Due date: Friday, 29 March 2019 23:59
The submission must be via Blackboard’s turnitin link.
This assignment requires you to research a topic pertaining to contemporary digital issues facing organisations, by addressing the following:
Justification and rationale of the chosen topic. (5%)
Comprehensive review of the evolution and current state of these contemporary digital issues in relation to your topic. (15%)
Critical evaluation on the challenges and opportunities of these contemporary digital issues. (20%)
Critical analysis and discussion of these contemporary digital issues affecting business organisations. (25%)
Identify digital tactics and strategies undertaken by business organisation to address the issues. (20%)
Conclusion and recommendations for business organisations. (10%)
Future direction of these contemporary digital issues. (5%)
Your research must be based on a critical analysis of your chosen topic against a framework which is a distillation of the critical elements you have synthesised from your review of relevant literature and empirical evidence. You are expected to provide convincing evidence derived from secondary sources in your review, analysis and discussion.
You must use wide range of references, including academic and up-to-date references as the research is dealing with contemporary digital issues. Reference style must follow Harvard Reference Systems, e.g. EJIS style (European Journal of Information Systems).
The report should be word-processed, the length of your critique should be between 3000- 4000 words. Please state the number of words using Word Count function at the end of your report.
You should ONLY submit your assignment using Blackboard’s turnitin link. Please follow the instructions provided in BREO’s “Assessment” folder. Your work will NOT be assessed if you failed to submit a copy online.
Your chosen topic must be approved by your seminar tutor to confirm the topic is pertaining to contemporary digital issues.
Marking Criteria – Assessment 2 Individual Report (70%)
Your assignment will be marked with the following marking criteria and the common assessment scale in Section 5.3.
Marking Criteria
Marks
1. Justification and rationale of the chosen topic. (5%)
· Outline the chosen topic with a clear context
· Clear rationale with sound justification
5
4
3
2
1
0
2. Comprehensive review of the evolution and current state of these contemporary digital issues in relation to your topic. (15%)
· Thorough review on the evolution and development of the issues
· Solid understanding of relevant concepts and theories related to the topic and related issues
15
12
9
6
3
0
3. Critical evaluation on the challenges and opportunities of these contemporary digital issues. (20%)
· Critical and in-depth knowledge of the issues
· Good breadth of understanding of the challenges and opportunities
· Highlight relevant ethical and contentious issues
20
16
12
8
4
0
4. Critical analysis and discussion of these contemporary digital issues affecting business organisations. (25%)
· Relevant examples with concrete and up-to-date evidence from empirical sources
· Identification of trends and/or contradictions among the examples
· Substantive references to support your analysis and discussion
25
20
15
10
5
0
5. Identify digital tactics and strategies undertaken by business organisation to address the issues. (20%)
· Sound understanding of digital tactics and strategies
· Awareness of relevant technological tools and solutions
· Evidence from empirical resources
20
16
12
8
4
0
6. Conclusion and recommendations for business organisations. (10%)
· Clear summary and conclusion
· Quality and justification of recommendations
10
8
6
4
2
0
7. Future direction of these contemporary digital issues. (5%)
· Prediction of future direction of these contemporary digital issues
· Implications on organisations and society
5
4
3
2
1
0
1. READ the file which “writing assignment” and “Assignment_Example” first please. It is important. It including the structure of essay and example which needs to write. Please follow the instructions that what the essay should including. There are seven steps which each step include what should write.
2. The country for my research report is Mozambique, you need to find the data for only this country, and the a period time not shorter than 20 years and as recent as possible.
3. The final paper must have a complete structure from introduction to conclusion and references with an internal coherence. Must follow the steps in the guidelines.
3. Words must be around 2000 words, double-spaced, have a font size of 12 in Times New Roman.
4. There are some handouts that we learned in class. You could take a look to make sure the essay is related to knowledge, topics, concepts and models we learned in class.
5. You should report all your references
Leadership Support, Co-Worker Support and Employee Creativity essay helpStudent’s Name
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Leadership Support, Co-Worker Support and Employee Creativity
Introduction and Background
A competitive advantage is a condition that makes a company’s product or service superior to rivals. In business, competitive edges can be attained through cost advantages and product or service differentiation. The business environment has become quite competitive and dynamic to the extent that innovation has become rare and valuable. Zaitouni and Ouakouak underscore the fact that the creative behavior of employees underlies organizational innovation and competitiveness (1745). As such, an environment that supports creativity will improve an organization’s capacity to incorporate new ideas and heighten performance. In addition to a workplace environment that rewards creative behavior, encourages cooperation and inspires individuals to take the initiative, Zaitouni and Ouakouak propose that companies should consider improving their leadership and co-worker support strategies (1746). Leaders inspire their followers to become creative by exhibiting positive and supportive behaviors. For instance, leaders can motivate employees to come up with novel and innovative ideas by recognizing and rewarding the input from team members. On the same note, co-worker support refers to the belief that colleagues will assist in solving work-related issues that interfere with objectives. Enhancing co-worker support should be the goal of many companies because it improves employee engagement, job satisfaction, creativity, and productivity. In this sense, the article in question was focused on examining the role of leadership and co-worker support in enhancing the creative behavior of employees and productivity.
The significance of the Study
Although current literature already has extensive coverage of the influence of leadership and co-worker on creativity, empirical and detailed inquiries on these subjects are lacking. The relationships between the variables have only been proposed and hypothesized in literature. Due to the paucity of detailed and empirical insight into the nature of the relationship between leadership support, co-worker support and creativity, Zaitouni and Ouakouak sought to expand the horizons of current literature (1746). Besides, leadership is an essential strategy for boosting an organization’s structure. The study’s findings are useful for improving leadership and teamwork strategies, assisting organizations in becoming more competitive. For instance, effective leaders establish a vision, communicates plans and motivates team members to work together to solve problems. In other words, leaders inspire colleagues to support each other. The findings of the research are valuable because they introduce creativity as the product of leadership and co-worker support. The study also investigates the moderation effects of other human resource management concepts, particularly employee engagement and tenure. These moderating variables are useful in expounding the relationship between the identified variables.
Objectives and Research Questions
In light of the study’s background and significance, the researchers’ primary focus was particularizing the empirical relationship of leadership support, co-worker support, and employee creativity. Since creativity is the foundation stone for innovation and heightened productivity, elucidating this relationship was a significant contribution to existing knowledge. The following objectives, therefore, defined the scope of the research.
To examine whether and how leadership support and co-worker support improve employee creativity while at work.
To investigate the moderating effects of employee engagement and tenure on leadership and co-worker support using a moderation approach.
To examine and test the direct relationship between employee creativity and firm performance.
As such, the following were the study’s research questions.
Do leadership support and co-worker support strategies improve employee creativity in the workplace?
What are the moderating effects of employee engagement and tenure on leadership and co-worker support efforts of an organization?
What is the relationship between employee creativity and firm performance?
Works Cited
Zaitouni, Michel, and Mohamed L. Ouakouak. “The impacts of leadership support and coworker support on employee creative behavior.” International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, vol. 67, no. 9, 2018, pp. 1745-1763.