An intervariable approach to customer satisfaction and loyalty in the internet service market

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine a multidimensional model of customer perceived value (CPV), customer satisfaction (CS) and loyalty from internet subscribers’ perspectives.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 1,297 out of 2,000 online surveys were valid for the analysis. Confirmatory factor analyses were performed to assess the research constructs’ unidimensionality, validity and composite reliability. Structural path analysis was used to test the hypothesized relationships of the research model.FindingsCPV positively affects functional and technical satisfaction as well as cognitive loyalty. Functional satisfaction positively affects technical satisfaction and attitudinal loyalty. Attitudinal loyalty positively affects cognitive and behavioral loyalty, and the latter positively affects cognitive loyalty. In total, 53 percent of variation in cognitive loyalty was caused by behavioral, attitudinal loyalty and perceived value path.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research could investigate other outcomes of CS dimensions, such as customer lifetime value, customer retention, profitability, return on investment and market share, and their effects on customer loyalty (CL). Future research can also examine the effect of other dimensions of perceived customer value on CS and loyalty dimensions simultaneously. Other future research areas are also outlined.Practical implicationsCPV acts as a cornerstone to developing a successful multidimensional program of CL through functional and technical satisfactions. Marketing directors need to focus on building CL schemes and strategies that should take into consideration the long-term and short-term loyalty.Originality/valueTheoretically, using an intervariable perspective, this paper has responded to important calls for conducting research on the chain of perceived value, CS and loyalty chain. Practically, this paper is the first empirical research devoted to developing an intervariable approach to the chain of perceived value, CS and loyalty in the internet service market.