• The Journal of Information Systems
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.107-135
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• 2017

Purpose Along with the growth of smart phones and social networking service (SNS), social commerce continues to expand. Although online reviews have become an important source of the information that consumers use to make purchasing decisions, theoretical development and empirical testing in this area are still limited. Thus, there is a need to develop further understanding about the influence of electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM). Drawing upon the heuristic - systematic model (HSM) which is one of the dual-process theories, this study develops a research model that explains key factors influencing consumers' eWOM credibility. Furthermore, this study verifies that consumer's eWOM credibility is a key determinant of eWOM and purchase intentions. Design/methodology/approach The proposed model is empirically tested with 493 users who have experience in WeChat-based social commerce. The structural equation model (SEM) analysis is used to evaluate the research model and hypotheses. Findings The major findings are as follows. First, argument quality of eWOM (a systematic factor) has a positive effect on eWOM credibility. Second, source credibility and recommendation consistency of eWOM (heuristic factors) are positively associated with eWOM credibility. Finally, purchase and eWOM intentions greatly depend on eWOM credibility. These results confirm the effectiveness of HSM in explaining eWOM mechanisms in SNS-based social commerce. The details of findings and implications are presented.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.545-559
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• 2016

Recently consumers to access various Word-Of-Mouth information on online. And eWOM (eWOM : electronic Word-Of-Mouth) information had an important effect on consumer attitude(purchase intention). The purpose of this study is to investigate what the general characteristics of eWOM and the effects of how these factors will affect credibility, eWOM acceptance and purchase intention. In this study, the model contains information characteristics variables(consensus, newness), community characteristics(tie strength, interaction) on eWOM characteristics. This study makes contributions as follows. First, information consensus had not effect on credibility. Second, information newness and community characteristics(tie strength, interaction) had a significant on credibility. Third, credibility is the important factor on eWOM acceptance. Lastly, eWOM acceptance had a considerable influence on purchase intentions.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.81-101
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• 2015

This study considered eWOM communication not as persuasion process but as diffusion process and identified factors affecting eWOM spread. eWOM diffusion process can be divided into initial transmitting process and retransmission process. The current study analyzed the effects of informational traits(level of agreement, vividness, neutrality) of eWOM on the intention to retranmit eWOM and moderating effect of eWOM involvement. Research sample was gathered from young people because they are familiar with online communication process. Statistical analysis showed informational traits of eWOM all had a significant effects on the credibility of eWOM, credibility of eWOM influenced on the intention to retransmit eWOM significantly, and eWOM involvement moderated the relation between information traits of eWOM and the intention to retransmit eWOM. And then academic and managerial implication was discussed based on these findings.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.424-432
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• 2011

Today's wide-spread Internet technology allowed consumers to access much Word-of-Mouth information through an online board. As communication and exchanging information between travelers becomes easier and faster, e-WOM (Electronic Word-of-Mouth) is recognized as one of the most influencing communication methods in today's society. This new trend implies a significant impact to travel industry. This study focuses on interaction between Credibility on e-WOM, brand attitude, WOM acceptance, WOM activity and purchasing intention of travel product. The result of this study suggests: (1) Credibility in e-WOM provides positive effect in brand attitude, (2) Brand Attitude gives positive effect on WOM acceptance, WOM activity and purchasing intention of travel product, (3) WOM acceptance gives positive effect on WOM activity, but it is not effective on purchasing intention of travel product. Regarding e-WOM management of travel agencies through its website or online community, authors would like to argue that travel agencies need to build positive brand attitude based on Credibility in brand, which would lead consumers to positively acknowledge its brand and spread words out to other consumers.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.102-117
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• 2019

Purpose - This paper tried to identify the impact of electronic word of mouth (eWOM) on purchase intention (PI) of Korean-brand cars in the context of Russian consumers, taking into consideration the credibility, quality, and quantity of eWOM while also considering the mediation effects of brand image (BI) and perceived quality (PQ). Although there is a considerable number of studies discussing the impact of eWOM determinants on PI, not many studies were conducted focusing on the Russian market. Design/methodology - This paper is considered to fill this gap between eWOM and (PI) and, in order to do so, 211 Russian respondents were randomly selected. Descriptive analysis, factor, and reliability analysis were conducted using SPSS version 22.0. While structural equation modeling was conducted using AMOS version 24.0. Findings - The results display that, in terms of Russian consumers' perception, eWOM credibility, quality, and quantity for Korean-brand cars show a substantial impact on PI. The mediation effects of brand image, as well as perceived quality, were also supported by analysis. In the final part of the paper, theoretical and managerial implications alongside limitations with further research suggestions are presented. Originality/value - This study endeavored to explore the degree of impact of eWOM and mediating roles of BI and PQ on Russian customer intentions to buy Korean-brand cars.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.213-219
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• 2020

Studies related to Electronic Word-of-Mouth (eWOM) show that the acceptance of eWOM information is an important factor in customer purchase decisions. When consumers accept eWOM information, they tend to use that information in considering before making purchase decisions. In Viet Nam, there are few studies about eWOM information, especially on the acceptance of eWOM information. Research is conducted to test the influence of consumers on the perception of the senders' identity to the acceptance of online reviews (a kind of eWOM) in Viet Nam - a case study in Ho Chi Minh City. Using adjustment techniques, inspecting the scales and a theoretical model represent the relationship among the influential factors. The research is based on a sample of 522 consumers who use the Internet to search for product reviews before buying and used Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to test the relationships among the variables. The research results show that the scales of the variables: Message Quality, Source Credibility, Perceived Message Usefulness, Perceived Senders' Identity, Perceived Message Credibility, Message Acceptance attain the validity and reliability in the research. The research contributes to the understanding of the determinants that influence the acceptance of eWOM information, which are informational factors, and factors related to consumer skepticism.

• Korean Management Science Review
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.95-112
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• 2011

The Internet has generated a number of online review sites where dissatisfied consumers can easily articulate their opinions and comments on products or services. Little attention, however, has been directed to investigating the relationship between negative electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) and its critical determinants that affect consumers' purchasing behaviors. This study attempts to explore the influence of the key determinants of consumers' negative eWOM behaviors, including their social relationships online. The results show that tie strength is positively associated with the proposed determinants, such as information credibility, external search efforts, and product involvement. Further, we find that perceived risk plays a mediating role in the relationship between consumers' intention to spread eWOM and its key determinants.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.243-254
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• 2022

Customers' perceptions of information about a company's products or services have altered as a result of the development of ICT and social networks. This gives rise to a fact that buzz marketing, which is a marketing technique employed commonly in today's business and communication, has a significant impact on customers' electronic word of mouth intention (e-WOM). However, very few studies about this issue have been conducted so far, which reveal a gap in understanding buzz marketing from an academic perspective. Based on the results of a cross-sectional survey in Binh Duong city, this study investigates the efficiency and effect of buzz marketing on customers' e-WOM intention through mediating variables of message credibility. Data from 367 time-lagged individual samples were collected and analyzed by the structural equation modeling method (SEM). Results showed that creativity, clarity, and humor variables have a positive relationship with message credibility and then impact the intention to conduct e-WOM of social networks' users. Marketing campaigns employing the buzz technique should be launched with easy-to-understand and entertainable messages. Findings from this study also provide managers with a scientific understanding of buzz marketing and the effectiveness of this technique as well as reveal the potential for future studies to explore further in this area.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.151-163
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• 2018

Today, the development of internet brings many changes in formation exploration and acceptance. Not only the customers can come into contact much information about the firm and its product by quick and easy search, but also they produce information by themselves or can spread the information via the internet. Nowadays, customers are progressive information explorer and producer on online. In this sense, this study examined the effects of e-word-of-mouth information characteristics on the consumer's perceived usefulness and perceived acceptance of e-word-of-mouth information in the food service industry in order to suggest directions to enhances marketing strategies for marketer. The research model for this study was designed based on the hypothesis that the characteristics of e-word-of-mouth information and credibility of the information influenced both the user's perceived usefulness and acceptance. Based on total 277 customers obtained from the empirical research, this study reviewed validity, reliability and fitness of research model. The analysis results on these factors are as follow. First, the characteristics of e-word-of-mouth information; vividness, consensus, direction had an influence on the customer's perceived usefulness. Second, the characteristics of e-word-of-mouth information; vividness, consensus, direction had an influence on the customer's perceived acceptance. Third, the reliability of information had an influence on the customer's perceived usefulness and the credibility of e-word-of-mouth information perceived acceptance. Fourth, the customer's perceived usefulness had an influence on the customer's perceived acceptance.

• The Korean Journal of Franchise Management
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.1-15
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• 2022

Purpose: In the restaurant sector, it has been known that consumers' positive perception of brands influences their positive WOM intention, and information sources play an important role in increasing credibility by enhancing consumer awareness and developing differentiated brands. This study examines the effects of information sources (e.g., advertisement, WOM, SNS) on trust (cognitive and affective) and, WOM and eWOM intention in the restaurant context. In the model, cognitive and affective trust play mediating roles in the relationships between information sources (e.g., advertisement, WOM, SNS) WOM and eWOM intention. Research design, data, and methodology: Research models and hypotheses were developed according to the research direction. The survey questionnaire items were developed and used appropriately according to the contents of this paper based on prior studies. All constructs were measured with multiple items developed and validated in prior studies. A total of 502 responses were collected from an online survey. The research model was evaluated using SmartPLS 4.0. Frequency analysis was performed to understand the demographic characteristics of the survey respondents. The reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity were assessed using measurement model analysis. The proposed model was verified using the structural equation model. Results: Advertisement, WOM, and SNS information sources all had a positive effect on affective trust, whereas only WOM had a significant effect on cognitive trust. In addition, affective trust had a positive effect on cognitive trust and eWOM intention but did not affect WOM intention. Finally, cognitive trust was found to have a positive effect on both WOM intention and eWOM intention. Conclusions: This study redefines the concept of where restaurant service companies should focus when providing consumers with information about their products and services. As a result, the conceptual framework of positive word of mouth intention to increase new customer visits to the restaurant brand has been expanded. In addition, this study not only presents an information source management strategy for restaurant brands, but also presents practical implications for resource allocation guidelines for customer management in the restaurant sector.