Metamorphosis: A Journal of Management Research

The growing incidence of cross-format shopping has become a subject of research to understand why consumer's cross-shop and what are the motives underlying cross-format shopping, which is referred to as consumers shopping regularly at each of two or more food and grocery retail format types. The purpose of this study is to explore crossformat shopping motivations among Indian food and grocery consumers and to categorise cross-format shopping typologies based on cross-shopping motivations. Based on exploratory qualitative (semi-structured personal interviews) and quantative research (mall intercept survey method), this study identifies nine cross-format shopping motivations (value for money, value for time, price conscious, local sopping, shopping enjoyment, social shopping, variety seeking, entertainment motive, and brand conscious) and five cross-format shopper segments (economic shopper, convenience shopper, price-promotional shopper, hedonic shopper, and socialisation shopper). These findings provide food and grocery retailers with specific knowledge of the cross-shopping motivations that consumers consider to be important when making format patronage.

Research in the area of brand-equity in sports has been limited to Europe or USA only with no study focusing on brand-equity of team sports in a country like India despite of knowing socio-cultural and perceptional difference between the people. In addition, previous studies also lack in terms of accounting for the perceptions of television viewers of European/Asian countries. Academicians/Researchers should thus put their focus on developing models that could be used for measuring the brand-equity of sport teams in Indian context. Taking the above facts into consideration, the paper aims at validating the Spectator-based brand equity (SBBE) model of Ross, Russell and Bang (2008) in context of the television viewers of Indian Premier League (IPL). The model was tested using structural equation modeling. The study came out with a finding that for television viewers the modified version of SBBE shall be applicable. Interestingly, the performance, unity and co-ordination between the players of the team and the determination and passion of the players for winning the matches for their teams can be suggested for enhancing the brand-equity of the sport teams in context of television viewers. The research provides a clear picture to sport managers about various antecedents to build the brand-equity of sport teams for efficiently utilizing their resources to better manage and build sport teams as strong brands building brand-equity of teams in the long-term.

Pricing is generally perceived to be a double edge weapon in the hands of marketers. While competitive pricing strategy may fuel demand in the short term, it may ultimately erode brand equity, precipitate price war leading to commoditization of category. However, pricing decisions taken after due objective consideration of brand equity and relative market positions viz., leader, challenger or follower brand position may actually help brands build dominant positions in the market. Identifying the right price linked to its value proposition can surely help brands build sustainable differentiation in the long run.

E-governance opens up the door to a vast opportunity for transforming governance in terms of efficiency of service delivery, empowerment of citizens, transparency, and accountability. This study aims to gauge the impact of e‐Suvidha (an e governance initiative) on citizens, in accordance with their needs and expectations; and attempts to improve the framework of assessment in terms of ease of interaction, total time of processing, wait time at the counter, dehvery of serviCes, etc. Hence, a more in depth assessment of the impact has been made and defined in concrete terms. Such projects must be constantly monitored and assessed. This will enable sharper targeting of benefits (to end users) that can be. delivered, and requisite features or process reforms can then be incorporated in the design of thee-government project. The premise of this study can thus be used for assessing the impact of similar e-governance projects in other countries

This study aims to understand the buying habits and decision behaviours of Indian luxury consumers' in luxury apparel industry through uncovering the factors that influence purchase choices and preferences. Qualitative research was conducted through structured observations and structured in-depth interview with luxury consumers and store managers in Mumbai city. The sample of respondents was based on demographic criteria- gender and age. Data analysis was carried on the basis of the transcripts, notes and observation. The contributions of this research are threefold. First, the combined key drivers of luxury among both gender segments are fit, comfort, quality, exclusive, and sophistication, look good and powerful/influential. Second, consumers' possess different in-store shopping characteristics. Third, the proposed comprehensive model describes the entire consumers' consumption procedure. The paper even theorizes and empirically investigates how intrinsic and extrinsic clues influence consumers' choices and decisions. It also illuminates eight facets of consumers buying tendency. The results provide insights for both luxury apparel firms and store owners. Brand managers can build their product strategy and design decision according to the prevailing gender differences. The study also suggests advantageous findings for the store owners, to amplify consumers shopping experience. The in-store service could be such that it provides consumers' with customized hospitality to gain mutual benefit.