The introduction of self-service technologies (SSTs) in retail stores aims to provide customers with a more satisfying shopping experience. Many retailers are increasingly turning toward the adoption of self-service technologies in providing services directly to customers. Given that previous SST research has focused mainly on the impact of the introduction of SST on customer responses, the present study explored the impact of the presence of employees in the relationship between SST and customer responses. Based on the two ground theories, motivation-based theories of behavior and social impact theory, this study tested the relationships between shopping motivations, SST use intention, and retailer attitude. Moderating effects of the presence of employees on the three relationships were also tested. Data were collected using an online survey and analyzed through structural equations modeling. Test results showed that both hedonic and utilitarian shopping motivations effect on SST use intentions, and SST use intentions effect on retailer attitude, subsequently. Although the presence of employee did not moderate the relationship between shopping motivations and SST use intentions, the employee presence moderated the relationship between SST use intentions and retailer attitude. The impact of SST use intentions on retailer attitude was higher in the high presence of employee group than in the low group.

The aim of this study is to delve deeper into the online brand community study. This study tests (a) the effects of online brand community on its outcomes, (b) the impact of value creation practice construct as a whole, (c) the effects of value creating practice construct on the two types of loyalty, loyalty toward the brand and the community. Participants of this study (N=353) are members of four types of online brand communities (e.g., business-to-consumer virtual product support community, firm-hosted online community, user-generated online community, peer-to-peer problem-solving community, and social media based brand community). Data were collected online using Amazon Mechanical Turk from April 10, 2016 to May 10, 2016. The data were analyzed through structural equations modeling using AMOS 20. The three community markers (e.g., consciousness of kind, rituals and traditions, and moral responsibility) and the four value creation practices (e.g., social networking, impression management, community engagement, and brand use) are proved to be significant indicators of online brand community and value creation practice constructs, respectively. Test results showed that strong and effective online brand communities generate value creation practices, and value creation practices enhance brand loyalty. The mediating effects of community loyalty between value creation practices and brand loyalty were revealed.