The role of customers has changed from that of passive users to value co-creators. Therefore, it is important to understand how customer learning takes place and how it affects customer experiences with services and products. However, while past studies insist on the importance of the issues in designing customer experiences, they do not empirically address these issues. This study investigates the support processes for customer learning, and their impact on customer learning, which in turn influences customer experience. To test the hypotheses, we employed the survey method. Target informants were the actual users of Apple iPods. A total of 200 survey questionnaires were distributed and 146 were collected. Among these, seven erroneous responses were excluded, leaving 139 usable ones. The proposed model was empirically analyzed using the Covariance-based SEM (Structural Equation Modelling) technique. The findings of this study suggest that, among the three support processes in customer learning, learning-by-doing support and learning-by-investment support positively affect customer learning, which influences customer experience. This study contributes to the literature by identifying different types of support for different kinds of customer learning processes and by empirically testing the impact of the support for the process on customer learning, and in turn, its impact on customer experience.

Purpose: The ultimate purpose of this work is to investigate gender differences in the relationships between product quality cues and perceived values at a food select shop. Specifically, this study examines the effects of internal and external cues, which are indicators of product quality, on emotional and social values based on gender differences. Research design, data and methodology: In this study, a questionnaire technique was used to collect the data necessary to test the proposed model. 183 data were collected through this technique. PLS SEM (Partial Least Squares Structured Equation Model) was used to test the research model. Results: First, there is no gender difference between intrinsic cue and emotional value. When using male and female data, there was no significant causal relationship between intrinsic cues and emotional values. Second, we found no gender difference between intrinsic cue and social value. When analyzed with female data, there was no significant causal relationship between intrinsic cue and social value. On the other hand, in the case of men, it was found that a weak causal relationship exists. Third, this study found gender difference between extrinsic cue and emotional value. In the case of men, it was found that a weak causal relationship exists, whereas in the case of women, a strong causal relationship exists between extrinsic cue and emotional value. Fourth, we found gender difference between extrinsic cue and social value. In the case of men, there was no causal relationship, whereas in the case of women, there was a strong causal relationship between extrinsic cue and social value. Finally, we found that there are moderating roles of gender in the relationship between external cues and perceived quality. Conclusions: As a result of analysis, it is necessary to focus on extrinsic clues of product in order to increase the perceived emotional and social values of women. On the other hand, in order to improve the perceived emotional and social values of men, it is necessary to pay attention to both intrinsic and extrinsic cues of product. Therefore, it is necessary to consider what clues and values are important to core customers.

Purpose - This study provides appropriate procedures for EFA to help researchers conduct empirical studies by using PLS-SEM. Research design, data, and methodology - This study addresses the absolute and relative sample size criteria, sampling adequacy, factor extraction models, factor rotation methods, the criterion for the number of factors to retain, interpretation of results, and reporting information. Results - The factor analysis procedure for PLS-SEM consists of the following five stages. First, it is important to look at whether both the Bartlett test of sphericity and the KMO MSA meet the qualitative criteria. Second, PAF is a better choice of methodology. Third, an oblique technique is a suitable method for PLS-SEM. Fourth, a combined approach is strongly recommended to factor retention. PA should be used at the onset. Next, it is recommended using the K1 criterion. In addition, it is necessary to extract factors that increase the total variance explanatory power through the PVA-FS. Finally, it is appropriate to select an item with a factor loading into 0.5 or higher and a communality of 0.5. Conclusions - It is expected that the accurate factor analysis processed for PLS-SEM as previously presented will help us extract more precise factors of the structural model.