A central focus area of this study is to investigate the distinctive way religion influences consumer behaviour in their consumption of brands by exploring the dynamics that take place when a brand transgression violates a religious norm. Specifically, the Halal consumption context was used in this study, where the brand transgression involved a breach by Halal-certified brands. This study applies the disconfirmation paradigm and posits that a brand transgression involving a violation of a religious norm, results in a unique disconfirmation of expectations that is beyond a consumer-brand relationship. Essentially, the present research explores trust levels and behavioural intentions after a brand transgression and the effectiveness of recovery strategies in mitigating the negative effects of a transgression. A scenario-based experimental approach was used to operationalise this research.

In this study, we conducted a comparative study on user’s perception and behavior on public system service (PSS) using institutionalism theory and MGA (multi-group analysis) methodology. In particular, this study focuses on how institutional isomorphism is applied to public system services and how MGA can be implemented correctly in a variance based SEM (structural equation model) such as PLS (partial least square). A data set of 496 effective responses was collected from pubic system users and an empirical research was conducted using three segmented models categorized by public proximity theory (public firms = 113, government contractors = 210, private contractors = 173). For rigorous group comparisons, each model was estimated by the same indicators and approaches. PLS-SEM was used in testing research hypotheses, followed by parametric and non-parametric PLS-MGA procedures in testing categorical moderation effects. This study applied novel procedures for testing composite measurement invariance prior to multi-group comparisons. The following main results and implications are drawn : 1) Partial measurement invariance was established. Multi-group analysis can be done by decomposed models although data can not be pooled for one integrated model. 2) Multi-group analysis using various approaches showed that proximity to public sphere moderated some hypothesized paths from quality dimensions to user satisfaction, which means that categorical moderating effects were partially supported. 3) Careful attention should be given to the selection of statistical test methods and the interpretation of the results of multi-group analysis, taking into account the different outcomes of the PLS-MGA test methods and the low statistical power of the moderating effect. It is necessary to use various methods such as comparing the difference in the path coefficient significance and the significance of the path coefficient difference between the groups. 4) Substantial differences in the perceptions and behaviors of PSS users existed according to proximity to public sphere, including the significance of path coefficients, mediation and categorical moderation effects. 5) The paper also provides detailed analysis and implication from a new institutional perspective. This study using a novel and appropriate methodology for performing group comparisons would be useful for researchers interested in comparative studies employing institutionalism theory and PLS-SEM multi-group analysis technique.

A conceptual paper is developed in regards to the influences of institutional research, word-of-mouth (via internal students and faculties), quality signaling (to external prospect students and stakeholders as potential customers), and customer relationship management, on student recruitment performance as a special form of customer decision. Grounded on the marketing communication perspective, we propose that the student recruitment performance is largely affected by word-of-mouth, quality signaling, and customer relationship management as strategic marketing communications, which are facilitated by institutional research. Institutional research is interpreted as a strategic marketing tool that can help identify, communicate, and visualize the strengths of a university. The conceptual model contributes to the search for marketing mechanisms through which institutional research can generate impact to external stakeholders. Formal propositions and their implications for future, larger-scaled surveys were discussed. From a non-profit organization’s marketing perspective, higher education institutions (HEIs) promote itself by actively communicating the strengths, features, unique positions, and so forth, to its internal and external “customers,” including existing and prospect students and parents, the surrounding community, and governmental units (Kotler, 1982; Licata & Frankwick, 1996). For example, the decision making of that a prospect student in determining if s/he is attending a college can be treated as a cognitive psychological process involving the interaction between a college’s quality signaling and a customer’s evaluation of that signaled quality. Put differently, the “customer decisions” of whether accepting services sold from an university can depend on the result of university-stakeholders communications. With the extant progress in educational theory and practices by adopting a marketing perspective, there are significant unresolved issues in research and practices that warrant more systematic investigation. Knowing the importance of marketing communication, for example, what is the foundation for universities to communicate with internal and external stakeholders? Through what mechanisms and occasions can universities communicate with and signal to stakeholders? To respond to such gaps in the literature, WE propose that institutional research of a university (Knight et al., 1997; Jedamus & Peterson, 1980) plays a role of strategic communication in facilitating internal and external stakeholder communication, engagement, and cognition building. Overall, the propositions include the following. Proposition 1. Institutional research outcomes (i.e., created knowledge) generates significant impacts on students recruitment performance Proposition 2. The impacts of institutional research on student recruitment performance is mediated by strategic marketing mechanisms, including quality signaling, word-of-mouth, and customer relationship management Proposition 3. Quality signaling, word-of-mouth, and customer relationship management intervene interactively on the effects of institutional research on student recruitment

This study presents the methods to improve the urban farming in Korea by analysing the current circumstances of urban farming in Korea. Specifically, the legal system in association with urban farming, current status of the act on the urban farming, the present situation of the Korean urban farming, and the comprehensive plans for urban farming have been analysed in order to grasp the present situations and seek for solutions. Based on these, the research provides effective supporting methods for sustainable urban farming in Korea. As a result, the essentials to improved urban farming can be summarized with two factors; securing more space for urban farming and improving the supporting system for the urban farmers. Enthusiastic attitudes of local governments, security of budget, and cooperation with the citizens are vital to expand the urban farming in addition to the institutional and systematic urban farming improving methods mentioned above.