The role of service value and switching barriers in an integrated model of behavioural intentions

Abstract

There are many ways to increase consumers' purchase intentions, and most studies explore this issue by adopting the 'quality-satisfaction-behavioural intentions' paradigm. However, this approach may overlook a few important factors including customer sacrifice, perceived value, and switching barriers. This study proposes an integrated model that incorporates the service value and switching barriers perspectives to further examine the formation of behavioural intentions. Specifically, our research model synthesises two key determinants of service values (service sacrifice and service quality) and the two main switching barriers (switching cost and alternative attractiveness). Furthermore, because previous studies on the links among these constructs are rather divergent and fragmented, we build structural causal relationships among these factors to explain consumers' decision processes. Several competing theories are also presented and compared to this new research model. The results, as hypothesised, suggest that service value is the most effective predictor of satisfaction and customers' behavioural intentions; the findings also support previous research indicating that cognitive evaluations precede emotional responses. We highlight the delivery of service value as a strategic imperative and stress the research stream of service value measurement.