IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jbrese/v121y2020icp154-169.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Investigating firm level drivers of salesperson brand identification

Author

Listed:
  • Allison, Lee
  • Flaherty, Karen E.

Abstract

Taking a social identity theory perspective, we uncover specific actions that firms can take to manage salespeople’s identification with the brands they sell. In particular, we identify five specific brand relationship investments that firms can leverage to increase a salesperson’s identification and engagement with a brand and, ultimately, performance: (1) tangible rewards, (2) communication, (3) productive consumption, (4) training, and (5) leader brand role modeling. Further, we suggest that two individual-difference variables, salesperson reactance and susceptibility to normative influence, moderate these relationships. Based on survey responses from 301 matched sales manager-salesperson dyads from the beverage industry, we find support for the notion that brand relationship investments, controlled by the firm, may encourage salesperson brand engagement, identification, and performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Allison, Lee & Flaherty, Karen E., 2020. "Investigating firm level drivers of salesperson brand identification," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 154-169.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:121:y:2020:i:c:p:154-169
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.08.030
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148296320305427
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.08.030?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Clee, Mona A & Wicklund, Robert A, 1980. "Consumer Behavior and Psychological Reactance," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 6(4), pages 389-405, March.
    2. Bearden, William O & Netemeyer, Richard G & Teel, Jesse E, 1989. "Measurement of Consumer Susceptibility to Interpersonal Influence," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 15(4), pages 473-481, March.
    3. Belk, Russell W, 1988. "Possessions and the Extended Self," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 15(2), pages 139-168, September.
    4. George, William R., 1990. "Internal marketing and organizational behavior: A partnership in developing customer-conscious employees at every level," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 63-70, January.
    5. Fournier, Susan, 1998. "Consumers and Their Brands: Developing Relationship Theory in Consumer Research," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 24(4), pages 343-373, March.
    6. Ran Kivetz, 2005. "Promotion Reactance: The Role of Effort-Reward Congruity," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 31(4), pages 725-736, March.
    7. Thomas Niemand & Robert Mai, 2018. "Flexible cutoff values for fit indices in the evaluation of structural equation models," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 46(6), pages 1148-1172, November.
    8. Son K. Lam, 2012. "Identity-motivated marketing relationships: research synthesis, controversies, and research agenda," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 2(2), pages 72-87, December.
    9. Mehdi Mourali & Zhiyong Yang, 2013. "The Dual Role of Power in Resisting Social Influence," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 40(3), pages 539-554.
    10. Bearden, William O & Etzel, Michael J, 1982. "Reference Group Influence on Product and Brand Purchase Decisions," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 9(2), pages 183-194, September.
    11. Erin Adamson Gillespie & Stephanie M. Noble & Son K. Lam, 2016. "Extrinsic versus intrinsic approaches to managing a multi-brand salesforce: when and how do they work?," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 44(6), pages 707-725, November.
    12. Clay M. Voorhees & Michael K. Brady & Roger Calantone & Edward Ramirez, 2016. "Discriminant validity testing in marketing: an analysis, causes for concern, and proposed remedies," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 44(1), pages 119-134, January.
    13. Melea Press & Eric J. Arnould, 2011. "How Does Organizational Identification Form? A Consumer Behavior Perspective," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 38(4), pages 650-666.
    14. Burnkrant, Robert E & Cousineau, Alain, 1975. "Informational and Normative Social Influence in Buyer Behavior," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 2(3), pages 206-215, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Shams, Riad & Chatterjee, Sheshadri & Chaudhuri, Ranjan, 2024. "Developing brand identity and sales strategy in the digital era: Moderating role of consumer belief in brand," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    2. Mullins, Ryan & Swain, Scott & Friend, Scott B., 2023. "How and should firms motivate salesperson effort across a Multi-Brand Portfolio?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    3. Pappas, Alec & Fumagalli, Elena & Rouziou, Maria & Bolander, Willy, 2023. "More than Machines: The Role of the Future Retail Salesperson in Enhancing the Customer Experience," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 99(4), pages 518-531.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Alfis S. Gayazov & Gulnara F. Zamaletdinova & Artur F. Amirov & Andrey V. Kostryukov & Evgeniya I. Tikhomirova, 2016. "Modern Teaching Tendencies of Critical Thinking Forming of University Students," International Review of Management and Marketing, Econjournals, vol. 6(2), pages 358-363.
    2. Jing Wang & Anocha Aribarg & Yves F. Atchadé, 2013. "Modeling Choice Interdependence in a Social Network," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 32(6), pages 977-997, November.
    3. Elbedweihy, Alaa M. & Jayawardhena, Chanaka & Elsharnouby, Mohamed H. & Elsharnouby, Tamer H., 2016. "Customer relationship building: The role of brand attractiveness and consumer–brand identification," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(8), pages 2901-2910.
    4. Antonia Correia & Metin Kozak & Seongseop (Sam) Kim, 2018. "Luxury shopping orientations of mainland Chinese tourists in Hong Kong," Tourism Economics, , vol. 24(1), pages 92-108, February.
    5. Gurzki, Hannes & Woisetschläger, David M., 2017. "Mapping the luxury research landscape: A bibliometric citation analysis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 147-166.
    6. Kuenzel, Johanna & Musters, Pieter, 2007. "Social interaction and low involvement products," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 60(8), pages 876-883, August.
    7. Ostovan, Nima & Khalili Nasr, Arash, 2022. "The manifestation of luxury value dimensions in brand engagement in self-concept," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    8. Fong, Cher-Min & Chang, Hsing-Hua Stella & Lin, Mong-Ching & Chen, I-Hung, 2022. "Reexamining emerging market animosity toward western developed countries: A social dilemma in physical retailing consumption under normative influence," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    9. Morandin, Gabriele & Bagozzi, Richard P. & Bergami, Massimo, 2013. "Brand community membership and the construction of meaning," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(2), pages 173-183.
    10. Anbumathi, Rajendiran & Dorai, Sriram & Palaniappan, Umayal, 2023. "Evaluating the role of technology and non-technology factors influencing brand love in Online Food Delivery services," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    11. Goldsmith, Ronald E. & Reinecke Flynn, Leisa & Clark, Ronald A., 2014. "The etiology of the frugal consumer," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 21(2), pages 175-184.
    12. Daniel Villanova, 2019. "The extended self, product valuation, and the endowment effect," AMS Review, Springer;Academy of Marketing Science, vol. 9(3), pages 357-371, December.
    13. Swimberghe, Krist R. & Astakhova, Marina & Wooldridge, Barbara Ross, 2014. "A new dualistic approach to brand passion: Harmonious and obsessive," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(12), pages 2657-2665.
    14. Fernandes, Semila & Venkatesh, V.G. & Panda, Rajesh & Shi, Yangyan, 2021. "Measurement of factors influencing online shopper buying decisions: A scale development and validation," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    15. Hutzinger, Clemens & Weitzl, Wolfgang J., 2021. "Co-creation of online service recoveries and its effects on complaint bystanders," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 525-538.
    16. Tiphaine Gorlier & Géraldine Michel, 2020. "How special rewards in loyalty programs enrich consumer–brand relationships: The role of self‐expansion," Post-Print hal-02494605, HAL.
    17. Semila Fernandes & V.G. Venkatesh & Rajesh Panda & Yangyan Shi, 2021. "Measurement of factors influencing online shopper buying decisions: A scale development and validation," Post-Print hal-04455597, HAL.
    18. Zhan, Lingjing & He, Yanqun, 2012. "Understanding luxury consumption in China: Consumer perceptions of best-known brands," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 65(10), pages 1452-1460.
    19. Akram, Muhammad S. & Malhotra, Neeru & Goraya, M. Awais Shakir & Shareef, Mahmud A. & Malik, Aneela & Lal, Banita, 2022. "User engagement on global social networks: Examining the roles of perceived brand globalness, identification and global identity," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    20. Jiarong Shi & Zihao Jiang, 2023. "Willingness to pay a premium price for green products: does a reference group matter?," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(8), pages 8699-8727, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:121:y:2020:i:c:p:154-169. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jbusres .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.