In-group and out-group behavior in Indian multinational corporations: An analysis of its implications on organizational performance

Organizational performance can be seen as dependent on employee job performance and productivity. One of the factors that influence employee job performance and productivity is the working relationship between employees and their managers. This paper examines the influence of the relationship between employees and their managers on enhancing employee performance and productivity. The study was conducted in a financial organization based in Durban (South Africa). A quantitative approach was utilized with a census method targeting a total population of 40 administrative employees. A questionnaire was constructed based on the research aims and was administered to all 40 respondents. As a result, the response rate was 65%. Key findings indicated that the relationship between managers and employees did affect employee performance and productivity. A positive relationship with a manager is closely linked to increased motivation and performance, while a negative relationship is linked with poor performance. An overall negative impact and high level of dissatisfaction amongst employees were found due to the current bureaucratic management style that managers adopt in their organization. Thus, it makes employees less productive and decreases their work performance. Furthermore, it was found that employees’ perception of their relationship with managers plays a significant role in predicting job performance. Recommendations for a better working relationship to promote employee performance and productivity include manager-employee training, team building activities, skills development programs for managers, employee rewards and recognition, increased communication platforms, and more consideration for employee well-being.

The article aims to investigate the role and features of the content and test proposed indicators for evaluating its effectiveness within the marketing enterprise communications with the client using Internet technologies. The differences between traditional content communications and content communications using unifying content have been presented. Based on review of scientific works and statistic data and results of the studies, a system of indicators for evaluating the level of content supply cost-effectiveness is proposed: average cost of attracting one user of website, coefficient of lead generation of the Internet website, average cost of attracting one lead, content effectiveness ratio, average purchase in consequence of content supply, profit from the sale of goods in consequence of content supply, profitability of using the Internet marketing tools. This system of indicators allows monitoring of content effectiveness at key stages of enterprise-customer interaction. The proposed indicators of content effectiveness were tested on two leading enterprises in the field of water purification and water supply in Ukraine: “ZIKO Company” and “BWT Ukraine”. It was concluded that only a high quality of content supply could provide an enterprise with a high level of customer conversion and significant visibility of its website in different search engines.

A Correction to this article was published on 13 July 2023

Many apparel retailing brands use e-service marketing tools such as a chatbot (a system that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) to increase their competitive advantage in today’s world of digitalization. During the COVID-19 pandemic, chatbots gained more power to serve as a communication tool that provides information and maintains customer experience. Therefore, this study is conducted to investigate the influence of chatbot e-service agents’ marketing efforts (involving interaction, entertainment, trendiness, and problem-solving) on Thai customers’ perceived communication credibility and satisfaction in apparel retailing, as research in this area is limited. In order to test the hypotheses, the paper employed structural equation modeling using Amos. In addition, an online survey of 400 Thai consumers who had previously used chatbots in the apparel retailing industry was conducted. The results showed that chatbot e-service marketing efforts, including interaction, trendiness, and problem-solving, affected customer satisfaction without entertainment elements. Beyond this, a chatbot, viewing interaction and entertainment, was found to have an insignificant effect on communication credibility. Thus, the coefficient value proved that information regarding communication credibility is more dominant in customer satisfaction. Therefore, the chatbot e-service marketing effort is essential in motivating communication credibility in customer satisfaction. These findings delivered managerial implications for understanding consumers in the field of digitalization.