Purpose In recent years, customer engagement (CE) with brands, which has been shown to yield enhanced firm sales, competitive advantage and stock returns, has risen to occupy a prominent position in brand management research and practice. Correspondingly, scholars have explored CE’s conceptualization, operationalization and its nomological networks as informed by different theoretical perspectives. However, in spite of important advances, the knowledge structure of the overall corpus of CE research remains tenuous. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore the intellectual structure of CE research. Design/methodology/approach Based on this gap, this study deploys bibliometric and network analysis to map CE’s literature-based landscape. Using bibliometric analysis, important CE-publishing journals, authors and influential CE articles (2005–2020) are uncovered. Using network analysis, prominent CE themes are also unearthed. Findings The results document key CE-publishing journals and authors and their respective contributions to the literature. Five CE themes are also identified, including CE measurement/methods, online CE, CE’s value co-creating capacity, CE conceptualization and customer/consumer brand engagement. Further, an agenda for future CE research is provided based on the presented network analysis results. Practical implications The reported findings generate important implications for brand managers. For example, the identified critical role of online (vs offline) CE offers a range of strategic opportunities, as outlined. Originality/value This paper offers a pioneering bibliometric and network analysis of the CE literature, thus mapping the field. From the identified CE themes, important avenues for further CE research are also identified.

PurposeExisting studies examine the effect of mobile service quality (M-S-QUAL) on shoppers' intent to continue mobile shopping using various theoretical lenses to understand its underlying factors. However, there is limited research focusing on combining theories to integrate the understanding of the factors that contribute to continuance intention of customers towards mobile shopping. This study integrated M-S-QUAL, the technology adoption model (TAM) and technology continuance theory (TCT) to test our proposed conceptual model of mobile shopping useDesign/methodology/approachEmpirical data from a survey of 193 respondents who frequently make purchases using mobile and its applications were analysed using partial least squares based on structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).FindingsThis study found that M-S-QUAL and perceived usefulness (PU) positively influence shopping satisfaction and CI. PU and innovativeness, positively affect shopping satisfaction and CI. The study also found support for the mediating effect of satisfaction between M-S-QUAL and PU with CI.Research limitations/implicationsThis study contributes to TCT by incorporating pre-purchase and post-purchase dimensions for mobile shopping through applications. Pre-purchase variables include technology-related and innovativeness-related features. In contrast, post-purchase variables include the service quality of forward and reverse logistics.Practical implicationsThe service providers should focus on technology and innovativeness to increase the continuing intent of shoppers through mobile applications.Originality/valueThis study validates fulfilment, responsiveness and contact as key determinants of service quality in mobile shopping. It also identifies the practical implications to the managers for improving service quality, innovativeness and the PU of mobile shopping to retain customers.

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The conceptual article deals with the taxonomy and managerial handling of competitive advantages. It suggests an extended list of competitive advantages including time-related differences and differences in fulfilling promises and thus trustworthiness. Trustworthiness is considered in connection with reliability but interpreted as a more restricted and specialised variable. The article proposes a set of hypothesis for the analysis of the relevance and importance of trustworthiness from a buyer's perspective and for action/reaction by suppliers. The conceptual approach of this "work-in-progress" article points out the need for empirical research on trustworthiness as a buyer´s evaluation criterion and a supplier´s attribute in business-to-business marketing relationships.

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