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Relationship quality, community promotion and brand loyalty in virtual communities: Evidence from free software communities

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  • Casaló, Luis V.
  • Flavián, Carlos
  • Guinalíu, Miguel

Abstract

The Internet has favored the growth of collaborative platforms where marketers and consumers interact to develop more engaging products and services. These platforms are usually centered in a specific brand/product and their members are linked by a shared admiration to that brand. This paper analyzes one of the most powerful online collaborative platforms, the free software (FS) case, which involves a lot of virtual communities developed around products such as Linux or Android, the new Google's mobile operating system. Our purpose is to determine some of the main antecedents and consequences of the consumer involvement in this type of communities. Results have shown that satisfaction with a virtual community may increase the level of consumer participation in that community. At the same time, a greater identification with the virtual community may increase indirectly the consumer participation thanks to the enhancement of his/her satisfaction with the community. We have also found positive and significant effects of consumer identification and participation on the level of community promotion. Finally, positive and significant effects of consumer participation and satisfaction with the community on loyalty to the FS were also found. These findings allow us to conclude some interesting managerial implications.

Suggested Citation

  • Casaló, Luis V. & Flavián, Carlos & Guinalíu, Miguel, 2010. "Relationship quality, community promotion and brand loyalty in virtual communities: Evidence from free software communities," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 30(4), pages 357-367.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ininma:v:30:y:2010:i:4:p:357-367
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2010.01.004
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    2. Jin, Xiao-Ling & Zhou, Zhongyun & Lee, Matthew K.O. & Cheung, Christy M.K., 2013. "Why users keep answering questions in online question answering communities: A theoretical and empirical investigation," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 93-104.
    3. A. Irimia-Diéguez & F. Velicia-Martín & M. Aguayo-Camacho, 2023. "Predicting Fintech Innovation Adoption: the Mediator Role of Social Norms and Attitudes," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 9(1), pages 1-23, December.
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    5. Lu, Chih-Cheng & Wu, Ing-Long & Hsiao, Wei-Hung, 2019. "Developing customer product loyalty through mobile advertising: Affective and cognitive perspectives," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 101-111.
    6. Liu, Huiyuan & Perera, Sandun C. & Wang, Jian-Jun & Leonhardt, James M., 2023. "Physician engagement in online medical teams: A multilevel investigation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).

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