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Internal branding process: Key mechanisms, outcomes and moderating factors

Punjaisri, K., Wilson, A.b (2011) Internal branding process: Key mechanisms, outcomes and moderating factors. European Journal of Marketing, 45 (9-10). pp. 1521-1537. ISSN 0309 -0566. (doi:10.1108/03090561111151871) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:61290)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/03090561111151871

Abstract

Purpose: This study seeks to focus on front-line service employees and their views of internal branding and the extent to which personal and job-specific factors impact on the success of internal branding in the reinforcement of brand identification and brand loyalty among service employees. Design/methodology/approach: The research, based on a multiple case study representing the hotel industry in Thailand, involved the completion of 30 in-depth qualitative interviews with customer-interface employees followed by a quantitative survey with 680 customer-interface employees located in five major hotels. Findings: Corporate service brands need to coordinate internal branding activity to enhance their employees' identification with, commitment to, and loyalty to, the brand. The relationships between the concepts of identification, commitment and loyalty of employees are determined. Personal variables such as age, education, and length of service as well as situational factors regarding their work environment are found to have moderating effects on the effectiveness of the internal branding process. Practical implications: The paper highlights the importance of internal branding on employees' brand identification, commitment and loyalty. However, management should also be aware that the impact of internal branding would not be constant across all employees within an organisation. Personal variables such as age, educational background, and length of service with the brand should also be taken into account. The impact of internal branding on an employee's attitudes and behaviour are heightened when employees are satisfied with their workplace. As such, internal branding cannot be looked at in isolation and is unlikely to be successful if the work environment is not conducive to the employees and the brand values. Originality/value: Much of the work on internal branding is conceptual and based on small-scale studies undertaken with management or consultants. This paper provides empirical evidence from the front-line service employees' perspective on the relationships between internal branding and brand identification, brand commitment, brand loyalty and brand performance. It also provides an empirical investigation of potential moderators for internal branding. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1108/03090561111151871
Uncontrolled keywords: Brand commitment; Brand identification; Corporate branding; Employees; Internal branding; Thailand
Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Divisions: Divisions > Kent Business School - Division > Kent Business School (do not use)
Depositing User: Khanyapuss Punjaisri
Date Deposited: 10 Apr 2017 08:50 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:24 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/61290 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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