Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Loyalty Programmes Powered with Blockchain via an UTAUT2 Framework

(1) Background: Loyalty programmes are business strategies aimed at increasing customer fidelity to brands. One of the most promising technologies of the 21st century is blockchain, whose application to the management of loyalty programmes can increase transparency and reliability, enable interopera...

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Main Authors: Mario Arias-Oliva, Jaume Gené-Albesa, Jorge de Andrés-Sánchez, Miguel Llorens-Marín
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Information
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2078-2489/15/12/757
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author Mario Arias-Oliva
Jaume Gené-Albesa
Jorge de Andrés-Sánchez
Miguel Llorens-Marín
author_facet Mario Arias-Oliva
Jaume Gené-Albesa
Jorge de Andrés-Sánchez
Miguel Llorens-Marín
author_sort Mario Arias-Oliva
collection DOAJ
description (1) Background: Loyalty programmes are business strategies aimed at increasing customer fidelity to brands. One of the most promising technologies of the 21st century is blockchain, whose application to the management of loyalty programmes can increase transparency and reliability, enable interoperability, and facilitate centralised management. (2) Methods: This study evaluates the antecedents of the acceptance of blockchain-based loyalty programmes (BBLPs) using a model grounded in the technology acceptance model UTAUT2. The four basic constructs of UTAUT, which we call the UTAUT-baseline, are considered explanatory factors: performance expectancy (PER), effort expectancy (EFF), social influence (SOC), and facilitating conditions (FAC). Additionally, we consider the constructs introduced in UTAUT2: hedonic motivation (HED) and perceived price value (PRI), to which we add innovativeness (INN) and trust (TRU), and we refer to these as UTAUT-extended, along with the moderating variables of UTAUT and UTAUT2: gender, age, and experience. The analytical approach used is complexity theory, which aims to capture the configurations that lead to both acceptance and rejection positions regarding BBLPs. This analysis is performed via fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). (3) Results: Eight explanatory configurations of the acceptance of BBLPs have been obtained, in which the presence of all UTAUT-baseline and UTAUT-extended constructs is a condition in at least three prime implicates. The constructs with the greatest presence as core conditions are PER, EFF, and TRU. On the other hand, nine configurations leading to the rejection of BBLPs have been identified. The absence of all UTAUT-baseline and UTAUT-extended variables is a condition in at least three configurations. The core conditions with the greatest presence in the rejection of BBLPs are the lack of FAC, HED, and PRI. (4) Practical implications: The results obtained are of great interest to business owners, as they allow for the characterisation of different profiles of people potentially engaged with BBLPs, as well as the profiles of consumers reluctant to adopt them.
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spelling doaj-art-82c62d8a80734602a6254d29e2f0c7842025-08-20T02:00:23ZengMDPI AGInformation2078-24892024-11-01151275710.3390/info15120757Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Loyalty Programmes Powered with Blockchain via an UTAUT2 FrameworkMario Arias-Oliva0Jaume Gené-Albesa1Jorge de Andrés-Sánchez2Miguel Llorens-Marín3Marketing Department, Faculty of Business and Economy, University Complutense of Madrid, Campus de Somosaguas, 28223 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Business Administration, University Rovira i Virgili, Campus de Bellissens, 43204 Reus, SpainSocial and Business Research Laboratory, University Rovira i Virgili, Campus de Bellissens, 43204 Reus, SpainMarketing Department, Faculty of Business and Economy, University Complutense of Madrid, Campus de Somosaguas, 28223 Madrid, Spain(1) Background: Loyalty programmes are business strategies aimed at increasing customer fidelity to brands. One of the most promising technologies of the 21st century is blockchain, whose application to the management of loyalty programmes can increase transparency and reliability, enable interoperability, and facilitate centralised management. (2) Methods: This study evaluates the antecedents of the acceptance of blockchain-based loyalty programmes (BBLPs) using a model grounded in the technology acceptance model UTAUT2. The four basic constructs of UTAUT, which we call the UTAUT-baseline, are considered explanatory factors: performance expectancy (PER), effort expectancy (EFF), social influence (SOC), and facilitating conditions (FAC). Additionally, we consider the constructs introduced in UTAUT2: hedonic motivation (HED) and perceived price value (PRI), to which we add innovativeness (INN) and trust (TRU), and we refer to these as UTAUT-extended, along with the moderating variables of UTAUT and UTAUT2: gender, age, and experience. The analytical approach used is complexity theory, which aims to capture the configurations that lead to both acceptance and rejection positions regarding BBLPs. This analysis is performed via fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). (3) Results: Eight explanatory configurations of the acceptance of BBLPs have been obtained, in which the presence of all UTAUT-baseline and UTAUT-extended constructs is a condition in at least three prime implicates. The constructs with the greatest presence as core conditions are PER, EFF, and TRU. On the other hand, nine configurations leading to the rejection of BBLPs have been identified. The absence of all UTAUT-baseline and UTAUT-extended variables is a condition in at least three configurations. The core conditions with the greatest presence in the rejection of BBLPs are the lack of FAC, HED, and PRI. (4) Practical implications: The results obtained are of great interest to business owners, as they allow for the characterisation of different profiles of people potentially engaged with BBLPs, as well as the profiles of consumers reluctant to adopt them.https://www.mdpi.com/2078-2489/15/12/757blockchain technologyloyalty programmesblockchain-based loyalty programmesUTAUT2technology acceptance modelscomplexity theory
spellingShingle Mario Arias-Oliva
Jaume Gené-Albesa
Jorge de Andrés-Sánchez
Miguel Llorens-Marín
Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Loyalty Programmes Powered with Blockchain via an UTAUT2 Framework
Information
blockchain technology
loyalty programmes
blockchain-based loyalty programmes
UTAUT2
technology acceptance models
complexity theory
title Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Loyalty Programmes Powered with Blockchain via an UTAUT2 Framework
title_full Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Loyalty Programmes Powered with Blockchain via an UTAUT2 Framework
title_fullStr Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Loyalty Programmes Powered with Blockchain via an UTAUT2 Framework
title_full_unstemmed Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Loyalty Programmes Powered with Blockchain via an UTAUT2 Framework
title_short Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Loyalty Programmes Powered with Blockchain via an UTAUT2 Framework
title_sort fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis of loyalty programmes powered with blockchain via an utaut2 framework
topic blockchain technology
loyalty programmes
blockchain-based loyalty programmes
UTAUT2
technology acceptance models
complexity theory
url https://www.mdpi.com/2078-2489/15/12/757
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