The effect of humour usage on customer’s service experiences
Cross-disciplinary research recognises humour as an effective communication tool for fostering engagement and positive interpersonal relationships, although inappropriate use can create negative outcomes. Drawing on positive psychology, this study aims to empirically examine the extent to which fron...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English English |
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2018
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Online Access: | https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/23761/1/The%20effect%20of%20humour%20usage%20on%20customer.pdf https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/23761/7/The%20effect%20of%20humour%20usage%20on%20customers.pdf |
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author | Chiew, Tung Moi Christine Mathies Paul Patterson |
author_facet | Chiew, Tung Moi Christine Mathies Paul Patterson |
author_sort | Chiew, Tung Moi |
collection | UMS |
description | Cross-disciplinary research recognises humour as an effective communication tool for fostering engagement and positive interpersonal relationships, although inappropriate use can create negative outcomes. Drawing on positive psychology, this study aims to empirically examine the extent to which frontline employee’s (FLE’s) humour usage can influence customers’ service encounter evaluations. Findings from 252 retail service customers indicate that their sense of humour drives humour perceptions and facilitates positive encounter evaluations. In particular, FLEs’ other-directed humour, rather than self-directed humour, leads to more enjoyable interactions for customers. This effect is moderated by pre-encounter mood, in that customers react more positively to other-directed humour when they are in a bad mood. This study contributes empirical support for the importance of appropriate humour usage to the service encounter literature. From a managerial perspective, the outcomes highlight that service encounters benefit from other-directed humour. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-06T03:00:56Z |
format | Article |
id | ums.eprints-23761 |
institution | Universiti Malaysia Sabah |
language | English English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-06T03:00:56Z |
publishDate | 2018 |
record_format | dspace |
spelling | ums.eprints-237612021-08-25T12:53:00Z https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/23761/ The effect of humour usage on customer’s service experiences Chiew, Tung Moi Christine Mathies Paul Patterson HB Economic theory. Demography HF Commerce Cross-disciplinary research recognises humour as an effective communication tool for fostering engagement and positive interpersonal relationships, although inappropriate use can create negative outcomes. Drawing on positive psychology, this study aims to empirically examine the extent to which frontline employee’s (FLE’s) humour usage can influence customers’ service encounter evaluations. Findings from 252 retail service customers indicate that their sense of humour drives humour perceptions and facilitates positive encounter evaluations. In particular, FLEs’ other-directed humour, rather than self-directed humour, leads to more enjoyable interactions for customers. This effect is moderated by pre-encounter mood, in that customers react more positively to other-directed humour when they are in a bad mood. This study contributes empirical support for the importance of appropriate humour usage to the service encounter literature. From a managerial perspective, the outcomes highlight that service encounters benefit from other-directed humour. 2018-09-05 Article PeerReviewed text en https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/23761/1/The%20effect%20of%20humour%20usage%20on%20customer.pdf text en https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/23761/7/The%20effect%20of%20humour%20usage%20on%20customers.pdf Chiew, Tung Moi and Christine Mathies and Paul Patterson (2018) The effect of humour usage on customer’s service experiences. Australian Journal of Management. https://doi.org/10.1177/0312896218775799 |
spellingShingle | HB Economic theory. Demography HF Commerce Chiew, Tung Moi Christine Mathies Paul Patterson The effect of humour usage on customer’s service experiences |
title | The effect of humour usage on customer’s service experiences |
title_full | The effect of humour usage on customer’s service experiences |
title_fullStr | The effect of humour usage on customer’s service experiences |
title_full_unstemmed | The effect of humour usage on customer’s service experiences |
title_short | The effect of humour usage on customer’s service experiences |
title_sort | effect of humour usage on customer s service experiences |
topic | HB Economic theory. Demography HF Commerce |
url | https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/23761/1/The%20effect%20of%20humour%20usage%20on%20customer.pdf https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/23761/7/The%20effect%20of%20humour%20usage%20on%20customers.pdf |
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