An assesment of brand reputation as an attitudinal construct at Nike: a female consumer perception analysis

Abstract

Brand reputation has received the attention of many scholars and practitioners because it is central to the success of organisations of all kinds, and an intangible asset with no substitute. In the academic world, brand reputation has been demarcated by various scholars, depending on the disciplinary mind-set involved. It has been established that diverse stakeholder groups have different needs from a brand and their perceptions of brand reputation are thus varied. Acknowledging the needs of different stakeholders and the importance of the consumer stakeholder group allows for a more nuanced and systematic approach in conceptualising brand reputation. Although numerous studies have attempted to explain brand reputation, there is a paucity of studies that have actually conceptualised brand reputation as an attitudinal construct based on both cognitive (rational) and affective (emotional) components. Even fewer researchers have endeavoured to conceptualise brand reputation as an attitudinal construct in the consumer stakeholder group. The aim of this study was to explore female consumer perceptions of Nike’s brand reputation and conceptualise brand reputation as an attitudinal construct based on both cognitive and affective components. The study used qualitative research methods (focus groups and interviews) to collect data on Nike from a group of female consumers in order to identify perceptions and elements that contribute to conceptualising brand reputation on the basis of the components of attitudes. The key findings of this study highlighted the fact that brand reputation is a multidimensional construct and can be demarcated through various elements that contribute to the following themes: perception of product qualities and service, the perception of brand traits and the perception of brand strategy. These themes contribute to the conceptualisation of brand reputation as an attitudinal construct. Since brand reputation as an attitudinal construct has previously been conceptualised based on cognitive and affective components, this study confirmed the two components but a unique finding of this study was the identification of the behavioural component of attitudes. Hence the study findings not only make a contribution to the existing body of knowledge on perceptions of brand reputation in an elusive stakeholder group – female consumers, consumer-based reputation (CBR), and in defining brand reputation but also conceptualise brand reputation as an attitudinal construct based on previously identified cognitive and affective components as well as the newfound behavioural component of attitudes.