Project Supervisor: Urban Ljungquist

Project Supervisor: Urban Ljungquist

School of Management Blekinge Institute of Technology THE EFFECT OF CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MARKETING ON CUSTOMER RETENTION IN THE GHANAIAN BANKING SECTOR: A CASE OF INTERCONTINENTAL BANK GHANA LIMITED AUTHOR FRANK KOJO KURANCHIE PROJECT SUPERVISOR: URBAN LJUNGQUIST Abstract Customer relationship management as a strategic marketing concept has gained tremendous interest among researchers and practitioners in recent times. Within the last two decades a significant number of research works have been carried out on various issues relating to customer relationship management. However, few empirical studies on market orientation and performance have been established in the Ghanaian banking sector. In an effort to contribute to the existing customer relationship management literature, a study of Intercontinental bank Ghana was conducted. A framework of customer relationship management was designed to guide the study. Specifically, this study examines the customer relationship marketing strategies of banks in a developing country like Ghana using Intercontinental bank as a case study. The study employed quantitative research techniques. Semi-structured questionnaire was designed for the study. The findings show that the bank is doing well by maintaining the relationship it initiates with its clients but must work on improving the number of contact time with them as e-CRM provides them with the opportunity to do so. However, a significant finding from the study is the realization that majority of respondents were willing to recommend the bank to others an indication that they were happy with the level of service at the bank. Although significant portion of those who considered the possibility of leaving indicated that they will do so because of delayed transactions. It is in the light of this that the research is said to play a significant role in the banking sector and for the nation as a whole. i Acknowledgements I wish to thank the following people for their moral support in the preparation of this thesis. On top of the list is my supervisor Doctor Urban Ljungquist who took pain to read through this lengthy thesis. Bravo Doc. I am very grateful to entire staff of Intercontinental bank, especially Kaneshie branch for giving me information on the bank and the customers of Kaneshie branch for responding positively to my questionnaires. I thank my wife Monica and children, Nana Ama and Kweku Aputae for their never ending support and encouragement. My next thanks go to Diana Offeh of IPS for reminding me always to concentrate on my thesis. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Abstract i Acknowledgement ii CHAPTER ONE-INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the study 1 1.2 Problem Statement 4 1.3 Research Objectives 6 1.4 Research questions 6 1.5 Significance of the study 7 1.6 Scope and limitations 7 1.7 Organisation of the study 8 CHAPTER TWO- LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Introduction 9 2.2 Evolution of Relationship Marketing 9 2.3 Development of Relationship Marketing 12 2.3.1 Technological Development 12 2.3.2 Total Quality Management 13 2.3.3 Growth of the Service Economy 13 2.3.4 Organisational Development Process and Empowerment of Individuals teams 14 2.3.5 Increased Competition and Concern for Customer Retention 14 2.4 Features of Relationship Marketing 15 2.4.1 Long-term Orientation 15 2.4.2 Commitment and Fulfilment of Promises 15 2.4.3 Customer share, not Market Share 16 2.4.4 Customer Lifetime Value 17 iii 2.5 Towards a Framework for Customer Relationship marketing 17 2.5.1 Bonding 22 2.5.2 Empathy 22 2.5.3 Reciprocity 23 2.5.4 Trust 23 2.6 Satisfaction and Retention in Theory 24 2.7 Effects of CRM on Customer Retention 29 2.8 Conceptual Framework 31 CHAPTER THREE- METHODOLOGY 3.1 Methodological Overview 32 3.2 Research Design 32 3.3 Sampling Design 33 3.4 Method of Data Collection 33 3.4.1 Unit of Analysis 35 3.4.2 Data Collection 35 3.5 Data Analysis Techniques 36 3.6 Research Limitations and Practical Challenges 37 3.6.1 Ethical Consideration 38 3.7 Content Validity and Reliability 38 3.8 Summary and Conclusion 39 CHAPTER FOUR- EMPIRICAL CASE 4.1 Banking in Ghana 40 4.2 Universal Banking Policy Introduced -2003 40 4.3 Market Participants 43 4.4 Profile of Intercontinental Bank Ghana Limited 43 iv CHAPTER FIVE –DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS 5.1 Introduction 45 5.2 Basic Data of Respondents 45 5.3 Bonding 47 5.4 Empathy 49 5.5 Reciprocity 53 5.6 Trust 55 5.7 Responsiveness 58 5.8 Customer Retention 60 5.9 Customer Satisfaction 63 5.10 Conclusion 66 CHAPTER SIX- SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 6.1 Introduction 67 6.2 Summary 67 6.3 Recommendation 68 6.4 Conclusion 69 Reference 72 Appendix: Questionnaire 79 List of Tables Table 5.1 Biographic Data of Respondents 46 Table 5.2 One-Sample Statistics on Bonding 47 Table 5.3 T-test for Bonding with InterContinental Bank (IBG) 48 Table 5.3.1 My Achievement thrives on IBG Relationship 48 Table 5.3.2 IBG Keeps Me in Touch 48 Table 5.3.3 IBG Keeps Close Corporation 49 Table 5.3.4 IBG Tries Long-term Relationship Building 49 Table 5.4 One-Sample Statistics on Empathy 50 Tables 5.5 T-test for Empathy 51 Table 5.5.1 IBG Knows How I Feel 51 v Table 5.5.2 IBG Sees Things from My View 52 Table 5.5.3 IBG Provides Service on Agreed Time 52 Table 5.5.4 IBG Working Hours are Flexible 52 Table 5.5.5 IBG Offered Personalised Attention 52 Table 5.5.6 IBG Employees Understand 52 Table 5.5.7 IBG Employees follow Up on Customers 53 Table 5.6 One-Sample Statistics on Reciprocity 54 Table 5.7 T-test on Reciprocity 54 Table 5.7.1 Helps to Solve Difficulty 55 Table 5.7.2 Never forget good Return 55 Table 5.7.3 Keeps its Promises 55 Table 5.8 One-Sample on Trust 56 Table 5.9 T-test on Trust 57 Table 5.9.1 Trustworthy 57 Table 5.9.2 Trust on Anything 57 Table 5.9.3 Trust each Other 57 Table 5.9.4 Past Business Make us Trust 58 Table 5.10 One-Sample Statistics on Responsiveness 59 Table 5.10.1 Sincere and Detail Info 59 Table 5.10.2 Willing to Help 59 Table 5.10.3 Devote Enough Time 60 Table 5.10.4 Fast and Efficient Service 60 Table 5.11 One-Sample statistics on Customer Retention 61 Table 5.11.1 I will give Positive WOM About this Bank 62 Table 5.11.2 I do not intend to leave this Bank 62 Table 5.11.3 Loyal to the Bank 62 Table 5.11.4 Difficult to Switch 62 Table 5.11.5 Intend to Use Other Products 63 vi Table 5.11.6 I Love the Lower Charges 63 Table 5.11.7 if I have to open another Account it will be with this Bank 63 Table 5.12 One-Sample Statistics on Customer Satisfaction 64 Table 5.12.1 Generally Satisfied with this Bank 65 Table 5.12.2 Recommend this Bank to Other 65 Table 5.12.3 The Personnel are Courteous and Friendly 65 Table 5.12.4 The Bank Kindly Solve My Problems 66 Table 5.12.5 will choose this Bank over Other 66 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2.1 A Simple Analytical Model of Relationship Marketing 20 Figure 2.2 Conceptual Framework for CRM-customer Retention Relationship 31 vii CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY The Ghanaian banking industry has undergone many changes in terms of service delivery with the aim of improving the quality of customer service. The past few years have also seen a phenomenal growth in the Ghanaian banking sector which has led to intense competition among the industry players. The Ghana Banking Survey (2009) has shown that the traditional banks are losing out as competition in the industry deepens, triggered by aggressive new entrants (New generation banks). The survey, based on the financial results of banks last year revealed a squeeze in profit across board with the big banks being the major losers, although it said performance in the industry on the whole was creditable. The phenomenal growth in the sector has called for a new approach to customer relationship where the banks extend their strategic focus to largely concentrate on the customer as the driver of business. Effective customer relationship management therefore has become a key driver to sustenance and growth of every player in the industry. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) has its origin in the basic paradigm of marketing i.e. to satisfy customers with the best possible alternative in the market through a relational exchange process (Anderson et al, 1990). They further said that customer relationship management goes beyond the transactional exchange and enables the marketer to -estimate the customer’s sentiments and buying intentions so that the customer can be provided with products and services before he starts demanding. This is possible through the integration of four important components i.e. people, process, technology and data. Customer data management gives us leads about the probability of customer demand and the technology helps us in tracking the 1 characteristics and categorization of customers depending on his past behavior (Sheth and Parvatiyar (1995). The process reorients the traditional business models to suit the integrative approach of customer relationship management by emphasizing customer life time value rather than product life time value (Webster, 1992).

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