Abstract

Purpose - This study is intended to look into the influences of restaurant consumers' e-WOM information communication on product perception risk, benefit and WOM effect. Research design, data, and Methodology - To achieve this, a survey was empirically carried out to 426 restaurant consumers. Results - The findings are as follows. First, the influence of e-WOM on product perception risk showed that WOM information sender characteristics, WOM information recipient characteristics and online community had a statistically significant positive influence on product perception risk. Second, the influence of e-WOM on product risk benefit showed that WOM information sender characteristics, WOM information recipient characteristics and online communication had a statistically significant positive influence on product risk benefit. Third, WOM risk perception had a statistically significant positive influence on WOM acceptance. Fourth, WOM risk benefit had a statistically significant positive influence on WOM effect. Conclusions - As for the above-mentioned findings, the communication between e-WOM sender and recipient had a positive influence on the product evaluation and attitude change in the restaurant industry, and the WOM effect had an influence on the financial performance and non-financial performance. The communication attaches importance to a direct using and tasting experience due to the nature of restaurant industry when it is simultaneously performed as a positive mechanism between sender and recipient through each channel of these factors. But the e-WOM culture can lead to the WOM effect when both sender and recipient share the persuasive communicability in reality that diversifies communication methods, having a positive influence on the management performance.