Designing a Model of Customer Intimacy in Insurance Services: A Grounded Theory Approach

This study has been developed and implemented with the aim of designing a model that contains effective factors, dimensions, and consequences of intimacy between customers and service provider in the insurance industry. In order to achieve the research`s objectives, the qualitative and exploratory approach of the grounded theory was used. The necessary sample to examine the research question was obtained through the theoretical sampling method and the necessary data were collected through in-depth and semi-structured interviews until theoretical saturation. In total, 10 interviews were conducted with experts in the fields of marketing and industrial management, general psychology, representatives, and employees of the insurance industry. For data analysis, the systematic approach of Strauss and Corbin was used by going through three stages of open, axial, and selective coding, and finally, a paradigmatic model of the research was presented. At the end of data analysis, 116 concepts were identified in the form of 36 categories and 13 main categories. The results show that individual, interpersonal, and marketing factors were introduced as causal and effective conditions on creating a central category of customer intimacy, and through strategies of self-interpreting, emotional intelligence, transparency, customization, process facilitation, and value creation, they lead to consequences for the customer level (attitude and behavioral intentions) and the service provider level (profitability, employee productivity). Also, organizational, temporal, and spatial factors were identified as contextual conditions and interactive, environmental factors as intervening conditions.