bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Marketing strategy antecedents of value adding by foreign subsidiaries
Authors: Pehrsson Anders
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to extend the knowledge of marketing strategy antecedents of industrial value adding in foreign markets. It attempts to answer the following two questions: how is the marketing strategy of a foreign subsidiary associated with the extent of its value‐adding activity? Is there an association between the extent of value‐adding activity and financial performance of the subsidiary?

Design/methodology/approach

A model is developed and hypotheses are tested. Data are collected from 191 subsidiaries of Swedish manufacturing firms in Germany, the UK, and the USA.

Findings

Product‐market breadth and market experience positively affect the extent of foreign value adding. Also, market experience has a moderating effect and strengthens the positive association between product‐market breadth and the extent of value adding. A foreign subsidiary's financial performance is positively associated with the number of value‐adding activities of the subsidiary.

Research limitations/implications

The study shows that the marketing strategy of a foreign subsidiary needs to be acknowledged to understand the antecedents of foreign value‐adding activity. In addition, the extent of value‐adding activity contributes to the implementation of an effective international strategy.

Practical implications

An industrial firm wanting to implement an effective international marketing strategy needs to pay attention to the links between the marketing strategy of a foreign subsidiary and the extent of the subsidiary's value‐adding activity.

Originality/value

The study is unique in that it applies a subsidiary perspective and focuses on foreign subsidiary strategy associations. The study both extends the common approach, which argues that the value adding of a foreign subsidiary is determined only by the corporate marketing strategy, and explores associations with foreign subsidiary performance.
Brand identity documentation: a cross‐national examination of identity standards manuals
Authors: Jordá‐Albiñana Begoña , Ampuero‐Canellas Olga , Vila Natalia , Rojas‐Sola José Ignacio
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the key features of an identity standards manual and assess the differences in the rules used for applying the brand to both low‐ and high‐context cultures, companies selling consumer goods and those selling services, and multinational and local companies.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology is based on the analysis of 341 identity standards manuals and on the analysis of three key features found in the manuals: contents, normative tone, and development.

Findings

The results divide the contents of the manual into two blocks: core and peripheral; and show that there are differences between the manuals of high‐ and low‐context cultures, companies selling consumer goods and those selling services, and multinational and local companies.

Research limitations/implications

Type I errors could have been introduced and the conclusions must be regarded as tentative.

Practical implications

The findings show that applying the brand at an international level requires a strategy of adaptation which takes into account the particular nature of each culture.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the debate on standardization/adaptation of the signs of visual identity (name, logo, and color) in global marketing, by studying the rules used in applying the brand and discussion of the documents which contain them.
Is branding creating shareholder wealth for banks?
Authors: Ohnemus Lars
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to analyse, from a shareholder perspective, the link between branding and financial performance. The paper focuses, in the European context, on situations in which shareholder wealth is created or destroyed, and this is measured by using return on assets or market‐to‐book value as a performance benchmark.

Design/methodology/approach

The investigation is designed as a quantitative study and is based on responses obtained from 847 listed banks including 480 located in Europe. There is an analysis of the correlation between branding and shareholder value, by means of regression analysis. Deductions are made for key variables including capital structure, ownership and capital market ratios.

Findings

The regression analysis indicates that there are different strategic branding phases and there is correlation between branding and shareholder value. Each phase has its own strategic implications for shareholders, with value either being created or destroyed.

Research limitations/implications

The data deal with secondary accounting information submitted in annual reports and are based primarily on European or US‐based banks, which mean that the conclusions and generalizations cannot necessarily be applied to other industries, products or on a global scale.

Originality/value

This is the most comprehensive quantitative study so far conducted in the field of branding and shareholder value in the banking sector, thus providing unique insight into the strategic branding phases with which banks have to contend. Academics and practitioners, including board members, are offered guidance and a conceptual framework for assessing whether branding activities are generating satisfactory financial results for their investors. Furthermore, it also documents that banks with the right balance between branding and overall operating expenditures can achieve a significantly higher return on assets, which can be a decisive factor in achieving a competitive edge in a crowded and competitive market place.
On the application of quality management concepts in education
Authors: Mehra Satish , Rhee Munsung
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of quality management concepts towards enhancing classroom learning.

Design/methodology/approach

Undergraduate and graduate students in business discipline were asked for their views about cooperative learning. Collected data were analyzed using factor analysis to arrive at specific focus areas to improve learning.

Findings

It is found that specific quality management concepts can assist towards increased classroom learning for students.

Originality/value

This research broadens the scope of the applicability of quality management tools for enhanced students learning across varied cultural settings.
Assessing information quality in manufacturing planning and control processes
Authors: Gustavsson Mattias , Wänström Carl
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to define dimensions for describing information quality deficiencies and to describe forecast and customer order information quality deficiencies on various manufacturing planning and control levels.

Design/methodology/approach

The purpose is fulfilled through the following steps: firstly, a literature review on information quality in manufacturing planning and control processes is conducted and the dimensions for describing information quality deficiencies are identified and defined, secondly, three case studies are presented in order to describe the phenomena in the companies' various manufacturing planning and control levels.

Findings

A gross list of ten dimensions were defined from the literature and used in describing information quality deficiencies in forecasts and customer orders of three different cases.

Originality/value

Information quality deficiencies in manufacturing planning and control processes has been the subject of little research so far, despite the fact that the studied processes are extensively dependent on the input information. The contribution lies in the defined and exemplified dimensions for describing information quality deficiencies as a first step towards an information quality assessment model for manufacturing planning and control.
Multi‐response unreplicated‐saturated Taguchi designs and super‐ranking in food formulation improvement
Authors: Besseris George J.
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to examine product formulation screening at the industrial level in terms of multi‐trait improvement by considering several pertinent controlling factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopts Taguchi's orthogonal arrays (OAs) for sufficient and economical sampling in a mixture problem. Robustness of testing data is instilled in this method by employing a two‐stage analysis where controlling components are investigated together while the slack variable is tested independently. Multi‐responses collapse to a single master response has been incurred according to the Super Ranking concept. Order statistics are employed to provide statistical significance. The slack variable influence is tested by regression and nonparametric correlation.

Findings

Synergy among Taguchi methodology, super ranking and nonparametric testing was seamless to offer practical resolution to product component activeness. The concurrent modulation of two key product traits due to five constituents in the industrial production of muffin‐cake is invoked. The slack variable, rich cream, is strongly active while the influence of added amount of water is barely evident.

Research limitations/implications

The method presented is suitable only for situations where industrial mixtures are investigated. The case study demonstrates prediction capabilities up to quadratic effects for five nominated effects. However, the statistical processor selected here may be adapted to any number of factor settings dictated by the OA sampling plan.

Practical implications

By using a case study from food engineering, the industrial production of a muffin‐cake is examined focusing on a total of five controlling mixture components and two responses. This demonstration emphasizes the dramatic savings in time and effort that are gained by the proposed method due to reduction of experimental effort while gaining on analysis robustness.

Originality/value

This work interconnects Taguchi methodology with powerful nonparametric tests of Kruskal‐Wallis for the difficult problem of non‐linear analysis of mixtures for saturated, unreplicated fractional factorial designs in search of multi‐factor activeness in multi‐response cases employing simple and practical tools.
The importance of customer focus for organizational performance: a study of Chinese companies
Authors: Cai Shaohan
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The main objective of this paper is to empirically investigate the linkage among organizational customer orientation, customer relationship practices, and organizational outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The sampling frame of the study consists of 143,000 Chinese companies, each with revenue of more than 5 million RMB (Chinese currency). The target companies were randomly selected from 29 Chinese provinces using the stratified probability proportional to sizes (PPS) method. Structure equation modelling was utilized to analyze data.

Findings

It is found that organizational customer orientation affects customer relationship practices, which subsequently influence production performance and customer satisfaction. Production performance and customer satisfaction lead to financial performance.

Research limitations/implications

The study has some limitations that provide directions for future research. Data were only collected from China. Therefore, the research findings might reflect unique aspects of Chinese companies. Caution should be exercised when generalizing these research findings to other nations. The study also focused only on manufacturing firms' customer focus practices.

Practical implications

Companies need to promote customer orientation in their organization, in order to successfully implement customer relationship practices. Only when they effectively utilize the knowledge that they collect to improve production performance can they enhance customer satisfaction and their financial outcomes.

Originality/value

The paper maintains that customer focus practices should consist of two elements: organizational customer orientation and customer relationship practices. This offers new directions to researchers and practitioners for improving customer focus practices.
The impact of audit quality on earnings predictability
Authors: Hussainey Khaled
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of audit quality, measured by financial statements audited by the big four accounting firms, on the investors' ability to predict future earnings for profitable and unprofitable firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses the returns‐earnings regression model and interacts all independent variables in this model with a dummy variable, AUDIT, which is set to equal one if financial statements audited by the big four accounting firms, zero otherwise. Future earnings response coefficient is the measure of earnings predictability.

Findings

The paper finds that investors are able to better anticipate future earnings when financial statements are audited by the big four accounting firms. However, the findings are not applicable for unprofitable firms.

Practical implications

The findings of the paper have implications for auditing related academic research and the users of financial statements. In particular, the study shows that the big four accounting firms have not lost their audit quality advantage and that financial statements audited by the big four accounting firms are arguably of higher quality than those audited by non‐big four accounting firms.

Originality/value

It is believed that there is no UK study to date examining the association of the quality of financial statements audited by the big four accounting firms and the returns‐earnings association. Consequently, this paper significantly contributes to the limited literature on the perceived value relevance of audit quality.
Intangible asset contribution to company performance: the “hierarchical assessment index”
Authors: Grimaldi Michele , Cricelli Livio
Published: April 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to define a theoretical model that assesses and measures the intangible asset contribution to company performance. The model keeps in focus the most meaningful elements that reflect the success factors, crucial to company business strategy and value creation.

Design/methodology/approach

The model adopts a hierarchical structure. The strategic intangible assets of the company have been divided into value drivers; a series of measurement indicators have been selected to describe the characteristics of each aspect of the intangible company performance. The measurements obtained from numerical indicators, which express the totality of the results achieved by the organizational strategies, are combined to create the hierarchical assessment index (HAI), by assessing quantitative and qualitative company features, through the analytic hierarchy process (AHP).

Findings

The HAI identifies the sources of added value and competitive advantage in each business context; it traces the subordination of every element on company performance, and singles out those intangible assets that improve the company performance, at every level of the hierarchy.

Practical implications

The HAI provides guidelines to understand what are the key intangible factors to create the value of the company and suggests the implementation of corrective strategies.

Originality/value

The HAI is the expression of the combination of the objective measurements of intangible assets with the subjective contributions by the managers. In fact, besides the numerical results of the performance of every element in the hierarchical structure, the managers' opinions about the significance of their performance are also considered. Thus, objective and subjective evaluations jointly contribute to suggest the way to achieving the expected objectives.
Accounting for intellectual capital: a comparative analysis
Authors: Brännström Daniel , Giuliani Marco
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to understand how many and what intangible assets firms from two different contexts disclose in order to comprehend whether an accounting harmonization is actually reached in practice and what are the eventual hurdles to surmount in order to reach it.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the purchase analyses disclosed by the Swedish and Italian listed companies in their financial statements refering to the first year of application of the IFRS3 is conducted.

Findings

The main findings are the following. First, firms do not disclose intangible assets in the same way. Second, contracts become a useful tool to make it possible to account for IC. Third, the disclosure of labels shows a variety. Fourth, differences in behavior are seen.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation is that only a sample of firms (the listed ones in the SSE and MTA/MTAX) that apply IFRS3 is investigated. The main implication is that the disclosing of IC in financial statements is problematic and makes harmonization difficult to achieve. The empirical deepening of these two conclusions represents opportunities for future researchers.

Originality/value

The research is an investigation of the first year of application of a new accounting principle from an inter‐country comparison considering it as an opportunity to disclose more IC and consequently to contribute to the debate about how and what IC should be disclosed.
The hidden taxable capacity of land: enough and to spare
Authors: Gaffney Mason
Published: April 2009

Purpose

A tax based on land value is in many ways ideal, but many economists dismiss it by assuming it could not raise enough revenue. Standard sources of data omit much of the potential tax base, and undervalue what they do measure. The purpose of this paper is to present more comprehensive and accurate measures of land rents and values, and several modes of raising revenues from them besides the conventional property tax.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper identifies 16 elements of land's taxable capacity that received authorities either trivialize or omit. These 16 elements come in four groups.

Findings

In Group A, Elements 1‐4 correct for the downward bias in standard sources. In Group B, Elements 5‐10 broaden the concepts of land and rent beyond the conventional narrow perception, while Elements 11‐12 estimate rents to be gained by abating other kinds of taxes. In Group C, Elements 13‐14 explain how using the land tax, since it has no excess burden, uncaps feasible tax rates. In Group D, Elements 15‐16 define some moot possibilities that may warrant further exploration.

Originality/value

This paper shows how previous estimates of rent and land values have been narrowly limited to a fraction of the whole, thus giving a false impression that the tax capacity is low. The paper adds 14 elements to the traditional narrow “single tax” base, plus two moot elements advanced for future consideration. Any one of these 16 elements indicates a much higher land tax base than economists commonly recognize today. Taken together they are overwhelming, and cast an entirely new light on this subject.
Henry George, John Rae, and the theory of capital in a rapidly transforming economy
Authors: Peirce William
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to establish a historical context for the often maligned capital theory of Henry George within a North American frontier tradition that includes John Rae.

Design/methodology/approach

Modern discussions of rapid technological and institutional change provide a framework for detailed re‐examination of the capital theories of Rae and George, whose critics were largely constrained by a rigid neoclassical perspective.

Findings

Both Rae and George presented capital theories, defined as explanations of the supply of and demand for capital resulting in a determinate capital stock. Both writers stress elements that were not emphasized in neoclassical capital theory, most notably that the capital stock can increase rapidly under certain conditions; increases in knowledge, inventions, technical and technological changes, and scale are more important than mere accumulation of capital; high rates of return combined with rapid technical obsolescence and physical deterioration provide the opportunity for rapid changes in the form of the capital stock, and; the ephemeral nature, and hence potential mobility, of capital implies that security of property is essential for economic growth.

Research limitations/implications

The focus on two writers leads to the question of how widespread their ideas were in nineteenth century North America.

Practical implications

The rapidly changing technology and institutions that Rae and George observed place their theories closer to some modern trends in the study of economic development than to the literature of neoclassical capital theory.

Originality/value

George's grasp of economic theory deserves greater respect than it has often received in the economics literature when his work is considered in its historical context.
The case for geoliberalism: a reply to Moellendorf
Authors: Tideman Nicolaus
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain the virtues (despite Moellendorf's criticisms) of the geoliberal framework of social justice, which assumes that people have rights to themselves and that all people have equal rights to natural opportunities.

Design/methodology/approach

After describing geoliberalism, the paper responds to Moellendorf's arguments, enlarging on the issues that arise.

Findings

Geoliberalism withstands Moellendorf's criticisms.

Practical implications

People can advocate geoliberal institutions in good conscience.

Originality/value

The paper provides principled, succinct responses to concerns people may have had about geoliberalism.
A model of dynamic balance among the three spheres of society – markets, governments, and communities
Authors: Wicks Rick
Published: April 2009

Purpose

This paper revisits old questions of the proper subject and bounds of economics: does economics study “provisioning”? or markets? or a method of reasoning, self‐interested rational optimization?

Design/methodology/approach

A variety of scholars and others in many fields make use of a taxonomy of society consisting of three “spheres”: markets, governments, and communities. It is argued here that this tripartite taxonomy of society is fundamental and exhaustive. A variety of ways of understanding this taxonomy are explored, especially Fiske's (1991, 2004) “Relational models theory.” Then – after communities and their products, social goods, are defined more thoroughly – a visual model of interactions among the three spheres is presented.

Findings

The model is first used briefly to understand the historical development of markets. The model is then applied to understanding how economic thinking and market ideology, including the notion of social capital, can be destructive of communities and their production of social goods (and their production of social capital as well).

Research limitations/implications

It is not possible to measure these effects monetarily, so calculating precisely “how this affects results” in a standard economic model is impossible.

Practical implications

Nevertheless we could better prepare students for real‐world analysis, and better serve our clients, including the public, if – whenever relevant, such as in textbook introductions and in benefit/cost analyses – we made them aware of the limitations of economic analysis with respect to communities and social goods.

Originality/value

The three‐spheres model offered here, based on Fiske's “Relational models theory,” facilitates this awareness.
Repayment behaviour in credit and savings cooperative societies
Authors: Musafiri Papias Malimba , Ganesan P.
Published: April 2009

Purpose

Like other developing countries, Rwandan rural credit market is repressed, shallow, segmented, inefficient and dual structured where both formal and informal financial systems operate side by side. While the later has been playing a predominant role, cooperative societies have emerged as an apt method of increasing the delivery of formal rural credit and savings facilities on sustainable and non‐exploitative terms albeit of financial imprudence stemming from poor credit repayment records. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to examine the factors contributing to credit repayment behaviour among the members of savings and credit cooperative societies in rural Rwanda.

Design/methodology/approach

Both exploratory and descriptive designs are used for primary data collection on variables contributing to the repayment behaviour in savings and cooperative societies. Thereafter, a binary logistic regression empirical model is employed to estimate the contribution of each variable to credit repayment rate.

Findings

The results from the tested empirical model show that age, gender and size of the household, purpose for credit, interest rate charges and number of official visits to the credit societies, have a strong effect on loan repayment performance (statistically significant at p<0.05) whereas size of credit disbursed, credit processing and disbursing time, borrowers' market place and income transfer from relatives and friends are more or less statistically significant at p<0.20 level. The remaining factors have logical and explainable sings but are not statistically significant.

Research limitations/implications

The primary limitation of this study is the scope and size of its sample as well as absence of income factor as one of important variable influencing repayment behaviour. These limitations may have an effect on the lending policy of the cooperative banks.

Originality/value

An understanding of the socio‐economic factors affecting repayment behaviour of rural clients is essential for the outreach and sustainability of the mushrooming cooperative societies in the country. Hence, this paper contributes to the empirical literature on the provision of rural financial services in African countries south of Sahara and Rwanda in particular.
Faculty practices in undergraduate investments courses
Authors: Waggle Doug , Moon Gisung
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the practices of professors teaching the introductory class in investments.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 101 syllabi of the first investments course taught in various AACSB accredited business schools around the country was collected. Several dimensions of course content are summarized: the primary textbook selections, other required and recommended materials including the use of spreadsheets, financial calculators, financial magazines such as the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), and/or stock market games, grading policies including assessment components and their weights, and course contents based on various investments topics.

Findings

Classroom practices of investments professors differ considerably. There is virtually nothing that is universally applied by investments faculty. There are, however, many areas such as key content to include in the course where a large majority tends to agree with each other.

Originality/value

While there is obviously not a single right way to teach investments, many professors may be able to improve their classes or their assessment methods by trying some of the things that others are doing. Including stock market games, for example, might enlighten the students and encourage more classroom discussion.
Integration of digital libraries and virtual learning environments: a literature review
Authors: Virkus Sirje , Agegn Alemu Getaneh , Asfaw Demissie Tsigereda , Jakup Kokollari Besim , Melgar Estrada Liliana M. , Yadav Deepak
Published: April 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the literature on integration of digital libraries and virtual learning environments (VLEs).

Design/methodology/approach

Searches were carried out on Library and Information Science Abstracts (LISA), from 2000 to 2008 using the terms “digital libraries” and “virtual learning environments”. In addition, references of relevant articles found in LISA were used to identify additional sources. In total, this literature review analyses 23 articles.

Findings

Digital libraries and VLEs have been designed, developed and maintained rather separately. Integration is essential to provide seamless access to content and services to the academic community. The integration process is confronted with many challenges where technical, human and administrative challenges are central concerns. The integration would promote a collaborative approach to learning, re‐usability of resources, cross‐searching and time saving for academics, librarians and students. In addition, librarians have to rethink their profession and role in the digital age as well as provide the integration with conceptual and theoretical frameworks.

Research limitations/implications

LISA was used but other databases, including educational databases, such as ERIC, were not consulted for sources. The language of the documents was limited to English only.

Originality/value

This paper can help the academic and library community to understand the challenges, issues and implications of integration of digital libraries and VLEs. This literature review is also built upon previous literature reviews, and is one of the few of its kind in the topic.
The complex library
Authors: Evjen Sunniva , Audunson Ragnar
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discusses people's images of public libraries, and whether or not they constitute a barrier to institutional change.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on two studies carried out in two Norwegian cities, Drammen and Oslo, where this is a current topic. Focus is on discerning conservative and liberal attitudes of what a library is, and how such attitudes affect people's perception of change. How the library's social role is viewed by the informants is also considered. In total, nine focus groups were interviewed. In Drammen, two user groups and two non‐user groups with younger (18‐39) and older (40+) participants. The same was the case in Oslo, with one additional expert group. Each group contained 6 participants, giving a total of 54 respondents.

Findings

The informants had many thoughts regarding what a library is and should be, and drew a picture of the public library as a complex institution with many tasks. They had many ideas for library developments, especially regarding social activities. The non‐users had a slightly more conservative view of what a public library is, while the users were more informed about new developments and facilities. It seemed important to all groups that the public libraries are updated and inviting, but they expressed that recognisability was important.

Practical implications

Both liberal and conservative attitudes were found among the respondents, but interestingly enough, there was little negativity towards change. On the contrary, it seems change is perceived as a requirement for public libraries to stay relevant. Their role as meeting places is one of the areas both users and non‐users expressed great interest in, and certainly an area worth investigating further.

Originality/value

There is not much research analysing the relationship and possible conflicts between different stakeholders. The research undertaken is likely to be of importance both to the academic community and the field of practice.
Reverse age discrimination
Authors: Topper Elisa F.
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to the fact that there is reverse age discrimination in the field of librarianship.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature review and commentary on this topic that is now being addressed by our younger colleagues.

Findings

Younger librarians often referred to as “baby librarians” are frustrated by their colleagues in the library workplace.

Originality/value

The value is in addressing this issue that is quickly surfacing on blogs and listservs.
Atmosphere as a tool for enhancing organizational performance
Authors: Heide Morten , Lærdal Kirsti , Grønhaug Kjell
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The concept of atmosphere is often considered vague and difficult to capture, which hampers adequate feedback on atmospheric investments. This paper aims to report a systematic effort to capture the concept and enhancing factors, making adequate feedback for efforts to improve atmosphere possible.

Design/methodology/approach

Owing to limited a priori insights, an exploratory, discovery‐oriented approach was chosen. Semi‐structured interviews, supplemented with secondary data, were conducted to gain insight into how managers and design experts think and cope to improve the atmosphere of establishments. The hospitality industry was selected as empirical context.

Findings

Investments to improve the atmosphere of establishments can bring significant benefits. However, the positive effects are associated with uncertainty and consequently the risks can be substantial. However, such risks were only recognized by hospitality managers, not by design experts.

Research limitations/implications

This study is a first step and was therefore restricted to the supply side of the industry. For practical purposes, the empirical setting was limited to a single country.

Practical implications

Care should be taken not to overkill with atmosphere and thereby lose focus on the main service/product offering. Hospitality managers and owners need to be assertive to get the right balance between aesthetic elements and operational requirements because design experts tend to neglect the latter.

Originality/value

Given the considerable interest in, and consequently the presumed value of, atmosphere as an intangible asset, this paper provides important insights into an area where there is genuine need for empirical research.
The emergence of counterfeit trade: a literature review
Authors: Staake Thorsten , Thiesse Frédéric , Fleisch Elgar
Published: April 2009

Purpose

Trade in counterfeit goods is perceived as a substantial threat to various industries. No longer is the emergence of imitation products confined to branded luxury goods and final markets. Counterfeit articles are increasingly finding their way into other sectors, including the fast‐moving consumer goods, pharmaceutical, and automotive industries – with, in part, severe negative consequences for consumers, licit manufacturers, and brand owners alike. This paper seeks to shed light on the economic principles of counterfeit trade and the underlying illicit supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

An extensive literature review was conducted that comprised contributions from different strands of management research.

Findings

Though governments as well as management have clearly identified the problem, very little is known – both in practice and theory – about the mechanisms and structure of the illicit market, the tactics of counterfeit producers, consumer behavior with respect to imitation products and the financial impact on individual companies. The diversity of the counterfeit phenomenon underlines the need for further research in this area and the development of company‐specific measures for fighting product piracy.

Research limitations/implications

The clandestine nature of the counterfeit market limits direct accessibility to the phenomenon. Consequently, the existing body of literature does not necessarily cover all aspects of counterfeit activities. The review helps to highlight existing research gaps but may not be able to identify additional aspects of the phenomenon that, thus far, have not been deemed relevant.

Originality/value

The paper critically reviews the current state of research across different management‐related disciplines. From an academic perspective it may serve as a starting point for a future research agenda that addresses the current knowledge gaps. From a practitioner's perspective it is helpful for understanding the relevant influence factors and for developing appropriate, state‐of‐the‐art counterstrategies.
Propensity to bargain in marketing exchange situations:a comparative study
Authors: Bin Ahmad Alserhan Bakr
Published: April 2009

Purpose

This study aims to investigate and compare the propensity of both Arab and Western customers to bargain in marketing exchange situations in the United Arab Emirates.

Design/methodology/approach

The Bargaining Propensity Scale (BPS) developed by Schneider et al. was administered, as part of a self‐administered questionnaire, to a sample of 100 Arab customers and 100 Western customers and their responses to the BPS items were analyzed.

Findings

Data analysis shows that both segments – Arab and Western customers – display an overall tendency to engage in bargaining activities, although with slightly different PBS distributions.

Research limitations/implications

The sample contained only 15 Arab women as it was very awkward for the male research assistant to talk to women in public places; very few women would risk being seen in public with strangers.

Originality/value

This study addresses an important marketing issue – the comparative behavior of customers. It is the first to do so in the region.
The marketing of innovations in high‐technology companies: a network approach
Authors: Borg Erik A.
Published: April 2009

Purpose

This article aims to consider the usefulness of network theory in examining the marketing of high‐technology products and services.

Design/methodology/approach

High‐tech companies are analysed in light of a network approach to marketing.

Findings

The research finds that building marketing relationships can improve the viability of high‐tech companies.

Originality/value

The article contributes to the development of theory that can enhance the marketing of high‐technology products and services.
Investigating the effects of service quality dimensions and expertise on loyalty
Authors: Jamal Ahmad , Anastasiadou Kyriaki
Published: April 2009

Purpose

Very little research has investigated the effects of service quality dimensions on customer loyalty. Also, up to now, no research has investigated the direct effect of expertise on loyalty and the moderating effect of expertise on the link between satisfaction and loyalty. This paper seeks to fill these gaps in the literature and to investigate the effects of individual dimensions of service quality in creating and enhancing customer loyalty via customer satisfaction. It also aims to investigate the direct and indirect effects of customer expertise on customer loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a causal modelling approach and proposes a conceptual model after an extensive review of the literature. The paper is based on a sample of 200 bank users in Greece who completed a self‐administered questionnaire. The paper uses exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling to analyse and confirm the conceptual model proposed in this research.

Findings

The paper finds that reliability, tangibility and empathy are positively related to customer satisfaction, which in turn is positively related to loyalty. Furthermore, while expertise is negatively related to loyalty, it positively moderates the link between satisfaction and loyalty.

Originality/value

The paper discusses implications for brand managers in terms of targeting and advertising strategies and suggests future research directions.
Price adaptation in export markets
Authors: Sousa Carlos M.P. , Bradley Frank
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the key factors that influence price adaptation in export markets.

Design/methodology/approach

The conceptual model was tested empirically using data collected by mail questionnaire in a sample survey of 140 firms. The results were analysed using structural equation modelling and the method of estimation was maximum likelihood (ML). Various statistical tests show that the results were reliable and valid.

Findings

The results reported here suggest that while controlling for the size of the firm, the degree of price adaptation is strongly influenced and conditioned by the degree of product, promotion, and distribution adaptation as well as by the differences that exist between the home and the foreign market.

Originality/value

Despite calls for research on the adaptation of pricing in export markets little headway has been made in understanding the issue in the literature. This study adds to the limited empirical research work done in this area. Although past research points to a link between product adaptation and price adaptation and between distribution adaptation and price adaptation, empirical research that includes simultaneously the link between the three elements of the marketing mix (product, promotion, and distribution adaptation) and price adaptation is largely missing in the literature. These relationships have been tested in this paper and found to be relevant to the understanding of pricing in international markets.
Marketing logics for competitive advantage?
Authors: Tollin Karin , Jones Richard
Published: April 2009

Purpose

This paper aims to address two issues facing marketing management: firstly, the need to make marketing a more central function of the firm; and secondly to explore ways in which marketing can be more innovative.

Design/methodology/approach

The logic of marketing management as practised by corporate marketing executives (CMEs) is investigated. Logics describe the sensemaking activities of managers which help explain the disparate ways in which marketing managers approach similar marketing problems. The paper develops a framework for analysing managerial decision making. The research applies a grounded theory technique and 15 personal in‐depth interviews are carried out with top managers in marketing (CMEs) in three financial services companies, three telecommunications and IT companies, and nine pharmaceutical companies.

Findings

The results suggest four main logics, i.e. performance, communication, stakeholder and innovation. These are then defined in terms of management and marketing capabilities.

Research limitations/implications

The paper develops a framework in which to examine the use of logics in marketing management. In the actual survey the authors examined only a relatively small sample of organisations in a few industries, but in considerable depth. The research does however give the basis for a more quantitative study to generalise the existence of these logics and investigate their links with company performance.

Practical implications

This paper gives important managerial insights into the ways in which managers' logics both limit and provide opportunities for managerial action. The findings will help managers become more reflexive towards the tacit assumptions they make about the business environment, the tasks that they undertake and the capabilities that they need to develop.

Originality/value

The paper represents a new and unique way of addressing marketing management. Management logics and sensemaking have been studied in the management literature but their repercussions for marketing managers have not been fully explored. The paper paves the way for further research into the role of marketing logics in influencing managerial action.
Improving tacit knowledge transfer within SMEs through e‐collaboration
Authors: Harris Robert John
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The implementation of e‐learning can help SMEs to develop skills to cope with their operational environments, but current literature suggests they are not effectively engaged, partly due to a lack of understanding and mistrust of vendors. This paper considers the potential for a more effective transfer of marketing knowledge to firms through e‐learning and e‐collaboration frameworks.

Design/methodology/approach

This research identifies the perceptions of SMEs towards e‐learning and the propensity of managers to embrace technology‐based training. It investigates SMEs preference for training delivery and the potential for an e‐centric collaborative learning environment to support effective knowledge transfer.

Findings

Organisations must be capable of learning from experiences and of disseminating learning, to respond to emerging market conditions. The research endorses the need for a focused approach to e‐learning that facilitates social interaction and learning in order to harness the value of shared tacit knowledge.

Research limitations/implications

The research sample was limited to 24 respondents from the West Midlands region.

Practical implications

Support providers need to maximise their research effort in order to fully understand the social and cultural implications of e‐collaboration, and offer effective solutions that will allow SMEs to manage and develop their tacit knowledge resources effectively.

Originality/value

This paper identifies the need for e‐learning solutions to be constructed to add value to the learning experience and to harness the potential for exploiting tacit knowledge in SMEs.
Towards developing a theoretical framework for measuring public sector managers' career success
Authors: Mohd Rasdi Roziah , Ismail Maimunah , Uli Jegak , Mohd Noah Sidek
Published: April 2009

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a theoretical framework for measuring public sector managers' career success.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical foundation used in this study is social cognitive career theory. To conduct a literature search, several keywords were identified, i.e. career success, objective and subjective career success, managers, managerial career development and social cognitive career theory. Several electronic databases available in the university's library, such as Emerald, EBSCOHost, SAGE, Science Direct and Blackwell Synergy, were used to search for resources. Literature includes sources written in both English and Malay.

Findings

The four factors that have predictive potential on managers' career success are individual‐related factors, organizational‐related factors, managerial competencies‐related factors, and the person‐environment fit factor. Career success should be operationalized using both objective and subjective career success.

Research limitations/implications

The study was exploratory, based on a literature review. Empirical study is needed to examine the predictive potential of the four key factors (i.e. individual‐related factors, organizational‐related factors, managerial competencies‐related factors, and person‐environment fit factor) for public sector managers' career success.

Practical implications

Strengthening the HRD framework through organizational development, personnel training and development and career development may develop and unleash individual potential which leads to positive career outcomes (objective and subjective career success).

Originality/value

The research constructs a theoretical framework which outlines the predictive potential of four key factors on public sector managers' career success. The four key factors can be developed through HRD practices.