bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Economic development and channel evolution in The People's Republic of China
Authors: Yi Ling , Jaffe Eugene D. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe objective of this study is to develop a model for analyzing the relative importance of facilitating and constraining factors that determine changes in the structure of distribution channels as a country progresses along the path of economic development.Design/methodology/approachData on channel structure were collected on national, regional and municipal levels. The hypotheses in this study were tested by using time series and cross‐sectional data. The ordinary least squares method was used for multiple regression and correlation analyses.FindingsThe most significant findings from the above research are that channel structure is determined by economic development and, to some extent, by government policy. Both of these factors work hand‐in‐hand to affect distribution reform. First, economic development provides the need for more efficient channels, first as more privately‐owned intermediaries enter the distribution system, and later as the number of channel intermediaries contracts, partly stemming from vertical integration and from a shakeout of less efficient enterprises. Second, government policy can be formulated to encourage these developments. In order to promote distribution reform, the government's “open policy”, which allows for market access by foreign firms as well as local ones, should be continued.Research limitations/implicationsMore cross‐sectional data for China are needed in order to better analyze the impact of different economic sectors (at different levels of development) on channel evolution. As more data become available, these analyses will be possible.Originality/valueVery little is known about the factors that shape a nation's channel system. Improvements in distribution systems are crucial to upgrading marketing systems in developing countries. Understanding how improvements in distribution systems contribute to economic development can aid decision makers in developing countries to improve resource allocation. This study has contributed to the theory of channel evolution in developing countries.
Correlates of successful brand advertising in China
Authors: Tai Susan H.C. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the relationship between successful brand advertising campaigns in China and various factors such as message/creativity, media selection, market research, competition, market share, product uniqueness, and agency/client relationships.Design/methodology/approachThe data for the study were collected by mailing a questionnaire to 283 advertising agencies executives who were selected from the All‐Asia Ad Agency Guide. A total of 1,086 questionnaires were sent out and 163 were returned for a response rate of 15 per cent. Factor analysis was first used to identify various success factors, and ANOVA was used to compare the means of each factor related to the degree of success of the campaign. Correlation analysis was then used to examine the relationship between successful brand advertising campaign and various success factors.FindingsThe results of the ANOVA indicate that there are significant relationships between some items in each factor and the degree of success of an advertising campaign. Correlation analysis further reveals that message/creativity, media selection, market research, market share, and product uniqueness are significantly related to the success of brand advertising in China. No significant relationship is found between brand success and competition or agency/client relationship.Research limitations/implicationsThe respondents may have been biased about the extent to which their advertising campaigns are successful or how creative an advertisement should be. Their perceptions of successful or creative advertising could be very different, especially in relation to those questions that asked respondents to critique their own work. All of these affect the rigor of the study. Another limitation of the study is the low response rate. If the sample size had been large enough, comparisons could have been made concerning the correlates of successful brand advertising across different regions in China.Originality/valueIn addition to providing researchers with further understanding of brand advertising in China, this study provides some insights about the ways in which multinational advertising managers contribute to successful brand advertising.
The effects of single‐message single‐source mixed word‐of‐mouth on product attitude and purchase intention
Authors: Lai Ying Ho , Chung Cindy M.Y. 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThis study seeks to investigate how attitude towards and purchase intention of a product will be affected by involvement level and presentation order of positive and negative word‐of‐mouth (WOM) information when presented in a single‐message single‐source context.Design/methodology/approachTwo studies were conducted with undergraduates of a top Asian university with sample sizes of 221 and 253 using experimental setups.FindingsIt was found that subjects tend to base their evaluations more on later information than earlier information regardless of involvement level. This recency effect was consistently found across the product categories of tourist destination and restaurant in both studies.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitation is that the manipulation of involvement level might not have been strong enough. Despite obtaining differences between high and low involvement levels in the pretest for both products, the difference was found again in only the restaurant category in the manipulation check of both studies. Future research can increase the gap between high and low involvement levels using non‐laboratory settings to ensure effective involvement level manipulation.Practical implicationsFindings of this paper can help companies to position messages in their favour when both positive and negative information needs to be presented.Originality/valueThere has been a lot of marketing research on WOM but none has focused on covering positive and negative WOM coming from the same source despite it being a commonality in reality. This paper fills this gap with an investigation into the effects of single‐message single‐source mixed WOM on product attitude and purchase intention.
Ethical branding and corporate reputation
Authors: Fan Ying 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the concept of ethical branding and its link to corporate reputation. Brands have traditionally been studied only as an economic construct. Brands, as a social construct, have not yet been fully understood due to the lack of research.Design/methodology/approachThe paper discusses major issues with references to existing literature and practical examples.FindingsIn the conventional brand models the value of brand equity is defined and measured by its economic performance in financial terms. This model has a number of deficiencies. First, two basic elements are missing: legality and ethics, which form the foundation of brand equity. A good brand must be a legal as well as ethical one. Thus brand value needs to be assessed by both financial and ethical measures. Second, conventional brand models focus largely on product brands rather than corporate brands. Brands and branding have such a profound impact on the society as whole and not just on these people who buy them. There is a wider public, in addition to shareholders and consumers, who may be potentially affected by the branding decisions. The impact of branding on these stakeholders should also be taken into consideration. An ethical brand enhances the firm's reputation; such a reputation reinforces the brand in turn. On the other hand, any unethical behaviour will severely damage or even destroy the total intangible asset as evidenced by the recent high profile corporate scandals.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper questions the conventional branding practice, and explores the links between ethical branding and corporate social responsibility. Many questions remain to be addressed.Practical implicationsEthical branding could provide the company with a differential advantage as a growing number of consumers become more ethically conscious. It could also help overcome the increasing consumers' scepticism and cynicism towards branding communications.Originality/valueThe paper is perhaps the first to raise the importance of ethics in branding.
Organizational communications in Hong Kong: a cultural approach to groupthink
Authors: Sai On Ko Andrew 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe term, groupthink, refers to group over‐cohesiveness that causes defective decision making. The purpose of this theoretical paper is to explore common Chinese cultural characteristics which have the potential to lead to symptoms of groupthink within the Hong Kong organizational environment.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology called “quality function deployment” was applied to measure the relationships between a set of predefined Chinese cultural factors and the groupthink symptoms.FindingsThis research found that among all the Chinese cultural factors, the aspect of status has a strong relationship with the symptoms of groupthink.Originality/valueThis paper provides useful insights into aspects of groupthink and Chinese cultural characteristics.
Taking time to care: best practices in long‐term care communications
Authors: Meath Michael 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThis study aims to, chronicle literature, case studies and applied research to suggest that communications and public relations play a key role in the success of the best nursing homes and long‐term care facilities.Design/methodology/approachResearch employed included a case study of four highly qualified nursing home facilities, followed by an electronic survey offered to all licensed nursing homes throughout New York State. Results from each segment of the research were compared and contrasted.FindingsThis research confirmed the thesis that long‐term care facilities which are independently identified as being high quality have a propensity to focus on communications with all stakeholders – particularly their residents and family members. Communications with all stakeholders are key to facility success.Research limitations/implicationsThe case study focused only on larger facilities; and survey response was limited without individual e‐mail addresses.Practical implicationsA set of guidelines for Communications in Nursing Homes and Long‐term Care Facilities was prepared as an outcome of the research.Originality/valueThis segment of the population is expected to more than double in the next 25 years, reaching nearly 90 million by 2050. The topic presents an important issue and sensitively considers it amidst a backdrop of change in western society.
Corporations' ideologies: a new subfield of study of corporate communication
Authors: Fox Renata 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThis paper seeks to explain and establish theories and methodologies for the exploration of corporations' ideologies as a subfield of study of corporate communication. By a corporation's ideology is meant a system of ideas, beliefs, meanings, and concepts prioritised and institutionalised by a corporation in its internal and external communication.Design/methodology/approachBecause the natural receptacle of a corporation's ideology is language, research into corporations' ideologies will necessarily involve the analysis of text: the social manifestation of language. A corpus‐driven approach, which is concerned not with what is going on in the minds of people and the way they understand words, phrases and text, but with the categories and probabilities of words, phrases and text, assures empiricity and objectivity.FindingsResearch into corporations' ideologies creates multiple avenues of enquiry related to corporate communication, corporations, and society.Practical implicationsA new understanding of corporate communication which enables its more reliable strategic management.Originality/valueOffers a theoretical understanding and practical application of a new subfield of study of corporate communication: corporations' ideologies.
Building trust in times of crisis
Authors: Langer Roy , Thorup Signe 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThis paper aims to argue for and apply a polyphonic approach to corporate storytelling and organisational change communication. A participatory action research project demonstrates how recently developed inclusive methodologies that seek to create employee participation have been applied in a case company.Design/methodology/approachCase study based on a constructionist approach and four methodological foundations: participatory action research, co‐productive methods (such as organisational photography), appreciative inquiry and strategic change communication teams.FindingsResults of the organisational change process in the case company show that the application of a polyphonic approach to organisational change communication and storytelling, appreciative inquiry and strategic change communication teams created involvement in and enactment of organisational change based on employees, own values and stories in the case company.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research is needed that applies the methodological foundations of this study in other organisational contexts and under different circumstances.Practical implicationsThe methodologies and approaches applied in this case cannot be transferred to other organisations directly, but the paper seeks to inspire practitioners with regard to inclusive and empowering approaches to change communication and storytelling.Originality/valueArgues theoretically, presents and applies recently developed constructionist approaches and co‐productive methods.
The multinational corporation as a multilingual organization
Authors: Fredriksson Riikka , Barner‐Rasmussen Wilhelm , Piekkari Rebecca 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThis paper seeks to explore the use of common corporate language(s) in multinational corporations (MNCs). These organizations are usually multilingual and characterized by high language diversity. Parallel streams of literature in international management and international business communications are built upon to problematize the notion of a common corporate language.Design/methodology/approachInformation gathered from 36 personal interviews of the German‐based multinational Siemens is the primary source of data for this case study. The interviews were conducted in three different languages in three different organizational units of Siemens AG in Finland and Germany.FindingsIt was possible to identify powerful interplay between two languages – German and English – and to uncover discrepancies between company policy and employee practices with regard to language use. On the basis of these findings, the challenges of managing language in multinationals are discussed.Originality/valueArgues that a common corporate language may not be as widely shared within the firm as the term suggests, given the multilingual nature of most multinationals, variation in the language proficiency of their employees, and the level of analysis used in previous research.
European supervisory convergence: a new dynamic
Authors: McKee Michael 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo describe the 5th May 2006 ECOFIN conclusions on supervisory convergence and explain why they represent a new departure for European financial services work.Design/methodology/approachThe article outlines the 6th 2006 ECOFIN conclusions relating to supervisory convergence. It then reviews EU developments relating to supervisory convergence from the 2001 Lamfalussy Process onwards as context for the conclusions. Finally, in the light of the review and the description of the conclusions it draws some conclusions about the likely implications for further developments in the EU in relation to EU supervisory convergence.FindingsThe principal findings are that supervisory convergence is likely to increase due to enhanced political backing with member state finance ministries and regulators taking a leading role.Research limitations/implicationsAs this is the first paper on the ECOFIN conclusions there is considerable scope for ongoing research to establish the extent to which the predictions in the paper prove to be justified by future developments.Practical implicationsThe ECOFIN conclusions represent a departure from EU financial services work focused on a legislative programme, the Financial Services Action Plan, to a programme focusing on improving cross‐border relationships between supervisors. This has important implications for the key European actors and gives a strong role to national finance ministries and supervisors. The practical implications will be enhanced cooperation between national supervisors on a cross‐border basis. The paper argues for strong financial services industry involvement in this.Originality/valueThe value of the paper is twofold – Its primary value is as the first academic analysis of the ECOFIN conclusions and as a predictor of their likely influence on EU institutional balance in the financial services area. Secondly it is a useful review of the main developments with regard to EU supervisory convergence over the five years 2001‐2006 – something which, to be the best of my knowledge, has not previously been carried out in the academic literature.
The mortality risk of pensions – methods of control and policy implications for the UK
Authors: Hudson Robert 
Published: January 2007

PurposeBodies with responsibilities for paying pensions to individuals face a mortality risk in that the pensioners may prove longer lived than expected. The significant scale and uncertainity of this risk is becoming increasingly clear. Various measures are available to control this risk and new innovations such as mortality linked bonds and derivatives have been proposed. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the alternative methods of controlling morality risk and discuss their potential policy implications.Design/methodology/approachThe paper considers the various parties affected by mortaling risk and assesses the difficulties of predicting mortality. Different methods of predicting mortality are discussed. Policy issues are considered and conclusions presented.FindingsThere is a huge demand for methods of hedging and trading mortality risk. Financial markets are responding to this with a number of insurers moving into the bulk annuity market. New products, such as survivor bands and mortality derivatives, are just appearing in the market, it is still to be seen whether this major financial problem will be best be solved by the financial markets or by government intervention.Originality/valueThe paper offers an evaluation of the alternative methods of controlling mortality risk together with the potential policy implications.
Operational risk information system: a challenge for the banking sector
Authors: Flores Francisco , Bónson‐Ponte Enrique , Escobar‐Rodríguez Tomás 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse the capacity of response of the banking sector's information systems (IS), in the light of the new requirements of Basel II (Basel Bank for International Settlements) on the measurement and control of operational risk (OR).Design/methodology/approachBy means of a structured case, developed with a Spanish savings bank of medium size, an analysis is made of the practices and structures that may need to be modified to prevent a loss of competitive position. Lastly specific improvements are proposed to facilitate the implementation of an operational risk information system (OR‐IS).FindingsThe paper concludes that there still exists a considerable distance between the current IS in use and an OR‐IS compatible with the model proposed under Basel II, for that kind of entities, and indicates the opportunities and incentives that would arise in the attempt to reduce this distance.Practical implicationsThe IS of a bank should evolve towards the achievement of an OR‐IS that enables the bank's competitive position to be strengthened. In addition, the bank should aspire to obtain the external validation of its supervisory authority, which certifies the OR‐IS implemented and classifies it as an advanced measurement approach (AMA) under Basel II. An analysis is made of the principal organisational weaknesses and necessities that should be rectified, with a view to applying the methodologies designated the AMA to OR in the Basel II agreement.Originality/valueBasel II has given increased visibility to the “OR” variable and there has been little explicit research into the process by which managers and organisations at medium sized entities decide to develop IS capable to measure and mitigate this new risk.
Financial services and markets tribunal turns down costs application from broker whom it had earlier found not to have engaged in market abuse
Authors: Gray Joanna 
Published: January 2007

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe how the Financial Services and Markets Tribunal turned down a costs application from a broker it had earlier found not to have engaged in market abuse.Design/methodology/approachThe paper outlines the facts surrounding the decision.FindingsThe case drives home the importance of insurance against the costs of Tribunal representation for key employees in the financial services industry at risk of FSA enforcement proceedings.Originality/valueThe paper highlights the Financial Services and Markets Tribunal decision to awarding costs.
Gauging the effectiveness of US identity theft legislation
Authors: Holtfreter Robert E. , Holtfreter Kristy 
Published: January 2007

PurposeTo examine identity theft in the United States and to provide an overview and assessment of recent legislation designed to assist identity theft victims and punish offenders.Design/methodology/approachStatistics on the prevalence of identity theft are included, as well as details from a fact‐based, fairly typical case of identify theft. An overview of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) and the Identity Theft Penalty Act (ITPEA) are provided, and the provisions of each act are analyzed.FindingsIt will take time to determine to what extent the provisions in FACTA and ITPEA will prevent or reduce identity theft. No doubt, in the future, there will amendments to both acts.Research limitations/implicationsFuture empirical studies could inform all interested parties by examining the impact of the FACTA and ITPEA over a multi‐year time frame. Moreover, cross‐cultural comparisons focusing on the ways in which other nations address identity theft will also shed light on the issues discussed herein.Originality/valueThe topic of identity theft remains salient to researchers as well as criminal justice practitioners and victim advocates. Public education to increase knowledge of identity theft, and to provide information and resources for victims, will be critical in the future.