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The authors sought to unpack the paradox between increasing demand for probiotics products against inconclusive scientific evidence about the effectiveness. This paper investigated public understanding of the composition and benefits of probiotic products, measured trust in news media and scientists as sources of information about probiotic products and informational and attitudinal predictors of consumer trust in the news media and scientists.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted amongst a representative sample of 2000 UK consumers. Participants responded to multiple-choice questions and psychometric scales capturing probiotics knowledge, consumption, information seeking behaviour, attitudes to and confidence in the news media and probiotics scientists. Descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA and hierarchical regression modelling were performed.

Information exposure to probiotics content was highest from traditional media followed by online channels. Levels of confidence in probiotics scientists were higher than in the news media, even though these levels were highest amongst current consumers and lowest amongst non-consumers. Conflicting information, health consciousness and trust in nutrition stakeholders were identified as important predictors of trust in news media and scientists.

This study provides a large-scale nationally representative overview of public attitudes and sentiments related to probiotic products with a focus on attitudes towards the news media and the scientific establishment. The findings suggest a need for better consumer awareness about the state of science around probiotic products, interventions that could enable consumers to discern conflicting evidence or news reports, and critical skills that can render them more resilient to online misinformation.

Over the last ten years, increasing attention has been given to employees' displays of emotions to customers during service transactions and particularly to how organisations try to control these emotional displays (Adelmann, 1989; Ashforth & Humphrey, 1993; Hochschild, 1983; Rafaeli & Sutton, 1987, 1989; Wharton & Erickson, 1993). The act of expressing organisationally‐desired emotions during service interactions has been labelled emotional labour (Ashforth & Humphrey, 1993; Hochschild, 1983). The issue in emotional labour research which has received the most focus has been “emotional dissonance”, that is, the state of discomfort generated in employees when they have to express emotions which they do not genuinely feel (Middleton, 1989). In large part, this attention to emotional dissonance has been based on the potential negative consequences that emotional dissonance can have for workers psychological well being (Hochschild, 1983; Erickson, 1991; Rafaeli & Sutton, 1987; Wharton, 1993). This study seeks to extend previous empirical research on when emotional dissonance is most likely to result in these negative consequences and, especially, the importance of role internalisation as a mediating variable in the emotional dissonance‐psychological well‐being relationship.

Asserts that attention in the field of performance measurement research has begun to focus on the behavioural implications of performance measurement in manufacturing. Proposes a framework which aims to generate a performance measurement system, designed and run by production cell employees, that will drive the shopfloor towards the requirements of its customer. Expands on research into the behaviour implications of performance measurement which has found that considerable improvement in morale and performance are made possible if shopfloor employees are allowed to decide on the performance measures which drive and direct their own continuous improvement activities.

Although the Peoples Republic of China's (PRC) is becoming more progressive, they are still criticized for their overcautious stance on entering the free market arena. This article explores China's reluctance toward foreign trade by examining past and present trade patterns along with future trade goals. The themes of culture, history and politics that remain blurred in Chinese culture are explored. The paper examines why foreign trade and capitalism cannot reproduce similar, instantaneous results in China to mirror western standards. Finally, the paper assesses the current and future economic climate and the emerging force of China in the global marketplace.

For centuries, Turkey has been the nexus of trade and enterprise in Southeastern Europe. Located between the continents of Europe and Asia, Turkey remains the historical portal of the Eastern and Western worlds. Although rooted in an entrepreneurial spirit, the antiquated trade laws in Turkey hindered the sprawling nation’s ability to trade with others. In the late 1980s however, Turkey liberalized its economic legislation, thus enabling the private sector to take the lead in generating growth and employment. This paper examines the evolving Turkish economy through the vehicles of history, the banking system, foreign investments, government apparatuses, and domestic markets and trade policy. Moreover, this paper identifies strategies and market sectors for potential investors. Finally, this paper offers a counterpoint which notes several possible and current economic pitfalls which have and may continue to handicap Turkey in the global marketplace.

US intellectual property (IP) is a key target of numerous other countries and individuals. Of specific interest to outsiders are technological resources. Illegally transferring information can range from the extreme of the often‐glamorized international espionage to the more traditional and common gathering of competitive intelligence (CI). This paper will review the key issues in the illegal transference of information technologies from the USA, will outline the role of other countries involved, and will discuss the impact on key, targeted industries. In particular the illegal attempts to procure key intellectual properties from technology firms will be discussed. In addition, the paper will distinguish between corporate intelligence, espionage, and economic espionage.

With the growth of information technologies and with more firms partnering, a major concern for organizations today is the protection of competitive information from thieving. Firms must develop an understanding of the multidimensional flavor of defensive intelligence and its challenges in a bureaucracy, examine companies’ vulnerabilities and implement some basic defensive intelligence measures in order to protect their organization’s knowledge. Organizations must address major areas of vulnerabilities, including employees, partners and public information. Firms can take specific actions to minimize successful acts of espionage such as protections preventing unauthorized use of information systems. Companies should develop a set of priorities and determine where and to what degree security procedures need to be implemented. Beyond security, employing proactive measures can provide a valuable weapon for the long‐term prosperity of your firm.

Presents some of the preliminary findings from research which has sought to identify performance drivers in manufacturing cells. A medium‐sized UK automotive component supplier which operates on a JIT basis was used for the research which has also examined the perceived and actual inter‐relationships between cell drivers and the effect of these on goal congruence. The results illustrate a fundamental difference in perception between production manager and the shop floor together with a shared misconception regarding perceived driver interactions. The result is a disjointed performance measurement system which fails to drive the continuous improvement required in the manufacturing cells.