Brian T. McClendon, Steven Prentice‐Dunn, Rachel Blake and Ben McMath
This study examined the relation between appearance concern (i.e. a dispositional focus on one’s looks) and responses to an intervention targeting suntanning and sunscreen use…
Abstract
This study examined the relation between appearance concern (i.e. a dispositional focus on one’s looks) and responses to an intervention targeting suntanning and sunscreen use among young adults. The intervention produced increases in sun safe attitudes, intentions, and behavior. Appearance concern was correlated at posttest with perceived vulnerability to the damaging effects of the sun, perceived severity of the damaging effects, and perceived rewards of a tan. One month later, only the association with perceived rewards was significant. Appearance concern was not significantly correlated with intentions or change in skin tone. More powerful interventions may be needed to have a lasting impact on attitudes and behavior regarding sun exposure. However, such interventions must not provoke defensive reactions in individuals who are high in appearance concern.
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Heath McDonald, Steven Dunn, Dominik Schreyer and Byron Sharp
The purpose is to review literature on sports season ticket subscriptions to distil current knowledge and guide future research and practice.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose is to review literature on sports season ticket subscriptions to distil current knowledge and guide future research and practice.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic literature review is conducted of research on sports season tickets, a long-established and innovative subscription category.
Findings
In-depth examination of 28 papers showed a focus on drivers of satisfaction, churn and renewal causes, and product utilisation rates. Subscription markets typically involve many “solely loyal” consumers, most purchasing one or two subscriptions in a category. From reduced barriers to entry and exit to “curated” subscriptions, subscription marketing is changing very quickly. Sports marketers build relationships with subscribers using behavioural data, tier benefits to distinguish between casual and subscribing customers, and create recall and scarcity around key aspects of subscription to combat churn and increase utilisation.
Research limitations/implications
Scarce research on subscription marketing practices remains the primary limitation. Existing research suggests that strong connections between subscriber and organisation, heavy product utilisation and/or strong barriers to switching drive customer satisfaction and retention.
Practical implications
Rapid expansion of subscription products should reduce “excess loyalty”, meaning that subscription models' main benefit will be limited to reoccurring revenue. Exceptions occur when consumers are heavily connected to the product or have little provider choice, so allocate their category buying exclusively. New subscription products face myriad challenges. Guidance on effective subscription marketing from sports marketing research and practice is outlined.
Originality/value
By combining research on market structure, marketing empirical generalisations and subscription marketing, this paper guides future research and practice.
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S. Thomas Foster, Scott E. Sampson and Steven C. Dunn
The impact of business operations on the natural environment has been a public concern for decades and a research concern for years. To date, the focus of environmental impact…
Abstract
The impact of business operations on the natural environment has been a public concern for decades and a research concern for years. To date, the focus of environmental impact research has been almost exclusively on manufacturing industries. Environmental research specific to service industries have been neglected, despite the fact that economies of developed nations are mostly made up of service businesses. This paper explores potential distinctions of service businesses as they may influence management motivation for taking environmentally friendly actions. Through a number of case studies, we observe some commonality of environmental motivations between service and manufacturing industries, as well as some environmental themes unique to services. These themes pertain to customer awareness of environmental initiatives of service firms by virtue of their involvement in the production process. Interestingly, customer involvement can have an adverse affect on environmental initiatives.
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Alan J. Stenger, Steven C. Dunn and Richard R. Young
The importance and utilization of information systems in the achievement of integrated service response and supply chain logistics has been shown by several recent studies…
Abstract
The importance and utilization of information systems in the achievement of integrated service response and supply chain logistics has been shown by several recent studies. Practitioners need to have an understanding of the existance and capability of commercially available software options for integrated logistics management. For educators it is imperative that knowledge about the functioning of current software is taught in a manner that gives students an appreciation of the available techniques and software, along with the realization of the difficulty of implementation. This article provides practitioners and educators with an empirical assessment of the available logistics software as it applies to integrated hierarchical planning.
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Steven C. Dunn, Dale Jasinski and Matthew O'Connor
The rapid rise of corporate universities, online degree programs, and the explosive growth in executive education all serve as signals to universities that the concept of a…
Abstract
Purpose
The rapid rise of corporate universities, online degree programs, and the explosive growth in executive education all serve as signals to universities that the concept of a learning organization continues to gain momentum in the business community. This paper has the objective of describing a new model for academic/industry partnerships that utilizes traditional professional aspects of higher education (research, teaching, and consulting) to assist individual businesses in their quest to build a sustainable competitive advantage.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper first describes the model, discusses implications for business and the academy and then describes its application in an organization.
Findings
The educonsulting (EC) model gives businesses a method linking their investment in education programs to their business strategy, in turn providing a potentially greater return on the investment in human capital development. In addition, the model provides a school of business with a systemic means of professionally developing its faculty and improving its stakeholder relationships.
Originality/value
The EC model described in this paper provides a blueprint for innovative colleges of business and their business partners to link individual development and organizational development to achieve their respective strategic goals.
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Logistics can be an indispensable part of integrated environmentalmanagement programmes because of its cross‐functional nature. Providesan overview of environmentally responsible…
Abstract
Logistics can be an indispensable part of integrated environmental management programmes because of its cross‐functional nature. Provides an overview of environmentally responsible logistics activities and their implications for corporate management. Also examines logistics functions in the context of the corporate value chain and identifies various environmental decision points. With environmental impact considered, many traditional trade‐off decisions need to be re‐evaluated. Provides examples in which innovative and environmentally‐friendly logistics ideas are used. Also discusses two system‐wide logistics elements, transportation and reverse logistics, that can have a profound impact on a firm′s environmental protection programme. Concludes that logistics managers can make environmentally responsible decisions that are coherent with corporate goals and objectives.
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Henrik Sternberg, Andreas Hagen, Paolo Paganelli and Kent Lumsden
Today, the transport industry is facing increasing demands on reducing both the environmental impact and cost of freight transports. Another demand, coming from the end consumers…
Abstract
Today, the transport industry is facing increasing demands on reducing both the environmental impact and cost of freight transports. Another demand, coming from the end consumers, is the demand for ecological accountability, so‐called ecological foot‐printing, meaning that the emission of every freight movement is distributed to the freight. Previous research shows that transport planning, system integration and control are some of the key factors to achieve more sustainable transport setups. One of the major obstacles preventing these factors is the complexity of international supply chains, with several involved actors. Smart Freight is a holistic concept, integrating transport management and state‐of‐the‐art technologies for freight tracking and vehicle monitoring, in order to enable improved management and accountability of freight transportation. The purpose of this research is to explore how Smart Freight can be used to control, track and reduce the environmental impact of goods transportation. This research is based on two in‐depth case studies and a demonstration prototype of one of the studied transport setups. An extensive amount of data was collected between 2006 and 2008 through interviews, video filming, document studies, physical travel with the freight flows, seminars, prototype building, literature and desktop studies. The result of this research highlights the weaknesses in today’s control of transport operations and presents a model for how Smart Freight enables a more environmentally friendly and accountable transport system.
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Steven Lilien, Bharat Sarath and Yan Yan
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the association between bargain purchase gains (BPGs) booked by the acquirer and smoothing of acquirers’ earning performance across…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the association between bargain purchase gains (BPGs) booked by the acquirer and smoothing of acquirers’ earning performance across time.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use a sample of 122 bargain purchase acquisitions in non-financial industries from 2009 to 2012 and a pair-match control group of 122 goodwill acquisitions.
Findings
The authors find that BPGs, and in particular, the Level-3 fair value estimates of intangible assets acquired, have consistently been used to smooth earnings but that such smoothing activities are not associated with long-term market returns.
Originality/value
This study is the first one to investigate bargain purchase acquisitions in a broad range of non-financial industries and suggests that managers are using the valuation of intangibles to avoid unfavorable earnings even though these valuations are not credible to investors.
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Elyria Kemp, Steven W. Kopp and My (Myla) Bui
Brand management has traditionally enlisted visual branding elements, including the brand’s graphic logo, to distinguish and communicate the personality of the brand. However, as…
Abstract
Purpose
Brand management has traditionally enlisted visual branding elements, including the brand’s graphic logo, to distinguish and communicate the personality of the brand. However, as healthcare organizations work to shape how consumers perceive their brand, organizations are also enhancing their brand identity with sound and music by creating a sonic brand. This research paper aims to examine how sonic brands influence consumer emotional reactions and trust in a healthcare provider. It also explores how sonic brands can differentially affect consumers, depending on their level of engagement in their physical and mental health.
Design/methodology/approach
Two experimental studies were conducted that tested the use of a sonic logo for healthcare providers in consumption contexts that might elicit negative emotions, cancer care and mental health care.
Findings
The results suggest that the presence of a sonic logo helped to alleviate negative emotions as well as engender trust in the provider. Findings also revealed that for consumers who are less engaged in their health, a sonic logo served as a peripheral cue by enhancing perceptions of competence and empathy for the healthcare provider.
Originality/value
Findings from this research provide insight into how sonic brands can increase the effectiveness of branded healthcare communications.