Maria Eugenia Perez, Dan Padgett and Willem Burgers
The purpose of this paper is to assess the role that elapsed time and culture may play in affecting intergenerational influence (IGI) on brand preference. The results of an…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess the role that elapsed time and culture may play in affecting intergenerational influence (IGI) on brand preference. The results of an empirical study conducted in Mexico reveal that coincidence in family life‐cycle stage emerges as an important factor in determining IGI strength.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 600 questionnaires were collected from 300 dyads of mothers/daughters. This research extends Moore et al.'s basic methodology and findings to the Mexican context by including daughters at different stages of their family life cycle covering a time frame of up to 15 years out of the parents' household.
Findings
The findings support results from previous research conducted in the USA, signaling IGI as influencing brand preferences. However, the results diverge by demonstrating that in certain cultural contexts (e.g. Mexico), coincidence in family life‐cycle may have a stronger influence on IGI than the amount of elapsed time not living with parents.
Research limitations/implications
Understanding how IGI evolves in different cultural contexts may be applicable in the design of product and communication strategies leading to brand preference.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature by providing knowledge about the factors affecting consumers' brand preferences in Mexico, a country sharing cultural values with an important number of nations (including Latin America) where research conducted on these issues is scarce and where effective brand strategies need to be developed.
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Junsong Chen and Willem P. Burgers
To provide insight on the characteristics of the Chinese multi‐vitamin marketplace and to discuss key issues involved in marketing work, including market testing, product…
Abstract
Purpose
To provide insight on the characteristics of the Chinese multi‐vitamin marketplace and to discuss key issues involved in marketing work, including market testing, product positioning, market segmentation and targeting, differentiation, and branding strategy.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on a field‐based case study. An in‐depth interview has been used for data collection. The case is presented on a chronological order and could be divided into four stages (2001‐2005). Substantial information regarding the company's marketing strategy and tactics has been provided. Detailed sales data have also been given to facilitate the case discussion.
Findings
The case presents the uneven growing path of a Chinese multi‐vitamin brand. It has established the importance of brand‐building strategy on the basis of integrated marketing mix.
Practical implications
The case provides an excellent basis for exploring the pros and cons of numerous marketing tactics – individual branding vs brand extension, penetration vs skimming, choice of promotional tools, etc. It has also illustrated different ways for product positioning and differentiation. In addition, it provides a basis for discussing ethics in advertising – e.g. the soft advertising.
Originality/value
The case has been used successfully in executive MBA courses. The case helps managers and researchers to understand China health supplement market which has indicated many special characteristics compared with Western market, or discuss general issues related to marketing.
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This paper aims to examine the impact of a US law, called Alien Tort Statute (ATS), on the overseas operations of multinational corporations with regard to human rights abuses…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the impact of a US law, called Alien Tort Statute (ATS), on the overseas operations of multinational corporations with regard to human rights abuses. The law has the potential of creating substantial financial liabilities and operational risks for the multinational corporations (MNCs) by allowing foreign citizens to bring cases in the US courts for acts committed in a foreign country.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper reviews the relevant case law and the decisions of the US highest court in outlining the expanding scope of corporate culpability and financial liability.
Findings
The paper undertakes a careful critique of the arguments made by the MNCs as to the scope and reach of the law. It concludes that these arguments are not tenable in terms of MNCs' own professed commitment to protecting human rights. It also finds that the law's intent as interpreted in various decisions of the US federal courts has led to further clarity and specificity as to obligations of the MNCs.
Originality/value
MNCs must take concrete steps to ensure that their overseas operations are not implicated in human rights abuses. Specific approaches are suggested to comply with the law.
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This paper aims to provide a qualitative country case study of The Netherlands, adopting the macro-institutional social enterprise (MISE) framework as developed by Kerlin (2009…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide a qualitative country case study of The Netherlands, adopting the macro-institutional social enterprise (MISE) framework as developed by Kerlin (2009, 2013, 2017). The research question is twofold: How does the institutional context shape the social enterprise country model in The Netherlands, and To what extent can the MISE framework be a useful tool in explaining this dynamic between the institutional context and social enterprise country model?
Design/methodology/approach
This research applies the MISE framework developed by Kerlin (2017), which is founded upon the historical institutionalist approach.
Findings
The analysis of the institutional context in The Netherlands shows that the country context shares most traits with the autonomous diverse model. Its institutional environment should however be more enabling for the development of social enterprises. This discrepancy is explained through the notion of political will, resulting in the suggestion that the historical institutionalist approach of the MISE framework could be expanded by a greater focus on political will.
Research limitations/implications
To investigate the Dutch social enterprise country model, this paper principally relies on external sources, including surveys (McKinsey, 2016; PwC, 2016; Social Enterprise NL, 2015; 2016; 2018). This is problematic due to its subjective nature, small population size used and potential conceptual misfit with the definitions used in this research.
Practical implications
For academia, this paper enhances the understanding of the relations between the institutional environment and social enterprise by adding a case study of The Netherlands to the body of research around the MISE framework. Furthermore, the paper suggests to enhance the historical institutionalist approach of the MISE framework with a greater focus on political will. For advocates of social enterprises in The Netherlands, including policymakers, this paper may add to their understanding of the current developments around social enterprise in The Netherlands and possibly enhance their effectiveness of advocating for policies that are conducive to the development of social enterprises.
Originality/value
This research is the first in applying a universally applicable theoretical framework to the context of The Netherlands. For scholars of social enterprise in The Netherlands, it provides a comprehensive overview of developments of social enterprise in the country over recent years, as well as a thorough analysis of the current state of affairs. For international scholars of social enterprise, this research provides a case of comparison with other countries, taking into account all main institutions that shape a country and social enterprise in that country. For scholars of the MISE framework, this research offers an additional country case study that further helps improve the framework.
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The technology determinism theory facilitated in assessing the impact of interactive radio and social network sites (SNSs) on development factors such as education, agriculture…
Abstract
Purpose
The technology determinism theory facilitated in assessing the impact of interactive radio and social network sites (SNSs) on development factors such as education, agriculture, health, and governance, by conducting an integrative and comprehensive literature review focusing on African countries. This paper aims to conduct this literature review to provide comprehensive empirical evidence on the impact of interactive radio and SNSs on development in Africa.
Design/methodology/approach
This study examined articles that were retrieved from online databases including EBSCOhost, Elsevier, Science Direct, SAGE Journals, Springer and Wiley Online Library. The keywords used included interactive radio, radio, development in Africa, SNS, agriculture, education, health, peace and governance. Search phrases were formulated using boolean operators “AND” and “OR.”
Findings
Study results revealed that interactive radio and SNSs improve knowledge among farmers and allow the dissemination of information on innovative agricultural techniques, which supports the adoption of sustainable practices. Interactive radio promotes political accountability because the strategies provide the voiceless and powerless communities with a platform to express themselves. This paper discovers that the incorporation of SNS with existing multimedia communication facilitates the dissemination of health-related information on illnesses such as Ebola, HIV, hypertension, diabetes and Polio, and interactive radio and SNS promote education among marginalized communities and under-served rural schools.
Research limitations/implications
The findings on the impact of interactive radio and SNSs do not represent all 54 countries in Africa. Although the studies included in this literature review were conducted in several countries such as South Africa, Nigeria, Somalia, Kenya, Malawi, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, this limited the generalizability of the findings and recommendations. Also, the other potential limitation is that using the inclusion-exclusion criteria could have resulted in bias when selecting the studies to include in the review.
Practical implications
The paper might serve as a valuable source of information for students, academics and entrepreneurs where the impact of interactive radio and SNSs on agriculture, education, health and governance, which are core determinants of development in Africa, has been assessed for further case studies in this area.
Social implications
The use of interactive radio has helped in decreasing health issues caused by a deficiency in vitamin A among children in sub-Saharan Africa.
Originality/value
The development of sustainable and effective interactive radio programs is dependent on the collaboration of the core stakeholders such as governmental ministries, donor organizations and the mass communication sector. Numerous open sources on technology radio stations are available to employ social media managers to help in the application of knowledge.
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How does one learn of atrocities that have been committed, and are being committed, in remote corners of our planet? The standard answer to this question would likely be, “Consult…
Abstract
How does one learn of atrocities that have been committed, and are being committed, in remote corners of our planet? The standard answer to this question would likely be, “Consult the indexes to the leading components of the American establishment press, such as, for instance, The New York Times Index.” But, by so doing, one would be deeply disappointed, as I was. If one wanted to learn the horrifying particulars of the genocide the government of Bangladesh has been waging for at least 20 years against the tribal peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, an exhaustive search of the American establishment press would yield, at best, only a most shadowy, tenuous, and distorted picture. One's only certainty would be that there has been unrest in the Hill Tracts and that a long‐suffering Bangladeshi government has had a trying time suppressing it. Indeed, one's dominant impression would likely be of a beleaguered government of a newly independent, “democratic” state struggling against its own unruly dissidents. The truth, of course, is quite other‐wise: The government of a dubiously democratic, newly independent state, in a relentless and openly avowed land‐grab, is waging genocidal warfare against the non‐Muslim tribal minorities who occupy lands along one of its borders with India. A Bangladeshi army commander operating in the Tracts once avowed the government's aim: “We Want the Soil but not the People of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.” A genocidal intention could not easily be more explicitly expressed.
Yangjun Tu, Wei Liu and Zhi Yang
This research empirically investigates how service employees' ratings of technology readiness (TRI), negative attitudes towards robots (NARS), Big Five personality traits (BFI…
Abstract
Purpose
This research empirically investigates how service employees' ratings of technology readiness (TRI), negative attitudes towards robots (NARS), Big Five personality traits (BFI) and emotional demands (ED) affect their willingness to work with service robots (WTW).
Design/methodology/approach
One set of data is collected from 410 service employees expected to work with service robots in Study 1. Another set of field data is collected from 102 employees working with service robots in Study 2. Hierarchical regression is used to test hypotheses about the impact of technology readiness, negative attitudes towards robots and Big Five personality traits on WTW. Additionally, the interactions of emotional demands in the workplace are analysed.
Findings
TRI-optimism and TRI-insecurity significantly affect WTW in Study 2 but are nonsignificant in Study 1. The impacts of NARS-emotions in interaction with robots and NARS-interaction with robots situations on WTW are significant in Study 1 but nonsignificant in Study 2. Moreover, BFI-neuroticism negatively affected WTW in Study 1, while these effects were nonsignificant in Study 2. Finally, emotional demands significantly interact with three of eleven dimensions of IVs in Study 1, but all interactions are nonsignificant in Study 2.
Practical implications
This research provides a guiding framework for service companies to screen employees expected to cowork with service robots, to enhance newly hired employees' WTW and to improve existing employees' WTW.
Originality/value
Integrating the characteristics of service employees, service robots and jobs into a theoretical framework, this research is the first to empirically examine the effects of service employees' several critical characteristics (technology readiness, negative attitudes towards robots and Big Five personality) on WTW and the moderation of job characteristics (emotional demands).
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OUR readers, to whom we offer New Year greetings, may, we think, face the coming year with as complete a confidence as that which has sustained them in the very difficult years…
Abstract
OUR readers, to whom we offer New Year greetings, may, we think, face the coming year with as complete a confidence as that which has sustained them in the very difficult years through which they have recently passed. Not that it will be an easy year, because the demand for retrenchment in public expenditure is as insistent as ever, and the March estimates will serve as a debating ground of the fiercest sort. Nevertheless, a change has come over much of public opinion in regard to public libraries; the Press no longer ignores them, and, if much that is written about them is ill‐informed, there is now a disposition to discuss their improvement rather than to condemn them. We are justified in believing that the library has now made its place secure, and the initations and evasions shown in the recalcitrant borough of Marylebone are merely one evidence that places without libraries are uncomfortable in their consciousness of the fact.