Showing papers in "Management and Marketing in 2008"

Disaster management cycle – a theoretical approach

Abstract: The present study explains the various concepts used in disaster management. The concepts explained include: Disaster, Hazard, Vulnerability, Capacity, Risk and Disaster Management Cycle. In addition to the terminologies, the study also seeks to explain various types of disasters.

Vision, mission and corporate values. A comparative analysis of the top 50 U.S. companies

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the increasing importance of defining vision, mission and corporate values by a successful company. These three entities may be formulated in separate statements, or they may be integrated in a single one. Regardless of their formulation, they have the purpose to communicate internally and externally the existential goal of the company and the core values of their integrated activities. The paper presents a comparative analysis of the way vision, mission and corporate values are formulated by the top 50 U. S. companies. A qualitative and quantitative research has been performed, based on a set of main characteristics these semantic entities have.

The business value

Abstract: Almost every sales opportunity required us to get involved with our customer`s finance department to develop a business case or cost justification. Business acumen (an understanding of how business works) is more than just knowing words and their definitions; it`s understanding that poor inventory control has a negative impact on order fill-rates. When order fill-rates fall, customer loyalty suffers, as do accounts receivable. When accounts receivable get out hand, cash flow is impacted. Then a company might have to dip into lines of credit to cover short-term obligations, and the interest that has to be paid on that borrowed money erodes profitability. We call this the “cause and effect of business”.

The "5s" strategy for continuous improvement of the manufacturing processes in autocar exhaust

Abstract: The paper presents a continuous improvement strategy, process-oriented and aiming to improve manufacturing at AUTOCAR EXHAUST. The "5S" rules have immediate and significant effects on the sequence of activities in the work post, thus influencing the performance of processes in the analyzed company.

Retail store design and environment as branding support in the services marketing

Abstract: The services are intangibles, therefore their quality is difficult to be evaluated by the client and building a strong brand image is a challenging task The services are distributed using diverse channels such as: company retail stores, dealers, franchise The service companies are interested in the environment of the location, not only to increase sells but also in order to boost the image of the company The excitement that a retail store induces to a client can modify the perception of the brand The client values more a brand that distributes its services in a luxury, high-tech retail environment than a discount store In this paper we intended to investigate the techniques that a service company is using to enhance the brand image in a retail location For this purpose, the various aspects of the retail store design and environment were analyzed in connection with the customer-based brand equity model This original association will offer the services companies’ new perspectives on how to leverage brand image

Student attitudes to entrepreneurship

Abstract: This study on Student Attitudes to Entrepreneurship investigates the image which university students have of entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship. It is an initial exploratory/empirical study, which looks at the situation in Germany, Romania, Latvia, Italy and Austria. The study, based on questionnaires, shows that there are significant differences but also common features to the image of entrepreneurship and attitudes to it in the five countries. It is interesting to note that the students polled in connection with the study tended to have a neutral to positive/very positive image of entrepreneurs.

Common dimensions for entrepreneurship and strategy: the need for strategic entrepreneurship

Abstract: Research about the combination between strategy and entrepreneurship is in the early stages. While the benefits of combining entrepreneurship and strategy are well established, specific details and relations between common elements of strategy and entrepreneurship as a concept remain under-developed and unsubstantiated. This paper explores the relation between entrepreneurship and strategy. The common conception is that entrepreneurship has a strong effect on strategy process.

Power and satisfaction in the retailer-producer relationship

Abstract: The conversion of production-provider markets in customer-demand markets brings a change of power and influence in the distribution channel from producers to retailers as the direct contact to the final consumer. In this article there will be analyzed the influence of power and satisfaction on the success and the behavior of the members of the distribution channel. The first analyzed problem is whether a shift of power from producers to retailer has taken place. The second important thing is the satisfaction of the retailers with their producers, factors which influence this satisfaction and the impact of the retailer’s satisfaction on the success of producers. As a conclusion it will be analyzed, if there is connection between power and satisfaction and if there are any effects on the members of the distribution channel and their success.

Leadership and management in the transition Romanian higher education system

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the evolution of the higher education system in the transition period of Romania, by using a contingency approach combined with change dynamics. This post communist transition, which actually happened in all the European former communist countries, represents a quite new and unique historical construct and it can be characterized by some generic aspects and many other specific developments for each country. Since universities represent core public institutions, their reform is strongly related to the governmental strategy and the evolution of all the political, social, economical, technological and ethical aspects during transition. Our analysis show a very slow transition process from the socialist management pattern to the present democratic management pattern, due to strong inertial forces and to a chronic governmental ignorance of the change dynamics.

12th grade students’ behavior in the decision making process of educational choices

Abstract: Irrespective of the level and the nature of decisions which he must make, the recruitment responsible for an institution of higher education needs, real, exact, actual, full and relevant information about potential students. To acquire this information, faculties must conduct marketing researches to determine pupil behaviour in decision making process of educational choice. This article presents information about 12th grade pupils’behavior obtained from a survey carried out in Cluj-Napoca high schools.

Examining the antecedents and outcomes of romanian entrepreneurial orientation

Abstract: The purpose of the current study is to examine the impact of Romanian entrepreneurs' thinking styles on their entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and emotional intelligence (EI). More specifically, we examine how thinking style and risk preference - both separately and interactively - contribute to an individual's EO and EI. In addition, we examine the ways in which EO and EI impact affective organizational commitment. Consistent with expectations, Romanian entrepreneurs with high risk preference demonstrated greater EI than those with low risk preference. Furthermore, Romanian entrepreneurs with a nonlinear thinking style and high risk preference exhibited greater EO than those with a linear thinking style and low risk preference. Finally, Romanian entrepreneurs with high EI and high EO demonstrated greater affective organizational commitment than entrepreneurs with low EI and low EO. We conclude with a discussion of the study's findings, research limitations, and implications for future research.

Integrating artificial intelligence into organizational intelligence

Abstract: Organizational intelligence is the capability of an organization to create knowledge and to use it in order to strategically adapt to its environment. Intelligence of an organization is more than the aggregated intelligence of its members – it is an emergent property of the complex interactions of its subsystems and the way they are aggregated. Processes analyse related to organizational intelligence can be achieved by means of agent-based simulations. Distributed artificial intelligence addresses the study and design of systems composed of several interacting entities, which are distributed from the logical and often spatial point of view, considered in a certain sense autonomous and intelligent. An intelligent agent is a hardware or (especially) software system that is autonomous and situated in its environment and enjoys the following properties: autonomy, reactivity, pro-activeness and social ability. Organizational intelligence can be improved by extracting aggregated information about past experience which can be analysed and used in current situations. This helps organizations to understand past tendencies respectively outcomes and to anticipate future trends by applying previous patterns from organizational data.

Understanding customers - profiling and segmentation

Abstract: In any industry, the first step to finding and creating profitable customers is determining what drives profitability. This leads to better prospecting and more successful customer relationship management. Any company can segment and profile their customer base to uncover those profit drivers using the knowledge of their customers, products, and markets. Or they can use data-driven techniques to find natural clusters in their customer or prospect base. Whatever the method, the process will lead to kn

Ethics in marketing communication

Abstract: As well as the entire business world, marketing has its own ethics problems. Numerous marketing specialists or their representatives have consciously declared and adopted different engagements, declarations or codes of rules regarding the necessity that marketing people consider ethics regulations and values, so that they become much more responsible towards the members of society. These declarations or rules concern marketing practices in their ensemble or are guided towards certain specific fields. Among these fields, a special place is occupied by marketing communication, which has to be guided by ethical regulations and moral values.

Linking the double helix of learning and work to the triple helix of university - industry - government in the europe of knowledge

Abstract: The present paper presents results of research in progress. Its purpose is to highlight the relevance of the helix logic for the understanding and speeding up of the processes of innovation and learning in the knowledge based society with a particular emphasis on the European higher education and research area, more specifically Romania. Two representative models are presented and considered promising for their applications in education and research strategizing: the "Double Helix" of Learning and Work and, respectively, the "Triple Helix" of University-Industry-Government. The paper is based on (1) the authors' experience in Romanian higher education, from various university management positions to government positions related to higher education and (2) the author's experience of dealing with the business environment during the transition, experience encompassing areas from policy generation and implementation to evaluation of projects and research. This experience is captured by a critical exploration of the realities addressed in the paper and turned into an academic piece of qualitative research by using the conceptual artefacts approach. The specific difference the paper presents consists of providing a common framework for analysis for the two models which are based on the same logic, but were developed in different contexts both from a conceptual and an operational point of view. The paper also puts forward the hypothesis of the convergence of the two models with arguments that contribute to including the issues presented on the research agenda of the sociology of science and the theory of the policies fostering learning and innovation. The conceptual limits of the Triple Helix model are underlined, as well as the distortions that might appear during the implementation under real conditions of the partnership for innovation among universities, industry and government. Some elements of qualitative diagnosis of the degree of Romania's readiness for the adoption of the Triple Helix model are also presented. The paper puts forward the proposition for the convergence of the two models for further international research and study with the very practical view of finding means to render this proposal operational at both institutional and strategic levels.

Romania trying to be an European brand

Abstract: Building a coherent country branding program at international level requires a strong coordination between the government, the business sector, the decision makers from educational and cultural sector, the civil society and, the mass media representatives in any country. The paper presents the main efforts Romania has done to build a country image with a significant impact at international level. It focuses on the main policies and programs applied by Romania in the specific field of the national branding, offering a good analysis on the institutional framework and experience in promoting the country’s image internationally. The paper presents also the results of a research conducted with different local authorities (based on personal interviews) involved in the construction and promotion of a national brand abroad. The findings of the study provide opinions on the implications of the role of Romania’s country image in the European Integration process. A SWOT analysis on the Romania’s policy for building a European country brand completes the conclusions and the perspective on this particular issue considered to be important for a European Union integrating country. Finally, the paper makes proposals for creating a positive country image for Romania, a country that is in the process of redefining its position and its image at international level. Romania’s image will be considered from the perspective of the four dimensions defining a country image (tourism, exports, foreign direct investments and foreign policy), as well as from the perspective of building an integrated image abroad.

Adaptive multiagent system for seismic emergency management

Abstract: Presently, most multiagent frameworks are typically programmed in Java. Since the JADE platform has been recently ported to .NET, we used it to create an adaptive multiagent system where the knowledge base of the agents is managed using the CLIPS language, also called from .NET. The multiagent system is applied to create seismic risk scenarios, simulations of emergency situations, in which different parties, modeled as adaptive agents, interact and cooperate. The modern societies have many problems related to risk management of metropolitan areas. Due to the inherent number of inhabitants, any larger disaster either natural or artificial can have a deep impact on society. The information society gives the instruments than can reduce this impact. This is accomplished by using both prevention plans and disaster management plans. Probably, the most efficient way of minimizing losses is to create a model of the reaction, response or of the disaster itself. At community level, tool already exist to handle some problems. Unfortunately, great natural disasters like earthquakes have an impact at national or international levels. The only way of creating a global image from discrete images is to analyze all existent data about the disasters. However, the quantity of information is large and modern computing has two approaches to solve this problem. The first is a centralized manner that involves data to be stored into a few computing centers with great computing power. These centers usually have clusters of supercomputers which are very expensive. The second is given by the Internet growth in both quality and quantity of handled datasets, it is the distributed approach. Here we have many models but the most efficient ones from the point of view of the involved costs is to use intelligent agents (Atanasiu, Leon & Zaharia, 2008). They can travel to any point that has the needed data and will make exchanges of knowledge. As a result, even the countries with medium developed economies can use it to try to solve a part of this great problem. According to Wooldridge (2000), an agent is a computer system that is situated in its environment and is capable of autonomous action in order to meet its design objectives. Agent Oriented Programming (AOP) is a fairly new programming paradigm that supports a societal view of computation. In AOP, objects known as agents interact

Knowledge management implications

Abstract: Knowledge management is a general concept applied to almost any project that an organization undertakes, which is meant to transfer, share and exploit knowledge from one part of the organization to another. Most of the companies are already involved in knowledge management, even if, often, it is done informally and implicitly. The goal of a formal knowledge management program is just to make knowledge marketplaces to become more efficient. Many organizations are recognizing that the ownership of knowledge creates an important competitive advantage. Quite simply, the lack of a knowledge management program means that they are losing money or opportunities. The easiest kind of knowledge management project to justify is the ‘knowledge base’. A knowledge base is something that attempts to make the knowledge marketplace more efficient by making explicit knowledge easier to access. Projects that aim to facilitate the transfer of knowledge work best when organizations recognize how the existing knowledge marketplace operates, so that they can work within it.

Typological aspects of retailers on the background of market concentration

Abstract: Recent evolution of the market globalization, accompanied by rougher competition, implies adaptation of the traders to this new reality Their work policy will have to attract more consumer segments using the various types of retail and wholesale trade stores Moreover emphasis is to be put on “reorientation” of demand - especially from young consumers - towards the forms of the stationary trade, impressive by its comfort and simplicity of acquisition

Does sovereign risk have an effect on corporate rating? Case-study for emerging versus developed countries

Abstract: This paper focuses on analyzing the correlation between corporate and country rating. Is there an impact from the part of the sovereign risk towards the company financial and economical performance? Can this impact be differentiated according to emerging and developed countries? If yes, can it be quantified? Does the sovereign ceiling continue to be an outstanding theory? These are the main questions this article proposes to offer an answer to. A case study using the financials of 150 companies activating in various fields has been performed in order to highlight out the correlation between the two variables.

An exploratory study on the effect of social capital on supply chain relationships: the case of Romania

Abstract: This study examines the relationship of social capital among buyers and their principal supplier and their most recently chosen supplier in Romania. The study provides an understanding of the transition from a command to a market economy. Responses from 96 managers were analyzed and revealed that supply chain practices are unevenly applied, the practices are used to greater degree with the principal supplier, and a statistically significant link was found between measures of the buyer’s social capital and its supply chain relationships with the principal supplier. No such link was found between the buyer and its most recently chosen supplier.

Organizational knowledge dynamics

Abstract: The paper addresses the main issues concerning knowledge conceptualization and knowledge dynamics, in the context of Romanian organizations. The links between organizational knowledge, organizational learning and organizational culture are being investigated, with the aim of conceptual clarification and paradigm unification, in a domain of increasing research interest, where increasing complexity implies the risk of increasing confusion.

On a model regarding the product life cycle

Abstract: In this paper we analyze a modified model for the so-called PLC - Product Life Cycle, the original model being proposed by N. Al. Pop (2000). This PLC is considered here from a reliability theory viewpoint: our modification lies in the fact that the PLC - curve is transformed in a probability density function which allows the application of statistical inferential procedures.

Managing quality in organizations through performance measurement

Abstract: The performance measurement of an organization’s processes offers important information regarding to what extend the settled objectives have been fulfilled, and also its progress. This has to be achieved by taking into consideration the requirements of all stakeholders of the organization. In this paper we set ourselves to explore a manner by which an organization can remain profitable on the market, but also means to continually improve its performances. Regarding this, the paper discusses the need to plan and implement a quality management system in order to sustain and promote the change at the organizational level and to develop a culture of quality. Moreover, it is presented a system of performance indicators that will help the organization to evaluate its progress and to remain successful in the field of activity where it operates.

Romanian academic marketing. Present and perspectives

Abstract: This study examines the evolution of the marketing topics in the academic curriculum of the Romanian universities. It is a historical insight into the now well developed field of study: Marketing. In the same time it is a tribute to our professors and researchers who devoted their efforts in developing a new and powerful academic domain.

Interactions among components of a university system

Abstract: In general, terms like competitivity and performance are found together when we want to evaluate the competitivity of a university in the academic system or when we want to rank the performance of the faculty members in the academic world or their competitivity inside their institution. As such, we are interested both in the performance of the institution, as well as in the performance of its human components, the students or the faculty members, with the well defined goal of improving, when it is necessary, the low performances in order to increase se competitivity at the general level.

The importance of loyalty of highly performing employees for organizational performance

Abstract: Competition, and efforts to increase market share and profits, made leaders of more and more companies around the world, including Romania, aware that competent and dedicated employees are the key factor in getting and retaining customers’ loyalty. Despite the efforts that managers put in strategies for retaining employees, surveys show that most of the CEOs report that employee turnover increased dramatically in the last three years. In this paper, we try to find some answers to the question: “How can leaders retain high performers in the organization?” Employee satisfaction is, in our opinion, one important answer. Research performed in Romania by GFK, starting with 2005, confirm the results released by the international studies. Romanian employees appreciated respect, recognition, challenging work as being more important than fair payment. That is why we presented in the paper some methods that are meant at increasing employees’ satisfaction and loyalty.

Price determination and price strategy in the marketing view

Abstract: Taking into account the four marketing politics, the price may seem to hold a special place both in theory and practice. This assertion is sustained by the fact that some specialists consider prices a variable unable to be controlled by a company, while others are adepts of another theory according to which there is a real possibility of using the price in the company's best interest, whether on short but most of all on long periods of time. Like in many other circumstances, taking also into consideration what has already been proved in the field, the truth may lie somewhere in between, meaning the price cannot be controlled by a company like other market poles, as product policies of distribution and promotion, but at the same time it cannot be considered an external variable, impossible to be used in marketing terms.

Strategies for regional sustainable development in south-west oltenia

Abstract: The paper analyses the relationship between sustainable development, regionalism and strategic orientation in one of the least developed Romanian regions, South-West Oltenia. Based on a questionnaire filled in by a sample of managers from the region, the perception on business strengths and weaknesses, as well as the assessment of the external environment were investigated, and paralleled with the main causes of underdevelopment, as identified by the respective managers. The conclusions of the study give a plausible picture of the level of development, interrelated with the quality of business strategies in the region, and ask for a comparative analysis of more Romanian regions, having various development levels.

Romania as a project-oriented society

Abstract: Projects and project management play an increasing role in the global economy. In a context marked by the evolution of project management from a technical function to an organizational methodology that can be embraced successfully by communities, associations, government agencies, big companies, and even by the society as a whole, the concept of “project-oriented society” gains ground. Not only is the concept on the rise, but also research on measuring the maturity level of the project-oriented society. The main assumption underlying this paper is that there is a correlation between the maturity of project orientation and the managerial competitiveness of each society. The paper explores this correlation by presenting in detail the research study “Project Orientation Romania”, which focused on the main measurable dimensions of a project-oriented society.