Showing papers in "Management and Marketing in 2013"

Factors Affecting Consumer Attitudes and Intentions toward User-Generated Product Content on Youtube

Abstract: . The advent of social media has radically changed the communication landscape. They enabled consumers to interact with other consumers online and exchange information. The information which consumers generate and share on social media is called user generated content (UGC). Today consumers rely heavily on UGC in their purchase decisions. The current study assesses the effects of quantity of posts, views and reviews (QPVR) on perceived credibility (PC) and usefulness (PU) of product content which users generate on YouTube. It also examines the effects of PC and PU on consumer attitudes toward UGC and their intentions of using it in their purchase decisions. Data was collected from 231 university students from Islamabad, Pakistan. The results reveal that QPVR has a positive effect on both PC and PU of the product content which users generate on YouTube. They also show that PC and PU have a positive effect on consumer attitudes toward product content which other users generate on YouTube. Findings of the current study have significant implications for social media advertisers.Keywords: quantity of posts, views and reviews, credibility, usefulness, user generated content, YouTube, attitudes, purchase intentions.1. IntroductionRecent advancements in internet-based technologies have produced radical changes in the nature of the socio-business communication style, content and participants. The internet has opened new avenues for businesses to interact with their customers effectively (Sceulovs and Gaile-Sarkane, 2010). Today, businesses use the internet to conduct their commercial activities globally (Durbhakula and Kim, 2011). Recently, social media has profoundly transformed the ways in which people communicate (Edwards, 2011). Social Media is a "group of internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0, and that allow the creation and exchange of user generated content" (Kaplan and Haenlein, 2010, p. 61). In other words, social media is the personalized user generated media and users exercise greater control over its content generation and use than its producers of consumer goods and services (Dickey and Lewis, 2011). Social media is a broad term and consists of online networks (e.g. Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn), wikis (e.g. Wikipedia), multimedia sharing sites (e.g., YouTube and Flickr), bookmarking sites (e.g. Del.icio.us and Digg), virtual worlds (e.g. Second Life), rating sites (e.g. Yelp), blogs (e.g. TMZ), and virtual game worlds (e.g. World of Warcraft). The rapid growth and adoption of social media globally made it the focal point for business decision makers. Today, businesses are allocating their resources to identifying ways to make profitable use of social media (Kaplan and Haenlein, 2010). Since the inception of social media, several researchers (e.g. Cheong and Morrison, 2008; Chi, 2011; Cui et al., 2010; Daugherty et al., 2008; Mir, 2012; Mir and Zaheer, 2012; Sun et al., 2009; Zeng et al., 2009) attempted to assess the different aspects, uses and impacts of social media. Nevertheless, most of these past studies focused on social networking sites and virtual communities. So far, few studies have focused on YouTube which is a huge source of user generated content (UGC). YouTube is a multimedia sharing site where users can upload, share and view videos. They can also rate the YouTube content by giving it a thumb up or down or by publishing their comments (Snelson, 2011). Video dissemination through YouTube can have widespread impacts on opinions, thoughts, and cultures (Borghol et al., 2012) particularly when these videos are user generated. The popular user generated videos on YouTube shape the public opinion, attitude, and sentiments (Bachrach, 2008; Kiss, 2006). The user generated videos on YouTube can be about products, events, personalities and so on.The current study focuses on UGC which contains information about products. …

The Influence of Overall Satisfaction and Trust on Customer Loyalty

Abstract: . A number of researchers have reported the positive benefits of creating and maintaining customer loyalty. This study tries to clarify the concept of loyalty and examines the influence of two relationship marketing concepts, namely overall customer satisfaction and customer trust on customer loyalty in the banking sector in Romania. Business customers in Romania were surveyed using a questionnaire administered via email. A total of 78 firms provided the date for the empirical study. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used in order to test the model fit and estimate the hypothesized relationships. The results of the empirical study show that overall customer satisfaction and customer trust are significantly related to both dimensions of loyalty, namely customer's behavioral and attitudinal loyalty. Our findings also reveal that overall customer satisfaction and customer trust are positively and strongly associated. This study reinforces the importance of customer loyalty as a source of sustainable competitive advantage that secures banks with a stable position in the banking sector over time. This paper also presents the limitations of this research, discusses the implication of this study and provides directions for future research.Keywords: relationship marketing, behavioral loyalty, attitudinal loyalty, overall satisfaction, trust, business-tobusiness, SEM.1. IntroductionLately, the Romanian banking sector underwent a series of drastic changes due on the one hand, to the economic crisis manifested globally and nationally, and on the other hand, to domestic market penetration of a large number of international banks. These changes have reduced primary demand and increased the competition in this market. Therefore, the importance of identifying and capitalizing a source of sustainable competitive advantage is becoming more prominent for banks wishing to secure a stable position in the market of banking services.The relatively recent emergence of the relationship marketing paradigm reinforces the importance given by marketing researchers to the creation, development, maintenance and evaluation of relationships (Berry, 1995, 2002; Coviello et al., 1997; Filip and Pop, 2007; Gronroos, 1994a, b; Gummesson, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2002). Hutt and Speh (2004 in Cater and Cater, 2010) states that building long-term relationships with customers is the essence of Business-to-Business (B-to-B) marketing and B-to-B relationships provide opportunities for companies to create competitive advantages and achieve superior results (Jap et al., 1999; Ulaga, 2003). Within this paradigm, customer loyalty is a central concept being considered one of the purposes of relationship marketing (Egan, 2001).Chakravarty et al. (2004) state that the banking sector is susceptible to customer switching behavior due to the competitiveness between banks and the homogeneity of banking products and services. Thus, in order to reduce or eliminate these behaviors, banks can focus on developing and maintaining customer loyalty. Another argument that supports the need and importance of loyal business customers is that there is a general acceptance that loyal customers generate profitability for the supplier (Jones and Sasser, 1995). Therefore, banks must completely understand the concept of loyalty and its determinants in order to secure a competitive position in the banking sector. Moreover, loyal customers are a continuing source of profit for the bank for at least two reasons. First, loyal customers are more receptive to cross-selling and up-selling activities undertaken by the bank and less price sensitive. Second, loyal customers recommend to other potential customers bank's services. Hence, knowing the factors that enhance the level of customer loyalty is a requirement for banks that want to gain a sustainable competitive advantage.Accordingly, our study focuses on the role of two central concepts of relationship marketing in building and maintaining customer loyalty. …

Materialism in Consumer Behavior and Marketing: A Review

Abstract: . In recent years, materialism has become an increasingly important topic in consumer behaviour and marketing. However, several scholars have questioned the existing materialism conceptualizations, by extension the various materialism measures. In this paper, materialism literature is reviewed extensively. This conceptual paper comprises of four sections. First, materialism is discussed as a socio-cultural phenomenon as well as an individual phenomenon. Second, materialism as an individual phenomenon based on Lar sen et al. (1999) conceptual framework is discussed. Third, various materialism conceptualizations in consumer behaviour and marketing literature have been reviewed. Furthermore, ten different materialism measurement scales were discussed. Also, their drawbacks are mentioned. Based on the review, it is concluded that existing materialism conceptualizations and measures have several shortcomings. Consequently, in the fourth part, a newer materialism conceptualization proposed by Shrum et al. (2012) is discussed. Additionally, the advantages of the newer definition of materialism over prevailing definitions are explained.Keywords: materialism, perspectives, conceptualizations in consumer behaviour, marketing measurement scales, drawbacks.1. IntroductionOne particular aspect related to consumption that has gained widespread attention is - materialism. Materialism is defined as "the importance a consumer attaches to worldly possessions" (Belk, 1984, p. 291). Noting the importance of materialism, Twitchell (1999) maintained, "[o]f the 20th century's various - isms, it has been the one that has ultimately triumphed' (p. 16). Indeed, the Association of Consumer Research has sponsored a conference devoted to materialism (Rudmin and Richins, 1992), which further corroborates the importance of the topic for consumer behavior researchers and marketers. However, scholars (e.g., Larsen et al., 1999) have noted that the existing conceptualizations and by extension, materialism measurement scales, have several drawbacks.Given the importance of the topic, materialism literature is reviewed extensively. First, a discussion follows about materialism and its various perspectives. Second, a discussion continues on materialism conceptualizations in the field of consumer behavior and marketing. Additionally, ten different measurement scales related to materialism are explained along with their drawbacks. Third, consequences related to materialism at individual as well as societal levels are reviewed. Finally, a new conceptualization of materialism proposed by Shrum et al. (2012) is introduced to explain the conceptual advantages of this definition over prevailing conceptualizations.Meaning of the word "materialism" is rooted in philosophy (Micken and Roberts, 1999), which refers to the philosophical conceptualization that nothing exists except matter and its movement (Scott, 2009). In his book, The History of Materialism, Lange (1873-75, p. 215) noted the then prevalent notion about materialism, as a belief in "material, self-existent things." Today, in common usage, materialism is associated with a tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values (Oxford Dictionaries, 2012).Materialism is a complex, multi-faceted phenomenon (Larsen et al., 1999), extensively studied by scholars from various fields, such as advertising, anthropology, consumer behavior and marketing, economics, psychology, political science, and social sciences (Mannion and Caolan, 1995). Accordingly, materialism has been viewed from socio-cultural as well as individual perspectives (Hunt et al., 1996). Also, it has been noted that materialism has different connotations: negative (e.g., Micken and Roberts, 1999), positive (e.g., Scott, 2009), and neutral (e.g., Larsen et al., 1999). All the issues mentioned will be discussed in subsequent sections.Richins and Dawson (1992) noted the term "materialism" is used freely and loosely. …

Investigating the Factors Affecting Youth Brand Choice for Mobile Phones Purchase - a Study of Private Universities Students of Peshawar

Abstract: . Youths, today, are highly technology oriented and an active segment of society in the usage of digital technology and transforming of applications. There can be seen an increased use of mobile phones among young consumers world wide. Because of their fast adoption curve and orientation towards technology and innovative feature, this age group has become an area of significant interest to the marketers. This study intends to determine all those factors which affect the youth's brand choice for purchase of mobile phones. The data of the study was collected from the private university students of City University and Sarhad University, Peshawar. The study uses a self administered questionnaire, which was distributed randomly among 110 students, to measure their brand choice criteria. The responses were measured by using descriptive statistics, regression and coefficient analysis. The findings of the study show that Quality, brand image and recommendations by family and friends are the key variables that influence the brand choice of youths for mobile handset purchase in Peshawar Pakistan.Keywords: brand choice, youths, mobile phones, brand image, price and features.1. IntroductionIn today's fiercely competitive world, it is very important for the marketers to discover and figure out the aspects that are essential to deal with the competitors, changing customer tastes and preferences. The intense competition in terms of product similarity and increased number of competing brands in the market have led the marketers to consider and study the factors that are influential in consumers' brand choice decisions and behaviors (Das, 2012).For marketers, youth market is one of the most appealing and attractive market, as they believe to earn a huge return on their investments by targeting this age group. Youths, nowadays, are considered to have more pull/[power] in their key family decisions and purchases. Hence, a major center of firm's marketing actions is towards these young consumers and they concentrate much on the factors underlying the buying behavior and brand choice.Investigating the factors that influence brand choice can be an interesting topic for the researchers to study as they can examine the key elements that are vital in choosing a particular brand over the others. This research paper attempts to analyze the determinants of brand choice in the context of young consumers' market. The research is conducted under the background of mobile phones market. The reason behind choosing the mobile phone market with respect to focus on youths in determining brand choice is twofold: firstly, mobile phones are widely used by youths all over the world and this market in the recent years has become more and more competitive. Thus, it is necessary for the marketers to understand their brand preference criteria before spending large sums of money on this age bracket; secondly, youths play a crucial and influencing role in mobile brand choice. Marketers target them not only as they will represent adult consumers of tomorrow but also because they dominate a large and remarkable portion of their parent's income.2. Literature review2.1. Brand and brand choiceThe brand, in simple words, refers to a name, design, symbol or any feature that differentiates one seller's product and services from that of other sellers. It can be used as a strong strategic weapon and as an ideal differentiator to build a lifetime image in customers' minds. According to Phillips (1988), brand as a whole can be termed as "a trademark that conveys a promise". This promise includes symbolic and functional features which are linked by the market to a brand. Brand in its totality is "the sum of all marketing mix elements", (Keller, 2002, p. 20).Kapferer (1997) describes the brand as a symbol, a sign which is external to the product. Kapferer maintained that its function is to reveal the hidden attributes of the product that are hard to be reached and contacted. …

A Risk Mitigation Model in Sme's Open Innovation Projects

Abstract: . SMEs are slightly overlooked in the open innovation literature, which provides a scarcity of studies on the risks residing in open innovation projects involving SMEs and even fewer attempts to assess the mitigation potential of these dangers. The limited literature written on SMEs and open innovation highlights the motives, the benefits and the barriers these engines of economy confront when embarking in open innovation projects. However, no particular attempt to further the research into managing and mitigating the effective risks triggered by open innovation in SMEs was found. Based on a survey conducted on 211 Romanian SMEs in the Romanian financial services and consultancy sector, this paper both explores the risks affecting the innovation performance of SMEs in collaborative relationships, and seeks to provide a conceptual model for overcoming these threats. Within the survey, our work highlights that open innovation in Romanian SMEs is impeded by risks related to insufficient financial resources, inexperienced, unmotivated and unwilling to cooperate people, poor adaptation to technological advances in the industry, knowledge sharing risks, weak social capital and noteworthy regulation risks. The research results indicate six factors as main risk mitigators: transparent communication among innovators, trust building, people empowerment, organizational learning and investment in knowledge, leadership, vision and convictions, proactiveness towards unethical behaviour. By undertaking this study we aim to contribute to the scarce literature on open innovation practices in Romanian SMEs and to shed light on the factors that a firm needs to approach in order to foster a culture for innovation and, in the same time, reduce the open innovation risks.Keywords: open innovation, SME, risks, innovation performance, collaboration.1. IntroductionAccording to Chesbrough (2003), open innovation highlights the innovative potential of external factors, since valuable ideas can come from inside or outside the company and can go to market from inside or outside the company as well. Although the phenomenon of open innovation has increasingly captured the attention of many researchers, we found few studies addressing open innovation from the SMEs perspective and even fewer which deal with this innovation strategy from the risk management point of view.SMEs concentrate the majority of employees and revenues both at European level as at country level, respectively in Romania. SMEs in Europe comprise of about 23Meuro investment market that account for 99% of all businesses and represent 2nd/3rd of the total employment (Renaud, 2008). In Romania, the SME sector consists of 5 million employees (67% of total people employed in enterprises), 100 billion EUR revenues and almost 500.000 companies (Ziarul Financiar, 2013). The figures suggest a strong innovation potential for SMEs, which hasn't been yet studied in accordance to their power to mitigate risks encountered in the innovation process itself.In addition, even if SMEs are generally thought of as high innovators, an overall look over the greatest economic sector (respectively SMEs) in Romania proves that the country lags far behind in innovation area. In the Global Competitiveness Index (2012) provided by the World Economic Forum, Romania ranks 77 out of 144 countries. In the innovation index Romania ranks 106 out of 144 signalling a low involvement of the business actors in the innovation process. This illustrates the existence of major risks that affect the innovation process, as ranked by respondents to the survey of the WEF, who were asked to select the five most problematic factors for doing business in Romania: corruption (17%), tax rates (14%), inefficient government bureaucracy (13%), access to financing (12%) and tax regulations (8%). Relevant for Romania and the working force is the poor social capital, since inadequately educated workforce (4%) and poor work ethic in national labour force (3%) are high on the list of obstacles in Romanian business environment (World Economic Forum - Global Competitiveness Report 2012 - 2013). …

Examining workers' perceptions of spirituality in the workplace: an exploratory study

Abstract: . There has been growing interest in workplace spirituality theory. However, research has predominantly been focused on USA and Canada, except some recent initiatives. Taking it into account, the purpose of this study is to delve into how Brazilian workers see, perceive, and define workplace spirituality. By employing a phenomenological approach, this study found 34 core themes, 12 of which were also identified in a previous investigation conducted by Marques et al. (2007), namely: trust, openness, kindness (compassion and friendship), honesty, moral and ethics, a sense of peace and harmony, aesthetically pleasing work environment, team orientation, understanding, faith in god, respect, and truth. The remaining 22 themes - which constitute the novel contribution of this study - are as follows: fun, love, well-being, a sense of religiosity, serenity, social responsibility, tolerance, sincerity, meaning of work, higher values, human valuing, coherent attitudes, common interests and objectives, politeness, willing to offer guidance and be an example, stimulating environment, listening to and be listened, praying habit, patience, positive energies and thoughts, concerns with other's well-being, and the spirit of solidarity. In addition, this research design enabled to make some comparisons between two distinct cultural contexts (i.e., Brazilian and American), which contributes to broaden the cross cultural management knowledge.Keywords: spirituality, organizations, mission, values, work, God, and religion.1. IntroductionOn the surface, the beginning of a sound transformation in the work environments (Neal, 1999) is taking place whereby employees are pursuing greater meaning in their work (Cash and Gray, 2000). It appears that this shift has been urged by the resurgence of spirituality as a core idea. In fact, it has been advocated that we are living an authentic spiritual revolution (Tacey, 2004). In this regard, Cavanagh (2003) wisely states: "Interest in spirituality has been present as long as people have existed. Spirituality meets a deeply rooted and genuine need in people and thus goes beyond being a fad" (p. 264) Going further, he remarks: "The need for spirituality can be stated as simply the need that all human beings have to recognize that they are dependent on someone or some force greater than they and are connected to every other person in the world" (p. 264).In a related vein, Garcia-Zamor (2003) argues that "If/or the most of the twentieth century, traditionally run companies ignored the basic fact of human nature" (p. 328). Rather, organizations did not realize that human beings have a spiritual essence and, to some degree, the majority of them still continue to think so. Nonetheless, Benefiel (2003) argues that we are living in a timely moment for the field of spirituality in organizations outline its frontiers. Duchon and Plowman (2005) noted that a growing number of scholars have increasingly paid attention to workplace spirituality. Earlier, Guillory (2001, p. 40) argued that the pressure toward workplaces and the change of societal values would likely generate situations, crises, and scenarios that would require "inner space" solutions. Meanwhile, Nash (2003) argues that the growing interest in spirituality - and workplace spirituality is part of it - "can be a desired and effective force in daily life, including today's business environment" (p. 53).Overall, evidence shows that people have associated workplace spirituality with different meanings and perceptions (Geh and Tan, 2009; Kolodinsky et al., 2008). Furthermore, the majority of empirical investigations have been conducted in countries like USA and Canada (e.g., Chamiec-Case, 2006; Delbecq, 2009; Dyck and Weber, 2006; James et al., 2011; Kinjerski and Skrypnek, 2006a-b, 2008; Liu and Robertson, 2011; Marques, 2006; Marques et al., 2007, 2011; Marschke, 2008; McKee et al., 2011; McKnight, 2005; Milliman et al. …

The Contribution of Sustainable Marketing to Sustainable Development

Abstract: . The economic, social and environmental undesirable impact of the existing development pattern pushes to the adoption and use of a new development paradigm that of sustainable development. This paper intends to substantiate how the marketing can help the sustainable development. It begins with the subjects of sustainable development and sustainable marketing as they are discussed in literature. The sustainable development is a tri-dimensional concept which embeds the economic dimension, the social dimension and the environmental dimension that ask to have in view the simultaneous pursuit of economic prosperity, social equity and environmental quality. A major challenge to achieve these goals at business level and to integrate all three dimensions of sustainability is the sustainable marketing. The sustainable marketing is a relationship marketing that aims at building lasting relationships with the social and natural environment on a long-term thinking and futurity and this philosophy allows helping all three dimensions of sustainability. As marketing solutions that could contribute to the sustainable development we advance the stimulation of sustainable demand, the constant innovation and improvement of sustainable products, the design and use of customized communication, a multi-channel distribution network and the sale of sustainable products and services at fair prices. Their implementation will increase the economic, social and environmental sustainability at a large extent in the future if they are supported by political, governmental and legal efforts.Keywords: sustainable development sustainable marketing, sustainable demand, sustainable product credible communication, multi-channel distribution network, fair price.1. Sustainable development, the only chance for the future of humankindIn 1987, the World Commission on the Environment and Development, presently called Brundtland Commission, coined the term "sustainable development" to illustrate the links among the economic, social and environmental objectives of development. Since then, there has been considerable evidence backing the need for sustainable development. Many of the Earth's ecosystems are falling apart, species are endangered, global warming is becoming increasingly apparent and resources depletion is starting to take its toll. If humanity continues to remain inside the current paradigm when it comes to development, people who live on Earth will need at least two planets to supply the needed resources to sustain life. The crux of the problem lies in the fact that 80 per cent of the world resources are used by 20 per cent of the people. The environmental issues are to be considered, too. Societies are developing so fast that up to 137 species go extinct daily in the tropical forests alone. The social aspects have appeared as a result of disparities in economic and political power. Most people around the world have seen major improvement in their lives over the past 40 years. But there are major constraints on the ability to sustain such evolutions. This ability depends on the freedom of choice and equity by protecting the availability and diversity of natural resources that are not in place today. The healthier nations are better placed financially and technically to cope with the efforts of climatic change and social disparities.All aspects discussed above are evidence that emphasize the need for policy makers to realize that economic growth, environmental protection and social issues such as the quality of life are interconnected. They must be included into a new development paradigm that of sustainable development. This kind of sustainable development pattern has to take into account not only the interdependence between its economic, social and environmental dimensions, but also how the human needs are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The potential congruence of economic growth and social and environmental sustainability could appear only within a broader paradigm of green economy. …

The "What" and "How" of Marketing Performance Management

Abstract: . The paper is aimed at offering a synthesized, but comprehensive review of the relevant marketing performance management literature. While many contributions to measuring and improving marketing performance have been advanced, little previous research has focused on offering a complete overview of marketing performance management domains. Our paper attempts to do so, by first exploring the most popular concepts in marketing performance: marketing metrics, KPIs, dashboards, scorecards and marketing performance management systems. Then, based on the marketing productivity model proposed by Rust et al. (2004a), marketing performance domains are identified and analyzed, providing a complete approach to measuring and managing marketing performance, from marketing strategy to impact on financial results. To our best knowledge, this may be the first study in marketing literature from Romania, addressing marketing performance management from a holistic perspective.Keywords: marketing performance, marketing accountability, marketing metrics, marketing dashboards, marketing scorecards.(ProQuest: ... denotes formulae omitted.)1. IntroductionMarketing performance management has been one of the most prominent streams in recent marketing research and practice. In fact, the Marketing Science Institute has ranked marketing accountability, return on marketing investments and marketing performance management systems among the top 10 research priorities after 2002 and top priority for 2008-2010 (Lamberti and Noci, 2010).Many valuable contributions have been brought to this field of research, concepts such as marketing metrics (Gupta and Zeithaml, 2006; Reibstein et al., 2006; Kotler et al., 2009), marketing dashboards (Pauwels et al., 2008), marketing performance management systems (Ambler, 2003; Lamberti and Noci, 2010) and marketing productivity (Rust et al., 2004a) being advanced. Notwithstanding these recent developments, there is little consensus as to what marketing performance management is and how it should be done. Our paper aims to bring together the most important recent developments in the research and practice of marketing performance management, offering a holistic approach to analyzing and managing marketing performance. Furthermore, based on the marketing productivity chain (Rust et al., 2004a), we identify the most important domains of measuring marketing performance, exploring the most popular concepts and practices for each.2. Marketing performance management2.1. The sphere of marketing performance managementTo correctly define what marketing performance management envisages, a clarification must be done regarding two, sometimes used interchangeably, concepts: performance management and performance measurement. In a broad sense, performance management can be seen as the overarching process that deals with performance, thus including sub-processes such as performance planning, measuring, reporting and decision-making for improving performance. Performance measurement represents a component of performance management, dealing with the identification, monitoring and communication of performance results with the use of performance indicators (Brudan, 2010, p. 111). Hence, marketing performance management includes not just the monitoring and assessment of marketing results (marketing performance measurement), but also marketing planning, execution, and, highly important, use of marketing results for performance improvement. In fact, it is argued that the real value of performance measurement relies not in the performance indicators or reports, but in the decisions and actions generated from using them (Neely et al., 1995, in Meekings et al., 2009, p. 13).Drawing the attention of not only marketing scholars, but also that of marketing practice, it is worthwhile noting that both have been active in proposing definitions and concepts to advance progress in marketing performance management. …

A conceptual disaster risk reduction framework for health and safety hazards in the construction industry

Abstract: The health and safety hazard status of construction workers is constantly challenged by the projects in the built environment. In this article, various aspects of health and safety hazards for construction workers have been reviewed and investigated through a disaster risk reduction prism. This approach has further led to the perception of glancing at the construction sector as an ongoing disaster zone and equally provides a new management perspective. From this perspective, the occurrence of a disaster within the construction sector corresponds to the temporary or permanent ill-health or death of a construction worker. Geographical location is one of the factors that play an important role in addressing the health and safety hazards for construction workers. In addition to the location, geographical considerations equally encapsulate regional, cultural, governmental and work ethical effects. These effects may potentially contribute to disparities in the construction sector. With an increasing level of understanding for health and safety hazards in the construction domain, more efficient prevention measures can be taken in order to enable a disaster management cycle, capable of responding to the rigorous demands of the construction sector.

Gamification Applied in Affiliate Marketing. Case Study of 2parale

Abstract: . This paper is centered upon the application of gamification in an affiliate network present on the Romanian market. The first part covers the definition of gamification and basic theoretical aspects related, such as gamification elements and the pyramid, the D6 Design Framework, as well as possible environments where gamification can be applied and the design process behind it. The research focuses on the case study of 2Parale.ro, the affiliate network which has developed gamified campaigns and had outstanding results. There were employed game elements to boost both the affiliates and the advertisers' engagement, to generate more leads and increase sales. Three campaigns are analyzed by taking into account the game elements introduced in each campaign, assessing the value that the newly introduced elements had and how they affected the reaction and engagement of the affiliates, the last campaign managing to sell in one day more than the first two combined. Finally, there are presented the elements from the gamification pyramid employed, the results obtained and some conclusions are drawn based on which we offer some recommendations for future development of gamification applied in the selected business.Keywords: gamification, affiliate marketing, gamification elements, D6 gamification design framework, 2Parale challenges.1. Short introduction to gamificationIn recent years we have seen a rapid propagation of mass-market consumer software that takes inspiration from video games. Usually referred to as 'gamification', this trend refers to multiple existing concepts and research in game studies and human-computer interaction, such as serious games, alternate reality games, or playful design. Until recently however, it was not clear how gamification relates to these, and how it is defined.It is not obvious from the start what gamification is. When one hears the term 'gamification', one first thinks about games, of course. There are many types of games: video games like Angry Birds, Call of Duty, or World of Warcraft; social and Facebook games like Farmville; board games like Monopoly and sports games like football or the Olympics.Gamification is a new concept and in many ways it is misunderstood. First we need to understand what gamification is and what it is not, as well as some of the history, and some of the context for this emerging business practice. It is also important to understand how gamification can be used and why it might be effective in business contexts. Gamification is a powerful tool, but it is very important to have some measure of skepticism, to realize that gamification is not suited for every problem the company may face.Deterdinget al. (2011a, p. 9) defined gamification as "the use of game elements and game design techniques in non-game context". This definition has three important parts: game elements, game design techniques, and non-game contexts. The game elements are the "toolbox" of gamification, the pieces you work with to create a service that uses bits and pieces to build a game. Not the game itself, but the regular design patterns that make up the games, common across games as well as gamified services. These elements may include: points, quests, levels, progression, social graphs, badges, avatars and/or resource collections (Huotari and Hamari, 2012).Games are not just a jumble of elements that have been stuck together, they are things that are designed systematically, thoughtfully, and artistically for the purpose of being fun. What game designers do is not just a matter of pure engineering. There is an artistic experiential side to game design that involves thinking about problems in a certain way. This involves taking an approach that uses concepts that are common to all forms of design, as well as some concepts that are novel and specific to designing games. Some examples of gamification are focused on the elements and some on game design modality, while some have both. …

Corporate Ethical Values, Group Creativity, Job Commitment and Performance: The Effect on Work Response of Work Context

Abstract: . A business culture supported by positive practices and strong ethical values will produce productive employee work response. Positive work environment encourages ethical decision making and employees feel comfortable in an environment where they have freedom to make ethical decisions. It becomes difficult for employees to make ethical decisions in an unethical work environment. This research studied the relationship between group creativity, corporate ethical values, job commitment and performance. Using a self-reporting questionnaire, information was collected from employees of three largest telecommunication companies of Pakistan. The data is collected from sales and marketing employees of telecom industry by using convenience sampling technique. The research model was tested using AMOS Version 16. Results show the normative elements of work context (ethical value, group creativity) positively influence employee's level of commitment and ethical decision making, thus resulting in better organizational performance. This study is among the few empirical studies that investigate consequences of positive work context (ethical value, group creativity) on ethical decision making and commitment level of employees.Keywords: corporate ethical values, group creativity, job commitment, work context, work response, performance.1. IntroductionThe smooth working in organizations where unethical behaviors take place relies on the level of harmonization between individual and organizational values. A healthy fit between employees and the organization may produce positive results like job satisfaction and commitment (Hoffman and Woehr, 2006; Verquer et al., 2003). The increasing unethical incidents in organizations make it important for researchers to study and develop a better understanding of the influence of ethics on organizational results (Andrews et al., 2011). In order to establish an ethical culture in the organization, ethical customs can be a particularly effective tool. The usage of clear code of conduct, proper ethics training, open communication and colleague's influence can definitely strengthen employee commitment to ethical customs (Minkes et al., 1999; Valentine and Barnett, 2002; Kaptein, 2009; Valentine and Fleischman, 2004, 2008; Schwepker and Good, 2007; Adams et al., 2001; LeClair and Ferrell, 2000).When this commitment becomes visible, an atmosphere which encourages ethical behavior through social processes and work norms is created (Minkes et al., 1999; Ferrell et al., 2007; O'Fallon and Butterfield, 2005; Valentine and Barnett, 2007; Ingram et al., 2007). Moreover, an increase in employee ethics is among the main aims for building an ethical framework because employees' positive dealings will lead to added benefits to organizations. Group creativity and ethical values are contextual variables which may give organizations two harmonizing activators for improving organizational work through employee responses (Valentine et al., 2011).West and Richter (2008) emphasized that research on the relationship between climate, organizational culture and creativity has been inadequate, and that it is still a mature area for study. Commitment and ethical decision making are other significant response factors which are to be evaluated in relation to work context's operationalization (Valentine et al., 2011). This study is undertaken to determine the roles of job commitment and performance in the bracket of ethical context-group creativity relationship.2. Review of literature2.1. Relationship between work context and job commitmentThis research studies the effects of the work context (environment) which is positive and benefits employees gain from it and eventually affects performance. The positive work environment (context) can bring many required results through work response, e.g. employee attitude, commitment and effective performance. There is evidence that employees' personal belief in work ethics has a direct effect on organizational commitment, it is argued that organizational ethics affects organizational commitment (Chusmir and Koberg, 1988; Saks et al. …

A study of the correlation between training administration and training motivation

Abstract: . This study focused on measuring the correlation between training administration and training motivation using self-administered questionnaires obtained from employees working in a military based health organization in Malaysia. The stepwise regression analysis was employed to attain the research objectives. The results showed three important findings: Firstly, support significantly correlated with training motivation. Secondly, assignment insignificantly correlated with training motivation. Thirdly, delivery significantly correlated with training motivation. Statistically, our empirical findings demonstrate that support and delivery were found to be the important predictors of training motivation while assignment was not an important predictor of training motivation in the organizational sample. In addition, discussion, implications and conclusion are also elaborated.Keywords: training administration, support, assignment, delivery, training motivation, Malaysia1. IntroductionTraining is often viewed as a strategic human resource development and management issue in an organisation (Noe, 2010). In the workplace, the various types of on the job and offthe job training programs are planned and implemented by employers to enhance employees' knowledge, skills, abilities (KSAs) and positive attitude in order to support the organizational goals, expectations and needs (Vodde, 2012). In managing training programs, human resource administrators will often work together with line managers to create appropriate training programs and improve the content and methods of training programs. After getting approval from top management, human resource administrators will jointly coordinate with line managers to implement the various types of training for the benefits of the organization and the employees (Maimunah, 2008; Noe et al., 2009; Vodde, 2012). Traditionally, human resource administrators design many types of training programs to develop basic skills and apply them in order to overcome immediate job problems and increase daily job performance. This training approach is suitable to organizations that operate in less competitive environments and market stability (Noe, 2010; Noe et al., 2009). In an era of global competition, most human resource administrators have shifted their paradigms from a traditional based training to achieve organizational strategy and goals (DeSimone et al., 2002; Goldstein and Ford, 2002; Noe, 2010). Under this strategic approach, a traditional based training is viewed as not adequate for enabling employees to cope with current organizational changes (Blanchard and Thacker, 2004). In order to sustain organizational competitiveness, human resource administrators have taken proactive actions to focus on improving intangible assets and human capital such as impart new competencies, change negative attitudes, match knowledge and skills according to organization needs, prepare employees to face new challenges, adapt with sophisticated technologies, do a continuous improvements and promote organizational learning (Blanchard and Thacker, 2004; Noe, 2010). If these training programs are to be properly administered this will help employees to upgrade their capabilities in terms of cognitive, affective, psychomotor and good moral values. Hence, it may lead employees to maintain and support the organizational strategy and goals (Noe, 2010; Nijman et al., 2006).According to a recent organizational training literature, effective training administration usually consists of three essential dimensions: support, assignment and delivery (Goldstein and Ford, 2002; Saks and Belcourt, 2006; Nijman et al., 2006). Support is generally defined as administering great encouragement to employees to attend training programs, help employees before, during and after the training programs in terms of time, budget and resources, involve employees in decision-making, and guide trainees in applying competencies that they have learned when entering the workplace (DeSimone et al. …

A systematic literature review on students' international mobility and cultural adjustment

Abstract: . This research aims to synthesize the most recent studies on international student mobility adjustment difficulties in order to come up with a set of recommendations for the institutions involved in the management of international students in European countries. Specifically, this study analyses the psychological processes that international students experience during their mobility. Furthermore, based on these findings, the authors underline the strategies that European countries, wishing to consolidate their position on the international education market, might adopt in order to attract international students and to support them during their integration processes. In terms of methodology, this paper uses the systematic literature review protocol, starting with framing review questions, identifying relevant works, establishing the criteria of selecting the studies that are analysed, summarizing the evidence and drawing relevant conclusions.. The main practical contribution of the study consists in a systematic list of good practices for institutions interested in easing the cultural adjustment process for their international students. Research limitations and practical implications are also addressed.Keywords: international students, international mobility, adjustment, acculturation, studying abroad.1. Current statistics regarding the international mobility of studentsOne of the implications of globalization is that people are more mobile than ever before, especially skilled individuals (Koser, 2007). Even though highly skilled migrants represent a small proportion of the total migrants (Eurostat, 2011), their social and economic impact of their migration is very consistent. International students, often called sojourners -individuals who temporarily reside in a foreign place for activities such as work and education (Murphy-Lejeune, 2002) - represent the highly skilled population that recorded the greatest surge in the last decades (Tremblay, 2003). According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Institute of Statistics (UNESCO), the number of globally mobile students increased to 3.4 million students in 2009, up from 2.1 million students in 2002 (Altbach et al., 2009). This number represents a 65% increase since 2000 (Bhandari and Blumenthal, 2011) and some studies anticipate that this figure will rise to approximately 6 million by 2020 (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2008).However, the rise of international students is not at all fortuitous. International students are thought to be advantaged as immigrants: they represent a high-achieving and highly motivated group (Russell et al., 2010) and they substantially contribute to the economies of the countries that host them. For example, each year, in-bound international students contribute with US$17.7 billion to the United States economy (Bhandri and Laughlin, 2009). Dynamics of international students' migration might also be an outcome of the worldwide growth in higher education (UNESCO, 2009; Agoston and Dima, 2012). However, the mix of host and sender countries might reflect economic growth in particular countries, or represent the effect of institutional programs developed in order to incentivize international students' enrolment/ migration. Table 1 synthesizes information about the main sending (home) /receiving (host) countries for international students from 1968 to 2006. Romania, for instance, used to be among the top 10 host countries in the 1980's, but it lost the place, as after 1989 in spite of the foreign students' interest to study in Romania, both authorities and universities did not keep up with the changes in the international higher education market (Nicolescu et al., 2009; Nicolescu, 2012).Significant conclusions can be derived from the table above. First of all, it appears very clear that the United States of America has been the favourite destination for international students in the last decades, whilst occupying one of the first positions in the senders ranking, too. …

The Impact of Mobile Service Attributes on Males' and Females' Purchase Decision

Abstract: In the current competitive environment where organizations have a very narrow window of opportunity to get their competitive edge, investigating the role of gender in purchase decisions is very significant for organizations as they segment the market not only on price and customer needs, but also on gender Men and women have different characteristics and preferences which impact their purchase decisions This paper investigates the impact of mobile service attributes on both genders by making use of Ajzen's theory of planned behavior Five mobile services attributes: call rates, service quality, service availability, and promotion and brand image were adopted from previous researches as independent variables Another two variables (attitude to purchase and intention to purchase) were also taken from previous literature as dependent variables A conceptual model was developed to construct a relation between the independent and dependent variables and then through regression analysis, we tested the hypothesis that there are differences in preference for the two genders Through convenience sampling we have chosen 200 female and male university students The results of the regression analysis showed that only one attribute out of five is significant for female mobile users (service quality), whereas for male users three out of five attributes are significant (service quality, service availability, and brand image) As far as Ajzen's TPB is concerned, being male has a positive significant relation with all TPB variables (PKeywords: call rates, service quality, service availability, promotion, brand image, intention to purchase, theory of planned behavior, gender, mobile services1 Today's customers of telecomMobile phones have found their way into consumers' lives and mobile communication is becoming more and more accepted into the everyday life of people (Nikouand Mezei, 2012)Mobile services have influenced all of us starting with basic mobile service, like voice call and Short Messaging (SMS) and ending with more advanced services like mobile email, mobile web, and location based services and mobile monitoring of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) information The swiftadvances of new mobile service modernization and diffusion of mobile communications (Fuentelsaz et al2008) in recent years and its probability to attract new customers are seen as major drivers of the mobile services industry's attractiveness Basic mobile services are the most popular ones (Carlsson et al, 2006; Gerpott, 2010; Mylonopoulos et al, 2003; Pedersen, 2005), whereas advanced services have not yet made their place into the everyday lives of consumers (Carlsson and Walden, 2008)Consumers of the telecommunication sector are varied and their priorities, needs and expectations are also diverse Organizations are focusing on value creation to compete in the existing business era Deng et al (2009) haveshowed that to make a product unique and to develop long lasting relations with customers, organizations are generating systems to accelerate customer satisfaction According to Hanif et al (2010),the telecom industry is trying to develop long term relation with customers through multiple packages Loyalty and satisfaction lead users toward brand consciousness and profitable relationships (Eshghi et al, 2007) Although it is not an easy task to keep the users of a product or service satisfied and loyal, Anderson et al (2004) have noticed that it is profitable for an organization in the long run Gustafsson et al (2005) have detected that it is necessary for mobile service organizations to ponder over the enhancement of service quality and charge suitable fair prices to get user satisfaction which will eventually help the service provider to retain its users …

Scale validity in exploratory stages of research

Abstract: Scale development assumes that certain steps are to be taken in order to obtain a valid measurement instrument. Most of the researchers jump to the confirmatory stage and avoid exploratory measures. However, exploratory methods that are used in the first stages of scale development are recommended so as to avoid further problems regarding the validity of the scale. Before conducting reliability analysis and factorial analysis, exploratory methods can be applied. The main purpose of this paper is to draw the attention on alternative methods for scale validation that should be used in the exploratory phase. The role of these methods is to improve validity of results of the further confirmatory phases of research. The Lawshe (1975) content validity ratio and the Q-sorting procedure for testing construct validity are applied in the process of developing a scale for perceived risk.

The Influence of Entrepreneurial Orientation and Market-Based Organizational Learning on the Firm's Strategic Innovation Capability

Abstract: . The literature in the field has shown that high levels of entrepreneurial orientation allow a company to develop the ability to innovate, to react quickly to changes in the environment and even to initiate change (Naman and Slevin, 1993). Carneiro (2000) considers organizational learning as an antecedent of innovation. In this paper we explore the impact of entrepreneurial orientation and market-based organizational learning on the strategic innovation capability of companies in the West side of Romania. These relationships were studied using a sample of 61 companies from Timis, Caras-Severin, Arad, Maramures, Satu Mare and Sibiu. These sampled companies operate in the field of production as well as in that of services. In order to proceed with the statistical data analysis we followed these steps: verifying the scale's reliability; determining factor loadings and research hypotheses testing. Testing the research hypotheses led to the result that entrepreneurial orientation and market-based organizational learning have a positive impact on the strategic innovation capability of a company. Compared to previous research, the contributions of this paper are the conceptual model and the development of the research hypotheses based on the literature review.Keywords: marketing, entrepreneurial orientation, marketbased organizational learning capability, strategic innovation capability, firm.1. IntroductionIn a turbulent economic environment characterized by radical changes in a short time, the company's ability to develop and play a different game is essential. Developing a unique strategy requires high levels of innovation, proactivity, calculated risk-taking and learning through analysis of changes taking place in customer preferences and competitors' behavior.Shane and Venkataraman (2000) define entrepreneurship as the process of identification, evaluation and exploitation of opportunities. These authors argue that entrepreneurship involves the (1) study of sources of opportunities, (2) the processes of discovery, evaluation and exploitation of opportunities and (3) the set of individuals who discover, evaluate and exploit these opportunities. Fisher's research (2012) provides a critical examination of how effectuation, causation and bricolage in entrepreneurial research translate into individual behavior and whether such behavior is evident in creation and development of new ventures. Entrepreneurial orientation is a strategic orientation of the firm which reflects the priority that the firm applies in identifying and exploiting market opportunities. Entrepreneurial firms own the ability to innovate and initiate change (Naman and Slevin, 1993).An organization must understand both its customers' needs and the strengths, weaknesses, capabilities and long-term strategies of current and potential competitors. Thus, the company can identify new product ideas to satisfy needs at a higher level or launch new products and brands ahead of the competition. Market-based organizational learning is focused on learning processes from external sources, being a subset of the overall organizational learning activity. The market-based organizational learning capability is related to changes in customer preferences and competitors' actions (Weerawardena, 2003). Organizations must constantly identify opportunities in the external environment in order to satisfy customers. Generating new ideas for products and services through the collection and dissemination of market information is the starting point for developing the innovation process.Weerawardena (2003) defines innovation as the implementation of new ideas in order to create value either directly for the firm or indirectly for its customer, whether novelty and added value is embodied in products, processes, organizational systems, or marketing systems. Strategic innovation is innovation in the formulation and implementation process of strategy. …

Structural Analysis of Engineering Consulting and Design Industry

Abstract: . Strategic management models have been evolving in the business domain on a continuous basis but the overwhelming majority of works in this field gives the impression that it is only the manufacturing industry that needs strategy and strategic models, or that the strategy in the professional services industry is the same as in the manufacturing industry despite their distinctive characteristics and managerial implications. By using the Porter's Five Forces framework for industry analysis, which evaluates a certain industry based on five parameters each focusing on different challenges a company can potentially face with, the paper aims at analyzing the strategic landscape of engineering consulting and design companies. The purpose of this paper is to discuss an interpretation and adaptation of Porter's Five Forces model to professional services industry, and in particular to engineering consulting and design industry.Keywords: professional services firms (PSFs), industry analysis, engineering consulting and design companies (ECDCs).1. IntroductionStrategic management models have been evolving on a continuous basis since the late nineteenth century but the overwhelming majority of works in this field gives the impression that there are only the manufacturing or services industries that need strategy and strategic models, or that the strategy in the professional services industry (e.g. Professional Engineering Consulting and Design Services) is the same as in the manufacturing industry despite their distinctive characteristics, managerial implications and organizational responses.By using the classic framework for industry analysis known as Porter's Five Forces, which evaluates a certain industry based on five parameters, the paper aims at analyzing the general and most common competitive landscape and adapting Porter's model for the case of the Engineering Consulting and Design Industry. The engineering consulting and design, although it is a niche industry, cannot be viewed in isolation since the industry's structure and trends are influenced by a wider range of stakeholders, encompassing clients, higher education institutions, supply industries, professional and trade associations.The analysis in this report is supported by the general literature on Professional Services Firms (PSFs), scarce literature on engineering firms, also by author's own practicing experience of more than 20 years in the consulting and engineering design industry, both as a design engineer also as a general manager of an engineering company.The analysis can be characterized as a descriptive one, starting with a general overview of the engineering consulting and design industry, containing a literature survey on the specific characteristics of Engineering Consulting and Design Companies - ECDCs (common with those of PSFs) and a description and classification of the engineering consulting and design services, and then continuing with an introduction of Porter's Five Forces framework adapted for the specific case of engineering consulting and design industry. The paper ends up with a set of conclusions and managerial implications, also with a set of proposed directions for further research on the industry.2. Engineering consulting and design industry - a general overviewWithin the Professional Services Firms (PSFs) sector, engineering consulting and design companies (ECDCs) are among the least studied entities (Rimmer, 1991). However, in the international management literature there can be found some books and papers approaching narrow and distinct directions of study such as characterization of consulting and engineering design organizations in developing countries (Araoz, 1981; Malhotra, 1976; Kamenetzky, 1976), exploratory empirical study of the international consulting engineering design services industry from an U.S. perspective (Stanbury, 1992), strategic management in engineering organizations (Chinowsky and Meredith, 2000; Chinowsky, 2001; Veshosky, 1994), operational strategy, flexibility and performance (Aranda, 2003), knowledge creation and management (Baark, 2002), pricing of engineering services (Farr, 2001; Stasiowsky, 1993; Sturts and Griffis, 2005), product design (Hales and Gooch, 2004; Reinertsen, 1997), costs control engineering design organizations (Pellicer, 2005), marketing practices and strategies of engineering design firms (Jaafar et al. …

Innovation in rural tourism: a model for hungarian accommodation providers

Abstract: While unspoiled natural landscapes remain a clear attraction for the guests of rural tourism, the motivation behind travel is shifting from seeking pleasure towards acquiring new experiences and knowledge. In the market of rural accommodation services this shift in demand improves the market position of those unique hosts who can provide high quality services. It also implies that accommodation providers can only improve their chances of success via continuous innovation. Based on the review of the academic literature, we constructed a model that describes the innovation capability maturity of rural accommodation service providers. We first adapted Essmann's (2009) innovation capability maturity

Impact of Knowledge Management Practices on Selected Industries: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Abstract: . There has been a transformation of an era of information scarcity to information surplus, so the key global pressures on management are knowledge identification, creation and dissemination. The development of knowledge management represented one of the most significant management movements in such environment. Using the literature review, this paper developed a knowledge management instrument and it tested a conceptual model linking knowledge management practices and organizational performance, using descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling technique. Primary data was collected from SMEs of three industries i.e. software, pharmaceutical and textiles in North India. The study confirmed the relationship between adoption of knowledge management practices and improved organizational performance, competitiveness and employee retention rates in the selected SMEs.Keywords: knowledge capturing, knowledge sharing, knowledge transfer, knowledge storing, knowledge reuse, knowledge management, knowledge management practices, SMEs.1. Knowledge management practices in SMEsVarious authors have argued that nowadays knowledge management (KM) practices provide companies with a competitive advantage as a result of their impact on the organization's ability to act in more efficient, sustainable and innovative ways. For example, Bratianu and Orzea (2010) critically analyzed the knowledge dynamics model elaborated by Ikujiro Nonaka and found that knowledge creation is a dynamic capability that enables firms to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage on the market. Their conclusions are seconded by Mitchell (2010) who views the ability to create knowledge as a critical foundation for an organization's capability to be dynamic on an ongoing basis. Besides dynamism and sustainability, KM also influences the degree of innovativeness that a company demonstrates, as Viju (2010) has showed by studying the way in which explicit and tacit knowledge become assets for an organization which seeks to create an advantage. The existence of knowledge and the development of a knowledge sharing culture with a learning environment create opportunities for innovation and creativity.Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are an important part of modern economies, providing employment, generating innovation, creating wealth, reducing poverty, enhancing the standard of living and contributing to the areas in which they operate. The strength of SMEs lies in motivation, internal networking, tacit knowledge in unique skills, shorter informal communication, less bureaucracy and greater proximity to market. But SMEs face resource, finance and skills scarcity and managers often do not have enough managerial expertise and organizational capabilities which imply poor strategic business planning and human resource management. Knowledge management implementation is said to be the best way to overcome these problems and improve SMEs ability in innovation and organizational performance (Liao and Wu, 2010; Saenz, 2009; Ho, 2008).Knowledge management practices in SMEs also overcome the problem regarding the lack of resources, peculiar management problems and high employee turnover rates. Knowledge management provides the means for SMEs to overcome poor a business environment and to change the complex business environment into a more manageable context. Knowledge management practices help to remove resource constraints, decrease cost of products and create innovative applications for mature products that make companies move ahead of their competitors.The benefits that small or medium enterprise (SMEs) can derive from sharing knowledge have long been recognized and were well documented. Muhammad et al. (2011) in their primary study indicated that knowledge management is one of the significant factors which contribute to organizations' strive to improve their performance. The practices of knowledge management, namely knowledge generation, knowledge codification, knowledge sharing and knowledge utilization were significantly and positively correlated with one another as well as with organizational performance. …

A marketing perspective on the influences of waiting time and servicescape on perceived value

Abstract: . Customer's value perception of products and services is a variable with important implications on the marketing performance of the organizations. In this article we intend to analyse influences of waiting time and servicescape perception on the perceived value of customers of a dental clinic. The empirical research carried out for the elaboration of this article is part of a wider research concerning the multidimensional approach of the service value perceived by clients. Survey findings show that managers working in organizations that provide medical services must give as much importance to all the elements that form value perception: servicescape perception, waiting time perception, technical quality perception and functional perception. The servicescape concept was assessed using five dimensions: accessibility, facility aesthetics, waiting space comfort, electronic displays, facility cleanliness. In order to assess servicescape and waiting time perception we used a five point Likert scale. In order to select the sample that has been interviewed a nonprobability sampling method was chosen, namely convenience sampling. Data analysis implied testing the normal distribution of values using the Skewness and Kurtosis indicators, testing the reliability of each scale, conducting exploratory factor analysis and finally, research hypothesis testing through simple linear regression.Keywords: time, servicescape, benefits, sacrifices, perceived value, marketing, medical services1. IntroductionThe concept of value is one of the most used and exploited concepts in human and social sciences, and in particular, in the marketing literature (Leszinski and Marn, 1997). Consumers' perception of the value of a product/service means comparing the quality and benefits associated with the product to the sacrifices they make by paying the asked price (Monroe, 1990). Day (1990) believes that perceived value is the surplus between customer's perceived benefits and customer's perceived costs. Huber et al. (2001) consider that benefits and costs are defined in terms of consumer's perception associated with the purchase activities, consumption and maintenance and in terms of the consumers' expectations regarding personal satisfaction goals set before buying. Perceived value results from the exchange between producers and consumers through judging/evaluating positive consequences (benefits) and negative consequences (sacrifices) (Woodruffand Gardial, 1996). Zeithaml (1988) has identified four types of definitions for perceived value: low price (the concept focuses on the sacrifices accepted by the client); everything the consumer wanted to obtain by buying the product/service (the definition focuses on the benefits obtained by the customer); the quality obtained for the paid price; all the gained benefits compared to the total sacrifices made when buying the product.Gunawardane (2011) based his study on the perspective opened by Pine and Gilmore in 1988, by conceptualizing the "experience economy". The author suggests taking into account both the functional and the emotional outcomes of the service use in shaping the perceived quality and the perceived value. Gunawardane (2011) classifies perceived quality dimensions in the following categories: perceived quality of the core services, perceived functional outcomes, perceived emotional outcomes, perceived physical environment and perceived social interaction.Woodall (2003) has developed a summary regarding the dimensions of perceived value, identifying among these not just monetary sacrifices, but also sacrifices linked to time consumption, effort and human energy consumption. These dimensions are better reflected in Table 1.The ideas found in Woodall's (2003) synthesis represent the starting point for the present paper.Alongside time consumption, in this article we addressed the influences of servicescape on customer perceived value. The analysis arises from the efforts of Bitner (1992) and Helson's adaptation level theory (1964, cited in Tellis, 1998) which talks about the influence of the environment on the basic stimulus perception. …

A Multi-Perspective Analysis of Food Retail Internationalization - Insights from Foreign Retailers on the Development of the Hungarian and Eastern European Markets

Abstract: . Internationalization is one of the dominant trends in retailing today. When going abroad retailers often export their business models and require their suppliers to adjust to them. Therefore, retail internationalization has a strong impact on the food supply chain. In this context our article aims to analyse the characteristics, enablers, direction and process of retail internationalization as well as the market behaviour of food international retailers. To meet our aim we reviewed the relevant literature and conducted interviews with managers of international retailers and retail experts in Hungary. Our results show that international retailers should possess specific advantages to compete in new markets. Furthermore, the country selection and the extent of adjustment are dependent on the strategy of the retailer.Keywords: retail internationalization, food supply chain, strategy, Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, Hungary1. Internationalization in the food retail industryIt was less than 30 years ago that almost all of the world's retail firms were pure national firms with a negligible share in foreign markets. However, today the opposite is true. The ranking of the world's largest retailers by Deloitte (2006; 2013) reveals that almost all players operate in numerous countries having established a noteworthy business capacity in foreign markets. Even if the process is still a rather new one, it is easy to foresee without the great giftof prophecy that the process will proceed even further, but probably not in such a turbulent way like in the last decades (Coe and Hess, 2005; Dawson, 2007).In the context of retail internationalization it is observable that Western retailers are taking their business models known from their home countries into the newly entered markets (Hanf and Dautzenberg, 2009). Thus, one can say modern management concepts are being exported, and the following example of Metro Group Russia underlines this point. After entering the country five years ago, the Metro Group Russia has already installed the Metro Asset Management, Metro Buying Group, Metro Advertising, Metro Group Logistics as well as Metro Group IT. The 140,000 listed articles of the twenty-six cash & carry markets and the three super centers are delivered by 2500 suppliers. Only five percent of them are foreign manufacturers while 20% of the articles are region-specific. Thus, the Metro Group exerts a strong influence on the Russian agribusiness in general and on the local agri-food sector because the markets are located mostly in the Moscow region. This example supports the allegation that, being in their fledgling stages, Western enterprises try to impose their procurement and logistic business concepts on the local suppliers (Hanf and Belaya, 2008). According to Reardon's (cited in Swinnen, 2005) statement, retailers and foreign direct investments are a more powerful source of structural changes in the Central and Eastern European Countries (CEE) than WTO and trade policy. In the CEE, the transition process of the retail sector from state-run retail shops, retail co-operatives and farmer markets to Western style large format retailers was accompanied by heavy foreign investments and therefore also by changes in the procurement systems (Hanf et al., 2009).It is fundamental to understand why international retailers are successful in foreign markets. Logically, the answer is that the firm's success comes from the characteristics of the entrant and those of the international markets. On the one hand, international firms have to be more efficient or differentiate from their rivals. This can be the result of unique competitive advantages, advantages related to the business model, management, or technology of the firms. On the other hand, international retailers can exploit their core competencies as a result of market conditions. The underdeveloped retail structure, increasing demand for Western brands, and market liberalization all facilitate the global dominance of international retailers. …

Approaching Corporate Social Responsibility Trough Cross Sector Social Partnerships - Case Study of Bufab Romania

Abstract: . In this article we address issues related to cross sector social partnerships as a form of a complex corporate social responsibility policy of companies developed with the purpose of creating social value and economic value. We also highlight the implications of corporate social responsibilities and partnerships and their effects over the entities implicated to follow the same avenue to reach different objectives. Nowadays, more and more not for profit organizations are increasingly thinking their strategy, resources and competencies in business terms which make the partnership with public sector for social purposes easier. Collaborations/ partnerships could be considered an important stimulus for successful corporate social responsibility strategies, and it can enhance significantly innovation and organizational effectiveness. Due to this research, there will be exemplified through a case study how a business can collaborate efficiently with a not for profit organization, by addressing issues that complements the subject studied, identifying ultimately how social involvement of these corporations can provide longterm and sustainable social value.Keywords: corporate social responsibility, cooperation, strategy, social impact, social value.1. IntroductionCorporate social responsibility refers to the responsibilities of corporations as social institutions (Dillard and Murray, 2013). According to Bateson (1979) it refers to elements such as: sustainability, environmental management, sustainable development, philanthropy and community investments, corporate governance, worker rights and welfare, human rights, corruption, legal compliance and animal rights. The Brundtland Commission (World Commission of Economic Development, 2004) considers that social responsibility emphasizes those actions that meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The term corporate responsibility describes the philanthropic activities that a company can achieve (Blowfield and Murray, 2008). Corporate social responsibility involves a commitment to improve society through business practices (Kotler and Lee, 2005).An organization must be actively involved in the development of society. In order to do that, a company has a plethora of instruments that can be used to reduce the distance between the company and the environment. Thus social responsibility is an alternative that refers to the actions, an organization takes beyond what is legally required to protect or enhance the well-being of living things (Carroll and Buchholtz, 2011). The central contribution of corporate social responsibility is to place social needs on top of the agenda of the business, by facing the dilemma of choosing between social needs and economic objectives (Seitanidi, 2013).Corporate social responsibility includes those practices that enable positive relationships with the communities (Waddock, 2004). Thus, we may include under this umbrella philanthropic foundations and business programs, volunteering, donations under different forms, intersectional collaboration, etc. A similar approach argues that corporate social involvement requires investment in partnerships established with non-profit and public sector in order to create favorable and healthy conditions, targeting both the community's needs and the business objectives of the company (Austin, 2000).To increase the impact of corporate social responsibility policies, enterprises should identify the community operating partners (businesses, social mission organizations) who have experience in dealing with the social problems of the community, like not for profit organizations (Crisan and Borza, 2010). Thus, considering the diversity and particular characteristics of each organization, the main challenge is to find the proper partner with which it is possible to achieve synergy. This requires more advanced and powerful forms of corporate social responsibility, called by Austin and Refico (2009) corporate social entrepreneurship (CSE). …

Qr Codes in Print Advertising: Elucidating Indian Vogue Using Content Analysis

Abstract: . Last couple of years observed tremendous growth in QR Code usages in advertising worldwide. But, there is lack of knowledge on orientation of QR Code usage and various trends related to it like linkage with incentives, e-content encoding etc. Further, many expert opine that current application of QR Codes in advertising is somewhat causal and ineffective. This study attempts a preliminary investigation of above issues in print media, using content analysis approach. Analysis of data collected over one year in India suggested that consumer goods marketers are predominantly deploying QR Codes; majority QR Codes are not linked to incentives and QR Codes are mainly used for informative purpose. Analysis further suggested ineffective offline and online application of QR Codes in print advertising. At last, the study gives important implications for marketers and scope of further research.Keywords: advertising, 2D barcode, mobile marketing, QR code.1. IntroductionThe penetration of mobile phones worldwide has been explosive and has already touched the 86.7% mark (Mob Thinking, 2011). The high penetration rate is an indicator of the commercial potential of mobile phones and it comes as no surprise that marketers are showing interest in mobile phones as an advertising medium (Wohlfahrt, 2002). This mobile platform offers diverse modes, matching desired communication viz. SMS (Short Message Service), MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service), Mobile Videos, WAP (Wireless Access Protocol) etc. (Beschizza, 2009). Even the specific characteristics of the mobile phone like geo- targeting ability (through Global Positioning System and Cell of Origin), ubiquity, immediacy, measurability and interactivity support the application of mobile phones in marketing communication (Bauer et al., 2005; Haghirian et al., 2005). Furthermore, in the past years, the mobile phone has gained more and more importance in the everyday life of consumers therefore making it the easiest way for marketers to communicate with them (Pelu and Zegreanu, 2010). Certainly, these advances have drawn attention from both researchers and marketers about various types of mobile phone based marketing tactics (Wohlfahrt, 2002; Trappey and Woodside, 2005; Davis and Sajtos, 2008).One such marketing tactical tool is the Quick Response Code, generally abbreviated as QR Code (see Figure 1). QR Code is a 2 dimensional barcode (data matrix) which is designed to be scanned by a Smartphone camera, in combination with a barcode decoding application (Denso-wave, n.d.). Various such applications are available like QuickMark, Scanlife, RedLaser, i-nigma, QRreader which connect users to some specific e-content like a website, an email address, e-coupons, SMS, a registration form etc. (Handley, 2012; Bisel, 2011). QR Codes were first conceptualized by Denso Wave, a Toyota subsidiary in Japan in 1994. Normal barcodes had information stored in only one dimension (horizontally) and were seriously limited in the amount of data they could contained. Denso Wave developed this QR Code as a way of holding information in two dimensions (horizontally and vertically); hence a QR Code was able to accumulate 10 times more information than a normal barcode (Denso-wave, n.d.). Further, QR Codes supported quick and convenient tracking of vehicles, as they can be scanned at very high speed with great ease (Okazaki et al., 2012). Currently, various versions of QR Codes (from Version 1 to Version 40) are freely available along with decoding applications (Denso-wave, n.d.).2. QR Codes in MarketingBesides QR Code's efficiency in the auto industry, marketers later began to realize that the functionalities of the QR Code could be transferred to the marketing domain i.e. the potential to connect easily and swiftly with customers on the go (the quick part of QR Code) and encourage customers' engagement (the response part of QR Code). Thus QR Codes became commercialized in 2011, with the growth of telecommunications industry and Smartphones (Denso-wave, n. …

Challenges of Entering the Business Market: The Pre-Entry Knowledge and Experience

Abstract: . In any national economy entrepreneurial entry serves to transform and revitalize markets and industries, thereby enhancing their competitiveness. Existing empirical research suggests that the pre-entry knowledge of the market and the entrepreneur's prior practical and managerial experience will influence the new venture's chances of survival and its future growth. The current paper emphasizes the key role that the entrepreneur has on the market entry as this entry influences business survival, growth or exit. In the paper we seek to better understand the relationship between the pre-entry knowledge and experience and the new venture's success, by performing an in-depth analysis of the specialized literature. We argue that the pre-entry knowledge should be assessed against three key perspectives: (1) personal characteristics of the entrepreneur, (2) knowledge about the business activity, the market and the industry, and (3) resources at entrepreneur disposal. Also, the pre-entry experience can contribute to development of three categories of skills in an entrepreneur, such as: (1) functional skills - ability to perform various managerial functions, (2) relational skills - ability to work with external actors, and (3) resource management skills - ability to effectively identify and allocate scarce resources.Keywords: business entry, entrepreneurial company, pre-entryplanning, pre-entry knowledge, preentry experience.1. IntroductionThe current business environment goes through turbulent and dynamic changes, with companies entering and exiting various industries at an alarming rate. Now with the global economic crisis, it has been more than obvious that it is important to invest in the entrepreneurial culture of a country that leads to creation of new businesses with the potential to transform and rejuvenate the national economies. Therefore, entrepreneurship is viewed as the engine for economic growth and vitality of the large society as a whole. One important particularity of this subject comes from the fact that there is no universal entrepreneurship recipe. When studying the various cases of successful entrepreneurs we can find many similarities, but also many differences from one person to another. There are many variables included in this equation that different experts still continue to argue over (e.g., Mitton, 1989; Chell et al., 1991; Kamineni, 2002). These aspects have been proven to influence the behavior and the decisions of entrepreneurs. Certainly, there are both success and failure stories in every situation.One of the most important factors of growth and development of all industries and economies around the world was the process of companies entering and leaving the business market. The biggest effect that this factor had on market performance has focused on productivity and market structure. There is a lot of knowledge in terms of entrepreneurship input and output activities, their variability in time and connection to various industries and their influence on the processes of change in the economy (Carree and Thurik, 2002; Aghion et al., 2004; Thurik et al., 2011; Tantau and Mateesescu, 2012). Even if the entering and exiting processes are influenced by various factors, the most important part of them is the person behind these processes - the entrepreneur. There is little information in the literature about the main player of great caliber.Looking at both the Romanian and the international business environment, we observe some very strong examples of unique companies that started doing business in a different way, which proved to be a very successful one. The creative entrepreneurs behind those businesses turn problems into opportunities, bringing added value to market and making an impact through innovation. Like Drucker (1993, p. 45) stated, "entrepreneurs always search for a change, respond to it and exploit it as an opportunity". Innovation became a competitive tool of entrepreneurs, a mean by which they exploit problems and change as opportunities. …

Eight Contemporary Trends in the Market Research Industry

Abstract: . As the market has changed to adopt new advertising techniques and consumers' input, market research faces times of great challenges - and great opportunities. This paper details eight current trends in market research: rethinking working concepts as basic as the well-known purchase funnel; integrating the digital medium into research techniques; investigating the consumer through passive techniques; dealing with the era of big data; translating consumers' word-of-mouth into insights; balancing in-depth technical knowledge and understanding of the "the big picture"; adopting international innovation locally; facing potential data privacy issues. These trends are meant to help marketing and market research practitioners understand how the industry is changing around them and how they must adapt in order to survive. The contemporary environment is both challenging and full of opportunities: companies brave enough to adapt to the industry changes as they happen, who acknowledge and incorporate new methods of addressing and studying consumers - are those who will have an undeniable competitive advantage in the long run.Keywords: market research trends, digital research, passive research, big data, user-generated content, data privacy.1. IntroductionFor the past decades we have been living an era of great changes in the entire world, mostly brought about by technological advances. It is the era of mobile, instant communication, the era of big data. These improvements are reflected in every aspect of life, including consumption and purchase behaviour and, consequently, in the market research profession. Current trends and potential directions of evolution are recurrent themes among industry professionals today.As confirmation that market research is currently seeing important changes, the ESOMAR Congress 2013 is entitled "Think Big" and proposes themes such as: added value of research, quality of research, updating solutions, identifying the best connection points with consumers and new ROI indicators like Return on Engagement and Return on Customer Experience (ESOMAR, 2013). All themes stress the fact that research around the world is at a crossroads that may change the very outline of the profession.This article looks at the past and current images of the market system, highlights the main changes which led the industry to where it is today, and discusses eight main trends with the potential to trace the future of this domain. It is a collection of connected ideas on understanding consumer behaviour through market research and should interest research practitioners in the economic and academic field alike, as both contribute to the market research industry. As research is conducted both in the economic world and in academia, professionals around the world are working to extend the know-how of both environments, generating more and more information every day. Applied researchers adapt to market realities by incorporating new methods or identifying hot topics of the day, while academia solves technical issues or proposes new quantitative methods. Sometimes, newspapers pick up thoughts that might catch the public eye. Each environment - economic, academia, general public - tends to its own needs and may even do so successfully, but the industry itself is the sum of all these parts and more.Instead of adding to the building blocks of each environment, this article picks ideas that have emerged in one form or another and attempts to bring them together to shape "the big picture". By using this methodology, it illustrates the very challenge faced by market research today: never before has so much information been freely available to us, yet are we able to organise it, to identify trends and to predict the future of our profession?2. The market system then and now: what changed?Industrialization and mass production of goods marked the beginning of the consumption era and the apparition of a whole range of concepts and activities: consumer, marketing, marketing research and advertising. …

Pay what you want - But pay enough! Information asymmetries and PWYW-pricing

Abstract: Pay What You Want (PWYW) pricing has received considerable attention recently. Empirical studies show that when PWYW pricing is implemented buyers do not behave selfishly in a number of cases and that some sellers are able to use PWYW to increase turnover as well as profits. In this paper we present a theoretical model of buyer behavior under asymmetric information about production costs. Our model shows that information asymmetries provide an explanation for the results found in empirical studies.

Using Power in Business Relationships - Old Wine in New Skins?

Abstract: . Since many decades there is discussion going on about positive and negative sides of power in supply chains. The main two areas of supply chain management are cooperation (aligning interests) and coordination (aligning actions), which should be addressed separately. We posit that power can be considered one of the strongest and influential tools for supply chain management. Therefore, there is a challenge to find out what power is in general and how different types of power can be exercised through different means in supply chains for managerial and business purposes with specific attention to cooperation and coordination issues. To answer our research questions we conducted over 40 interviews with experts in the field of Russian agrifood business.Keywords: power, management, coordination, cooperation, Russian agri-food business.1. Introduction and research aimWorldwide a group of global players with enormous power has emerged among food manufacturers and food retailers. Since market opportunities in their saturated home markets are often not as favourable as in transition or developing markets, it is observable that these giants internationalize or globalize their businesses (Lyson and Lewis Raymer, 2000; Fernie et al., 2006; Hanf and Dautzenberg, 2009). When these powerful food retailers and processors enter a new country they face the challenge to build up their procurement and distribution systems. Often one observes that in these cases such companies 'export' their business models or supply chain management concepts from home that are based on two main areas of interest: cooperation and coordination (Hanf and Piniadz, 2007; Belaya et al., 2012).Cooperation within the supply chain network is based on the individual motivation of its actors. It is resolved by aligning interests through formal mechanisms such as contracting (where possible) (Williamson, 1975). Informal mechanisms such as identification and embeddedness may also serve to align interests (Granovetter, 1985; Gulati, 1995; Gulati and Sytch, 2007; Kogut and Zander, 1996). Since cooperation is not always purely voluntary, powerful focal companies have a major impact on how collaboration is practiced along the chain. Some supply chain actors may be forced to participate; others are not fully supportive of the idea to cooperate or desire more influence or support in the collaboration process. There appears to be a spectrum of collaborative relationships between forced participation and equal matching. Ideally the relationship should be based on equal matching (Kampstra et al., 2006). That is why the focal actor managing the whole supply chain network should use its power to align the interests of individual entities and stimulate active cooperation among the actors.Solving the problems of cooperation, however, does not automatically help to achieve coordination (Gulati and Singh, 1998). A supply chain network requires a great deal of coordination among the partners and these can only be efficiently aligned by a sophisticated management concept (Bogaschewsky, 1995). Whereas cooperation problems are rooted in motivation, coordination problems arise due to the limitations of participating actors that hinder them from possessing comprehensive knowledge of how others will behave in situations of interdependence. Problems of coordination emerge due to the lack of shared and accurate knowledge about the decision rules that others are likely to use and how one's own actions are interdependent with those of others (Geanakoplos, 1992; Milgrom and Roberts, 1992). Coordination problems are situations in which one does not know which decision aligns best with other decisions in the chain or network. Various solutions for coordination problems have been formulated in a two-party context, like setting prices or quantities (income rights), organization/centralization (decision rights), regular meetings, installing information and communication technologies. …

Brand integration practices in mergers and acquisitions

Abstract: . This paper aims to capture and systematise those practices which have been proven as good skills, tactics, methods, and techniques at effectively and efficiently delivering particular outcomes behind brand integration in various mergers and acquisitions (MA Habeck et al., 2000; Kearney, 1998; KPMG, 1999; PR Newswire, 1999; BusinessWeek, 2002). A number of researchers constantly indicate that more than 80% of corporate combinations do not achieve their desired financial or strategic objectives (Davidson, 1991; Elsass and Veiga, 1994; Lubatkin, 1983; Carleton, 1997). Even though post-MA Kearney, 1988; Haspeslagh and Jemison, 1991; Simpson, 2000; Appelbaum et al., 2000), more research in this domain is needed (Shimizu et al., 2004). In many of the M&As brands play central roles in companies' growth and value creation (Vu et al., 2009). Brands are not only major objectives in their own right in M&As but also the starting point for solving problems of overlapping resources in order to realise synergy (ibid). Simultaneously managing several brands or restructuring the brand portfolio by eliminating brands and/or bringing in other ones involves critical decisions (Dabija, 2010). According to Vester (2002), following best practices and a disciplined integration program, an acquisition can be successful, despite the proven fact that the majority of acquisitions don't add value to the acquirer. The good practices of organisations who have been involved in M&As can provide useful knowledge about integration skills, tactics, methods and techniques which can help other companies improve their own chances of successful future brand integration when involved in a M&A.The merger between Guinness plc and Grand Metropolitan plc proves the essential role of brand integration practices for the success of M&As. This merger, announced in December 1997, formed Diageo plc - the world's largest producer of alcoholic drinks. In our interview a senior executive of Diageo revealed that the compelling proposition was an astonishing brand portfolio created when the two companies merged. The integration was about growth. Every brand strategy Diageo employed in integrating the two spirits portfolios aimed to deliver this growth. One of the big issues that challenged the success of brand integration and the building of a world-class brand position was that initially both Guinness and Grand Met had their own brand building and marketing processes which were quite different to each other. …

Pygmalion Teaching Style, Is There a Need for It?

Abstract: . Herein follows a research and analysis concerning the possible occurrence of the Pygmalion effect, a type of self-fulfilling prophecy, in the classrooms of the Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest. The purpose of the paper lies in outlining the possible impact the Pygmalion effect can have on students' experience in class, as well as ways of harnessing the positive aspects of this effect in the context of teaching as an act of negotiation between professor and student. While it may be said that the term "self-fulfilling prophecy" is not an accurate way to describe the phenomena in question (Eden, 1992), due to the fact that it is not the prophecy which fulfills itself, but the prophet who, unwittingly, takes a course of action that brings about the initially expected result, the facts described in theory and proven through studies remain accurate. Whatever the approach chosen for the future, the matter certainly proves itself to be a significant one, with a possibly great impact on the quality of education and student engagement, and it certainly deserves a closer look.Keywords: Pygmalion effect, teaching style, communication effectiveness, self-fulfilling prophecy, ideal teacher profile.1. Self-fulfilling prophecies, an introductionHerein follows a research and analysis concerning the possible occurrence of the Pygmalion effect, a type of self-fulfilling prophecy, in the classrooms of the Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest. The purpose of the paper lies in outlining the possible impact the Pygmalion effect can have on students' experience in class, as well as ways of harnessing the positive aspects of this effect in the context of teaching as an act of negotiation between professor and student.The present paper is structured in six chapters: an introduction to the concept of self-fulfilling prophecy, literature review on the aforementioned term and Pygmalion effect, implications on the classroom efficiency, teaching as a continuous negotiation, the practical approach to the concept and finally conclusions.The term self-fulfilling prophecy is used in sociology and psychology in reference to a prediction which, owing to the positive feedback between belief and behavior, causes itself to come true, either directly or indirectly. In literature, examples of such prophecies can be found dating all the way back to ancient Greece and India. The concept itself is rooted in Thomas' (1928, p. 572) theorem, which states that "If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences". According to Thomas (1928), people react more strongly to the way they perceive the circumstances they are in, and to the meaning they assign to these perceptions, rather than to the situations themselves. It follows that their behavior is determined in the same way, more by perceptions and their interpretation, instead of actual conditions. The consequence of this process lies in the fact that once people become convinced that the meaning of a situation is the one they perceive to be true, it no longer matters whether or not it is, in fact, true, because the actions people take on the basis of their perceptions are real and thus produce real results.Sociologist Robert K. Merton (1968) is the author credited with introducing the expression "self-fulfilling prophecy", and defining its structure and consequences formally in his "Social Theory and Social Structure". According to him, this type of phenomenon happens when behavior is altered as a result of a falsely defined situation, and ultimately causes this originally false conception to "come true". In other words, expecting an event to occur will increase its likelihood of occurrence. Another significant note of Merton's is that this type of event is not one that appears as standalone in nature, but that is particular to humanity and its affairs. Only people may become so influenced by their beliefs (and in some cases, their delusions) that their reactions end up skewing the course of events and fulfilling an initially false prophecy. …

The Analysis of the Financial Performance of Local Authorities in the Context of Budgetary Constraints

Abstract: . Drawing on a set of financial and budget specific indicators, the paper examines the financial activities of local authorities, aiming at diagnosing local public financial management. In the context of the increasing decentralization of public finance, local authorities must demonstrate the ability to manage local resources as efficiently as possible, adopting decisions (including financial ones) to respond promptly to citizen needs. For this reason, we set out to present an analysis model aimed at accustoming local decision-makers with the specific tools and methods and assisting them in gaining awareness of the benefits of such analyses. Empirical research shows that local authorities, due to the low income generation capacity, face a shortage of own resources, creating dependency on the state budget. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that that lack of resources limits both the investment capacity and the decision-making autonomy of local authorities in prioritizing spending. The analysis conducted in terms of performance indicators has revealed low level of local government involvement in stimulating economic activity in the community under examination.Keywords: financial decisions, financial and fiscal indicators, financial autonomy, budgetary constraints, local performance, local public financial management.1. IntroductionThe financial and budgetary reality of Romania nowadays is challenging, being marked not only by the extended economic and financial crisis, but also by aspects related to the specific development and implementation of public management. These aspects are also reflected implicitly in the local public financial management, which has experienced unprecedented developments and transformations. The budgetary austerity measures required to overcome the current situation demand a greater involvement on the part of local public financial management to ensure both the effectiveness of resource utilization and the efficiency of the performance of local public authorities.The difficulties which the local authorities are facing have led to major transformations in public finance, prompting its reorganization and restructuring accompanied by decentralization and increased autonomy. These shifts are seeking to link the duties and responsibilities of local public authorities with the potential to collect resources in the local area. The unanimous view is that an optimal local public financial management is a pivot that can sustain real local autonomy (by means of a balanced budget). Furthermore, outlining a quantifiable image of the effects of the financial management practiced at local authority level also contributes to bringing public authority closer to the citizen, who thus has access to the necessary standards to judge the activity of local government.Performance is the objective of any entity because "only through performance can organizations grow and progress" (Gavrea et al., 2011). The financial performance of local authorities, directly influenced by the quality of the decision-making specific to the financial management of local government, must be assessed by using a coherent and consistent set of indicators, thus ensuring the grounds for a comparison on the same terms of the evolution of the various administrative-territorial authorities, situated at the same administrative level, at different levels, in the same state or in different states.A uniform basis for comparison is useful both to the local financial manager, who can "measure" his/her own performance in relation to that of other authorities, to public decision-makers at other levels or to private decision-makers. Faced with the need to make decisions aimed at designing or promoting specific public (financial) policies, by setting, for example, the criteria for awarding amounts to balance budgets to the local levels and by making decisions about the limits within which local authorities may guarantee loans, public decision-makers have a realistic basis to ground their decision, which allows value judgments whose main benchmark is the effort or involvement of local decision-makers. …