Search results

Data collected from 202 large and 92 small consumer goods manufacturing firms were analysed to examine the perceptions and experiences of these companies with test marketing as part of their new product development strategy. Seventy six per cent of the large companies and twenty four per cent of the small firms in the study test marketed their new products before full‐scale introduction. Chi‐square analysis indicated a relationship between firm size, type of business/industry, the scope of marketing operations, and whether the firm conducted test marketing or not. Cost, time constraints, and the generic nature of the product were the most prominent reasons cited by all firms for not conducting test marketing. In addition, small firms cited their size as amajor reason they did not engage in test marketing.

Evaluates, empirically the attitude of African‐American consumers towards US and Japanese made automobiles. Outlines the rationale and urgency for the study of this population, before looking at the hypotheses which are considered important both from a sociocultural and a managerial perspective. Presents the data and draws conclusions including the limitations of the study and outlines further research in the area.

Major demographic changes in family life occurred during the post‐World War II period in the United States. An increase in women combining traditional family roles with employment in the work force represents one of the most significant of these changes. The late 1960s and early 1970s, in particular, were heralded as a period of revolution in attitudes toward the roles of women (Ferre, 1974; Mason, Czajka and Arber, 1976; McBroom, 1986; Tallichet and Willits, 1986; Thornton and Freedman, 1979). These studies revealed that attitudes became more favourable toward the working women and toward greater opportunities and rewards for women outside the home. Several studies have documented the association of egalitarian sex‐role attitudes with higher levels of education and increased participation in the work force (Mason et.al., 1976; Smith‐Lovin and Tickamyer, 1978; Thornton and Freedman, 1979).

Explores attitudes towards abortion in the USA and whether or not they have changed during the period 1977‐1993 (based on data from the National Opinion Research Centre’s General Social Survey). Describes the research methodology used and how the data was analysed, testing for attitudinal change by age, gender and race, through a comparison of mean scale scores, longitudinal analysis, and multiple regression. Finds that younger people are more pro‐choice but that there has been an increase in pro‐life attitudes among women and pro‐choice among men. Indicates that racial differences on abortion are declining. Reveals that increased religiosity affects attitudes towards abortion, which may account for black women generally being more pro‐life. Notes, also, that respondents with higher levels of education were more pro‐choice. Refers to a particular legal decision on abortion, which, it was thought, had prompted a pro‐choice attitude, but finds that this is not actually the case.

Presents the results of an empirical investigation into American executives’ perceptions of business climates in India and China. Addresses six distinct issues cocnerning economy, management, marketing, government, labour and finance. Attempts to establish the homogeneity of internal consistency of the shortened version of Buntzman’s 31 item scale used in the study. Surveyed 110 US businessmen working in these countries. Suggests that findings show India to possess a more favourable business climate but perceive China’s economy to be better.

Examines attitudes regarding female labour force participation among people of different ages using National Opinion Research Centre Social Survey data. Focuses specifically on the factors associated with a pro‐feminist attitude. Demonstrates that younger people have more positive attitudes towards women working outside their homes than do older people. Men are less pro‐feminist in their attitudes than are women. Men and women disapprove of a woman working if preschool children suffer by her working. In addition to age and gender, the factors influencing attitude are income, education, religious beliefs, urban residence, born in this country, having young children in the family or expecting more children, and work years and job security. A supportive attitude for working women was associated with higher education, higher family income, residence in urban areas, liberal viewpoints, and uncertainty about having more children. The absence of correlation between employment of women and attitudes towards participation in the workforce and between marital status and attitude were especially surprising. Discusses economic, social and political implications of the findings.

There is anecdotal evidence that ethnic minority physicians are underrepresented in managed care contracts. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to determine ethnic Asian‐Indian physician‐managed care organization experience and job satisfaction in the USA by age, gender, region and percent of patients in managed care organizations.

A random (nation‐wide) mail survey was conducted of 254 physicians who were American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) members during the period 1998 to 2000. Managed care experience was categorized into physician satisfaction; service quality rating; service limitations; difficulties acquiring and maintaining managed care contracts; and financial impact.

Physicians in solo and group practice relied heavily on managed care enrolled patients. Limitations providing care to patients was a more serious problem than for those in staff‐model health maintenance organization and hospital/clinic‐based practices. Physician satisfaction was not significantly related to board certification, practice type, region and managed care participation. However, practice staff participating in managed care had the highest number of board‐certified physicians.

There was a low response rate (37 percent) to data collection using questionnaires.

The paper underlines ethnic minority physicians' capability to get managed care contracts.

This is the first national study of Asian‐Indian physicians and their managed care organization experience. Asian‐Indian physicians are over‐represented in the medical profession and hence the paper will interest those working and dealing with managed care organizations and their patients.

Volume 15 Number 4 of Industrial & Social Relations includes an article by Catherine O'Regan and Clive Thompson entitled “Collective Bargaining and the promotion of equality for women in South Africa”.

Previous research in the area of distributor performance proposed different scales, mostly in western, developed country context. These studies also lacked the consideration of dynamic interaction between variables, which determine the distributor’s performance. This paper proposes a composite Distributor Performance Index (DPI) to evaluate distributors’ performance based on at the “Enables” and “Results”, taking a system dynamics approach. The model results have been discussed and validated, in business marketing channel. The context of this study is India, an emerging market.