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Radio broadcasting is characterized by diffused taste for programming and highly fragmented supply of content. Satellite radio is a major technological breakthrough that promises to reshape this industry by, among other things, satisfying a greater diversity in tastes and promoting greater variety in content provision. A major issue is that the economies of scale are such that it is unlikely more than a few (currently, just two) providers can operate in this market due to the considerable infrastructure and content costs.

To study the industry structure (demand and cost analysis), analyze customer acquisition strategies and the resulting lock-in of customers, and the aggressive bidding for content that takes place in this industry.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the merger arranged in the audiovisual sector between Antena 3 and La Sexta, and specifically the pre- and post-merger factors. This study adopts a comprehensive approach for the analysis of the reasons behind this strategic decision and the role that structural and human integration and the decision on the right momentum and integration speed played in the merger success.

A single case study research method is used. This qualitative methodology provides richer data to understand complex transactions such as mergers and acquisitions (M&As). According to the data triangulation technique, two research methods were used, in-depth interviews and archival secondary data, including confidential reports and archival trade press.

The merger involving Antena 3’s takeover of La Sexta in October 2012 has been seen as one of the most successful operations ever undertaken in Spain’s audiovisual industry. The main motivation was to increase the organisation’s size to make it more competitive in the market, thus reducing costs, generating synergies and improving performance. Structural and human integration has provided the backbone for this success, all at a time marked by the global financial crisis and its knock-on effect on the downturn in the advertising market. Another of the key factors of success was that the changes in the organisational systems and processes were designed and partially implemented before the incorporation of La Sexta.

This work has highlighted the need for proper planning and a suitable choice of timing in M&A operations. Management should pay special attention to the integration of human and productive resources to generate synergies on the road to success.

This paper’s main contribution is to highlight an example of a successful M&A in the audiovisual sector in Spain by adopting a holistic perspective. While there are scarce studies in this industry, previous research on this topic is mostly quantitative and, moreover, the rate of success in M&A is quite low.

Insufficient time allocation for the bidding period occurs, causing drawbacks to both parties, the client and the bidder. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the time allocated for preparing a bid proposal as per the National Competitive Bidding (NCB) in the Sri Lankan context.

The study has adopted a mixed method approach and expert interviews and document review to detect, analyse and validate the issues, and solutions based on NCB along with the adequacy of the allocated bidding period used as main data collection tools. Both qualitative and quantitative data were analysed through manual content analysis and inferential analysis respectively.

Overall, 24 local issues with the existing competitive bidding process and solutions for each were identified. Among the 24 local issues, it was unanimously agreed by all interviewees that three specific issues require attention and improvement. These issues are related to the standard and incompleteness of bidding documents, inaccurate BOQ quantities measured by the consultant or the main contractor, and the excessive number of bidding document amendments by the consultant. It was revealed that a maximum of 42 calendar days (6 weeks) is sufficient for the bidding process while a minimum of 21 calendar days (3 weeks) is insufficient.

The findings of this study would be recommended that Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) understand the necessity of revising the NCB reference to the time allocated for the preparation of bids. By recognising the importance of sufficient time allocation for bid preparation, this research serves as a practical guide for authorities involved in policy formulation, aiding them in implementing revisions that align with the dynamic requirements of bidding procedures.

This paper concentrates on the visual information within a product description block in an online auction page, which is the only place a seller can manipulate to influence bidders. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of photograph use, model use, and the physical attractiveness of the model on bidding behavior.

A mock online auction website was built to manipulate picture use, model use, and the physical attractiveness of the model. The experiment recruited volunteers and randomly assigned each participant into one of four treatments. After experiencing the stimulus for two minutes, the researchers asked participants to evaluate their bidding intention and write down the highest price they would bid.

The results show that using a photograph to introduce the product acquires a higher bidding intention and bidding amount than not using a photograph. In addition, a web page using physically attractive models in photographs acquires a higher bidding intention and bidding price than a web page using physically unattractive models in photographs.

This study is unique in discussing the effect of the visual content of the product description block on online bidding behavior. The results of this study provide suggestions and a product information presentation strategy for online auction sellers.

In recent years, there has been a decline in the number of cities seeking to host the Olympic Games, with several cities withdrawing from the bid process following referenda. The debate around bidding have hinged on the costs and benefits of hosting events, with little consideration as to the benefits of a bid itself. The purpose of this paper is to identify the ways in which Olympic bids be leveraged for positive outcomes, regardless of the outcomes of the bid.

This research employs a content analysis, examining the 16 bid responses to the question in the International Olympic Committee Candidate questionnaire: “What will be the benefits of bidding for the Olympic Games for your city/region, irrespective of the outcome of the bid?”.

This research found that bid cities do attempt to use the Olympic bid process as a leveraging resource, with four unique opportunities arising from this; national and city pride, Olympism, the formation of networks, and global focus. These provide the opportunities for Olympic bid cities to achieve the following strategic objectives: nation and community building, sport participation, business opportunities, enhancing image and profile, and to push through infrastructural projects.

There has been little consideration as to the ways an Olympic bid can be used to leverage positive outcomes for a city or a nation, and therefore this research contributes to the literature on leveraging mega-events. The research also has practical value, in providing potential bidders with information regarding positive outcomes whether the bid is successful or not.

The scope of disaster impacts has become extensive. It is important that resources can be distributed to the needed places in time, and to prevent a second disaster. The appropriate usage of open contract to disaster management is important; therefore, this study aims to discuss the implication, possible problems and strategies of the current use of open contracts.

Content analysis was used to analyze the operation experiences from contract data collaterally. An in‐depth interview with contract participants was also applied to probe into more issues in practice.

The study targeted emergency supplies and services, focusing on three dimensions: regulation, contract preparation and contract execution, and found that: conflicts and problems exist between current major procurement and disaster management regulations; government must master open contract suppliers; items in the open contract must be concrete and specific; performance bond and default clause would only keep contractors away from any service; missing links are still among audit system, construction estimation, and construction inspection and acceptance in the current open contract system.

The results of this study can be applied to assist governments to review the current implications of open contract, and to construct better systems which meet the features and needs of emergency responses.

Open contract is a very important tool for saving lives during emergencies, although rarely discussed. This study explored current problems and strategies, and can be provided for better future system construction.

Public procurement is characterized as a distorted market which grants limited access to foreign suppliers and contractors. However, the different impediments existing within the public procurement policies and their relative significance in restricting effective international competition are not very well known. This paper, through the process of developing a model of Trade Restrictiveness Index, identifies weighs and scales 17 impediments existing within the public procurement policies. The paper also reveals that implicit restriction which emanates mainly from lack of transparency imposes a greater level of restriction in the market. In a final application of the model, comparison of the public procurement policies of selected Common Market for Eastern and Southern African (COMESA) countries, has shown that with a rated index of 1, the procurement policies of Kenya and Uganda are rated as most restrictive while Rwandaʼs is found to be least restrictive.

In November 1999, the Japanese Fair Trade Commission took legal action against participants in bids for oil delivery work ordered by the Self-Defense Forces. Then, in September 2000, the Korean Fair Trade Commission took legal action against participants in bids for oil delivery work ordered by the Korean Ministry of National Defense. These actions were not related, though there are similarities between the cases, each of which involves oil delivery companies obtaining special procurement privileges through deals with national security authorities. Study of these cases led to speculation as why the industry is conductive to collusion. According to the study three important results were recognized: Several measures in the plan for Japanese and Korean procurement reform were then analyzed. The implementation can clarify issues that are important for eradicating the participantsyʼ incentives for collusion.

This paper aims to demonstrate that Facebook likes affect outcomes in nonprofit settings. Specifically, Facebook likes influence affinity to nonprofits, which, in turn, affects fundraising outcomes.

The authors report three studies that establish that relationship. To examine social contagion, Study 1 – an auction field study – relies on selling artwork created by underprivileged youth. To isolate signaling, Study 2 manipulates the number of total Facebook likes on a page. To isolate commitment escalation, Study 3 manipulates whether a participant clicks a Facebook like.

The results show that Facebook likes increase willingness to contribute in nonprofit settings and that the process goes through affinity, as well as through Facebook impressions and bidding intensity. The total number of Facebook likes has a direct signaling effect and an indirect social contagion effect.

The effectiveness of the proposed mechanisms is limited to nonprofit settings and only applies to short-term effects.

Facebook likes serve as both a quality signal and a commitment mechanism. The magnitude of commitment escalation is larger, and the relationship is moderated by familiarity with the organization. Managers should target Facebook likes at those less familiar with the organization and should prioritize getting a potential donor to leave a like as a step leading to donation, in essence mapping a donor journey from prospective to active, where Facebook likes play an essential role in the journey. In a charity auction setting, the donor journey involves an additional step of bidder intensity.

The approach the authors study is shown effective in nonprofit settings but does not appear to extend to corporate social responsibility more broadly.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first investigation to map Facebook likes to a seller’s journey through signals and commitment, as well as the only investigation to map Facebook likes to charity auctions and show the effectiveness of this in the field.