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Although instability characterises export channels, little research has examined the interfirm evaluations that are related to a manufacturer′s continued use of export middlemen. In this research, a manufacturer′s evaluations of its international intermediary are divided into performance, dependence, and importance dimensions. Theoretical and empirical literatures are used to frame hypotheses linking each evaluative dimension to an aspect of the manufacturer′s channel design strategy. The results show that manufacturers′ evaluations of their middlemen are systematically related to the economic and organisational strategies used by manufacturers. The discussion draws important implications for managing the indirect export channel.

In the early 1990s, several new entrants extended “category‐killer, big‐box” retailing concepts to the marketing of used vehicles. Despite promise, each entrant has either exited the market or changed its business plan. Based on both primary and secondary data, the authors find that, although the superstore maintains some advantages over traditional used‐vehicle retailers, it has cost disadvantages over the traditional retailer. These findings on both the demand and the supply side of the business explain the observed market failures.

The concept of organisational development is an important one, but has yet to be applied to the marketing channel. The theory and practice of organisational development are examined and linked with their crucial needs in marketing channel research. The advantages of channel‐modified organisational development are demonstrated and what steps need to be taken to build the organisational development approach into a viable stream for marketing channel research are discussed.

Presents the results of a telephone survey of 801 consumers concerning the relationship between bank mergers and service quality perceptions. The setting of the study is a US state which has seen much merger activity. The survey results provide evidence of a significant relationship between bank mergers and service quality perceptions that differs based on the demographic characteristics of the respondents. Among these demographic characteristics are gender, ethnicity, education, and income. In addition to the survey results, the article also contains several managerial implications, including a need for complementarity of marketing strategies for both acquired and non‐acquired banks.

Examines how the use of the World Wide Web has evolved in relation to automotive retailing. Reviews the authors’ model of virtual automotive dealership developed in an earlier article in this journal and discusses analytically the current state and future of virtual automotive distribution. Concludes that the element contributing most to the viability of the virtual dealership concept is the willingness of a manufacturer to establish a new line‐make in the US market.

The decade of the 1990s has seen unparalleled innovation in the retailing of new and used motor vehicles. Most recently the Internet has become the facilitator of change in auto retailing. After reviewing the current state of automotive Internet services, this article develops a model whereby a new entrant could introduce a vehicle line and market that line directly to the consumer via the Internet – “the virtual dealership”. Consummation of the transaction, vehicle delivery, warranty work, after‐market parts and service, and used car trade‐ins would be handled by existing players in the automotive infrastructure. Includes a discussion of potential problems, concentrating on legal restrictions imposed by state franchise laws.

THE HOME HOUSE PROJECT; THE FUTURE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING

While “category killers” have been a major retailing force in many product categories for nearly a generation, only recently has the concept extended to the retail used‐car market. Discusses several aspects of these “super automotive category killers (SACKs),” including why they developed in the mid‐1990s and their potential vulnerabilities. Provides managerial recommendations for existing and potential market participants.

In the last four years, since Volume I of this Bibliography first appeared, there has been an explosion of literature in all the main functional areas of business. This wealth of material poses problems for the researcher in management studies — and, of course, for the librarian: uncovering what has been written in any one area is not an easy task. This volume aims to help the librarian and the researcher overcome some of the immediate problems of identification of material. It is an annotated bibliography of management, drawing on the wide variety of literature produced by MCB University Press. Over the last four years, MCB University Press has produced an extensive range of books and serial publications covering most of the established and many of the developing areas of management. This volume, in conjunction with Volume I, provides a guide to all the material published so far.

Aim of the present monograph is the economic analysis of the role of MNEs regarding globalisation and digital economy and in parallel there is a reference and examination of some legal aspects concerning MNEs, cyberspace and e‐commerce as the means of expression of the digital economy. The whole effort of the author is focused on the examination of various aspects of MNEs and their impact upon globalisation and vice versa and how and if we are moving towards a global digital economy.