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Outlines a method for using content analysis of print media to answer questions about how to present products for effective consumer advertising. Argues that the application of content analysis to consumer research should become standard practice for marketers, using the perfume industry as a case example. Concludes that content analysis yields insights on how to integrate a product visually with its consumers to produce advertising that embodies relative values.

There was a time when local public service agencies could justify their annual expenses simply because of the ostensible necessity or desirability of their services. Public libraries, public parks, and public schools, have rarely been inundated with an excess of revenues. Still, they could usually depend on a reasonable level of funding simply because the citizens believed these institutions were accomplishing something for the public benefit. That time of unquestioned acceptance has given way to the era of accountability.

Analyses the influence of value judgements in the mechanics of testing econometric theories against empirical data. The orthodox view of mainstream, positive economics is that value judgements play no part in the above process. Contests this view; defines value judgements and shows the orthodox conception to be too narrow, compared with the meaning and use of the term in other disciplines. Reviews many published examples from the 1970s and 1980s and ways in which value judgements have affected testing procedures in economics. Hypothesis testing via econometric techniques is fraught with value judgements because the application of statistical methodology is not a determinate, neutral or objective process.

The World Bank relies on six indicators to assess the level of governance in 212 countries from 1996 to 2008. However, for this chapter, only two indicators – government effectiveness and control of corruption – are discussed here as they are more relevant than the other four indicators of voice and accountability, political stability, regulatory quality, and rule of law. “Government effectiveness” refers to:the quality of public service provision, the quality of the bureaucracy, the competence of civil servants, the independence of the civil service from political pressures, and the credibility of the government's commitment to policies. (Kaufmann et al., 2004, p. 3)

Librarians are becoming more accustomed to using output and performance measures to assess library services. However, in an era of limited funds and increasing accountability, we also need to turn our attention to analyzing library productivity in terms of staff performance and dollars expended. We can benefit from sharing that information with other librarians in order to provide a basis for interpreting our findings. Useful data on productivity can be derived from current, published library statistics.

Environmental concerns have been increasing in the travel industry. However, most hotels are unwilling to develop an international environmental management system (EMS) probably due to a lack of resources and knowledge. In order to encourage more organizations to take part in the EMS, three cases adopting international EMS are investigated to ascertain the ways to support the formation of EMS. Based on their experience, hoteliers are encouraged to team up with green members to apply for research funding for the investigation and implementation of EMS. Also, “energy performance contracting” methods to finance environmental improvement projects in hotels were also discussed.

A single case study approach was adopted to illustrate the differences in the resources mobilization for setting EMS in these three hotels. A search of documentary evidence and interviews with hotel staff was the main instrument for data collection.

The Shangri‐la Hotel used its own resources to set up its EMS and strategically used its developed template for other hotels in the group to follow. The other two hotels, Nikko and Grandstanford, adopted a creative and “non‐balance sheet” approach to mobilize resources for the formation of EMS. Both hotels have recourse to external resources including a university's engineering department, hotel management school, green bodies, government funds and trade associations to develop and implement the EMS. The study further identified energy performance contracting as another promising financing tool for the implementation of the energy‐related part of the EMS.

The representative and general nature of the findings are limited to large hotels in metropolitan areas, as the three case hotels are located in the metropolis of Hong Kong.

The findings provide informative details on how to secure external resources to set up internationally recognized environmental management systems and the safe way for hotel operators to trial use energy‐saving facilities.

This study provides indications and details on some creative financing techniques for setting up EMS in hotels. These financial strategies are the first of their kind in print and can serve as a useful reference for hotels to develop international EMS.

The USA is facing an obesity crisis so large that for the first time in history, this generation of children may have a life span that does not exceed that of its parents. Simultaneously, the gaming industry has introduced a form of video gaming (e.g. Nintendo Wii) that requires the participant to be physically involved in the game. For example, a live player will have a tennis racquet that he/she swings to compete with a virtual opponent on screen. This form of entertainment has been termed “exergaming.” People are buying these games for the purpose of entertainment. However, this paper aims to propose that there are possible unanticipated physical benefits of this new gaming technology.

A survey method is used to examine attitudes about exercise, video gaming and exergaming.

Results indicate a positive attitude toward exergaming, particularly with the more self‐identified sedentary respondents.

This topic would benefit from a longitudinal study examining the adoption rate of this technology by previously inactive individuals and how its use translates into increased physical activity both with the video game system and other outside fitness activities.

The findings support exergaming as one way to get children to exercise.

The exercise potential of new gaming technology, i.e. “exergaming” is researched.

In this chapter, we set out to demonstrate how organizational theory and analysis can benefit from the work of the distinguished philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre. In the first part of the chapter we show how MacIntyre's conception of how rival traditions may move towards reconciliation has the potential to resolve the relativist conclusions that bedevil organization theory. In the second part, we show how MacIntyre's ‘goods–virtues–practices–institutions’ general theory provides a framework for reconciling the fields of organization theory and organizational ethics. In the third part, we provide a worked example of these two strands to demonstrate the implications of MacIntyre's philosophy for organizational analysis. We conclude with a research agenda for a distinctively MacIntyrean organization theory.

The term “medical” will be interpreted broadly to include both basic and clinical sciences, related health fields, and some “medical” elements of biology and chemistry. A reference book is here defined as any book that is likely to be consulted for factual information more frequently than it will be picked up and read through in sequential order. Medical reference books have a place in public, school, college, and other non‐medical libraries as well as in the wide variety of medical libraries. All of these libraries will be considered in this column. A basic starting collection of medical material for a public library is outlined and described in an article by William and Virginia Beatty that appeared in the May, 1974, issue of American Libraries.