Search results

IMRO's disciplinary action against Jardine Fleming in the summer of 1996 demonstrated the problems and dangers associated with the operation and control of delegates, particularly those located in remote jurisdictions. The author, who is Head of Investigations at IMRO, explores the issues that arise when setting up such arrangements and in monitoring them once they are in place and sets out criteria for ensuring effective delegation.

This paper aims to explore four disruptions that practice theory makes to traditional social marketing approaches to school physical activity (PA) intervention.

The paper draws on existing literature from sustainable consumption, sociology of health and illness and the authors’ experiences working with primary schools in the UK to plan and execute social marketing approaches to PA, targeting interconnected social practices from which PA emerges or fails to emerge. The paper explores a practice-oriented theoretical framing, engaging with calls from interdisciplinary areas for PA interventions to shape the PA emerging from a school’s everyday routines, rather than promote PA participation at an individual level.

The paper argues first that a practice perspective would focus on situation research rather than audience research, with practices rather than people as the focus. Second, the purpose of practice-oriented social marketing would be to achieve transitions in practices rather than behaviour change. Third, the planning and management approach of practice-oriented social marketing would account for unintended consequences and complex interconnections between practices. Finally, an evolved evaluation approach to practice-oriented social marketing would take a longer term approach to understand how cultural transitions are emerging.

This paper contributes to an important stream of critical social marketing scholarship that seeks to advance social marketing away from its individualist routes. It sets an agenda for further research that considers the ontological and practical possibilities for practice informed approach to social marketing.

This paper aims to introduce key concepts from practice theory (PT) to the social change agenda and draw on the unique contributions of the social marketing field. PT has underpinned a growing stream of research in pro-environmental studies seeking to reduce impacts of particular behaviours, but it remains theoretical. By drawing on social marketing’s applied roots, this paper introduces a practice-theoretical intervention planning process (P-TIPP) which frames the unique contribution of social marketing in behaviour change and foregrounds practice- not individual-level change.

The P-TIPP draws on the total process planning model, introducing the concept of “practice as entity” and “practice as performance” to frame intervention planning tasks. The process locates the contribution of social marketing within a transdisciplinary framework which emphasises transforming collective conventions.

This is a conceptual paper, but the possibility for PT to make a significant contribution to the world of social marketing is outlined.

P-TIPP is untested. Also, practices can be difficult to identify and somewhat abstract. Finally, it can be challenging to introduce the approach to policy, funding and practitioner procedures.

The implications of P-TIPP are that social change interventions are devised, underpinned and planned using insights from PT, such as the way behavioural patterns fit into broader understandings of practice. The subsequent social change agenda will be inherently transdisciplinary, sustainable and reduce focus on individual power to change.

This paper is a first attempt at exploring what PT, and social marketing can learn from each other for the future effectiveness of social change activity.

This study seeks to investigate the likely adoption of integrated reporting (IR), in addition to highlighting the limitations of current reporting practices. In particular, the analysis in this study used the characteristics of diffusion of innovation theory to investigate how perceptions of IR as offering a relative advantage over existing practices; its compatibility to existing organisational values, past experiences and needs; and its perceived complexity impacted on the adoption and diffusion of IR.

Methodology was based on a content analysis of 22 UK FTSE 100 annual and sustainability reports across industries. To build a phenomenological triangulation research approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten senior managers to ascertain their perceptions of current SR practices and IR.

The analysis in this study revealed that low/medium levels of linkages exist between the majority of reports in the sample, thus limiting their usefulness. Based on these findings, this study suggests that senior managers perceive IR as having a relative advantage over existing practice. Overall, the senior managers interviewed were supportive of IR and this research revealed that many companies are starting to integrate their reporting along IR guidelines. This study further identifies factors that are likely to impact on more widespread diffusion of IR.

The sample size to assess linkages between reports was based on a sample of company reports across industries to give a balanced view of reporting practices. This could be viewed as a limitation as it was not a representative sample of the population as a whole. Another limitation of this research study was the small sample of organisations that participated in the interview process, and the single country focus.

This study has identified several factors that were likely to impact on wider spread diffusion of IR, which should be of interest to practitioners in this field as well as those considering the adoption of IR.

As an emerging phenomenon, there are few empirical studies exploring IR practices and perceptions. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first paper that provides some insights into IR from a UK perspective.

Debt is at a peak and consumers purport needing help with financial planning. To better understand the antecedents of financial planning behavior, the purpose of this paper is to examine the importance of cultural values in financial decision making within the context of Hispanic American consumers. A new conceptual model is proposed to integrate affect (cultural value) and cognition (financial knowledge) in financial planning.

To uncover respondents’ views on cultural values, financial knowledge, financial attitude, and financial planning behavior, an online survey hosted on a business school’s website was distributed to members of two Hispanic Chambers of Commerce. The survey consisted of five parts, and took each respondent an average of 15 minutes to complete. The final data set has 158 observations.

Results analyzed using structural equation modeling confirmed the hypotheses that financial knowledge, attitude, and perceived control simultaneously influence Hispanic consumers’ intentions to purchase financial planning products or services. More interestingly, these results confirm that multiple different routes coexist in the decision-making process, especially within the Hispanic financial planning context.

Key contributions of this paper include the conceptualization of cultural value as an antecedent to Hispanic financial behavior; detailing the different routes to financial decision making for US Hispanic consumers; and informing financial service managers on marketing strategies toward Hispanic consumers.

Flooding is a frequent problem in the United Kingdom, with 1.8 million people living in homes that are likely to flood at least once in 75 years (Sayers, Horritt, Penning-Rowsell, & McKenzie, 2015). In 2015, the River Am burst its banks, resulting in up to 1 metre of flooding in Ambridge and causing significant damage and disruption to the village. A ‘4Ps’ approach is proposed to predict, prevent, protect from and prepare for flooding. Applying this model to evidence from Ambridge allows strategies for a flood resilient community to be explored.

Presents the results of a survey of consumer lifestyles in New Zealand, undertaken in 1995‐96, and compares the findings with those of a previous study undertaken in 1989. Describes the research methodology – questionnaire construction, data collection (3773 questionnaires analysed), sample representation, and data analysis (k‐means non‐hierarchical clustering techniques on SPSS for Windows). Identifies seven segments of the population and their relative sizes. Categorizes these segments as: active family values people; conservative quiet lifers; educated liberals; accepting mid‐lifers; success‐driven extroverts; pragmatic strugglers; and social strivers. Records changes that have been observed since 1989, specifically in attitudes towards the self, opinions about the family, social standards, and New Zealand as a country in which to live. Points out that groups have had to be renamed as their emphasis has shifted and that numbers have swelled some groups while shrinking others – particularly noticeable is the disappearance of active family values people (and their replacement with pragmatic strugglers) and the emerging accepting mid‐lifers group. Provides an insight into New Zealand’s consumer lifestyles and indicates how change affects values and lifestyles.

This paper aims to examine the relationship between institutional pressures and sustainable energy orientation by incorporating organizational resources as a mediating factor.

The study adopted cross-sectional and correlational research designs using a questionnaire survey of 64 higher educational institutions registered with the National Council for Higher Education of Uganda. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS.

This meant that institutional pressures, particularly mimetic, predict the way organizations chose their energy orientation. Furthermore, partial mediation of organizational resources is evident in the relationship between institutional pressures and sustainable energy orientation. Moreover, resources are a strong factor in ensuring that institutions observe the need for sustainable energy consumption.

A study where there is no local empirical support for operationalization, as well as coherent citations on the criterion, is bound by various weaknesses that impose on the findings of this study. The authors nonetheless contend that they have opened gates for further empirical tests of their model findings.

The study findings will enable a catalyzed assessment of the energy needs and planning for them in higher institutions of learning in Uganda. It will trigger policy directions on energy needs and usage control.

Energy supply is important in any academic institution. The study has highlighted a simple model of predictors of energy orientation that will enable institutional planning to ensure social stability with internal stakeholders on energy usage. It will also awaken positive behaviors on energy management by individuals and work groups.

This study offers initial evidence on the relationship between institutional pressures and sustainable energy orientation using evidence from a developing context. It is based on original study of higher institutions in Uganda, and no such study has been done before with the same variables. It provides new directions for study in such nascent area of critical national dimension as energy and climate change issues are top global agenda.

This article reports on support that people with learning disabilities who self‐injure say they have found, or would find, helpful in relation to their self‐injury. It is an important issue, because most interventions and approaches are based on past patterns of support or what professionals think is helpful or appropriate. Rarely has the voice of the person concerned been heard. The clear message from people with learning disabilities, including those who use little or no verbal communication, is that they want opportunities to communicate their feelings and to be listened to. Being open to listening and developing one's own communication skills is essential for supporters of people with learning disabilities who self‐injure.