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21 – 30 of over 4000Explains the links between R&D investment, product differentiation and monopoly power, referring to previous research; and argues that internal financing of R&D creates even more…
Abstract
Explains the links between R&D investment, product differentiation and monopoly power, referring to previous research; and argues that internal financing of R&D creates even more competitive advantage. Develops mathematical models and applies them to 1990‐1996 data for a panel of 40 Greek firms and presents the results. Suggests that firms do use R&D to create entry barriers regardless of industry, that internally financed firms are more profitable but that these impacts may vary between individual firms.
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Tore Martin Strandvik and Kristina Heinonen
Managing service brands entails managing a portfolio of brand relationships with customers and non-customers. The paper develops a framework for diagnosing the strength of a…
Abstract
Purpose
Managing service brands entails managing a portfolio of brand relationships with customers and non-customers. The paper develops a framework for diagnosing the strength of a service brand colored by a customer-dominant business logic perspective. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
Combining insights from the literature on branding, service, and relationship management, the paper develops a customer-dominant conceptual and methodological approach. Brand strength captures customers' attachment to a brand in terms of their thoughts, feelings, and actions toward the brand. Since brand strength is the configuration of customers' and non-customers' brand relationships, the paper divides the brand relationship into two components – brand connection and purchase status – to compose a brand strength map.
Findings
Grounded in customers' accumulated positive and negative experiences, the framework creates a diagnostic picture of the strength of the brand, and an illustrative empirical study demonstrates the mapping procedure's applicability to service brands.
Research limitations/implications
The approach is an alternative to a traditional measurement scale development approach. Future studies should explore the framework's adaptability to different contexts, stakeholders, and industries.
Practical implications
The distinctive model comprehensively captures the aggregate picture of customers' brand relationships, and the managerially parsimonious framework can be adapted to different service settings.
Originality/value
The framework represents a novel diagnostic tool for service companies to explore their brand's strength. The approach is unique because it adopts a customer-dominant perspective. Furthermore, it includes behavior with a relational perspective and negative responses, which reduce overall brand strength.
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Presents a summary of the latest in the series of international conferences on interlending and document supply. Whilst co‐operation between researchers, publishers and librarians…
Abstract
Presents a summary of the latest in the series of international conferences on interlending and document supply. Whilst co‐operation between researchers, publishers and librarians was the main theme of the Conference, other topics discussed included union catalogues, standards, digitisation and national systems.
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Thompson S.H. Teo and Jek Swan Tan
This paper represents one of the first few studies on Internet marketing strategies of business‐to‐consumer (B2C) firms in Singapore. A survey was sent to CEOs/marketing managers…
Abstract
This paper represents one of the first few studies on Internet marketing strategies of business‐to‐consumer (B2C) firms in Singapore. A survey was sent to CEOs/marketing managers of 400 firms, of which 92 usable responses were obtained. The results of hierarchical regression analyses indicate that strategies to attract customers and to relate to customers have significant positive relationships to online brand equity (defined as “a set of brand assets and liabilities linked to a brand, its name and symbol that add or subtract from the value provided by a product or service to a firm and/or to its customers”). In addition, online brand equity is positively related to financial growth. Implications of the results are discussed.
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Emily K. Talley and R. Bruce Hull
This paper aims to offer a case study for teaching specific systems thinking competencies that promote leadership for systems change. It uses leadership as a novel way to identify…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to offer a case study for teaching specific systems thinking competencies that promote leadership for systems change. It uses leadership as a novel way to identify and organize systems thinking competencies that are important for successful multistakeholder collaboration.
Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative and quantitative approaches were used to assess learning outcomes across four cohorts of graduate students – with approximately 30 students per cohort – from 2017 to 2020 in the USA. The study examined a one-month-long assignment, out of a year-long program, that focuses on systems leadership for climate change.
Findings
Our findings demonstrate that higher education programs can successfully build these competencies in sustainability students and professionals. Our pedagogical approach enhances students’ systems thinking and leadership competencies.
Originality/value
We advance the understanding and teaching of systems thinking by integrating it with the direction, alignment and commitment model of leadership. Reframing systems thinking through the lens of leadership offers an important innovation and focus to the theory of systems thinking, and the pedagogy of building competencies sustainability professionals need.
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The purpose of the chapter is to develop a typology of bad behaviors characteristic of governing boards and to compare the bad behaviors identified in the typology to the…
Abstract
The purpose of the chapter is to develop a typology of bad behaviors characteristic of governing boards and to compare the bad behaviors identified in the typology to the governing boards’ expected roles and responsibilities. Several examples of bad governing board behaviors that have occurred at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are explored through the lens of the typology. The author argues that the bad behavior of governing boards responsible for the nations’ HBCUs inhibits strategic planning, undermines growth and development, and threatens the long-term viability of these institutions. Finally, recommendations intended to minimize the impact of bad board behaviors are proposed.
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Velitchka D. Kaltcheva, Anthony Patino, Michael V. Laric, Dennis A. Pitta and Nicholas Imparato
The authors apply Alan P. Fiske's relational models framework to customers' engagement with service firms – specifically, they propose that customers who hold different relational…
Abstract
Purpose
The authors apply Alan P. Fiske's relational models framework to customers' engagement with service firms – specifically, they propose that customers who hold different relational models for the service firm are likely to engage with the firm in dissimilar ways, thus generating different types of customer engagement value for the firm. Fiske's relational models framework is eminently suitable for studying customer-service firm engagement because it is widely adopted in the social sciences as a rigorously developed framework for conceptualizing social interactions.
Design/methodology/approach
The article bridges Fiske's relational models framework and Kumar et al.'s customer engagement value framework, and conceptually demonstrates that customers employing different relational models for the service firm are likely to generate different types of customer engagement value for the firm.
Findings
The article demonstrates conceptually that customers' relational models, schemata, and scripts influence how consumers engage with the firm and the type of customer engagement value accruing to the firm.
Research limitations/implications
This research has implications for service firms' relationship strategies. First, service marketers can determine the desired customer engagement value(s) and then craft their customer relationship strategy so that it maximizes those engagement value(s). The article suggests relationship strategies that service firms may implement for encouraging customers to adopt different relational models.
Originality/value
No research has bridged relational models theories and customer engagement value theories.
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Trust is a key business value and a corner‐stone of all company‐consumer relationships, but is particularly critical in children's markets because of their vulnerability. This…
Abstract
Purpose
Trust is a key business value and a corner‐stone of all company‐consumer relationships, but is particularly critical in children's markets because of their vulnerability. This paper seeks to explore how trust is created between toy companies and parents, the main purchasers of toys, and a conceptual framework is proposed, arguing that trust is underpinned by both ethical and marketing dimensions.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses rich qualitative data gathered from personal interviews with a sample of senior executives in 12 leading toy companies in the UK. The findings are then used to evaluate a framework developed from a synthesis of the business trust literature.
Findings
Evidence gained from the sample indicates that the framework is reasonably robust. Although the managers believed that consumers' trust was chiefly driven by the marketing offer (commitment and satisfaction), they also recognised the importance of behaving responsibly and provided examples to demonstrate their integrity and benevolence.
Practical implications
The consumers' perception of the toy industry is not as positive as the managers would like or believe is deserved. Many responsible activities that might help improve consumer sentiment are failing to be adequately communicated. Trust and worthy deeds need to be “sold” to consumers as a part of the marketing package.
Originality/value
Although trust development is widely discussed and its value recognised, it is still inadequately understood. This paper adds a new perspective by highlighting the importance of ethical issues as a key dimension of trust building.