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As the thoughts and actions of marketers focus on the philosophy of relationship marketing (RM), the purpose of this paper is to broaden our understanding of the concept for its effect on ethical behaviour in organisations. Whilst there is evidence of strong ethical inputs in the theory formation of RM, there is also a need to separate rhetoric from reality. In this paper we argue that despite the evidence that RM is inherently a concept with strong ethical roots, there is a gap between the theory of RM and its actual practice. Indeed, major changes in values and ethics may be required if RM is to be truly adopted. Otherwise there is a danger of allowing RM’s ethical inputs (commitment, trust, etc.) to become axiomatic without being subjected to sufficient critical scrutiny at the practical level. We believe that the RM philosophy is capable not only of contributing genuinely to the strategic discourse of contemporary organisations, but also of playing the role of the social advocate by fostering mechanisms which will generate ethical introspection and promote ethical decision making.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework on the dimensions of dynamic marketing capability (DMC) and its relationship with export performance. The paper also proposes the mediating role of competitive hybrid strategy and the moderating role of environmental responsiveness in explaining the relationship between DMC and export performance.

By following the dynamic capability notion of the marketing and competitive strategy literature, this paper proposes a novel conceptualization of the DMC development process and the possible effect of DMC on attaining competitive advantage.

The paper postulates that a firm’s DMC can reflect complementary power when its higher-level marketing capabilities are bundled together to detect distributing channel members’ crucial needs, competitors’ action plans and satisfying market demand. As yet little is known about the main underlying dimensions of higher-level DMC construct, the paper contributes in proposing the key dimensions of DMC.

This research advances the knowledge-based view and resource-based views and evolves a solid foundation of DMC constructs comprising four higher-order marketing capabilities, namely, ambidextrous market orientation, customer relationship management capability, brand management capability and new product development capability. Thus, this paper contributes in DMC literature in explaining export performance.

This chapter discusses the utility of authentic leadership for the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and argues that the capacity-building value of authentic leadership enables change and improves performance. The authors view authentic leadership as a genuine, transparent, positive, ethical form of leadership that strives to address grand challenges. They outline its application in two cases: well-being (SDG3) and education (SDG4). Daskou and Tzokas conclude with a criticism of the value of authentic leadership in the successful delivery of the SDGs. Daskou and Tzokas recommend investigating how authentic leaders' balanced information processing and internalised moral perspective contribute to positive self-development, better education outcomes and well-being among students, educators and employees.

Drawing on the knowledge-based view of the firm (KBV) and Dynamic Marketing Capabilities (DMC), this paper examines the role of key internationalization knowledge absorption processes as learning strategies, namely market exploitation and market exploration in enabling internationalization knowledge absorption in export-oriented firms involved in manufacturing goods or producing electrical/engineering products.

The data were gathered via a cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire (i.e. n = 315) on a sample of Bangladeshi manufacturing firms exporting in US and European markets.

The findings suggest that an export firm's internationalization absorption strategies are positively associated with export performance. The authors also found that the mediator, DMC, strengthened the relationship between knowledge absorption and export performance. Moreover, the findings of moderated mediation model revealed that the direct and indirect effects of market exploitation on export performance are more prevalent when competitive intensity is low. While competitive intensity is high, the direct and indirect effects of market exploration on export performance are more prevalent.

By introducing a higher-level dynamic marketing capability approach and linking it to ambidexterity constructs (learning though exploration and exploitation), export business professionals should appreciate the full spectrum of mid-level marketing capabilities they need to develop alongside their exploration and exploitation strategies to improve their export performance. This study directs attention to the competitive intensity conditions the exporting firm is facing. When export business professionals are faced with high-level of competitive intensity in the market, they should establish a clear focus on their exploration learning strategies if they wish to enhance their export performance.

The authors contribute to two broad domains of literature: organizational learning and DMC strategy. The study results show that how the two components of international ambidexterity as organizational learning constructs (i.e. market exploration and exploitation) influence knowledge management processes within firms through a firm's possession of a fine configuration of higher-level marketing capability. This study also theoretically and empirically examines how higher-level DMC strategy can mediate the consequence of international knowledge absorption mechanism on firm export performance. From a practical perspective, this study provides useful lessons for exporting firms wishing to enhance their performance.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the need to evaluate perception-based quality in service encounters. It sets out to diagnose potential mismatches in how customers and front-line employees perceive quality in high-involvement service settings, based on the premise that any initiative toward quality enhancement in service encounters is advisable only when employees and customers evaluate quality utilizing common perceptual structures.

The study utilizes invariance analysis. The survey involved 165 bank branches and 1,522 respondents (463 front-line employees and 1,059 customers) and operationalized the same set of questions for both groups of participants. Multisample confirmatory factor analysis tested a series of measurement models.

Results revealed equivalence for tangibles, responsiveness and assurance but also mismatches between customers and front-line employees perceptions of reliability and empathy.

Findings add to current knowledge of how both groups of participants evaluate quality in service encounters and are discussed with reference to managerial consequences for perception-based quality mismatches.

So far only a few studies have simultaneously examined front-line employees’ and customers’ perceptions of service quality in service encounters. Unlike previous research designs, this study addresses the critical aspect of potential mismatches in how customers and employees perceive service quality, and presents a methodological procedure to detect them.

This paper seeks to identify and assess the problems of distribution and logistics that arise in the fishery sector in Greece and to examine the impact of market orientation with regard to these problems.

The paper is based on the findings of a survey involving 186 companies. Descriptive statistics for each variable were used in order to assess the importance of each problem of distribution and logistics. Cluster analysis was carried out based on the perception of the importance of the problems of distribution and logistics. In addition, “crosstabs”analysis was used to examine the association between distribution problems and the firm characteristics of each cluster. Finally, linear multiple regression analysis was carried out, with each problem of distribution and logistics taken as the dependent variable and each element of marketing and logistics taken as an independent variable.

The importance of distribution and logistics problems varied widely, as did the market orientation between the groups of participating firms. In addition, certain firm characteristics and infrastructure factors can become so significant that they directly affect the degree of importance of the above problems.

Distribution & Logistics Managers should be aware of the significant influence that certain characteristics of the firms can have on the distribution function. Special attention should be paid to the importance of the distribution problems and the role of market orientation.

Unlike earlier research carried out in this domain, this study deals with a much wider range of problems and a broader cross‐section of companies. In addition, it is the first to focus in detail on the degree of importance of distribution problems and the role of market orientation.

This study aims to conduct a thorough literature review to map current studies on international marketing capabilities (IMCs) applying dynamic capabilities view (DCV). The aim of this study is to increase the chances for more conceptual and terminological rigor in future research in this particular research area.

This is a systematic literature review following the established review process of reviews in leading (international) marketing journals. A multilevel analytical approach was adopted, combining inductive coding with deductive coding and following the logic of antecedents-phenomena-consequences.

Synthesis of 20 rigorously selected previous empirical studies on IMCs applying DCV reveals that academic interest in these capabilities is well justified and growing and there are some well researched antecedents to focal capabilities (e.g. inter-organizational capabilities, outside-in market orientation) as well as their prevalent consequences (e.g. export and innovation performance). There is little knowledge of moderators to these links, especially with regard to consequences. This review illustrates that the current research lacks consistency in how key constructs are defined and measured, provides the guide to future conceptualization and measurement of so-called International Dynamic Marketing Capabilities (IDMCs) and proposes some concrete research directions.

The authors extend prior research in the investigated topic by critically evaluating prior works, providing improved conceptualization of IDMCs as well as concrete research agenda for IDMCs structured along recommendations for Theory, Context and Methods (TCM framework).

Successful new product and service development increasingly relies on the ability to adopt an international perspective, throughout the development process itself, and by targeting international or global markets, rather than simply serving domestic customers. Yet, although there exists an impressive body of research concerning the management of new product development, the evidence base with respect to international (or global) new product development practices and management is largely in its infancy, and is, at best, fragmented. This guest editorial provides a synopsis of the main research streams in the broad field of international new product development, highlighting major gaps in current knowledge and understanding. The special issue is a modest attempt at tapping current thoughts and research investigations in this critical area, seeking, also, to stimulate much‐needed debate and further research. One article examines whether international diversity is positively associated with new product development performance. Two articles tackle the role that national culture plays in influencing consumer acceptance of new products (technology) on the one hand, and firms’ global new product development approach on the other. A final article investigates technology transfer as a special case of new technology adoption in developing markets.