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This study explored the resilience-building initiatives of work organizations using the Johns Hopkins Resistance–Resilience–Recovery Model. It also determined how resilience-building initiatives increase organizational resilience and promote employee resilience.

The study employed an exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach. In Study 1, resilience-building initiatives of selected work organizations in the Philippines were determined through qualitative research. A survey questionnaire to determine the presence of resistance, resilience and recovery programs in organizations was developed based on the results of this qualitative study. In Study 2, the empirical relations of these initiatives to reported levels of perceived organizational resilience as well as individual employee resilience were determined through a quantitative survey among employees. Data was analyzed using structural equation modeling.

The findings of the study described resistance, resilience and recovery programs in work organizations. Results also supported the hypothesis that the presence of resilience-building initiatives contributes to organizational resilience, which in turn affects employee resilience.

The relatively low contribution of organization initiatives on organization resilience suggests that other factors may need to be explored. Also, despite using a sequential mixed-method approach, conducting longitudinal studies in future research will provide more robust data on the impact of interventions on resilience.

Management may use the results in identifying initiatives that can increase resilience in their organizations. The tool created may be utilized in gathering data on initiatives and help those in-charge of disaster risk reduction and management build a business case on the importance of investing in resilience-building efforts.

The study identified resilience-building initiatives of work organizations in a country that regularly experiences disasters as well as demonstrated the utility of the Johns Hopkins Model as framework for resilience building in the workplace. A survey questionnaire to determine the presence of resistance, resilience and recovery programs in organizations was developed through the exploratory study (Study 1), and the contributions of these initiatives to resilience of employees and organizations were established in Study 2.

This chapter describes the environmental risks and vulnerabilities faced by work organizations in Southeast Asia. It also presents cases that demonstrate how these organizations respond to disasters and natural hazards. To situate the case discussions, a review of existing studies of organizational resilience, particularly those that propose definitions, models, and frameworks is presented. The cases from the Philippines and Thailand illustrate how active and integrative efforts at building resilience can be institutionalized at the organizational level.

This paper investigates the marketing and pricing policies for traditional and organic fruit and vegetable products of large food retailers in four European countries by means of a survey of 47 stores, including all major food retail chains. Data have been analysed to investigate what determines the presence of organic products, the extent to which the price mark‐up between traditional and organic products depends on the inherent quality of organic products rather than on the amount of extra service and information often associated with these products, and the importance of country location within the single European market in determining the characteristics of the retail outlets. The results of the econometric analysis indicate that the size, location and overall quality of the outlet, and the degree of product information and customer service are the variables which best predict the choice to sell organic products. Also, the results indicate that almost half of the price mark‐up between traditional and organic products is explained by store characteristics and the amount of extra service and information provided with these products.

There is strong consensus that the Internet has the potential to positively impact firms, and SMEs in particular; however, not all firms have realized benefits from adoption. The present study extends research in the area by addressing the need to examine the “chain” of variables explaining Internet adoption. We do this by exploring SME owner/manager Internet-related usefulness and ease-of-use cognitions and intention to use the Internet for supplier information management. We also explore the influence of behavioral norms and two broader strategic perspectives, market and learning orientation, on the Internet-related cognitions. Findings have implications for researchers and practitioners by identifying factors that contribute to effectively leveraging the Internet in an important area for SMEs.

Retailers agree that segmenting and developing an understanding of target segments are important inputs to differentiating products and enhancing shopping propensity. Most shopping behavior and choice profiling tends to generalize rather than develop useful segment information. Thus, most results are not useful for targeting and positioning. A survey was conducted to examine shopping choice behavior of a very important and economically viable segment of this teen market called the “later aged female teen”. It was found that a typical later aged female teen was born to shop. Making the right choice, especially for her clothing, is important both from a social affiliation and a social influence position. This group felt brand (fit, look, and style) to be the most important attribute to consider in apparel choice and later aged female teens wanted excitement in their shopping venue. Shopping was important and there were risks associated with an incorrect choice of their clothing. Finally, the desire to stay and shop at the local mall seemed to be a function of the mall composition and excitement.

The chapter compares the survival of old regime elites in Tunisia and Egypt after the 2011 uprisings and analyses its enabling factors. Although democracy progressed in Tunisia and collapsed in Egypt, the countries show similarities in the old elite’s ability to survive the Arab Spring. In both cases, the popular uprisings resulted in the type of elite circulation that John Higley and György Lengyel refer to as ‘quasi-replacement circulation’, which is sudden and coerced, but narrow and shallow. To account for this converging outcome, the chapter foregrounds the instability, economic decline and information uncertainty in the countries post-uprising and the navigating resources, which the old elites possessed. The roots of the quasi-replacement circulation are traced to the old elites’ privileged access to money, network, the media and, for Egypt, external support. Only parts of the structures of authority in a political regime are formal. The findings show the importance of evaluating regime change in a broader view than the formal institutional set-up. In Tunisia and Egypt, the informal structures of the anciens régimes survived – so did the old regime elites.

This chapter explores how state–business relations (SBR) in the Arab world influence public policy on industrial clusters and the resulting economic benefits from these clusters on innovation and productivity. The main SBR actors are identified as the state, big capitalists (or tycoons), and small and medium business managers and owners (entrepreneurs). The framework used here focuses on interactors' power relations. Such power relations are reflected in the ability/inability of the state to enforce its will with less consultation with and/or favorite treatment to nonstate actors. It is also reflected in the ability/inability of nonstate actors to act individually or organize in order to defend their interests and influence government policy formulation and implementation. Such power relations are reflected in the ability of nonstate actors to organize – especially entrepreneurs – and the level of favoritism provided by state officials to tycoons. The power dynamics in SBR lead to different SBR modes and different economic outcomes, one of which is the development of industrial clusters and how efficient they are in fostering innovation and productivity in Arab countries. This chapter suggests that the development of industrial clusters in the Arab world necessitates institutional reform, addressing the power relations governing SBR in the region. A more open political system allowing the independence and growth of broad-based business associations and curbing favoritism is necessary for realizing the benefits from implementing recommended policies, leading to cluster development and reaping the economic benefits from such development. Using statistical and regression analysis, empirical evidence supporting these arguments is provided.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate Generation Y consumers’ luxury fashion consumption. Generation Y is becoming a very important segment for the luxury market in the USA. Specifically, this study is designed to investigate Generation Y consumers’ consumption of luxury fashion products from the following perspectives: the influence of self-related personality traits on their brand consciousness; and the influence of brand consciousness on consumption behaviours in terms of consumption motivations, purchase intention, and brand loyalty.

A conceptual model was developed to represent the proposed relationships among the related variables. An online survey was conducted and 305 valid surveys were collected. The proposed hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling (SEM) analyses.

From the perspective of self-concept, this research shed some light on the luxury fashion consumption behaviour of Generation Y consumers. Public self-consciousness and self-esteem were both found having significant influence on Generation Y consumers’ brand consciousness and in turn their luxury consumption motivations and brand loyalty.

Limitations for this study mainly come from the representativeness of the sample, which was recruited from a panel of a third party research group. Implications for luxury fashion brand managers and retailers focus on strategies that influence the social and self-motivation for luxury consumption and level of brand consciousness.

This research is unique because it focuses on luxury fashion consumption of Generation Y consumers, an emerging segment in the luxury market. Generation Y consumers’ behaviour towards luxury fashion was examined in terms of their self-related personality traits, brand consciousness, motivation, and brand loyalty.

A discussion of three key articles will highlight this chapter on corporate social responsibility: van Marrewijk's (2003) concepts and definitions of CSR and corporate sustainability, Munilla and Miles's (2005) CSR continuum as a component of stakeholder theory, and Garriga and Melé's (2004) CSR theories. The chapter discusses stakeholder value chains and a reactive approach to dealing with community needs, employee volunteerism, and strict strategic behaviors.