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1 – 10 of over 40000Chundong Zheng, Liping Yuan, Xuemei Bian, Han Wang and Lei Huang
Management response to consumer comments has become a widely adopted marketing strategy to address the undesirable effects caused by negative remarks. Yet, when and what…
Abstract
Purpose
Management response to consumer comments has become a widely adopted marketing strategy to address the undesirable effects caused by negative remarks. Yet, when and what management response is more effective and under what circumstances remains under-researched. This study aims to fill this gap.
Design/methodology/approach
In three experiments using five different products, the authors manipulate psychological construal level (psychological distance: distant vs proximal) and management response (response of primary vs secondary features) and thereafter assess their bearings on consumer psychological and behavioral reaction toward products of two distinctive natures (hedonic vs utilitarian).
Findings
At a psychological distance, consumers show a preferable reaction to management response of primary over secondary features. In contrast, when the psychological distance is proximal, consumers react more positively to management response of secondary than primary features. In addition, these effects vary as a function of product nature, hedonic vs utilitarian.
Research limitations/implications
The findings of this research bring a significant contribution to marketing communication literature and extend the construal level theory.
Practical implications
A better understanding of the relative effectiveness of distinct types of management response to negative consumer comments is essential for more targeted and effective marketing strategies.
Originality/value
Little research has documented the effects of distinct types of management response. How psychological distance might underpin these effects has not been explored. In addition, whether the interaction effect of management response and psychological distance varies with differences in product nature, namely, hedonic and utilitarian, remains unanswered until this research.
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Edwin Love and Erica Mina Okada
– The purpose of this study is to propose differential marketing tactics for high-quality products versus low-price products by building on construal level theory.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to propose differential marketing tactics for high-quality products versus low-price products by building on construal level theory.
Design/methodology/approach
Two studies were conducted, one using students and another using data collected from more than 7,000 online auctions.
Findings
When consumers consider high-quality products, they use more abstract mental models, and when they consider low-price products, they use more concrete mental models. Differentiation based on primary features product is more effective for products that are positioned on quality, while differentiation based on the secondary features is more effective for products that are positioned on price. Also, marketing efforts to attract attention are more effective for products positioned on quality than those positioned on price.
Research limitations/implications
This research focused on how consumers use different mental models for considering high-quality versus low-price product offerings but did not examine whether a given segment/consumer uses different models in considering high-quality versus low-price alternatives.
Practical implications
Managers wishing to reinforce a high-quality position should focus on marketing efforts compatible with consumers’ high level construal by enhancing and highlighting the primary features, and drawing consumers’ attention to their product offerings. Managers wishing to reinforce a low-price positioning should focus on marketing efforts that are compatible with consumers’ low level construal by enhancing and highlighting secondary features.
Originality/value
This research makes an important theoretical link between construal theory and brand positioning.
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Yong Yue, Lian Ding, Kemal Ahmet, John Painter and Mick Walters
Computer aided process planning (CAPP) is an effective way to integrate computer aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM). There are two key issues with the integration: design…
Abstract
Computer aided process planning (CAPP) is an effective way to integrate computer aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM). There are two key issues with the integration: design input in a feature‐based model and acquisition and representation of process knowledge especially empirical knowledge. This paper presents a state of the art review of research in computer integrated manufacturing using neural network techniques. Neural network‐based methods can eliminate some drawbacks of the conventional approaches, and therefore have attracted research attention particularly in recent years. The four main issues related to the neural network‐based techniques, namely the topology of the neural network, input representation, the training method and the output format are discussed with the current systems. The outcomes of research using neural network techniques are studied, and the limitations and future work are outlined.
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Kamyar Kianpour, Ahmad Jusoh and Maryam Asghari
The purpose of this paper is to extend the existing dimensions of product quality to cover ecological phenomena. It proposes adding a new dimension – environmentally friendly – to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to extend the existing dimensions of product quality to cover ecological phenomena. It proposes adding a new dimension – environmentally friendly – to the existing dimensions of product quality in order to help solve environmental issues.
Design/methodology/approach
The main focus of the literature review is on product quality dimensions. The authors discuss each dimension separately to clarify whether there is any consideration given to producing environmentally friendly products which can directly contribute to product quality dimensions. The population of this study was chosen from consumers, since their demands and expectations play a significant role in producing green products. A stratified sampling method was used and the sample size was selected according to the Morgan table of sampling. Factor analysis was conducted on the collected data to determine the underlying factors of product quality.
Findings
The results indicate that consumers are more concerned about environmental issues in recent decades, and they responded that environmentally friendly is an important part of a product along with other dimensions of product quality which should be considered by manufacturers and producers.
Originality/value
This research is one of the first studies which explores consumers’ opinions on the demand side to examine environmentally friendly capability as a new dimension of product quality.
Civil war and conflict in African nations tend to involve the destruction, damage, and neglect of schools and classrooms. Sierra Leone is no exception. The slaughter and dispersal…
Abstract
Civil war and conflict in African nations tend to involve the destruction, damage, and neglect of schools and classrooms. Sierra Leone is no exception. The slaughter and dispersal of children and the unemployment of teachers, coupled with the loss of equipment, textbooks and other supplies, accounted for the rapid decline in school enrolments during the civil war. This chapter seeks to provide a synthesis of the impact of the global mandate “Education for All” in Sierra Leone's local and national context. It provides examples of contextual realities and challenges that confront the implementation of this international mandate. The chapter argues that Sierra Leone's embrace and constant striving for the actualization of this global mandate is encouraging, but lacks significant contextual quality to make it a truly realized promise. Although progress can be classified as ongoing and truly encouraging, vital historical lessons can be learnt as the country forges to foster the realization of this dream.
T.C. Venkateswarulu, Asra Tasneem Shaik, Druthi Sri Meduri, Vajiha Vajiha, Kalyani Dhusia and Abraham Peele
Mucorales has been described to be widely distributed during the most recent COVID-19 pandemic, with a greater frequency of disease in India, particularly among those with immune…
Abstract
Purpose
Mucorales has been described to be widely distributed during the most recent COVID-19 pandemic, with a greater frequency of disease in India, particularly among those with immune deficiencies. This study aims to use computational tools to develop a vaccine.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors investigated at Mucorales proteins that had previously been associated to virulence factors. Recent research suggests that a vaccine based on high-level cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL), helper T lymphocyte (HTL) and B-cell lymphocyte (BCL) epitopes from diverse proteins might be developed. Furthermore, the vaccine assembly contains the targeted epitopes as well as PADRE peptides to induce an immune response. Computational approaches were used to analyze the immunological parameters used to build the suggested vaccine and validate its TLR-3 binding.
Findings
These studies show that the vaccination is capable of triggering a particular immune response. The authors offer a technique for developing and evaluating candidate vaccines using computational tools. To the best of their knowledge, this is the first immunoinformatic research of a prospective mucormycosis vaccine.
Originality/value
During this audit, a successful attempt was made to create a subunit MEV against black fungus. In the current study, MEV has been proposed as a suitable neutralizer candidate since it is immunogenic, secure, stable and interacts with human receptors. A stream study, on the other hand, is produced via a mixed vaccinosis approach. Following that, vaccinologists may perform more exploratory testing to evaluate whether the vaccine is effective.
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Examines factors such as the trend to globalisation, triggers for change such as advances in information technology (IT), changing organisation structures and adoption of business…
Abstract
Examines factors such as the trend to globalisation, triggers for change such as advances in information technology (IT), changing organisation structures and adoption of business process re‐engineering using the findings of a questionnaire. Questions addressed the topics of: industrial sector, organisational strategy, structure, people, performance, and the role of IT. The key findings included: that globalisation was a real and significant force for change affecting organisation strategy, operations, and characteristics; that alternative organisation strategies lead to varying organisational success, and scope for improvement; and that evolution (rapid or slow) to a virtual enterprise is feasible for most firms.
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The study examines the spatial pattern of 101 destinations considered important in Nigeria by tourists, and categorised them into various grades, employing a questionnaire survey…
Abstract
The study examines the spatial pattern of 101 destinations considered important in Nigeria by tourists, and categorised them into various grades, employing a questionnaire survey of 634 tourists randomly selected from seven centres in Nigeria. A standard stanine rating scheme was used to evaluate the value of the 101 destinations in Nigeria for attracting tourists. The study revealed eight tourism regions in Nigeria, with two regions, Lagos and Yankari/Jos/Abuja emerging as primary attractive tourism regions, and four regions, the Western, Northeastern, Edo/Delta and North Central tourism regions emerging as secondary tourism regions. Destinations considered most important were mostly short distance or nearby, and associated with both cultural and natural resources, especially wildlife/games and beaches/water areas. The study concludes with implications for destination planning, development and marketing.
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Thong‐Hwee Koh, Eng‐Wah Lee and Yong‐Tsui Lee
Apparel pattern making is an age‐old occupation which is full of heuristics and unwritten rules. These rules have yet to be comprehensively studied for possible incorporation into…
Abstract
Apparel pattern making is an age‐old occupation which is full of heuristics and unwritten rules. These rules have yet to be comprehensively studied for possible incorporation into apparel CAD systems. At present, most of these systems have drafting subsystems that address only a portion of this process. Explores pattern making in detail. Seeks to identify the motivations behind all its procedures and operations. A knowledge of such motivations provides a better understanding of the whole process. This knowledge can subsequently be used to design better computer‐aided pattern‐making systems.