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This study aims to examine the timing of the disclosure of a firm’s environmental certification. In general, certifications comply with signaling and legitimacy theories and serve to bolster a firm’s reputation, financial performance and valuation, among other benefits. However, when a firm finds itself facing a reputational threat, it is unclear whether disclosing a recent certification would provide those same benefits or be perceived by investors as “greenwashing” or a disingenuous distraction from the threat.

This study is based on a case and survey the authors developed that is supported in methodology and approach by past academic work.

The findings suggest that in the short term, the disclosure of the certification benefits the firm regardless of the current reputational environment, good or bad. More specifically, investors view the certification as a benefit (rather than an attempt to distract) even when its disclosure was immediately proceeded by a reputational threat.

This study is limited by the population of survey respondents from which the authors collected data and their internal predispositions and biases.

This work is applicable to firms that have engaged in certifications or are considering such certifications as well as firms that provide certification services. The study is also relevant to stakeholders and consumers of information related to certifications.

This study is operationalized through the use of a case and survey the authors developed. The research question the authors attempt to answer is derived from a question raised in the literature. The authors are unaware of any other study that addresses this question.

Whilst earlier studies of market entry success factors have mostly focused on large emerging markets such as China or India, limited attention has been given to smaller emerging markets. The purpose of this paper is to identify the effects of firm-level (i.e. entry mode and firm size), country-level (i.e. market potential, country risk and openness) and cultural distance on successful market entry strategies of multinational enterprises (MNEs) in a smaller emerging country (Thailand).

Using archival data from 1996-2008 and a survey of 139 firms, the results reveal significant influence of both market potential and cultural distance on successful market entry.

Overall, the findings demonstrate a cautionary approach when generalizing the results of studies focusing on large emerging markets to smaller emerging markets. Smaller emerging markets such as Thailand offer very different market-space than large emerging markets and therefore the overall determinants of success may differ substantially.

Market potential appears to be the most significant variable in entering the Thai market. The findings also suggest a negative and significant relationship between cultural distance and market success in Thailand. This reveals that foreign firms that enter small emerging markets which are culturally close to their home countries can enjoy a greater possibility of success.

This study is a first step towards sensitizing corporations and policy makers in understanding the differences in market entry success factors between larger and smaller emerging markets and strategizing accordingly.

Empirical analysis does not yet converge on a unique set of factors which determine CEO compensation within the electric utility industry. There is some evidence, for example, that compensation and firm size are positively related, and that compensation and accounting profitability are either unrelated or negatively related (Carroll & Ciscel, 1982; Hirschey & Pappas, 1981). On the surface, these findings argue against the need for incentive programs within the utility industry since regulation itself assures adequate firm profitability.

Today the most common way of testing for the presence of abnormal stock market returns is by following the pioneering work of Fama, Fisher, Jensen, and Roll (1969). Their benchmark approach examines whether or not the stochastic behavior of firms' market‐conditional returns is significantly affected by some specific event like an earnings announcement, CEO's death, or brokerage house recommendation.

Summarizes previous research on the links between chief executive officer (CEO) compensation, firm performance and industry; and compares pay‐performance relationships calculated by pooling data with those based on industry segmentation. Develops a model incorporating six factors which may affect CEO cash compensation (tenure, net company income, income variance, net sales, returns to shareholders and beta) and uses 1986‐1992 data from a sample of large US firms covering eight industries to test it. Shows, using Andrew’s Sine Technique regression, that there is a wide variation between individual industries which is obscured when data is pooled. Discusses the methodology used, consistency with other research, the limitations of the study and the underlying reasons for the findings.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The paper aims to examine the role of the media in encouraging corporate responsibility in the toy industry and question whether it acts responsibly itself in reporting in a balanced and fair way (telling toy stories) or whether it overindulges in scaremongering (telling horror stories) or in exaggerating or making false accusations (telling fairy stories).

The paper focuses on qualitative data gathered through in‐depth interviews with 15 senior toy company managers, toy retailers, representatives of the toy industry body, and with a sample of parent toy consumers.

It was found that consumers generally have little knowledge about toys or the toy industry but that any negative media coverage about toys might influence or change their purchase decisions. Many managers felt that there was only limited media coverage of the toy industry and most stories were overly negative, failing to reflect the many responsible activities they pursue. A range of stories is provided that point to an important role for the media in bringing ethical issues to public attention but also indicate that greater prominence could perhaps be given to the industry's worthier practice.

Toy companies need to continue to work closely with the media to keep them informed, particularly concerning their benevolence. They should, however, also look for other ways of communicating such care to consumers both directly and via retailers.

The paper objectively considers the influence of the media in an important children's market and points to lessons about social responsibility for both the media and the toy industry.

In the US, a growing number of organizations and industries are seeking to affirm their commitment to and efforts around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as recent events have increased attention to social inequities. As health care organizations are considering new ways to incorporate DEI initiatives within their workforce, the anticipated result of these efforts is a reduction in health inequities that have plagued our country for centuries. Unfortunately, there are few frameworks to guide these efforts because few successfully link organizational DEI initiatives with health equity outcomes. The purpose of this chapter is to review existing scholarship and evidence using an organizational lens to examine how health care organizations can advance DEI initiatives in the pursuit of reducing or eliminating health inequities. First, this chapter defines important terms of DEI and health equity in health care. Next, we describe the methods for our narrative review. We propose a model for understanding health care organizational activity and its impact on health inequities based in organizational learning that includes four interrelated parts: intention, action, outcomes, and learning. We summarize the existing scholarship in each of these areas and provide recommendations for enhancing future research. Across the body of knowledge in these areas, disciplinary and other silos may be the biggest barrier to knowledge creation and knowledge transfer. Moving forward, scholars and practitioners should seek to collaborate further in their respective efforts to achieve health equity by creating formalized initiatives with linkages between practice and research communities.

Addresses the general issue of the effective management of public relief programmes. Proposes that in the search for an appropriate guiding framework, public administrators could overcome some of the perennial problems stemming from lack of management continuity between ad hoc programmes by adopting the so‐called “privatization paradigm”. Develops a comparative analysis based on the Bureau of Indian Affairs′ (USA) recent effort to assist American Indians start and maintain viable business ventures. Argues that the substantial non‐securing management costs of business relief programmes could be reduced if administrators applied management models provided by privatization theory to the direction of their programmes.

Fitting ethical responsibilities into day‐to‐day business practice represents a challenge for marketers who have to operate at the customer interface. When young children are the target market the puzzle becomes more complex. Based on a case study of the toy industry, this paper examines the moral issues of “care” and “vulnerability” and evaluates toy company practice.

The paper builds upon Ross' proposed prima facie duties of benevolence, fidelity, and nonmaleficence (1938), which it argued are particularly relevant when vulnerable consumers are involved. The supporting fieldwork is based on qualitative interviews with senior managers in 12 leading UK‐based toy companies and compares the findings with other documentary evidence.

Evidence of some ethical responsible practice was discovered although this appeared to be primarily driven by external forces rather than company philanthropy. Although the companies argued that targeting children directly is supported by their human rights, this practice will always attract criticism on moral grounds because of children's widely accepted vulnerability. The study identifies a paradox that it is parents who fund most toy purchases but are often overlooked in the marketing process who are vulnerable as well as their children.

This paper adds to the limited literature on ethical issues in marketing to children and provides empirical evidence from an important children's market. The paper seeks to provide a balanced account of where the toy companies are adopting a responsible approach and where they still need to improve their moral credentials.