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The current study seeks to contribute to current self-regulation research by first exploring the association between the cost of self-regulation and firm self-regulation. The mediating role of association membership and firm slack is additionally explored.

Longitudinal analysis of firm-initiated product recalls for 15 manufacturers in the USA automobile industry from 1966 to 2012 has several important findings regarding the motivations for firm self-regulation.

The influence of industry associations and firm absorbed slack both contribute to firm self-regulation.

The current study begins to address the importance of firm characteristics in predicting self-regulation activities. The bulk of existing research has examined self-regulation at the industry level as an activity performed as a result of the adoption of formalized industry sanctioned standards of practice. This research contributes to such work by examining firm proactivity in the absence of such formal standards.

The following classified, annotated list of titles is intended to provide reference librarians with a current checklist of new reference books, and is designed to supplement the RSR review column, “Recent Reference Books,” by Frances Neel Cheney. “Reference Books in Print” includes all additional books received prior to the inclusion deadline established for this issue. Appearance in this column does not preclude a later review in RSR. Publishers are urged to send a copy of all new reference books directly to RSR as soon as published, for immediate listing in “Reference Books in Print.” Reference books with imprints older than two years will not be included (with the exception of current reprints or older books newly acquired for distribution by another publisher). The column shall also occasionally include library science or other library related publications of other than a reference character.

The Automobile Association is a private organization maintained by members' subscriptions. It exists solely to give service to its members. I am sure you all know this, but it seems right to start this paper by reminding you of it because many people regard the A.A. as a cross between a public service and a nationalized industry. This is probably because certain things which we do, and are in a unique position to do, are not attempted by anyone else. We have learnt by many years of experience the best, or what seems to us to be the best, way of dealing with various problems with due regard to economy of both labour and money.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of online advertising spending on automobile sales through both search and non-search advertising.

Sales data of the top 52 vehicle models were collected in two consecutive years in China. The advertising spending data of both formats were collected from a leading consulting company and a major search engine company. Then several empirical models were proposed to evaluate the effects of online advertising on automobile sales. Two extended models were further investigated for search advertising.

The results revealed that both formats of online advertising have significantly positive effects on automobile sales. However, excessive spending on non-search advertising does not help sales and a moderate budget is preferred. On the other hand, spending on search advertising has no such constraint to improve the vehicle sales.

The empirical findings have proved the importance of online advertising to the automobile companies and thus can help companies improve their decision making in online advertising allocation strategies.

This study provides a better understanding of the relationship between online advertising spending and automobile sales, and helps business to define sophisticated online advertising strategies to improve sales performance.

Gives a brief history of the Automobile Association (AA) before going on to describe the organization’s attitudes to issues of complaints and customer satisfaction. States that the entire workforce is empowered as part of the service quality culture and explains the reasons for this. Shows how quality service is essential, and how staff must be allowed to deal with each case individually to achieve this. Lists the “seven golden rules” in operation at the AA.

The purpose of this study is that on the basis of the competitive edge theory, source mechanism and evaluation approaches of industrial cluster competitiveness, combined with international trends in the automobile industry and the features of Chinese automobile industrial cluster development, an evaluation index system about cluster competitiveness of auto industry is built with comprehensive consideration of factors such as cluster development environment, external scale effect and internal competitiveness from the perspective of value chain of automobile industry.

An evaluation index system for automobile industrial cluster competitiveness was realized by integrating current strengths and future growth capacities with multidimensional, dynamic and comprehensive characteristics, which included 3 second-level, 10 third-level and 16 fourth-level indices. In the light of evaluation methods, a group intelligence optimization algorithm – (cuckoo search) – and traditional methods of complex decision-making system – analytic hierarchy process (AHP) – were combined to propose the cuckoo-AHP evaluation method. It was applied for the calculation and optimization of weight values in an automobile industrial cluster competitiveness evaluation index for the purpose of obtaining better scientific and more reliable results.

The research might further enrich the evaluation theory of automobile industrial cluster competitiveness and also can be useful for showing how traditional evaluation methods can be combined with intelligent algorithms to carry out better automobile industrial cluster competitiveness evaluations. In addition, studies of channels for kick-starting Chinese auto industrial cluster competitiveness are expected to provide references for how to enhance the cluster competitiveness of the Chinese automobile industry.

Changsha and Liuzhou, the Guangxi automobile industrial clusters as the two empirical analysis objects selected for this paper, are geographically adjacent to each other. The automobile industries of the two cities are local pillar industries with the strong support of the local government. Both clusters have their own advantages and weak points with different characteristics of cluster development, and they enjoy a representative significance amongst China’s numerous auto industrial clusters that are taking shape. Comparative analysis of both clusters serves as a good reference for the objective evaluation of the competitiveness of Chinese automobile clusters in terms of their real and practical developments and in respect of the success of reasonable scientific and industrial cluster policies.

Multidimensional, dynamic, integrated evaluation index systems are constructed around automobile industrial cluster competitiveness, which has taken into account developments in current strengths and future growth capacity. The cuckoo-AHP evaluation method has been formed by combining the traditional decision-making method known as AHP with a new meta-heuristic optimization algorithm called “cuckoo search”. Both have been used in evaluations of automobile industrial cluster competitiveness in Liuzhou and Changsha, which will be beneficial for enriching automobile industrial cluster competitiveness evaluation theory and new evaluation methods that will enable better evaluations of automobile industrial cluster competitiveness.

The Equal Pay Act 1970 (which came into operation on 29 December 1975) provides for an “equality clause” to be written into all contracts of employment. S.1(2) (a) of the 1970 Act (which has been amended by the Sex Discrimination Act 1975) provides:

Examines a definition of hotels and the number of hotels in the countries of the UK. Indicates by country the proportions of hotel stock represented by the major grading schemes and guides. Analyses the schemes by number and quality of grade where appropriate, and each category by its share of the country′s hotel stock. Explains the difficulties of comparison between grades of different schemes, concluding that a percentage share of grades should be employed. Indicates with equivalence tables percentage shares of quality grades for the major comparable schemes. Concludes that although the numerical comparisons can be criticized because of minor differences in the schemes, a foundation is provided for more meaningful comparisons than has previously existed.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the nature and the evolution of manufacturer–supplier relationships in Thailand's automobile industry and to identify the factors that influence the evolution of these relationships.

The study is based on case research method involving in‐depth interviews with 120 local and expatriates of 7 companies and their 14 suppliers.

In Thailand, the manufacturer–supplier relationship starts out as a market‐exchange‐type relationship, and then gradually moves to a partnering type. The stages in evolution involve constant efforts on the part of foreign manufacturers to develop the suppliers by offering resources, training, feedback and solutions. The supplier capability building programs, bridging of cultural differences and formation of trust provides the basis for enduring partnerships. These partnerships are symbiotic relationships in which manufacturers benefit from suppliers' knowledge of local production and market factors and suppliers benefit from manufacturer's technical and managerial support. Additionally, closer collaboration with suppliers helps to prevent the leakage of business intelligence and theft of intellectual property and to prevent suppliers from working with competitors, thus allowing manufacturers to devote undivided attention to smooth supply of parts without any shortage.

In emerging markets, the local suppliers play key role in the success of foreign automobile companies. However, the local suppliers need technical and managerial support from manufacturers. The process of building a network of competent local suppliers consumes time and resources, therefore manufacturers should take a long‐term view of the market. The undeniable importance of overcoming cultural differences and building trust is the hallmark of successful partnerships.

The paper highlights the importance and process of developing local suppliers in emerging markets using Thai automobile industry as an example.