ISSN : 1738-3110
Purpose - We seek feasible strategies to draw customers into a state of attitudinal/behavioral loyalty through perceived quality and perceived risk in the experienced food industry. Research design, data, and methodology - We utilize the LISREL model to examine the cause and effect relationships between customer loyalty, perceived quality, perceived risk, and three marketing proposals (brand image, store image, and promotion). We employed the quota sampling method to conduct the survey questionnaires, collecting365 effective customer samples in coffee shops/stores in Taipei City. Results - We find that store image substantially benefits consumer loyalty through perceived quality. Marketing managers can enhance store environment and atmosphere to elicit both attitudinal and behavioral aspects of customer-perceived quality and loyalty. Conclusions - This is the first paper to investigate simultaneously customer loyalty across brand image, store image, and promotion/marketing proposals in the food industry. Managers can promote brand image and store image at the same time to enhance customer-perceived quality.
Purpose - This study addresses an acquisition's impact on a firm's strategic relationship based on findings of existing academic studies and theoretical assertions. Through examining existing research results and theoretical grounds for an acquisition's impact on various stakeholders, this study indirectly approaches the impact on stakeholders including alliance partners. Research design, data, and methodology - This research identified a variety of related theoretical foundations and empirical studies. Research objectives of prior studies mainly focused on merging firms and direct participants of acquisition activity. In addition, academic attention on the impact on rival firms has recently been growing. However, little research on alliance partners was found. Prior studies simultaneously employed event study methodology and cross-sectional analysis to make further theoretical contributions. Results and Conclusions - Based on the findings of prior studies, this research proposed a complementary research model for future academic inquiry into the impact of an acquisition on an alliance partner's return and for predicting an acquisition announcement's effect on alliance partners.
Purpose - Since Iran's economy is only now developing, and its stock market is only now emerging, we should deal with the relationship between ownership structure and conservative accounting of companies to see whether such a relationship exists in Iran's market. This study aims to investigate the relationship between ownership structure and accounting conservatism of listed companies on the Tehran Stock Exchange. Research design, data, and methodology - All listed companies on the Tehran Stock Exchange, for which the required information financial statements (balance sheet, profit and loss account) could be acquired for the period 2007-2012, were studied. A total of 123 companies from various industries was selected. Results - In order to test the hypotheses, multi variate regression (inter procedure), with their meaningful t- and f-statistics, and a Durbin-Watson autocorrelation model were used. Conclusions - The research results show that the ownership of major shareholders and ownership concentration have a negative significant relationship with accounting conservatism. Therefore, as a significant negative relationship between concentration of ownership and accounting conservatism at the 95% confidence level was found, the second hypothesis was confirmed.
Purpose - This paper aims to review cold chain management, especially in the pharmaceutical industry, to explore the cold chain process of delivering temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products, and to identify areas for further development. Research design, data, and methodology - The paper, based on literature review and corporate analysis, reviews the development and status of the cold supply chain system, including its important role in the pharmaceutical industry. Results - Logistics in this field requires more stages than are typically needed. Due to the unique characteristics of the market, few companies can provide the services; currently, only few global companies with large networks and high technologies can afford to do so. Expanding pharmaceutical markets to meet global demand will require cold chain development, especially in "pharmerging" markets. Conclusions - Cold chain is a highly sensitive market in terms of products being carried within the chain that itself is a complex system. However, at the same time, it is a niche market with new opportunities. Hence, a sound cold chain infrastructure is needed to satisfy companies, governments, and customers for both commercial and public reasons.
Purpose - This paper investigates whether one's occupation influences one's attitude toward people with HIV/AIDS and suggests ways to counter HIV-related stigma in different work settings. Two samples comprising workers in different environments and occupations with contrasting personalities were chosen. Thus, security guards (authoritarian types) and catering workers (social types) were included. Research design, data, and methodology - The sample comprised246 service staff from the Rhodes University Catering Division and the Hi-Tec Security company, both in Grahamstown, South Africa, a small Eastern Cape province town. All employees at these organizations during the survey were eligible to participate. Results -The security sample displays significantly higher personal stigma scores than the catering sample, according to the Visser personal stigma scale (mean scores of 4.01 and 1.37, respectively; t=10.30, df=244, p=0.00). Similar results were found using Visser subscales. Conclusions - This study shows that occupation is a strong predictor of HIV-related stigma in the workplace, suggesting that workplace settings, by attracting particular personalities and influencing workers, may shape attitudes towards those who are HIV positive.
Purpose - This research aims to explore factors that could facilitate and/or impede consumers' long-term goal-relevant food consumption, in the pursuit of a long-term goal. Research Design, Data, and Methodology - The main experiment's sample comprised 289 female students at C University. The structural equation model of the Amos 18.0 program was used to verify the hypotheses. Results - Hypotheses concerning positive effects of long-term goal commitment and expectancy of long-term goal attainment, and negative effects of pleasure-seeking needs on long-term goal-relevant food consumption behaviors were accepted. Furthermore, self-efficacy's positive effects on long-term goal commitment and expectancy of long-term goal attainment, and negative effects on the strength of pleasure-seeking were explored. Appearance self-esteem negatively affected long-term goal commitment. Conclusions - Individuals' self-efficacy positively affects long-term goal commitment and expectancy of long-term goal attainment, and significantly weakens the need to seek pleasure in food consumption behaviors. Appearance self-esteem negatively affects long-term goal commitment. Both long-term goal commitment and expectancy of long-term goal attainment significantly positively influence long-term goal-relevant food consumption behaviors. However, those heavily needing pleasure-seeking are less likely to engage in such behaviors.
Purpose - Many studies report that returns on hedge portfolios that eliminate particular risk types are abnormal from traditional asset pricing models' perspectives. This study examines the pervasiveness of anomalous returns conditioned on business cycle and group size. Research design, data, and methodology - Using KOSPI and KOSDAQ market data from July 1991 to December 2013, we categorize stocks into appropriately sized groups, and dichotomize our sample periods into expansion and recession periods then, we construct hedge portfolios by sorting stocks by anomaly variables and calculate their returns. Results - Four anomalies, including earnings yield, net stock issue, total asset growth, and liquidity appear pervasive across all groups for the entire sample period. However, only the hedge returns of net stock issues are significant across all group sizes during both expansion and recession. Conclusions - A net stock issue can be an appropriate proxy for expected growth of book equity for all group sizes in recessions. This finding could provide insights to investment industry participants and to researchers interested in the relationship between expected growth of book equity and business cycle risk.
Purpose - The object of this paper is to ascertain how Japan has become a powerful trader in the international grain market. A case in point is the world's third largest U.S. major grain trader, Gavilon, merged with general trading company Marubeni in 2012. What are Japan's strategies and their implications? Research design, data, and methodology - The study analyzed Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries data, and data from daily and weekly papers. The paper employed various data and research methodologies. Results - The Lee Myeong-Bak government tried for three years to create a company similar to Cargill, but the project eventually failed. On the other hand, Japan has emerged as a leader in the international grain distribution market for the past 50 years, with the cooperation of government and private companies. Conclusion - The findings of this study show that Korea, China, India, and other countries' international major grain companies now compete to be powerful, major grain traders. South Korea could be the leader of the international grain market through the development of a more careful and long-term strategy.
Purpose - This paper aims to investigate topics and trends in international marketing and cross-cultural management by conducting a content analysis of the Journal of International Marketing. Research Design, Data, and Methodology - In this study, one of the leading journals in the field of international marketing, the Journal of International Marketing, was chosen for research. A total of 199 articles were identified from a time span of ten years (2004-2013). SPSS software was used for codification and analysis of the data. Results - This study revealed some of the factors on which cross-cultural management had a strong correlation with international marketing. Of the 199 articles in the Journal of International Marketing, 64 articles related to cross-cultural management. Conclusions - A content analysis of the Journal of International Marketing comparing general articles with articles related to cross-cultural management is unprecedented. This study offers insight into the impact of cross culture on the discipline of international marketing. The findings of this research could be employed as a reference for gaining insight into the trends and influence of cross-cultural management in international marketing.
Purpose - The pool of entrepreneurs with progressive qualities such as creativity and innovation was considered concurrently with such factors as work and capital that stimulate economic development and growth. This study aims to present a model to support the development of a strategic approach for achieving an overall academic entrepreneurship system in Iran. Research design, data, and methodology - The research design of this study is based on applied research because of its objectives, using principles and techniques formulated for basic research to solve operational and real organizational issues. This design also drives the method used, describing and interpreting the findings. Secondary data (library research) was used for this study's data collection. Because of this research's essential characteristics, no hypothesis is launched, and no research setting, questionnaire design, population or population sampling, validity or reliability tests, or statistical analysis are needed. Results and Conclusions - The model is created using a strategic approach acting in an octal setting comprising social, cultural, legal, economic, political, technological, competitive, and natural environments to present a conceptual framework for future studies.
Purpose - The study investigates the history, production methods, market scale, and distribution of the traditional liquors of three countries: South Korean sokokju, Chinese shaoxing-chiew, and Japanese sake. These have similar production methods, being made from rice or cereal, cores of their respective food industries. Research design, data, and methodology - The study investigated the history of the three liquors, liquor classification in the three countries, and production methods. It examined the scale of the traditional liquor market and these countries' distribution structure. Results - Brand cognition of traditional liquors is affected by a focus on wellbeing and LOHAS (lifestyle of health and sustainability). Promotion and marketing strategies along with a high quality image, shelf life of draft liquor, traditional liquor identification systems, and high taxes on traditional liquor, and the need for continuous R&D and training of professionals all impacted the industry. Conclusions - These countries play important roles in world trade, seeking economic integration. By forming a free trade agreement (FTA), their traditional liquors, with a proud history, can be jointly branded in the world market.