Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Business Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 30 of 65

Full-Text Articles in Business

Eating With A Purpose:Consumer Response To Functional Food Health Claims In Conflicting Versus Complementary Information Environments, Courtney Droms, Rebecca Naylor, Kelly Haws Nov 2011

Eating With A Purpose:Consumer Response To Functional Food Health Claims In Conflicting Versus Complementary Information Environments, Courtney Droms, Rebecca Naylor, Kelly Haws

Courtney M. Droms

Marketers of food products have recently introduced a variety of “functional foods” that promise consumers improvements in targeted physiological functions. However, despite the proliferation of functional food health claims promising more than basic nutrition, little is known about consumer responses to these claims, particularly in information environments in which inconsistent information may be available about the efficacy of a particular functional ingredient.


Embedded Librarianship And Virtual Environments In Entrepreneurship Information Literacy A Case Study, Kelly Evans, Hal Kirkwood Nov 2011

Embedded Librarianship And Virtual Environments In Entrepreneurship Information Literacy A Case Study, Kelly Evans, Hal Kirkwood

Kelly Evans

No abstract provided.


Embedded Librarianship And Virtual Environments In Entrepreneurship Information Literacy A Case Study, Kelly Evans, Hal Kirkwood Oct 2011

Embedded Librarianship And Virtual Environments In Entrepreneurship Information Literacy A Case Study, Kelly Evans, Hal Kirkwood

Hal P Kirkwood Jr

No abstract provided.


Assessing Student Performance In Service Learning: Awards & Results, Laurence Minsky Oct 2011

Assessing Student Performance In Service Learning: Awards & Results, Laurence Minsky

Laurence Minsky

How do you judge student performance in a service-learning environment? One way is by seeing if the activities accomplished the goals of the community organization. But that only gets at part of the picture, because it’s from the organization’s perspective. There are other less traditional, but more powerful ways, to gauge performance: from the change in behaviors of the intended receivers of the service to the employ of outside professional standards. In this presentation, all of these ways will be explored. And, it will be argued that one should take a multi-input approach to assessing student learning, development, and performance.


The Impact Of The Amount Of Available Information On Decision Delay: The Role Of Common Features, Lauren Labrecque Oct 2011

The Impact Of The Amount Of Available Information On Decision Delay: The Role Of Common Features, Lauren Labrecque

Lauren Labrecque

In two studies, we show that features shared by products (common features) do not cancel out during the decision-making process but in fact are consequential as they decrease desire for delay in decision making. In study 1, we show that as the amount of available information about product features increases, decision delay decreases in spite of the additional information being identical across the products. Further, we also find that this effect is partially mediated by information adequacy. In study 2, we show that despite the overall difficulty of making decisions under avoidance–avoidance versus approach–approach conflict, an increase in common features …


Public Perception Study 2011: Mental Illness, Drug And Alcohol Abuse, Oscar T. Mcknight Oct 2011

Public Perception Study 2011: Mental Illness, Drug And Alcohol Abuse, Oscar T. Mcknight

Oscar T McKnight Ph.D.

This study examined the public perception of mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse. Field-interviews with participants occurred "on the street" with no difficulty. Participants offered ten general recommendations to professionals developing programs for mental illness, drug or alcohol abuse. The public stressed the professional responsibilities of physicians, pharmacists, counselors and teachers to prevent drug abuse.


Pascal's Wager: The Real Or Promised Benefits Of Brand-Sponsored Brand Communities, Caroline M. Ford Aug 2011

Pascal's Wager: The Real Or Promised Benefits Of Brand-Sponsored Brand Communities, Caroline M. Ford

Caroline M Ford

With the exponential growth of consumers using social networking sites such as Facebook, firms are driven to figure out how to exploit this new marketing medium in such a way as to add value to their brand or to further corporate goals. There is much excitement about the potential to reach millions of consumers in a nimble medium at dramatically lower costs and effort. Whether firms are realizing real return or speculating on its purported potential requires a greater understanding of the implicit model guiding the sponsorship of Virtual Brand Communities (VBC). Using a grounded theory approach, this research examines …


Six Steps To Successful Sponsorships, Laurence Minsky, William Rosen Jul 2011

Six Steps To Successful Sponsorships, Laurence Minsky, William Rosen

Laurence Minsky

No abstract provided.


The Activation Imperative, Laurence Minsky, William Rosen Jul 2011

The Activation Imperative, Laurence Minsky, William Rosen

Laurence Minsky

No abstract provided.


Student Affairs Program Evaluation: A Factor Analytic Solution, Oscar T. Mcknight Jul 2011

Student Affairs Program Evaluation: A Factor Analytic Solution, Oscar T. Mcknight

Oscar T McKnight Ph.D.

This program and presentation addresses the use of factor analysis in program evaluation. Specific focus will highlight the development and selection of marker items. The goal is to label and interpret factors according to targeted questions of interest. Therefore, results are not only descriptive, but predictive - with practical application to student retention and satisfaction. Process is useful for benchmarking best practices; measuring student satisfaction and learning; tracking student participation; evaluating program results; determining future program or service needs; and, assessing effectiveness of delivered programs.


Beginnings Of A Fulfilling Career, Gregory E. Osland Jul 2011

Beginnings Of A Fulfilling Career, Gregory E. Osland

Gregory E. Osland

In 1989 I decided to join the doctoral program in Marketing at Michigan State University (MSU). Although I had been accepted into the doctoral programs at several universities, including UCLA and the University of Washington, I chose MSU because of its strong reputation in International Marketing, and its emphasis on managerial applications. Tamer Cavusgil had recently joined the MSU faculty and had just initiated the Center for International Business Education and Research. I wanted to learn from him as my mentor and dissertation chair, and was encouraged by the potential resources available through the CIBER to do international research. This …


Cleveland Schools Social Skills Training Program Showing Positive Results, David Volosin, Oscar T. Mcknight, John Sikula Jun 2011

Cleveland Schools Social Skills Training Program Showing Positive Results, David Volosin, Oscar T. Mcknight, John Sikula

Oscar T McKnight Ph.D.

This article reports on research conducted in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District by the Society for Prevention of Violence (SPV). A total of 1500 students and 150 teachers participated in a social skills training program. Statistically significant positive results were found over the course of the 2009 - 2010 school year. A positive change in the school environment was documented via a thirty-five item learning survey. Because of the positive results, during the 2010 - 2011 school year, SPV's social skills training program is being implemented in all three Parma middle schools.


Biz Prof Says Retailers Prepare For Post Recession Environment, Kathryn W. King Jun 2011

Biz Prof Says Retailers Prepare For Post Recession Environment, Kathryn W. King

Kathryn King

Butler University Website article featuring College of Business Lecturer, Kate King.


Marketing Your Repository With The Power Of Google Analytics, Hillary Corbett May 2011

Marketing Your Repository With The Power Of Google Analytics, Hillary Corbett

Hillary Corbett

Google Analytics offers powerful web metrics to help IR managers track the usage of their content. But it’s also full of excellent material to help market the IR. For example, the data that Google Analytics provides shows how depositers can reach a global audience: use a Google Maps mashup to highlight trending topics in your IR in particular parts of the world, or point out to a reluctant professor that her colleagues’ work is being downloaded in emerging markets worldwide – get creative and find out what Google Analytics can do for you! We learned through Google Analytics that an …


Exploring Social Motivations For Brand Loyalty: Conformity Versus Escapism, Lauren Labrecque Apr 2011

Exploring Social Motivations For Brand Loyalty: Conformity Versus Escapism, Lauren Labrecque

Lauren Labrecque

We posit and show that some consumers may remain brand loyal because of their motivation to conform; in contrast, others may do so because of their motivation to break away. Furthermore, we identify two central moderating variables - product knowledge and self-image congruence - that determine how conformity or escapism motivation affects brand loyalty. We show that these common communication goals play an asymmetric role for each motive. In particular, self-image congruence is found to enhance brand loyalty for consumers who are motivated to conform, but not for those who are driven to escape. Alternatively, product knowledge is found to …


Conceptualising A Contemporary Marketing Mix For Sustainable Tourism, Alan Pomering, Gary Noble, Lester Johnson Mar 2011

Conceptualising A Contemporary Marketing Mix For Sustainable Tourism, Alan Pomering, Gary Noble, Lester Johnson

Lester Johnson

This paper outlines how marketing, though traditionally considered an enemy of sustainability, can play a role in implementing sustainable tourism. It notes the redefinition in 2007 by the American Marketing Association of marketing's aims to consider wider societal issues beyond those of clients and customers. It illustrates how the recognition of the importance of sustainable tourism at all scales of tourism activity provides marketing with an opportunity to pursue sustainability outcomes. We review the strategic tourism marketing planning process and conceptually develop a sustainability tourism marketing model that embeds sustainability considerations at each stage of the planning process. Our proposed …


Dark Tourism And The Cadaveric Carnival: Mediating Life And Death Narratives At Gunter Von Hagens' Body Worlds, Philip Stone Dr Mar 2011

Dark Tourism And The Cadaveric Carnival: Mediating Life And Death Narratives At Gunter Von Hagens' Body Worlds, Philip Stone Dr

Dr Philip Stone

Death is universal, yet dying is not. Consequently, within contemporary secularised society, the process of dying has largely been relocated from the familiar environs of the family and community to a back region of medical and death industry professionals. It is argued that this institutional sequestration of death has made modern dying ‘bad’ against a romantic portrayal of a death with dignity, or a ‘good’ death. Moreover, the structural analysis of death reveals issues of ontological security and mortality meaning for the Self. This paper, therefore, adds to that analysis, and specifically examines the construction of mortality meaning within the …


A Primer For Economic Development Directors And Other Social Entrepreneurs: Using 'Cash' As A Management Practice, Oscar T. Mcknight, Ronald Paugh, Aaron Mcknight, Melinda Belden Mar 2011

A Primer For Economic Development Directors And Other Social Entrepreneurs: Using 'Cash' As A Management Practice, Oscar T. Mcknight, Ronald Paugh, Aaron Mcknight, Melinda Belden

Oscar T McKnight Ph.D.

City and community oficials are responsible for developing and sustaining economic growth. This research focuses on Best Practices Cities - those with current and predicted economic growth above the national average - and the specific management practices that are responsible for such growth. The CASH model is presented to assist city planners and other social entrepreneurs in their economic development initiatives.


The Assimilative And Contrastive Effects Of Word-Of-Mouth Volume: An Experimental Examination Of Online Consumer Ratings, Lauren Labrecque Feb 2011

The Assimilative And Contrastive Effects Of Word-Of-Mouth Volume: An Experimental Examination Of Online Consumer Ratings, Lauren Labrecque

Lauren Labrecque

The popularity of online rate-and-review websites has increased the importance of word-of-mouth (WOM) volume (number of ratings) yet the retail literature has not paid adequate attention to understanding its impact. This paper highlights WOM volume as a high-scope, decision-making cue upon which the influence of other WOM-relevant characteristics on a WOM message's persuability depends. We begin, via a pretest, by demonstrating the intuitive expectation that high volume, relative to low volume, accentuates or assimilates perceptions of positivity or negativity of WOM targets. Then, through two experimental studies, we show that depending upon how high volume interacts with WOM consensus and …


Effect Of Reciprocity On Well-Being In Interpersonal Marketing Relationships: An Interview Study, Simon J. Pervan, Liliana L. Bove, Lester W. Johnson, Chih-Huang Lin Feb 2011

Effect Of Reciprocity On Well-Being In Interpersonal Marketing Relationships: An Interview Study, Simon J. Pervan, Liliana L. Bove, Lester W. Johnson, Chih-Huang Lin

Lester Johnson

This article investigates the potential for marketing managers to develop personal well-being in commercial relationships through the upholding of a norm of reciprocity. Interviews were conducted with 10 senior marketing managers across a range of industries, all of whom dealt with persons from outside their companies. Findings indicate that the norm of reciprocity is more prevalent in strong marketing relationships. Within these exchanges, there is a greater likelihood of achieving behavioural confirmation and status; two instrumental goals for the obtainment of social well-being. We suggest that organisational rewards may not be the only motivator for individuals to engage in commercial …


Image Formation Information Sources And An Iconic Australian Tourist Destination, Janet Hanlan, Stephen Kelly Feb 2011

Image Formation Information Sources And An Iconic Australian Tourist Destination, Janet Hanlan, Stephen Kelly

Adjunct Professor Stephen J Kelly

Tourist destination brand image is a major influencing factor in traveller destination choice. This exploaratory research into the information sources form which destination brand image evolves provides insights which have the potential to improve tourism destination brand development strategies. In-depth interview with 21 international backpackers on Australia's northern NSW coast indicate that mainstream media play little or no part in the formation of respondents' image of the coastal destination of Byron Bay. Rather, word of mouth and autonomous independent information sources were the key media through which respondents formed their image of this iconic Australian tourist destination. Findings also show …


Measuring Attitudinal Commitment In Business-To-Business Channels, Stephen Kelly Feb 2011

Measuring Attitudinal Commitment In Business-To-Business Channels, Stephen Kelly

Adjunct Professor Stephen J Kelly

While organizational behaviourists have largely adopted a three-component conceptualisation of attitudinal commitment, marketers continue exclusively to apply one- or two-component models. In this paper, the reliability and validity of one-, two- and three-component models of commitment are examined within a business-to-business context. The results indicate that the three-component model incorporating instrumental, affective and normative dimensions is superior on both substantive and empirical grounds. It is subsequently argued that marketing planners need to demand that marketing researchers are more precise when incorporating commitment into conceptual and empirical studies, and account for these distinct components either by explicitly including or omitting them. …


A Preliminary Investigation Into Associations Between Components Of Attitudinal Commitment And Relationship Benefits, Stephen Kelly, Don Scott Feb 2011

A Preliminary Investigation Into Associations Between Components Of Attitudinal Commitment And Relationship Benefits, Stephen Kelly, Don Scott

Adjunct Professor Stephen J Kelly

Findings from exploratory research examining antecedents and outcomes of instrumental, affective and normative commitment in a business-to-business setting are reported. Results suggest supplier generated relationship benefits that offer retailers a competitive advantage through cost leadership or differentiation influence instrumental commitment, while interpersonal relationship antecedents such as trust, satisfaction and absence of conflict influence affective and normative commitment. A theoretical model is offered illustrating these relationships and it is proposed that enhanced outcomes will be derived from channel strategies that focus with greater intent on maximising each dimension of commitment through identified antecedents. The vehicle for the study is relationships between …


Competition And Collaboration, Stephen Kelly Feb 2011

Competition And Collaboration, Stephen Kelly

Adjunct Professor Stephen J Kelly

No abstract provided.


Developing A Relationship Orientation, Stephen Kelly Feb 2011

Developing A Relationship Orientation, Stephen Kelly

Adjunct Professor Stephen J Kelly

No abstract provided.


Evaluating Lapsed Clients In The Health And Weight Loss Industry: The Challenge Of A Mature Market And The Need For A Relational Approach, Stephen Kelly, Jennifer Harrison Feb 2011

Evaluating Lapsed Clients In The Health And Weight Loss Industry: The Challenge Of A Mature Market And The Need For A Relational Approach, Stephen Kelly, Jennifer Harrison

Adjunct Professor Stephen J Kelly

No abstract provided.


A Conceptual Model Of Relationship Orientation, Stephen Kelly Feb 2011

A Conceptual Model Of Relationship Orientation, Stephen Kelly

Adjunct Professor Stephen J Kelly

No abstract provided.


Validating A Tri-Component Model Of Attitudinal Commitment, Stephen Kelly Feb 2011

Validating A Tri-Component Model Of Attitudinal Commitment, Stephen Kelly

Adjunct Professor Stephen J Kelly

No abstract provided.


Perceived Environmental Uncertainty's Effect On Commitment In Business-To-Business Channels, Jennifer Harrison, Stephen Kelly Feb 2011

Perceived Environmental Uncertainty's Effect On Commitment In Business-To-Business Channels, Jennifer Harrison, Stephen Kelly

Adjunct Professor Stephen J Kelly

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to test the null hypothesis that there is no significant association between perceived environmental uncertainty (PEU) and a three component conceptualisation of commitment. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected from owner/managers of community pharmacy businesses in New South Wales, Australia, with 268 responses analysed by confirmatory factor analysis to test a measurement model for each construct and a structural model to test the paper's hypothesis. Findings: The hypothesis was partially supported with results indicating that greater PEU is associated with lower instrumental and normative commitment. The association with affective commitment was more complex. No direct …


Standing Alone: Small Business And The Global Market, Damian Hine, Stephen Kelly Feb 2011

Standing Alone: Small Business And The Global Market, Damian Hine, Stephen Kelly

Adjunct Professor Stephen J Kelly

This paper takes a multi-disciplinary approach to the exploration of the role small businesses play in the globalization of the Australian economy. We ask: do SMEs exist primarily to service the demands of their larger counterparts, relying on large firms to enter foreign markets, or do they have the ability to enter global markets as 'independent' entities, sustaining a consistent competitive advantage. A multiple case study approach has been applied to answer the research questions. Findings indicate that small firms are indeed independent and dynamic operators, crucial to Australia's economic success, and small firms are effective in entering foreign markets …