Sales and Merchandising Commons^™

An Analysis Of Nontechnical Game Theory On Laboratory Sales Trainees In Saudi Arabia, Akram Abdul Cader

International Journal of Applied Management and Technology

The purpose of this case study was to analyze 6 months of training application in a nontechnical game theory setting. Three laboratory sales trainees were studied using training reports that logged their strategic decisions and the amount of sales they obtained from their clients. A pure strategy game theory analysis was conducted on the decisions by the sales trainees. Two types of strategies were derived from the study: (a) allocentric and (b) egocentric. The egocentric strategies yielded higher personal payoffs, while the allocentric strategies yielded higher organizational payoffs. Training intervention was withheld during the 6-month period in order to allow …

Status Of And Future Recommendations For Country-Of-Origin Research, Katie Post

Honors Projects

This research investigates whether country-of-origin (COO) cues have an effect on consumer purchase intentions, based on a review of prior literature published in the EBSCO and Summon databases. The findings of these articles show that COO cues do not, on their own, have an effect on consumer purchase intentions; but do have some effect on consumer attitudes/feelings toward the product. Future research has much to offer in terms of identifying whether COO cues have an effect on consumers’ purchase intentions for specific products, or specific types of products.

Do Short Sellers Front-Run Insider Sales?, Mozaffar Khan, Hai Lu

Research Collection School Of Accountancy

We study the behavior of short sellers as informed market participants and examine potential sources of their information. Using a newly available dataset with high-frequency short sales data, we find evidence of significant increases in short sales immediately prior to large insider sales, but not prior to small insider sales. We examine a number of explanations that the increase in short sales is driven by public information, either about the firm or about the impending insider sale. The evidence is inconsistent with these explanations, but is consistent with front-running facilitated by leaked information. The front-running appears to be concentrated in …

Compensation And Price Delegation For Heterogeneous Sales Force, Jian Chen, Hongyan Xu, Liming Liu

Hong Kong Institute of Business Studies Working Paper Series

A heterogeneous sales force may not be as desirable as a homogeneous sales force for two reasons: premiums are required for all except from one agent type, and only the highest type would work as hard as though they were from a homogeneous sales force. This study revisits the heterogeneous sales force compensation and price delegation problem with type-dependent reservation. We find that an equilibrium separating or pooling compensation contract always exists. Different types of agents may receive premiums, and there are scenarios when no premiums are paid. Retaining centralized pricing provides a tool for regulating agent behavior. More than …

Principles And Practices Of Bar And Beverage Management, James Peter Murphy

Books/Book Chapters

Principles and Practices of Bar and Beverage Management is a comprehensive text and resource book designed to explain the latest developments and new complexities of managing modern bars - be they stand alone or part of larger institutions such as hotels and resorts.

Consumer expectations have changed, and a bar today must deliver an integrated social experience in a safe modern environment, which also offers the latest products and services in a professional and engaging fashion. Against a background of increasing competition and an increasingly sophisticated customer base, this text has been designed to support the bar and beverage skills …

Off-Price Vs. Department Store Retailing, Denise Aghion

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

There are multiple forms of retailing in the United States – two of the most common forms are department store retailing and off-price retailing. Both types of retailers are looking to create profits by negotiating costs with vendors to create suitable gross margins; however, they go about doing so in very different ways. Because I have interned at both types of corporations, my Capstone is to identify which, if either model, is more sustainable in today’s conditions.

Department store retailing is the most well-known form of retailing, and is currently the largest sector of retailing in the United States. They …

Take It Back: Dynamic Consumer Goals In Retail Customer Service Transactions, Courtney Droms

Scholarship and Professional Work - Business

Product returns and exchanges are an important part of a consumer’s postpurchase decision-making process and have economic and psychological consequences. Based primarily on a participant observation research, a conceptual model is developed that portrays two distinct process paths that occur during return transactions. The analysis incorporates previous research regarding goal-directed behavior and role and script theories in understanding the complexity of a return transaction. Consumers are identified as having both economic and social goals, and the change catalysts promoting shifts in goal focus as well as the interplay between these goals are represented in the model.

Feasibility Analysis Of A Microbrewery, Dylan Warren Snyder

Agribusiness

No abstract provided.

When On The Mountain Top, Create New Summits, Says Samsung Asia Pacific Ceo, Singapore Management University

Perspectives@SMU

The past couple of years have been nothing short of phenomenal for Korean electronics giant, Samsung. The company has seen success with a number of their products, particularly in the television business. "For TV, we've been number one in the world since 2005," exclaimed Gregory Lee, President and CEO of Samsung Asia.

Attitudes Toward And Behavioral Intentions To Adopt Mobile Marketing: Comparisons Of Gen Y In The United States, France And China, Rebecca Wells, Catherine E. Kleshinski, Terence Lau

Management and Marketing Faculty Publications

The rapid global diffusion of mobile marketing makes it increasingly important to understand cross-­‐cultural consumer attitudes and behavioral intentions toward mobile marketing as a promotional channel. By building on the previously published research of Altuna and Konuk (2009), this work investigates the attitudes and behavioral intentions toward mobile marketing of Generation Y consumers in the United States, France, and China. Based on this analysis, Chinese Gen Y have the most positive attitude toward mobile marketing, and their overall attitude is significantly more positive than the attitudes of French and American Gen Y groups. While American Gen Y's behavioral intentions are …

F.A.C.E.S. (Faculty Academic Community Education Showcase): Professional Growth Experiences In A Career University, Paul J. Colbert, Ph.D.

MBA Faculty Conference Papers & Journal Articles

Institutes of higher education exist for the purpose of developing, fostering, nurturing, and stimulating the intellectual growth and development of students. The core values of a college education provide students conceptual and practical educational opportunities that focus on improving their skills and knowledge. These skills and knowledge translate into purposeful, real-life learning experiences. However, in the academic community, learning is not restricted to students. Faculty, too, must be supported and provided opportunities for personal and professional growth and development. Although professional development is not a novel concept in the education profession, schools often take up the gauntlet, but fall short …

The Relationship Between Socioeconomic Status And Emotional Gratification For Consumers Who Purchase Overtly Branded (Overtly Designer) Goods, Sarah Siracusa

Fordham Business Student Research Journal

When examining the reasoning behind a consumer’s choice of luxury purchase, we rely largely on consumer psychology. One important psychological factor is the concept of needs. Consumers of different socioeconomic backgrounds have different needs, thus influencing what they choose to purchase. While past research has focused on intrinsic and extrinsic aspirations, and the relationship between aspiration and luxury brand preference in predicting luxury consumption, there has not yet been a study conducted focusing on the relationship between socioeconomic status and emotional gratification of purchasing overtly branded (overtly designer) goods in America. After surveying participants in three socioeconomic income groups, it …

Crafting A Career Using Cps And Foursight, Morgan E. Milovich

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

ABSTRACT OF PROJECT

Crafting a Career Using CPS and FourSight

The purpose of my project is to develop a case study of how I will use Creative Problem Solving (CPS) and an attention to my Foursight preferences to grow my existing craft business into a viable career, rather than having it as just a hobby.

By utilizing the CPS Thinking Skills Model and having a greater awareness of my Foursight preferences, I was able to move from a dream to a reality and come out the other end of this project with a fully functioning, profitable business rooted firmly in …

Evaluating Key Factors In Supplier Selection For Micro-Businesses: Implications For Buyer Satisfaction, Avinash M. Waikar, Minh Q. Huynh, Robert F. Cope, Uday S. Tate

Management Faculty Research

Final quality of products/services starts with suppliers in the supply chain. Problems can occur if suppliers do not deliver the quantities requested in full, on time, or buyers select suppliers solely on the basis of lowest price. Supplier selection has been studied for large businesses but not for very small (micro) businesses. Therefore, a survey was administered to micro-businesses to determine: what factors are important to micro-businesses in selecting suppliers and how satisfied they are with their suppliers. Factors included Brand Name, Consistency, Cost/Lower Price, Loyalty, Quality, and Warranty. Results indicated that none of the factors were unimportant. However, buyer …

Mystery Shopping In Singapore’S Retail Sector: A Case Study, Iynee Low

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

As mystery shopping becomes an increasingly popular tool to measure service quality, there is a need to ascertain its return of investment for the company. However, there is a paucity of academic research on the impact of mystery shopping results on a company’s sales performance. This professional paper develops a case study on two retail companies in Singapore which adopted and implemented mystery shopping to improve service quality and sales performance. The case study identifies the key service interventions implemented to improve mystery shopping results, and explores the relationship between mystery shopping results and sales performance. The findings in this …

The Prevalence And Influence Of The Combination Of Humor And Violence In Super Bowl Commercials, Benjamin J. Blackford, James W. Gentry, Robert L. Harrison, Les Carlson

Department of Marketing: Faculty Publications

The growing concern over violence in the media has led to vast amounts of research examining the effects of violent media on viewers. An important subset of this research looks at how humor affects this relationship. While research has considered this subset in television programming, almost no research has explored this in the context of advertising. This paper builds on the little research that exists by examining the effects of combining humor and violence, as well as the theoretical approaches that underlie these effects. A content analysis is conducted to identify the prevalence of violence, humor, and the combination of …

Developing A Culturally Responsive Classroom Collaborative Of Faculty, Students, And Institution, Paul J. Colbert

MBA Faculty Conference Papers & Journal Articles

Culture is integral to the learning process. It is the organization and way of life within the community of students and teachers and directs the way they communicate, interact, and approach teaching and learning. Although founded in particular values and principles, the academy, like most organizations, is impacted day-to-day by its culture. Yet, the traditional higher education institution has not been designed to operate within a racially or ethnically diverse student population. The social, political, economic, and cultural forces that support the institution influence the teaching and learning environments. To better address cultural diversity in the classroom, faculty must first …

Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of Hughson Nuts’ Marketing Strategies In India And China, Christopher Douglas Angle

Agribusiness

This analysis for this study was undertaken to determine if Hughson Nuts’ Marketing Strategies were effective in India and China. The study was also to assess Hughson Nut’s marketing mix internationally to China and India, to evaluate the marketing mix based on projection and comparisons, to assess potential improvements of the marketing mix, and to determine how Hughson Nuts sales to India and China compared to the rest of states sales. The report represents four techniques that make up the marketing mix; place, price, product, and promotion. The research involved getting data from the California Almond Board and making a …

What Makes Strategy Making Across The Sales-Marketing Interface More Successful?, Avinash Malshe, Ravipreet S. Sohi

Department of Marketing: Faculty Publications

Extant research on marketing strategy making (MSM) lacks process-based theoretical frameworks that elucidate how marketing strategies are made when sales and marketing functions are involved in the process. Using a grounded theory approach and data collected from (a) 58 depth interviews with sales and marketing professionals and (b) a focus group with 11 marketing professionals, we propose that MSM within the sales-marketing interface is a three-stage, multifaceted process that consists of Groundwork, Transfer and Follow-up stages. Our process-based model explicates the specific activities at each stage that are needed to develop and execute marketing strategies successfully, the sequence in which …

Customer Relationship Management: A Theoretical Overview And The High Cost Of Failure (A Case Study), Tamilla Curtis, Donald Barrere, Tom Griffin

Publications

Despite the significant benefits offered by the customer relationship management (CRM) strategy together with advanced technology, there is still a high rate of companies who fail to see results promised by CRM in order to achieve a competitive advantage. A review of the empirical literature together with the case study of the CRM implementation within a midsize financial firm will result in deeper understanding of current CRM practices that could contribute to better planning, selection, and implementation of customer relationship management programs.

An Analysis Of Lean Management Procedures In The Irish Audi And Volkswagen Dealer Network, Clive Atkinson

Theses

This study provides an analysis of lean management procedures within Irish motor retailers from the perspective of senior managers working in franchised Audi and Volkswagen dealerships. Richardson (2007) suggests the danger for some organisations operating in good economic conditions is the ability of poor performers to earn healthy profits through little effort, thereby creating a lack of urgency to improve processes within the business. This may be applicable to motor dealerships in Ireland since the advent of the “Celtic Tiger”. Advocates of lean management contend the implementation of lean techniques can increase efficiency within an organisation and create a sustainable …

Anheuser-Busch And The Eu, Keith Tolbert

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

The following paper provides analysis of Anheuser-Busch, its current position within the European Union (EU), and its opportunities/threats that exist in the EU. Included is background information about Anheuser-Busch containing its products, financial condition, and major competitors within the EU. I have provided extensive analysis o f the areas of concern for Anheuser-Busch in the EU as well as recommendations for the company to consider. The major market for opportunity covered is Germany. Anheuser-Busch is not a current competitor in Germany, however, possible expansion opportunities into the country is addressed. Additionally, a realistic outlook of Anheuser-Busch’s future other EU countries …

Entrepreneurial Orientation As A Basis For Classification Within A Service Industry: The Case Of Retail Pharmacy Industry, Thanigavelan Jambulingam, Ravi Kathuria, William R. Doucette

Business Faculty Articles and Research

To date, service classification research has primarily taken a macro view, creating service typologies or taxonomies by using dimensions such as customer contact or degree of labor intensity. Such classification schemes, though helpful in deciphering critical management issues and positioning strategies between service industries, tend to treat an entire industry, such as airlines, as a single homogenous entity. However, organizations in the same industry often use intangible resources, such as entrepreneurial orientation processes, to compete with one another. Resource-advantage theory suggests that organizations utilize intangible resources to build long-term strategies and a sustainable competitive advantage leading to superior performance. We …

Obesity, Educational Attainment, And State Economic Welfare, Martin W. Sivula Ph.D.

MBA Faculty Conference Papers & Journal Articles

For the first time in history, estimates of the overweight people in the world rival estimates of those malnourished. The World Health Organization (WHO, 2002) ranked obesity among the top 10 risks to human health worldwide. In the early 1960s, nearly half of the Americans were overweight and 13% were obese. Today some 64% of U.S. adults are overweight and 30.5% are obese. Even more alarming, twice as many U.S. children are overweight than were twenty years ago, a 66% increase. Non-communicable diseases impose a heavy economic burden on already strained health systems. Health is a key determinant of development …

Sampling Concepts, Paul Boyd, Ph.D.

MBA Faculty Conference Papers & Journal Articles

The usefulness of any research is dependent upon how well the group studied represents the group about which decisions are to be made or conclusions drawn. That is, it depends upon how well the sample reflects relevant characteristics of the population. When it is possible to study every member of that group there is no problem, for on these occasions we can easily calculate the exact attribute (parameter) of interest for our population.

For example, if we were interested in determining the average number of gallons of gasoline sold to customers at our service station yesterday, we …

Virtual Estore - Ves.Com, Hean Giap Tan

Student Works (2000-2009)

This is an e-commerce project that suitable for medium-scaled company. It allows companies to register as retailer and sell their product online. Customer can choose and compare products' price from different retailer in this system and pay for their products online using credit cards. Before developing this system, surveys on several development tools are carried on. After the literature surveys, appropriate software tools are chosen. Besides, some existing Malaysia e-commerce website also investigated and their weaknesses are identified. Strength of foreign e-commerce is reviewed, hopes that it will help in developing the system. Furthermore, correct methodology of the project is …

Fulling Around: The Shaker Fulling Mill At South Union, Kentucky, Donna C. Parker, Jonathan J. Jeffrey

SCL Faculty and Staff Publications

The fulling mill was an essential component of any successful early-19th century woolen industry. Fullers applied finishing techniques to cloth in order to create a stronger, more attractive, and more useful fabric. In 1813 the Shakers at Kentucky’s South Union community constructed a fulling mill that serviced their own demands for textile finishing processes as well as those of area residents. The fulling mill, aided by the Shakers’ three-year-old carding mill, developed by the 1860s into a full-fledged woolen factory.

The Role Of Motivated Reasoning In Vendor Consideration, Ju-Young Park, Ravipreet S. Sohi, Ray Marquardt

Department of Marketing: Faculty Publications

This is a conceptual article dealing with the role of motivated reasoning in vendor selection. The authors argue that organizational buyers' motivated reasoning, along with the task characteristics of perceived importance and familiarity, plays an important role in determining whether an open or a closed consideration will be used for vendor selection. Based on the relationship between motivated reasoning and task characteristics, the authors develop several propositions.

The Effects Of Environment Dynamism And Heterogeneity On Salespeople's Role Perceptions, Performance And Job Satisfaction, Ravipreet S. Sohi

Department of Marketing: Faculty Publications

This article develops a structural equations model which examines the effects of environmental dynamism and heterogeneity on salespeople’s role conflict, role ambiguity, performance and job satisfaction. The model is tested with EQS, using data collected from 230 salespeople in multiple companies and industries. Indicates that environmental dynamism reduces satisfaction and performance, and increases role conflict and ambiguity. Notes that environmental heterogeneity also reduces performance and increases role conflict, but does not have a significant effect on role ambiguity.

Salespersons’ Perceptions About Sales Contests: Towards A Greater Understanding, William H. Murphy, Ravipreet S. Sohi

Department of Marketing: Faculty Publications

Aims to improve understanding of an important and widely used management tool for motivating the salesforce – sales contests. Begins by introducing the question: what factors are associated with salespeople's feelings towards a sales contest? Several potentially relevant characteristics that are expected to be associated with various feelings towards contests are discussed. To test the hypotheses, data were collected through verbal protocols and surveys from salespeople belonging to a division of a Fortune 100 firm. Results indicate that salespeople's self-esteem, commitment level, and career stage play a role in influencing feelings towards the sales contest.

The impetus for this research …