Perceived effect of a salesperson's stigmatized appearance on store image: an experimental study of student's perceptions

The Perception of a specific stigma, obesity, and its influence on store image was studied. Previous studies have acknowledged the role salespeople play in the perception of a store's image, but no previous studies have specifically focused on the influence of the physical appearance of sales personnel on store image. The results of an experiment that examined students' perceptions of salespersons' appearance showed that, if a salesperson was described as obese, then the store was perceived as having a poorer image and as being less successful, regardless of the sex of the salesperson or the type of store. The implications of these findings for retailers are discussed in light of the Americans with Disabilities Act and recent legal discussion concerned with protecting physically stigmatized workers.     

Exploring the national and organizational culture mix in service firms

Using representative samples of U.S. and Japanese retail service firms, this study explores whether one particular type of organizational culture is the best with respect to business outcomes (performance and customer satisfaction) or whether the optimum culture depends on the national context in which the firm is embedded. The findings suggest that there is a significant interaction effect of organizational culture with national culture on outcomes. Specifically, the relationships between the importance placed on the cultural values of stability, people orientation, and detail orientation and outcomes are significantly greater for Japanese than for U.S. service retailers. On the other hand, the relationships between the values of aggressiveness, innovation, and outcome orientation and outcomes are greater for U.S. retailers. Further, the findings show that firms whose cultures match those of their home countries exhibit lower levels of outcomes when they operate in other countries with different cultural values. Implications are given for how service retailers might be designed and managed for purposes of improving business outcomes.     

Illicit Drug Use,Employment, and Labor Force Participation

Illicit drug use has declined among the U.S. adult population, but national surveys show the majority of illicit drug users are employed. Concern about workplace productivity, absenteeism, and safety has led many employers to establish employee assistance and drug testing programs. Given the sharp interest in workplace interventions, more information is needed about the relationships between drug use and labor market status. This study estimated the probability of employment and labor force participation for different types of drug users using nationally representative data from the 1997 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. Results strongly indicated that chronic drug use was significantly related (negative) to employment for both genders and labor force participation for males. Furthermore, nonchronic drug use was not significantly related to employment or labor force participation. These findings suggest that workplace policies for illicit drug use should consider chronic or problem drug users apart from light or casual users.     

Responses to industrial closure

From a high point in the early seventies resistance to plant closure, especially in the form of the occupation, progressively declined throughout the rest of the decade. This article attempts to explain this trend in terms of changing socioeconomic contexts and management strategies.     

Who's right for an international assignment?

Picking the wrong candidate for an international assignment can be costly for both the individual and his or her company. So more and more companies are turning to testing techniques like the Overseas Assignment Inventory that allows a company to compare a candidate against a profile of success based on a study of thousands of international managers.     

Functioning and reforms of small claims tribunals in New Zealand

This article examines some of the pending changes to the jurisdiction and functioning of Small Claims Tribunals in New Zealand. The Disputes Tribunals Act 1988 repeals the Small Claims Tribunals Act 1976. The new Disputes Tribunals will exercise a wider jurisdiction, both in monetary terms and with respect to the nature of cases which can be heard, than did the Small Claims Tribunals. In particular, the Disputes Tribunals will have wider powers in certain areas of tort. The author also examines certain procedural reforms, and the significance and possible consequences of these.

---

Zusammenfassung In Neuseeland gibt seit etwa 12 Jahren spezielle Gerichte für kleinere Streitfälle. Eine vom Justizministerium durchgeführte Evaluationsstudie stärkte die Auffassung, diese Gerichte unter bestimmten rechtlichen und Verfahrensgesichtspunkten zu reformieren.Das 1976 verabschiedete Gesetz über Gerichte für kleinere Streitfälle wurde 1988 durch das Gesetz für Rechtsstreitigkeiten ersetzt. Dieses Gesetz führte zu einer Ausweitung insofern, als die Streitwertgrenze von 1,000 $ auf 3,000 $ angehoben wurde. Bei Einigkeit beider Parteien kann der Streitwert sogar bis 5,000 $ gehen. Bisher konnten die Gerichte nur zivilrechtliche Streitigkeiten entscheiden, andere Rechtswidrigkeiten waren beschränkt auf Schäden durch fahrlässigen Umgang mit Kraftfahrzeugen. Durch die neue Gesetzgebung wird der Rechtssprechungsspielraum beachtlich erweitert. Diese Ausweitung der gerichtlichen Kompetenzen erschien notwendig, um einder breiteren Öffentlichkeit Zugang zu solchen Schlichtungsverfahren zu eröffnen — eine angesichts der ständig steigenden Kosten der Rechtssprechung sinnvolle Forderung. Außerdem hat das neue Gesetz neue Verfahrensregelungen eingeführt. Beispielsweise sind die Gerichte nunmehr verpflichtet, ihre Urteilssprüche zu begründen. Außerdem sind die Klagemöglichkeiten näher definiert.Der Beitrag analysiert die möglichen Auswirkungen dieser Änderungen auf die Funktionsweise der Gerichte.

---

---

Cynthia Hawes is Lecturer in Law, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 1, New Zealand, and Small Claims Tribunal Referee in Christchurch.Much of the text of this article was given as a paper at the annual conference of the Australasian Universities Law Schools Association, at the University of Sydney, August, 1988.     

Interest rate, demand and input price uncertainty and the value of firms

In an infinite-horizon inventory model, an increase in interest rate uncertainty increases the value of a firm which has positive value. An increase in input price uncertainty increases the value of the firm. If decisions are made before the realization of demand uncertainty, increased uncertainty about an additive demand shock reduces the value of a price-setting firm with a concave value function, and leaves unchanged or increases the value of a quantity-setting firm. If decisions are made after the realization of demand uncertainty, an increase in the uncertainty of an additive demand shock increases the value of the firm.