Packaging,business, and society

The objective of this paper is to present the impact of packaging material on sustainability. The article analyzes the size of the problem that arises from the use of packaging and the effect of various types of packaging material on waste management. The data on solid waste from the United States and the European Union reinforce that the problem is not only huge but also requires immediate attention. The research found that paying attention to packaging has the potential to improve economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Reducing packaging in supply chains improves profitability for organizations, reduces environmental impact, and helps societies in lowering the cost of disposal. The cost of packaging materials and the costs of disposal and landfill, are borne by the end consumers. Suggested approaches to minimizing the generation of packaging waste include concerted efforts for reducing packaging throughout supply chains where elimination of packaging is not feasible, the formation of a global policy on the use and disposal of packaging materials, and educating consumers.     

Improving effectiveness of public service advertisements to prevent texting and driving of American youth

This study examines and explores the interplay of theory (regulatory focus fit and implementation intentions) and emerging technology (interactive advertising and social media ad referrals) to segment viewers more effectively and thus increases the response efficacy of public service advertisements (PSAs). Advertising, in general, and PSAs, in particular, are both entering a new era as traditional delivery platforms (print, TV, and radio) are increasingly giving way to new media (the internet and mobile smartphones), which are more dynamic as they can allow adaptability and interactivity. Using a between-subjects design, this study examined the effects of regulatory focus fit on PSA response from both traditional and interactive delivery methods. Results indicated that regulatory focus ads (promotion focus in a texting and donation context) have a positive effect on attitude toward the ads. Results also indicated that a regulatory focus ad (prevention focus) using an interactive delivery method has a positive effect on behavioral intentions. Implementation intentions analysis also indicated positive results for behavior from PSA outcomes. The findings of this study are expected to be useful for practitioners who are designing PSAs and advertisements to prevent texting and driving.     

The Strategy of Combining Products and Services: A Literature Review

This article provides the analyses of the academic literature on offering a combination of products and services. Trend analyses were performed from 1995 through the end of 2016 on the various parameters such as journals publishing this type of research, changes in the use of keywords, citation frequency, and research contribution from different authors, disciplines, and nations. The analyses presented a clear trend that research in combining product and services accelerated after the year 2000 indicating a focus on research in this area in the 21^st century. This highlights many emerging trends in this area.     

The Manager’s Notepad: Working Memory,Exploration, and Performance

This study builds upon March and Simon’s proposition that individual‐level differences must be considered when explaining decision‐making performance. We extend their discussion on the importance of decision‐makers’ attention to explain heterogeneous patterns of exploration and exploitation within the same uncertain environment. We develop a model of decision‐making under uncertainty in which ‘working memory’ – i.e., the ability to hold multiple elements in mind to actively process them – explains the emergence of heterogeneity in exploration‐exploitation choice patterns. We validated the model in a laboratory study and two replications involving 171 individuals. Our findings show that differences in working memory allow us to identify individuals who are more likely to choose exploration over exploitation appropriately, and thus achieve higher performance. We discuss the implications for management theories, and re‐propose the work of March and Simon as a unifying framework that still can be used to generate and test managerially relevant hypotheses.     

Managing Customer Switching Behavior in the Banking Industry

This study aimed to explore the factors that lead to the intention to stay and the intention to switch in the banking industry. The research adopted a qualitative, inductive approach to data collection using a sample of 19 Australians customers who use banking services, and two Australian bank managers. The factors that are important to the customers' decision to change banks or to diversify their accounts include: (a) customer service and customer intimacy; (b) response to service failure; (c) effect of advertising; (d) reputation; (e) ease of banking; and (f) customer value.