Adoption of Online Social Networks to Communicate with Financial Institutions

Spain's financial sector is not in a healthy state, and the problems that some financial institutions currently face perpetuate the widespread perception of risk across the entire sector. Moreover, the online social networks (OSN) that emerged a decade ago are suddenly at the very heart of digital society. In this study we develop a predictive model to determine that the motivational factors that influence Spanish users' intention to use OSN to communicate with financial institutions are quality management, availability of information, external conditions, trust, perceived compatibility, perceived usefulness, attitude, and intention. Data were collected from 335 Spanish OSN users through an online survey. The results suggest that quality management has a highly significant and positive effect on perceived usefulness and that perceived usefulness has a positive and significant effect on the intention to use social networks to communicate with financial institutions.     

Services Offered by Financial Institutions

No abstract available for this article.     

The Status of Marketing in the UK Service Industries

This article describes the status of marketing in the UK service industries based on a sample of 320 service companies. It draws comparisons between service marketing companies and product marketing companies in terms of marketing orientation and marketing practice. Some significant differences are found between the two types of companies and it is suggested that there is scope for increased marketing professionalism in many service industries; and a greater sensitivity to market needs is required as markets become more competitive.     

The Marketing Activities of UK Charities

ABSTRACT

With well over 176,000 charities operating in the United Kingdom and with changing political, social and economic pressures, the demand for increased funding has become paramount. In order to compete more effectively for funds many have adopted a marketing perspective, focusing on understanding those donors who provide them with the most income.

The use of certain marketing techniques in UK charities is now widespread and most have favourable attitudes towards marketing, feeling that it is an essential part of their organisations' activities. These attitudes, however, are often based on a rudimentary understanding of the term ‘marketing’. Most charities now advertise and use direct mail but, despite the work of many authors over the last twenty-five years regarding the relevance of marketing to nonprofit organisations, most charities still equate marketing solely with advertising and selling. The dependence upon these techniques poses the question as to whether charities in the UK have truly adopted the marketing concept, or whether marketing is still equated with a narrow range of the more visible communication techniques.     

The Changing Perceptions of Financial Institutions

No abstract available for this article.     

浅析我国非正规金融机构的发展

近些年来,非正规金融机构在很大程度上满足了中小微企业的资金需求,在一定程度上缓解了市场资金供求矛盾,提高了资源配置效率,促进了地方特色产业的发展。当前,由于相应的法律法规不完善,对非正规金融市场及其运行机制缺乏有效的监管,导致了一系列问题的产生。我国应确立非正规金融的法律地位,制定相关法规,完善金融法律体系及金融服务体系;加大扶持中小微企业力度,创新金融产品,从而促进非正规金融走向正规化发展道路。     

The Adoption of a Retail-Oriented Marketing Mix for Bank Branch Operations

This article considers the major emphasis currently being placed by the retail banks on the distribution element of the marketing mix. In particular, it demonstrates that the retail banks within the UK have recognised the importance of the branch network in achieving a competitive advantage and are currently active to a greater or lesser degree in adopting a retail-oriented marketing mix for bank branch operations. The article goes on to argue that the mix has not yet been successfully co-ordinated as a result of the limited remit of marketing personnel within the banking sector.     

广西地方金融机构流动性风险及防范

结合广西地方金融机构具体情况,用传统流动性风险和流动性过剩两种观点相结合的方法进行分析,认为广西农村信用社和城市商业银行都存在的流动性风险,只是农信社存在的风险较大,而城市商业银行的流动性风险相对较小,针对流动性风险提出防范和减少地方金融机构流动性风险的方法。     

事业单位财务管理问题及对策

当前,事业单位普遍存在财务管理职能弱化、财经纪律松弛、会计信息失真等问题,致使国有资产流失严重.应从增强法律观念、依法理财,加强财会人员队伍建设,严格履行职责,强化预算管理,严格履行财务制度,推行民族理财,加强公众监督上加以应对,以抑制资产的浪费.     

Adoption of Web-Based Applications in the Financial Sector: The Case of Online Insurance

ABSTRACT

Implementation of new technologies is a never-ending process that attempts to secure the best available tools to accomplish organizational goals. Previous studies on technology implementation discuss the technology adoption process and the multiple factors that are important for making this process successful. This study focuses on the adoption of web-based applications in the insurance industry. An in-depth investigation of relevant literature on the technology adoption process and data collected from insurance companies helped us identify the success factors for online insurance. Relevant factors include infrastructure flexibility, website availability, the degree of business integration, and company age.     

Marketing Financial Services in London

ABSTRACT

Given the extremely csompetitive nature of the financial industry in London, England it is important to understand how to conduct a successful marketing effort. A look at various financial services firms in London, such as General Electric Corporation Global, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, Fidelity Investment and government organizations including the Financial Service Authority and the Bank of England help to profile several methods available to help a global marketing effort. Innovative marketing performance tools such as Customer Advisory Boards, Sales Technology Tools, and other effective performance issues are examined.     

Rethinking the UK System of Doctoral Training in Marketing

There have been considerable changes in the system of doctoral education and training in the UK over the last decade. Despite the introduction of a range of ESRC initiatives, the UK marketing academy has been slow to actively debate this aspect of marketing education. This approach is different from that in the US where doctoral training practices in marketing have been widely debated by the AMA. The paper aims to fill this gap by critically assessing the UK system of doctoral training in marketing. The article begins with a brief overview of the historical development of postgraduate education and training in the UK in order to contextualise the subsequent discussion. Some of the most influential reports and policy documents over the last 40 years will be assessed, specifically in relation to how they have shaped, and continue to shape, ESRC policy and postgraduate education more generally in the UK. A critical evaluation of the existing research guidelines in marketing is undertaken and the need for more specific guidelines and a more wide-ranging and inclusive approach to the syllabus than is currently offered in many UK universities is proposed. The paper also explores the importance of staff expertise and critical mass in the context of delivering cost-effective, specialised provision. The article concludes by proposing new structures that marketing departments may wish to consider in delivering research training through the use of coalitions and the use of up-to-date developments in information technology.     

Rates of Adoption by Independent Financial Agencies (IFAs): The New Regulatory Regime

The study of the acceptance of change and attempts to measurethe adoption process are, as this paper demonstrates, subjectiveand wrought with dificulties.' Whether change comes in theform of a changing organisational culture, fashion or a changein the regulatory system, similar problems emerge whenattempting to analyse the diffusion of the new idea, and theacceptance of the innovation by the potential adopteed. Anattempt will be made to analyse the change adoption process inthe regulation of retail personal jinancial services and itsmeasurement over a period of time utilising statisticaltechniques and a model adopted from the study of consumernew-product marketing. Although this process research isdefined as 'a type of data gathering and analysis that seeks todetermine the time-ordered sequence of a set of events' accountwill also be taken of the contextual framework.' The analysis will try to ascertain whether the attitude of Independent FinancialAdvisers to the change in regulation of retail personal financialservices is a reaction of a temporary nature or whether itconstitutes a more permanent reaction which will break thesequential nature of the adoption process.     

The Application of Activity-based Costing in the United Kingdom's Largest Financial Institutions

Activity-based costing (ABC) has come to prominence in recent years as an attractive alternative to conventional costing systems. Its development has involved many service sector applications and its use throughout the core management accounting areas of decision making, control and performance measurement. This article contains the results of a 1994 survey of the UK's largest financial institutions to ascertain the extent and the nature of the adoption of ABC.     

Marketing strategies of ethnic minority businesses in the UK

This paper seeks to evaluate the influence of the entrepreneurs' educational backgrounds, the firm's target market, and the sector of operations on the marketing practices of Turkish ethnic minority businesses. The paper reports and analyses the findings of 227 face-to-face structured interviews with Turkish small business owners. The findings of the study indicate that Turkish ethnic minority businesses operating in different sectors use both transactional and relational approaches to marketing. Their choices of pursuing different marketing strategies are influenced by the entrepreneurs' educational backgrounds, the firm's target market, and the sector of operations.     

The Role of the Internet in the Marketing of Independent Public Houses in the UK

The traditional public house has undergone significant change in the last three decades, making the transition from a male dominated drinking venue to a modern leisure provider. Many independent pubs now offer a variety of products and services to a range of market segments. In recent years there has been plenty of evidence of independent pubs embracing the concept of marketing in response to challenging competitive conditions and customer demands. Many have been very successful at implementing innovative marketing strategies for attracting and retaining customers. Promotional activity has also increased but appears to have been less innovative, concentrating mainly on word-of-mouth and sales promotions. The complex promotional mix used by many commercial organisations is beyond the budget of the majority of independent pubs. Advertising through the media of newspaper or radio is also too expensive and therefore independent pubs may have to seek alternative ways of making the consumer aware of their location and the hospitality that they offer. This paper seeks to explore the potential of the Internet as a marketing communications tool for independent pubs. A review of trade examples and a mini case study are presented to assess the extent to which independent pubs and customers have adopted this technology. The advantages of using this medium are discussed and examples of successful use of the Internet by independent pubs are presented. The problems of time, cost and IT expertise are considered as barriers to adoption.     

Compliance with IAS Disclosure Requirements by Financial Institutions in Uganda

Abstract

This study examines the extent of compliance by financial institutions (banks, and insurance firms) with IAS issued by the IASB and adopted in 1999 in Uganda. Despite the banking crisis of the 1990s and the drive to attract more foreign direct investment, we find that the extent of disclosure in the financial sector in terms of compliance with IAS is still poor. When we compare the disclosure scores for the two groups, we find that the scores are not significantly different. This indicates that the problem of low compliance is sector wide, and regulators need to improve on the standard of reporting in Uganda in order to improve acceptability of annual reports.     

伊斯兰金融机构财务报告概念框架的会计信息质量特征

近期发布的伊斯兰金融机构财务会计概念框架内含的会计信息质量特征,既与欧美最新的财务会计框架中有用财务信息的质量特征存在诸多相似,又具有鲜明的自身特色,其结构清晰,可操作性强,对改进我国基本会计准则中的会计信息质量特征具有重要的借鉴价值。     

Adoption and Implementation of Internal Marketing Systems by Ghanaian Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises

This paper explores the concept of internal marketing (IM) as an internal supportive system that could provide the infrastructure for a strategic business take-off. It investigates how IM, as a concept, is understood and made practical in the context of Ghanaian small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This qualitative research method was used due to the nature of the enquiry. The government of Ghana is constantly searching for more effective ways of assisting SME performance, through various strategic growth and development schemes. Despite the fact that much has been said in the literature, the IM concept remains elusive. Most SMEs are not aware of IM and demonstrate little understanding of the concept. And SMEs have problems with the implementation of IM. The manufacturing sector demonstrates more IM orientation than does the service sector. This paper unravels sociocultural factors that frustrate the practice of IM among Ghanaian SMEs and calls for a greater awareness of the concept by stakeholders. Suggestions include more general business support for SMEs to improve performance and subsequently grow. The paper finishes by drawing attention to management implications within the practice of IM.