Consumer Responses to Slice-of-Life Versus Slice-of-Death Advertising Appeals: Exploring the Role of Polysemy,Branding, and Culture

Prior research has not verified the theoretical or practical value of slice-of-life and slice-of-death advertising appeals in relation to advertising and branding constructs like advertising polysemy and consumer-based brand equity. The authors make conceptual, measurement, and managerial contributions to this research issue dealing with slice of life versus death advertising appeals. Across three studies, the authors measure, evaluate, compare, and contrast slice-of-life and slice-of-death (SOL/D) advertising appeals across British and American cultures. The authors demonstrate the interrelationships of SOL/D appeals with advertising polysemy, consumer-based brand equity, cultural differences in advertising attitudes, and purchase intentions. From a measurement perspective, the authors develop and validate parsimonious measures of slice-of-life and slice-of-death (SOL/D) advertising appeals. Furthermore, they test the assumptions that underlie these appeals for United States and British customers, and investigate how the cultural characteristic of uncertainty avoidance moderates the impact of SOL/D advertising attitudes on purchase intentions. Managerially, the research demonstrates that SOL/D appeals offer value in predicting (a) consumer-based brand equity through advertising polysemy, (b) consumers’ advertising attitudes across different cultures, (c) consumers’ intentions to purchase, and (d) advertising differences and varying consumer responses in the United States and Britain.     

Identity,Ethnic Embeddedness,and African Cuisine Break-Out in Britain

This exploratory study appraises the limitations and process of African food/restaurant enclave ventures by examining issues around immigrants’ economic empowerment and inclusion. Using the platform of Sub-Saharan Africa gastronomy, identity, and multicultural practices, 35 semi-structured interviews with British-Black African restaurateurs and ethnic/nonethnic clientele were conducted. Through grounded theory methodology, the study contextualizes the broader discourse of ethnic enclave to capture an evolving and under-researched phenomenon. Findings indicate that prejudice, socio-cultural issues, financial limitations, lack of awareness, and image and perception of Africa are critical factors working against the acceptability of Black African food in Britain. The implication for continuous development of competencies and skills of African entrepreneurs in a multicultural British society is enormous. Also important is the intervention of African governments in developing their tourism sector. The value of the article resides in its explanations of the process of break-out and the fundamental factors inhibiting break-out/diffusion of ethnic enterprises from the standpoint of ethnic gastronomy. Thus, the article contributes to discussions on aspect of immigrants’ embeddedness in host country by identifying the image and perception configurations of Black Africa as preventing Black African cuisine break-out into the British mainstream’s consciousness.     

员工组织承诺水平变迁的横断历史元分析：2004~2014

为考察我国企业员工组织承诺水平随年代变迁的趋势特点及其社会影响因素,运用横断历史元分析方法,文章对2004~2014年间采用Allen和Meyer等人“组织承诺量表”的174篇研究报告共61266名企业员工进行分析。结果发现：（1）员工的情感承诺和规范承诺均值与年代正相关显著,持续承诺均值与年代相关不显著。（2）11年间员工情感承诺和规范承诺水平逐渐上升,金融危机后情感承诺水平上升显著。（3）5年前及当年的城镇化率、人均GDP和高校毕业生数量与情感承诺正相关显著,当年的CPI、GDP增长率和城镇失业率与之负相关显著;5年前的CPI、城镇化率、人均GDP、城镇失业率和高校毕业生数量与规范承诺正相关显著,当年的城镇化率、人均GDP与之正相关显著,GDP增长率与之负相关显著;当年的GDP增长率与持续承诺负相关显著。结果表明上述指标是影响员工组织承诺的重要社会因素。     

The Nature and Management of Ethical Corporate Identity: A Commentary on Corporate Identity,Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics

In this paper we open up the topic of ethical corporate identity: what we believe to be a new, as well as highly salient, field of inquiry for scholarship in ethics and corporate social responsibility. Taking as our starting point Balmer’s (in Balmer and Greyser, 2002) AC²ID test model of corporate identity – a pragmatic tool of identity management – we explore the specificities of an ethical form of corporate identity. We draw key insights from conceptualizations of corporate social responsibility and stakeholder theory. We argue ethical identity potentially takes us beyond the personification of the corporation. Instead, ethical identity is seen to be formed relationally, between parties, within a community of business and social exchange. Extending the AC²ID test model, we suggest the management of ethical identity requires a more socially, dialogically embedded kind of corporate practice and greater levels of critical reflexivity. John M. T. Balmer is Professor of Corporate Brand/Identity Management at Bradford University School of Management. His research focuses on a range of corporate-level marketing issues and has a particular interest in the management of corporate brands and identities. His work has been published in leading journals such as California Management Review and Long Range Planning. With Stephen Greyser he co-authored Revealing the Corporation (Routledge, 2003). Kyoko Fukukawa is a lecturer in marketing at Bradford University School of Management and holds a Ph.D. from University of Nottingham, UK. Her research interests include ethical decision-making in consumption and business practices; corporate social responsibility (CSR) of MNCs concerning their policies and strategic communication; and CSR and corporate branding. Her publications appear in Journal of Business Ethics, Journal of Corporate Citizenship and others. Edmund R. Gray is Professor and Chair in the Department of Management at Loyola Marymount University. He is author or co-author of five textbooks and numerous scholarly articles. He holds a Ph.D. from UCLA. His research interests centre around issues of corporate identity, corporate social responsibility and environmental sustainability. Currently, he is conducting research on entrepreneurial firms with environmental/social goals that are an integral part of their mission.     

Relational Perspectives of Perceived Service Quality in the Online and Offline Environments: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Today, service quality is a major driver enhancing and consolidating the relationship between consumers and their service providers. The diversity of research in this context revealed a gap between empirical results which investigated the relational consequences of service quality, and showed missing studies that allowed generalizing and specifying the perspectives of the service quality in the relational domain. So, this research suggests a Meta-Analytic Structural Equation Modeling (MASEM) to validate a synthetic model integrating perceived quality, satisfaction and loyalty. It is based on 43 recent academic research derived from 22 countries. The results validated the meta-analytic structural model and showed that the service environment moderates causal links between perceived quality, satisfaction and loyalty.     

A Meta-Analysis of Variance Accounted for and Factor Loadings in Exploratory Factor Analysis

A meta-analysis of two factor analysis outcome measures, the percentage of variance accounted for and the average (absolute) factor loading, in 803 substantive factor analyses was undertaken. The average percentage of variance accounted for was 56.6%, and the average (absolute) factor loading was 0.32. Number of variables factor analyzed, nature of the sample from which data were collected, sample size, number of factors extracted, and (minimal) number of scale categories employed influenced the percentage of variance accounted for in a factor analysis. Number of factors extracted, analytical approach, and number of variables analyzed influenced the average factor loading obtained in a factor analysis. Factor analysis of synthetic (random) data possessing the general structure as the observed data in the meta-analysis accounted for 50.2% of the variance in the data and produced an average factor loading of 0.21. The latter figures imply that many factor analyses have produced outcome measures of questionable meaningfulness.     

E-mail Advertising in Syria: Assessing Beliefs,Attitudes, and Behaviors

The present study aimed at assessing Syrian consumers' beliefs regarding, attitude, and behavioral responses toward e-mail advertising and investigating the relationships among those variables. A cross-sectional survey was conducted and it yielded 273 valid responses. The proposed model was analyzed and tested using a structural equation modelling approach. Our findings showed that both informativeness and entertainment beliefs positively predicted Syrian consumers' attitudes toward e-mail advertising. Additionally, attitude was found to fully mediate the relationship between beliefs regarding and behavioral responses toward e-mail advertising.     

Integrating Multiple Factors Affecting Consumer Behavior Toward Organic Foods: The Role of Healthism,Hedonism, and Trust in Consumer Purchase Intentions of Organic Foods

Consumer awareness about organic foods has been growing. However, this trend is not always translated to consumer organic food purchases. It is argued that when it comes to assessing organics, one should expect consumers to use multiattribute evaluations due to credence attributes and organic standards that organic foods need to adhere to. A thorough review of the existing literature on consumer buying behavior of organic foods identifies healthism, hedonism, and trust among some factors that enhance consumer experiences with organic foods and therefore can affect their purchase intentions. This article is one the few studies that integrated multiple factors in one research framework to empirically evaluate their role in explaining consumer purchase intentions of organic foods. Results from a demographically representative sample completed by an online survey in Australia (N = 1011) provides support for the research hypotheses by revealing positive and statistically significant effects of healthism, hedonism, and trust on consumer purchase intentions. The study concludes with implications and suggestions for future research.     

The Influence of Confucian Ethics and Collectivism on Whistleblowing Intentions: A Study of South Korean Public Employees

The current study presents the findings of an empirical inquiry into the effects of Confucian ethics and collectivism, on individual whistleblowing intentions. Confucian Ethics and Individualism–Collectivism were measured in a questionnaire completed by 343 public officials in South Korea. This study found that Confucian ethics had significant but mixed effects on whistleblowing intentions. The affection between father and son had a negative effect on internal and external whistleblowing intentions, while the distinction between the roles of husband and wife had a positive effect on those intentions. The effects of collectivism were also different depending on the specific types of collectivism. Horizontal collectivism had a positive effect on both types of whistleblowing intentions, whereas vertical collectivism did not show any significant effects on whistleblowing intentions. These results indicate that cultural traits such as Confucian ethics and collectivism may affect an individual’s whistleblowing intentions in degree and direction, making blanket predictions about cultural effects on whistleblowing difficult.     

Korean Companies in Mexico: Business Practices and National Identity

This article examines certain characteristics of Korean investment in Mexico. It provides an analytical framework to study the business practices of Korean companies and the influence of Korean national identity on the business linkages abroad. Special attention is given to the linkages that Korean companies (commercial subsidiaries, affiliates, suppliers, producers, and maquiladoras) maintain with their parent companies and/or with other Korean-origin firms, with a focus on two specific issues: control and decision making within the firm and the preference for doing business with Koreans.     

Time Orientation and Attitudes toward Advertising in a High-Context Culture: An Empirical Study of Macau

Each culture has its own dominant construct of time that influences the value placed on the use of time by individuals. This empirical study examines how time orientations influence attitudes toward advertising in a high-context culture of an Asian economy. Data was collected through surveys in Macau. Findings show that Macanese are more future orientated but less enthusiastic towards advertising; they switch to another channel and engage in other activities during commercial breaks. Results also show that past orientation has the strongest impact on advertising avoidance. The authors offer managerial implications for the development of effective advertising programs in this emerging market.     

Reinforcing Cultural Identity by Appealing to Local Cultural Cues: National Identity Formation and Consumption in High-Context Cultures

Traditionally, U.S. firms have successfully used American appeal (hard-sell approach) as a unique selling proposition in Europe, Japan and in the developing world. However, the anti-American sentiments around the world due to the Iraqi and Afghan wars and recent upheavals in the Middle East and North Africa have negatively influenced consumer judgments about American-labeled global brands in international markets during the last decade. Such consumer perceptions may lead to a favorable environment for new competitors to emerge in specific markets, and these products may take significant market share away from global U.S. brands.     

Need-for-touch and online purchase propensity: A comparative study of Portuguese and Chinese consumers

This study analyses the impact of Need-for-Touch (NFT) on online purchase propensity by evaluating the influence of the consumer's country of origin. Although NFT has been a major topic of research over the past years, the link between NFT and purchase propensity has rarely been empirically proven. For assessing the relationship an online questionnaire was made available in Portugal and China. A total of 295 complete responses were obtained and the data studied through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, namely multivariate analysis of variance and structural equation modeling using AMOS. The results indicate that the consumer's country of origin seems to affect the relevance of the sense of touch for apparel. Consumers with high levels of NFT are more likely to engage in additional brand touchpoints and consequently having stronger brand experiences. The impact of perceived information credibility and brand experience on the perceived product quality influences the propensity to search and to purchase online. Consumer NFT was shown having no direct influence on online purchase propensity but instead is mediated by other variables such as brand experience and the online research propensity. This study is innovative by comparing the NFT between two very different cultures and by providing insights on the relationships between cultural differences and NFT, which could be of great interest for Portuguese companies planning on investing in the Chinese market and vice versa.     

Ethnic Enclaves to Diaspora Entrepreneurs: A Critical Appraisal of Black British Africans' Transnational Entrepreneurship in London

In this article, the author examines the transition from ethnic enclave to diaspora/transnational entrepreneurship by Black African ethnic entrepreneurs in the United Kingdom through interview/case study approaches. Key issues at stake are whether diaspora/transnational entrepreneurship is a kind of adaptive process in self-actualization, economic empowerment, or competitive advantage or a strategy of reintegration with the country of origin. Leveraging duality of opportunities results in subjective successful business performance and personal contentment of the diaspora entrepreneurs. Transnational entrepreneurship is crucial to business growth in Africa. This is particularly true with diaspora transfers to Africa playing a significant role in social, economic, and business developments.     

The Role of Plant-Based Foods in Canadian Diets: A Survey Examining Food Choices,Motivations and Dietary Identity

Used as a replacement for animal-based protein sources, the market for foods containing plant-based proteins (PBPs) continues to grow across North America. As of now, however, few studies of consumer behaviour focus specifically on the dynamics of this development in Canada and so this study looks at how PBPs fit in the current dietary choices of Canadians. Using data collected through a geographically representative nation-wide survey, the analysis shows that past and current consumption of these products are good indicators of future consumption of PBPs. Relatedly, negative stigma attached to earlier versions of PBPs, sometimes referred to as ‘fake meat’, continues to be an issue with current Canadian consumers. The analysis also demonstrates that personal health and animal/environmental ethics play a significant role in individual decisions to eat PBPs instead of meat. Additionally, issues of availability, affordability and concern over the sensory qualities continue to present barriers to future use.     

Using Video to Build an Organization's Identity and Brand: A Content Analysis of Nonprofit Organizations' YouTube Videos

Organizational scholarship has increasingly focused its attention to how nonprofit, for-profit, and government agencies develop their unique organizational identity through their strategic communication efforts. As social media continues to become more prominent in communication campaigns due to the high levels of public usage and public involvement with organizations on social media sites, it is important to examine these social media messages as they relate to organizational identity. YouTube videos increasingly are being used by organizations to educate and inform just as much as they are to entertain. Through a content analysis of the most viewed videos on the top 100 official nonprofit YouTube channels, this study found that nonprofit organizations primarily use their YouTube videos to inform and educate viewers about their missions, programs, and services. While the videos also occasionally discuss the organizations' advocacy, volunteering, and fundraising efforts, nonprofit organizations were not living up to their potential in terms of engagement through direct appeals for involvement. Additionally, the organizations were more likely to use outsiders' words and stories to build the videos' narratives rather than using internal stakeholders. The benchmark numbers provided by this study reiterate key rules that are stressed in practitioner-oriented work on video production for branding and identity-building efforts.     

The Relationship Among Knowledge,Opportunity, and Ethical Perceptions: A Cross-National Investigation

The focus of this paper was to study the effectof prior knowledge and situationalopportunities on ethically questionablebehaviors among students of differentnationalities. A study was conducted toinvestigate the role and impact of thepredictor variables (knowledge and opportunity)on ethical perceptions toward copyrightviolations. The study also examined thedirect and the moderating effects of age,nationality, ethnic identity, gender, andeducation major. The research was conducted ona sample of 160 students of an Americanuniversity located on the U.S.–Mexican border. The results indicate that the predictorvariables, knowledge and opportunity,significantly affect ethical perceptions. Demographic variables like age, nationality,gender, and education major had no directeffects ethical perceptions. Different ethnicidentities, however, exhibited significantdifferences in their ethical perceptions. Onexamining moderating effects of the demographicvariables, younger respondents weresignificantly different from older respondents. Differences between the ethnic identityconstruct and nationality are highlighted. Implications of prior student knowledge aboutethical standards and expectations arediscussed.