Ownership and Control of Central and East European Enterprises:

No abstract available for this article.     

How to Make Higher Education Institutions Innovative: An Application of Market Orientation Practices

In the present era, higher education is considered a booming and significantly contributing sector to the economy of many countries. Due to the intense competition prevailing in the higher education sector, higher education institutions need to become market oriented and innovate in courses, delivery methods and student support services. Consequently, they could meet increasing expectations placed on them for quality of education and support services. The main aim of this study is to investigate the influence of both market orientation and its dimensions, on innovation in higher education institutions. This study also considered the age of the faculty a moderator to these influences. The sample comprised 270 managers and course cordinators attached to faculties, schools or units in Sri Lankan higher education institutions. The surveys were administered for data collection. The study has several contributions to the literature- all the three dimensions of market orientation, significantly and positively influenced innovation in higher education institutions. The age of the faculty significantly moderated the influence of both market orientation and its dimensions (Intelligence Generation and Responsiveness), on innovation. This study also expand the focus of theory of six sigma by applying it from market orientation and customer orientation perspectives. Finally, this study has modified items measuring several constructs to suit the higher education context which can be used by future researchers. From the findings, several practical implications are given to officials in higher education institutions for innovating in courses, delivery methods and support services. The article concludes with many useful directions for future researchers.     

Suggestions and Procedures for Choosing a Chinese Institution of Higher Education as a Partner

Abstract

China has one of the largest and most complex higher education systems in the world, and a key challenge facing any foreign education institution is how to select an appropriate potential partner. This paper considers how a number of foreign university managers selected a university in China. Issues of location, ranking, status, programs, mutual benefit and “fit” are considered along with less specific and tangible issues related to the nature and environment in which the Chinese university operated. One of the findings of the paper was that identifying and selecting an appropriate partner was often based not only on a range of tangible, cognitive factors, but also on less specific, affective issues such as how the two sides would actually relate to each other at a human level. A second key issue is the observation that foreign university staff had to make the decision between selecting a high ranking Chinese university which had status, ranking, income and-often a wide range of existing foreign partners and a lower ranking Chinese university which had none of these attributes, but which was often a more willing and easier partner at least in the initial stages of alliance activity. Finally, selection was made against a rapidly changing and deregulating university environment in China, making selection both more challenging and demanding than in the past. The paper will be of use to existing and potential foreign university staff wishing to enter this busy market for a range of collaborative activities planned for either China or the foreign country.     

Consumers’ Preference Mapping and Their Behavior with Regard to Traditional Halwa Using a Structured Survey Questionnaire

In this study, a structured survey questionnaire was used to determine consumers’ preferences and their behavior with regard to halwa. Five types of consumer groups were identified thorough hierarchical cluster analysis based on ranked attributes. Color was ranked within the top three attributes for all the groups. In general, color, sweetness, appearance, and solubility were found to be the most important attributes for selecting the halwa. Five types of groups were identified based on their preference levels (i.e., intensity) of attributes. These could be recognized in terms of preferences for halwa with (1) black with high sweetness, (2) dark-brown with high-medium sweetness, (3) dark with low-medium sweetness, (4) brown with medium sweetness, and (5) dark with high-medium sweetness preferred consumers. The consumer segmentations identified could be used to develop retail marketing strategies and to develop store brands of diversified Arabian sweets and intermediate moisture fruit snacks, such as dates.     

Emphasis or Balance?

Abstract

A sample of 162 Indian manufacturing and service companies were used to examine different forms of market orientation and the impact of these forms on organizational performance. A cluster-analysis identified four distinct clusters: “undeveloped,” “customer-focused,” “competitor-focused,” and “comprehensive.” The performance of these clusters differed significantly across growth in overall revenue, ability to retain customers, success of new products/services, controlling operational expenses, and return on capital. Implications of these findings for firms competing in India's post-economic liberalization milieu are discussed.     

Market segmentation of airline cargo transport

This study evaluates the market segmentation of airline cargo transport according to service requirements of air freight forwarders. Data obtained using a questionnaire survey reveal that cargo safety is perceived as the most important service attribute, followed by freight rate, cargo tracking, and flight punctuality. Factor analysis is employed to group service attributes into six categories, namely assurance, promptness, empathy, convenience, value added, and customization. According to these service attributes, users of airline cargo transport are then classified into three market segments, namely professional service-oriented, empathy-oriented, and express service-oriented air freight forwarders. Suggestions on marketing strategy formulation for each respective segment are also provided as references to airlines.     

Student Complaint Behavior Based on Power Perception

Abstract

This study investigated students' complaint behavior in a higher education service sector. Based on their complaining styles, students were clustered into three groups as passive recipients, private complainers, and voicers. Passive recipients exhibited the highest perceptions of educators' punishment power and legitimate power. They were more likely to be international and undergraduate students. Private complainers possessed high perception of educators' punishment power but moderate perception of educators' legitimate power. Similar to passive recipients, they were more likely to be international and undergraduate students. Distinctively, voicers had the lowest perceptions of both educators' punishment power and their legitimate power. These students were more likely to be domestic and MBA Students.     

中国高等教育财政投入分析

自高校扩招以来,财政支出在高等教育中的投入数额增加,其主要体现在科研经费的支出比重加大,这与中国高等教育转轨的实情是相符的。但同时,财政支出在不同学校的不同政策又导致在各高校间出现资金充裕和资金短缺的失衡格局。     

A Time Attitude Scale for Cross Cultural Research

Abstract

The paper describes the development and testing of a questionnaire instrument designed to assess the attitudes of individuals towards time. Five constructs are identified from the literature: past, present and future orientations, time pressure (or time as duration) and planning (time as succession). Scale items were developed and tested in four countries: the UK, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Chile. In the last three mentioned countries, the questionnaire was translated into the home language from English using the back translation method. In total, 2,155 respondents completed the instrument. The scale is tested for reliability using Cronbach Alpha both as a whole and in its five constituent parts for each country. Convergent validity was tested using Structural Equation Modelling. Past and future orientations, and time pressure emerge as relatively well-defined constructs, reflecting their emphasis in the literature on time attitudes generally. The results are discussed in the context of cross-cultural research and in the context of a growing debate about the use of Cronbach Alpha as an absolute indicator for scale development.     

消费者品牌延伸评价中的"拥有者效应"

A two levels of product similarity times two levels of brand image consistency times three levels of ownerships factorial experiment was designed to explore the ownership effects when consumers evaluate brand extensions and judge parent brand after receiving brand extension information. Evidence shows that ownership effects do exist in both extension and parent brand evaluations. Brand image consistency is the most influential factor for parent brand owners while product similarity is more important factor for non-users in attitude formation towards the extension. The owners of competitive brands favor low image consistency extension more than high image consistency extension. Furthermore, there is an interaction effect between brand image consistency and product similarity for brand owners, whereas this effect is non-existent for non-owners and non-users. This again shows that brand owners care much more about brand image consistency than other consumer groups do. In evaluating a parent brand, owners and non-owners differ. The authors draw the conclusion that consumers’ brand extension evaluation is more like a “benefit oriented” process rather than a “pure affect transfer” process.     

高职院校发展物流教育SWOT分析与对策

结合高职院校物流教育的现实情况,应用SWOT分析技术对优势、劣势、机遇与威胁进行了系统分析,并在此基础上,提出了高职院校发展物流教育的相关对策建议。     

素质为本人性提升全面发展——对高职院校加强思想品德和人文素质教育的思考

近20年来,我国高等职业教育得到了飞速发展,已进入内涵建设的关键时期.当前,我国的高职教育理念存在误区,普遍存在重技能、轻素质,重智育、轻德育的“偏科”现象,加强思想品德和人文素质教育势在必行.高职院校必须转变教育观念,把“做事”和“做人”结合起来,提高学生的综合素质,实现“能力本位”向“素质本位”转变,从而真正培养出德、智、体、美全面发展的高素质技术技能型人才.