Assessing the Dimensionality of Business Success: The Perspectives of Malaysian SME Owner-Managers

Realizing that the measurement of success in the context of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) is somewhat disparaging, this study aims to validate the business success construct based on the perspectives of SME founder-managers in the Malaysian context. Following a data collection of a sample of 212 SME founder-managers, a confirmatory factor analysis was performed to examine the factorial validity of the success measure and to assess its goodness of fit. The result indicates that business success is a four-factor structure, reflecting in (a) satisfaction with financial performance, (b) satisfaction with non-financial performance, (c) performance relative to competitors, and (d) business growth.     

Towards a richer understanding of consumers in social marketing contexts: Revisiting the stage of change model

Abstract

In this paper, we present data from an 18-month-long longitudinal study of a sample of 40 people who received a test for cancer and who were subsequently advised by health professionals on the dietary changes that would lead to improved health. This study investigates the ways that behaviour change is instigated (or not) and how people cope with these changes. We use the Stages of Change model to categorise people by their dominant behavioural response to the test (maintainers, recyclers, no change). From these categorisations, we develop an in-depth understanding of the experience of their behavioural response. By looking at the three possible behavioural responses in this way, we provide insights into the different cognitive, emotional, and behavioural response to the disease trigger. We evaluate the implications for social marketing theory and public policy makers.     

Food,exercise and lifestyle: an initial teacher training perspective

All too often, we are told via the media that our children are overweight, under‐exercised and eating poor diets. This is disconcerting at the best of times but even more so when we, as a country, are reviewing our farming and food production practices. So what is our perception of food and how does this relate to the lives we lead? These questions were put to initial teacher‐trainees (ITT) at the University of Gloucestershire. They will be the teachers of tomorrow, playing a significant role in the development and lifestyles of our children. The answers received were varied; both encouraging and giving cause for concern. This paper describes an action research project based around the analysis of those answers in the light of current research into food and health. Throughout the paper, published research findings relating to school children's perception of food and nutrition are compared with the trainee teachers’ views. The comparison draws striking similarities. The implications of this point to the way we teach food and nutrition in schools and on our ITT programme at the University of Gloucestershire. Whilst praising the good practice that already exists, this paper recognises that there is a need to adequately equip trainee teachers, especially at primary level, to educate children towards a more holistic understanding of the food we eat and how it relates to the lifestyles we lead.     

Understanding how service learning pedagogy impacts student learning objectives

Service learning (SL) is gaining popularity in business schools as a way to supplement traditional pedagogies. Research indicates that SL improves particular learning outcomes, but little is known about how this happens. Using Kolb's theory of experiential learning, the authors develop and test a conceptual model that explains how SL activates the four cycles of experiential learning and affects the learning outcomes of academic knowledge, career development, personal growth, and civic responsibility.     

The changing structure of Hungarian retailing: Prospects for foreign retailers

Since the mid‐1980s many innovations and developments have taken place in Hungarian retailing, notably because of the recognition by the government that weaknesses in the distribution system can be a fundamental handicap to the efficiency of the whole economy. Some of the changes in Hungarian retail organization date back to the two periods of reform in 1968 and the early 1980s. Those reforms which in the retail sector were designed primarily to encourage innovation and diminish the bureaucracy of large organizations are examined, as well as the major factors in the economy which continued to frustrate many of their beneficial effects.

The subsequent effects of deregulation measures since 1985 on retailing are analysed, particularly the main changes which have occurred in the structure of retailing, e.g. accelerated establishment of private retailers; the expansion of self‐service; the forward integration of importers, manufacturers and wholesalers; the hiving off of the small units belonging to large state multiples and cooperatives. In addition, how these governmental market‐oriented policies have affected the marketing strategies of some of the major Hungarian retailers, and the relationships they arc now forging with foreign retailers are also examined. Finally, the various entry methods utilized by foreign retailers are assessed, and the constraints in the retail infrastructure which still remain to be overcome if more foreign retailers than hitherto are to be encouraged to enter this market.     

缩小医疗保健业的质量深沟

在医疗保健组织中贯彻波多里奇奖医疗保健业卓越绩效准则可以推动高质量结果和改善财务绩效.波多里奇奖准则提出了一种结构用以帮助组织找准并聚焦于关键受益者的需求和期望所涉及的所有领域.简言之,准则可以改变医疗保健业.     

美容品牌如何链接消费者的情感

任何美容品牌进入亚洲市场的机遇都似乎是无限的。高涉及率的美容类别如护肤、护发和美容护理品牌必须拥有一种对美容理念亲和的理解力，并为客户建立一种其渴求的体验。品牌设计者越来越善于表达品牌故事，及更有效地接触各种市场的购物者。美容品牌建立一种创新文化和渴求，并在情感上连接消费者的原理是什么？