Putting human resource management at the line manager level

Line managers are in an excellent position to benefit the company by the practice of good human resource management techniques, as long as they have the support and guidance of top management.     

Creating a convivial communications society

Telecommunications policies are traditionally governed by such factors as industrial productivity and national economic independence. Lorne Peterson believes that the social and cultural aspects are equally vital and calls for a new approach that considers computer and communications technologies as helpful tools in the development of a convivial and democratic society.     

Can Country‐of‐Origin Labeling Succeed as a Marketing Tool for Produce? Lessons from Three Case Studies

This paper draws on the theory of product differentiation in a trade context and uses three case studies to highlight the conditions necessary for a successful geographical‐origin branding strategy for farm produce in the United States. In so doing, the U.S. country‐of‐origin labeling (COOL) scheme as a branding strategy for produce is assessed. The paper argues that the use of geographic identifiers to achieve product differentiation is viable, but any claim that such differentiation will prove useful at the country level for farm produce seems likely to be misplaced. In order to raise prices, a key complement to branding is some restriction on the volume of product going out under the brand name. These restrictions may be accomplished by supply controls, quality controls, or entry barriers, but will not be available to all U.S. products currently hoping to gain from mandatory COOL. Le présent article s'appuie sur la théorie de la différenciation des produits dans un contexte commercial et utilise trois études de cas pour faire ressortir les conditions nécessaires pour réussir une stratégie de la marque distinctive selon l'origine géographique des produits agricoles aux États‐Unis. Nous avons examiné le programme états‐unien d'étiquetage du pays d'origine (COOL) comme stratégie de la marque distinctive. Le présent article soutient que l'utilisation d'identificateurs géographiques pour différencier les produits est viable, mais toute allégation voulant que ce genre de différenciation se révèle utile à l'échelle nationale pour les produits agricoles semble inappropriée. Pour hausser les prix, il faudrait, en plus d'utiliser la marque distinctive, imposer certaines restrictions quant au volume de produits emballés sous la marque du fabricant. Ces restrictions peuvent être imposées par le contrôle des approvisionnements, le contrôle de la qualité ou la mise en place de barrières à l'entrée, mais elles ne pourront toucher tous les produits états‐uniens qui espèrent actuellement tirer un gain du programme COOL obligatoire.     

THE VALUATION OF NONMARKET ACTIVITIES IN INCOME ACCOUNTING

Expanding a conventional national accounting framework in order to include activities that are not produced or consumed via ordinary markets requires the accountant to adopt some procedure for assigning unit values to these activities. Often, as is the case with governmental services, unit values are equated with unit costs of production.
This paper argues that the appropriate valuation generally differs depending on whether the activity is viewed from the perspective of the producer, the consumer, or society. The theoretical justification for this position is developed first for the case of nonmarketed environmental services and then for in-kind governmental transfers.
Rather than choosing a single unit value, the paper argues for and outlines an accounting system that will permit the simultaneous adoption of more than one valuation. Techniques for implementing the system for the environment and for in-kind transfers are discussed.
Finally, drawing on the experience of the authors, the paper argues for the importance of developing data sets with more than one valuation. The authors claim that the effort to implement the system has generated valuable ancillary data sets even though data limitations and unresolved methodological questions have precluded complete implementation.     

Prospects for U.S. Rice in Japanese Retail Markets Under COOL: A Sensory Experiment

ABSTRACT

Japanese policies leave its retail market closed to U.S. rice. This study examined prospects of U.S. rice if these markets opened, with required country-of-origin labeling (COOL). Data were from auction experiments examining preferences for U.S. and Japanese rice under two scenarios (COOL with observation and COOL with tasting) using Japanese female primary shoppers. Two segments were identified: those open to U.S. rice at prices equal or above domestic, as likely due to tariffs, and those closed to U.S. rice at any price. About 7% of subjects were in the first segment, while nearly 26% fell in the latter. Tasting failed to generate large changes. Frequent COOL readers were especially closed even after tasting. Tasting did change the profile of open consumers, with demographics mattering less afterward. Under any policy change, U.S. rice would need a discounted price relative to domestic rice; even then, a substantial market segment appears closed.