Brand morphing across Wal-Mart customer segments

The premise of segmentation theory is that different segments each have a discrete customer profile and behavioral characteristics. At a conceptual level, the recent branding literature recognizes that different sub-cultures or segments could experience different meanings of an organization's brand. However, few quantitative studies address the issue. The current paper combines branding and segmentation theory and offers a new perspective on whether all segments have the same brand meaning. A leading discount retailer, Wal-Mart, is the focus of this Canadian-based investigation. Two segments of Wal-Mart customers are the basis of the study — one segment preferring Wal-Mart and one less attached. The research quantifies the two networks of brand meaning that the two segments associate with the Wal-Mart (corporate) brand. Empirically, brand morphing of the corporate brand occurs, with different brand meanings across the two segments.     

我国公共服务均等化的困境及其化解——基于现实约束条件的分析

社会转型、经济体制转轨、民主政治制度不完善、利益分化严重以及法治化程度低等是我国现阶段推进公共服务均等化必须面对的现实约束。多重约束条件不仅决定了我国公共服务均等化改革要解决的问题有多个方面,而且必然会遇到许多困境和阻力,它将是一个漫长的渐进过程。认清各种现实约束条件,对化解公共服务均等化推行过程中的困境和顺利实现公共服务均等化目标有着较强的现实意义。     

我国能源效率综合评价

本文将环境污染排放物当做非期望产出纳入全要素框架,运用数据包络分析方法（Data Envelopment Analysis,DEA）中的超效率SBM模型对我国29个省区的能源效率进行测算,并结合我国实际能源状况进行分析。分析结果表明,我国各省区的能源效率具有较大差异,但是基本呈稳步上升的趋势。其中,东部地区的能源效率值最高,接着依次是西部地区、东北地区和中部地区。最后根据得出的结果提出相关的政策建议。     

Tourist market segmentation with linear and non-linear techniques

The need for in-depth knowledge of tourist market segments and the need to overcome the limitations of using linear techniques to analyse non-linear relationships requires a re-assessment of generally used approaches such as cluster analysis and multiple linear regression. The objectives of the research are (1) to consider the use of self-organising (SOM) neural networks for segmenting tourist markets and (2) to analyse the predictive ability of backpropagation (BP) neural networks for classifying tourists from follow-up surveys by using the output provided by a SOM neural network. The findings of the SOM neural network modelling indicate three natural clusters. In addition, the predictive ability of the BP neural network model appears to be superior to that of MLR static filter and logistic regression models. The BP neural network model developed for this application appears suitable for deployment (i.e. classification of tourists from follow-up surveys).     

Using mixed methods designs in the Journal of Business Research, 1990–2010

The purpose of this article is to examine the uses of mixed method research designs published in the Journal of Business Research. This study involves a content analysis of 2072 articles published between 1990 and 2010 in the Journal of Business Research. Seventeen mixed method studies implemented data collection procedures sequentially (68%), six implemented them concurrently (24%), and two combined both sequential and concurrent procedures (8%). On the whole, priority skews more toward quantitative strands with ten articles prioritizing quantitative data (40%), three articles prioritizing qualitative data (12%), and twelve articles prioritizing both equally (48%). Business scholars recognize the benefit of mixing qualitative and quantitative research; however, as a discipline, we are not demonstrating knowledge of the mixed method literature or procedures; none of the articles recognized or mentioned knowledge of mixed method procedures or cited mixed method research. This study provides guidance for researchers in identifying design types appropriate for various research objectives as well as the models of different design types appearing in the Journal of Business Research.     

Differentiating ambiguity: an expository note

Ghirardato et al. J Econ Theory 118:133–173, 2004 propose a method for distinguishing between perceived ambiguity and the decision-maker’s reaction to it. They study a general class of preferences which they refer to as invariant biseparable. This class includes CEU and MEU. This note presents some examples which illustrate their results. Research supported by ESRC grant no. RES-000-22-0650. For comments and discussion we would like to thank Klaus Nehring and a seminar audience at ESEM, Vienna 2006.     

Attitude toward imprecise information

This paper presents an axiomatic model of decision making under uncertainty which incorporates objective but imprecise information. Information is assumed to take the form of a probability–possibility set, that is, a set P of probability measures on the state space. The decision maker is told that the true probability law lies in P and is assumed to rank pairs of the form (P,f) where f is an act mapping states into outcomes. The key representation result delivers maxmin expected utility (MEU) where the min operator ranges over a set of probability priors—just as in the MEU representation result of Gilboa and Schmeidler [Maxmin expected utility with a non-unique prior, J. Math. Econ. 18 (1989) 141–153]. However, unlike the MEU representation, the representation here also delivers a mapping, , which links the probability–possibility set, describing the available information, to the set of revealed priors. The mapping is shown to represent the decision maker's attitude to imprecise information: under our axioms, the set of representation priors is constituted as a selection from the probability–possibility set. This allows both expected utility when the selected set is a singleton and extreme pessimism when the selected set is the same as the probability–possibility set, i.e., is the identity mapping. We define a notion of comparative imprecision aversion and show it is characterized by inclusion of the sets of revealed probability distributions, irrespective of the utility functions that capture risk attitude. We also identify an explicit attitude toward imprecision that underlies usual hedging axioms. Finally, we characterize, under extra axioms, a more specific functional form, in which the set of selected probability distributions is obtained by (i) solving for the “mean value” of the probability–possibility set, and (ii) shrinking the probability–possibility set toward the mean value to a degree determined by preferences.     

Literature-related discovery (LRD): Lessons learned, and future research directions

Literature-related discovery (LRD) is the linking of two or more literature concepts that have heretofore not been linked (i.e., disjoint), in order to produce novel, interesting, plausible, and intelligible knowledge (i.e., potential discovery). The open discovery systems (ODS) component of LRD starts with a problem to be solved, and generates solutions to that problem through potential discovery. We have been using ODS LRD to identify potential treatments or preventative actions for challenging medical problems, among myriad other applications. The five immediately preceding papers in this Special Issue describe the application of ODS LRD to Raynaud's Phenomenon (RP), cataracts, Parkinson's Disease (PD), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Water Purification (WP). We describe the lessons learned from each application, and how the techniques can be improved further.Generation of much potential discovery using ODS LRD is possible when the conceptual roadblocks to discovery are removed. Some of these roadblocks include use of numerical filters that are unrelated to generating discovery, and excessive reliance on literatures directly related to the problem literature of interest. The issue of how to handle large amounts of potential discovery has not been addressed in the literature, since most ODS LRD researchers have tried to find a relatively few potential discovery items. We present a development strategy that capitalizes on the large amounts of potential discovery we have identified.     

常德市农业投入产出模型分析

利用柯布一道格拉斯生产函数,以1999年和2005年数据为基础,对常德市农业生产的实际情况进行量化分析,以农业产值为产出因子,选择劳动力、化肥投入、机械总动力、耕地面积和有效灌溉面积为投入因子,利用EVIEW计量经济软件建立投入产出模型。通过计量经济模型对比分析发现,从1999年到2005年常德市农业产值大幅增加的主导影响因素依然是耕地面积,相对1999年劳动力和农业机械总动力的影响而言,2005年化肥投入量和农业机械总动力的影响增强,而劳动力则表现出剩余现象。说明今后常德市农业生产应做好耕地资源的开源与节流工作,重视农业科技和农业机械化发展,调整农业产业结构促进劳动力资源合理利用及优化农业产业类型的布局。     

基于DEA方法的安徽省各地市经济发展效率评价

根据2006—2010年安徽省17个地市的经济投入产出数据,利用数据包络分析方法,对安徽省各地市经济发展效率进行评价,并对部分非DEA有效的地区进行投影分析。利用BC2输入模型,综合五年的计量结果,对比各个地市的纯技术效率与规模效率,找出制约各地市经济发展的原因所在,并为提高各地市的发展效率提出建议。