What drives the effectiveness of industrial clusters? Exploring the impact of contextual,structural and functioning determinants

This study examines how contextual, structural and functioning characteristics of industrial clusters influence their effectiveness. We develop a conceptual framework that identifies potential influencing factors, validate the factors statistically, and estimate the factors’ impact on cluster effectiveness. Our results show that among the important determinants of cluster effectiveness are long-term planning security and procedural trust among the cooperating firms (contextual conditions), formalized rules and sustainable structures (structural elements), and clear goals and tasks (functioning characteristics). However, the results also reveal that some determinants assessed as important in the literature do not seem to have a positive impact on effectiveness. Our results not only modify general assumptions in cluster research concerning the drivers of cluster effectiveness, but also assist firms and policy-makers in conceptualizing successful new clusters.     

Visual attention toward tourism photographs with text: An eye-tracking study

This study examines consumers' visual attention toward tourism photographs with text naturally embedded in landscapes and their perceived advertising effectiveness. Eye-tracking is employed to record consumers' visual attention and a questionnaire is administered to acquire information about the perceived advertising effectiveness. The impacts of text elements are examined by two factors: viewers' understanding of the text language (understand vs. not understand), and the number of textual messages (single vs. multiple). Findings indicate that text within the landscapes of tourism photographs draws the majority of viewers' visual attention, irrespective of whether or not participants understand the text language. People spent more time viewing photographs with text in a known language compared to photographs with an unknown language, and more time viewing photographs with a single textual message than those with multiple textual messages. Viewers reported higher perceived advertising effectiveness toward tourism photographs that included text in the known language.     

The Practicality of Super Bowl Advertising for New Products and Companies

Abstract

Companies that advertise during the Super Bowl can reach 40 million U.S. households with a 30-second commercial spot, but the cost can exceed $2 million. This research examines Nielsen television ratings and expenses for related commercial spots and suggests that the Super Bowl is not always the best site for introducing new companies or products to the marketplace. ANOVA test results indicate that younger companies may better affect purchase decisions by advertising more frequently during less expensive programming slots.     

基于古诺模型的四种市场的社会福利

市场根据垄断程度的不同。可以分为完全竞争、垄断竞争、寡头垄断和完全垄断市场四种类型。基于古诺模型，用博弈论方法研究n个厂商市场情形的总产量、价格、总收益和消费者剩余并把它们归纳为统一的公式。从四种市场情形总产量和价格的特点推出其供给曲线的形状，进而比较其社会福利的状况。研究结果表明，随着垄断性的加强，市场的社会福利会越来越劣，完全竞争市场的社会福利最好，垄断竞争市场次之，寡头垄断市场更次，完全垄断市场的社会福利最差。     

河北省实施农产品品牌营销的对策分析

进入二十一世纪,我国农业发展进入一个新阶段,面临新的形势。河北省虽然地理环境优越,农产品资源丰富,但目前普遍存在着品牌观念不强、总体质量不高、安全水平较差、农业生产规模小、科学技术水平低和成本高等问题。尤其是我国加入WTO后,农产品国内市场国际化程度加强,市场竞争日趋残酷,发达国家设置了由严格的质量标准,检验检疫标准和认证制度等构成的绿色壁垒。这些问题直接成为影响河北省农产品国内国际竞争力进一步提高的关键性制约因素,必然对河北省农产品的生产和经营提出了更高、更严的要求。打造农业品牌,发挥品牌效应,重点培育具有国际竞争力的农业产区和优势农产品,是我们积极应对入世挑战、增强国内、国际市场竞争力和提高自身效益的重要途径,也是河北省农业发展到新阶段,在新形势下实现更高层次快速发展的必然选择。     

增强学生心理健康教育实效性的研究

我国中小学心理健康教育已普遍受到关注,各级各类学校相继开始实施,但不少学校缺乏实效性和针对性。需要积极探索,采取措施,切实提高我国中小学心理健康教育的实效性。     

A review of research on personality in teams: Accounting for pathways spanning levels of theory and analysis

Over the last half century there has been a great deal of interest in the role of personality in teams. In this article we review the theoretical and empirical research on this topic to summarize what we have learned and also to provide a foundation for future research necessary for application of this knowledge to human resource management decisions. We describe research that emphasizes both team- and individual-levels of analysis and theory, and we discuss recent efforts that attempt to bridge these two levels. We conclude by identifying several issues that should take precedence in research in order to advance our understanding of the role of personality in teams.     

The influence of contractual and relational factors on the effectiveness of third party logistics relationships

Outsourcing has become popular in both management literature and practice, but few studies have examined the effects of two important and potentially complementary elements – contractual and relational elements – on the effectiveness of logistics outsourcing relationships. It is theorized that contract formality, the thoroughness of contract negotiations, trust and commitment increase the effectiveness of 3PL provider–client relationships. For empirical validation a survey was carried out in the 3PL industry among both 3PL providers and clients. Using PLS path modelling, we observed that for both LSPs and clients, contract formality, trust and commitment are all positively related to relationship effectiveness. The results for negotiation thoroughness are mixed. The model explains 59% (LSPs) and 60% (clients) of the variance in relationship effectiveness. It is concluded that both ‘hard’ contractual aspects and ‘soft’ relationship aspects are important for effective supply chain collaboration. Theoretical and managerial implications are provided.     

甩挂运输经济效益的定量计算

从实现甩挂运输经济效益的概念理解、前提条件、定量计算和辩证思考四个方面对其进行探讨,其中重点是通过将甩挂运输与普通的公路运输组织形式进行比较来定量计算其经济效益,即甩挂运输所创造的相对高于普通公路运输的经济效益。具体将甩挂运输的经济效益分作车辆购置与运营固定成本效益、车辆运用效益、装卸转运与包装成本效益、运输站场成本效益、人力成本效益、其他效益六个方面,参照了集装化运输的经济效益计算方法,通过与普通公路运输经济效益作差算得。通过将甩挂运输的经济效益内容分类并进行定量计算,以达到对其更具体深入的认识,为进一步提高经济效益提供更有针对性的参考。