An evaluation of consumer participation in hospital breast services

Community expectations and research demonstrate that consumers play an important role in shaping services for women with breast cancer. Consumer contribution has been mandated recently in Victoria, Australia, to ensure the inclusion of consumer involvement in the planning and decision‐making processes within health organizations. As part of the redevelopment of breast services in Victoria, Southern Health has been funded to plan local improvements to care co‐ordination for women diagnosed with breast cancer in the southern metropolitan area of Melbourne. The establishment of effective consumer participation in breast services is an integral aspect of this project and a range of initiatives has been undertaken to achieve meaningful consumer involvement including the appointment of a consumer advisor; appointment of staff with extensive knowledge in women's health and community development to the project; establishment of a consumer reference group; and plans made to improve the receptivity of health service systems to consumer input. A preliminary evaluation of this ongoing project has indicated that a productive role for consumers in service practice review and policy and planning activities has been established and some change and engagement of staff has occurred. There is still work to be done to promote the involvement of a wider range of health professionals and to increase the level of trust between consumers and staff.     

CHAID分析在抽油烟机产品市场细分中的应用

市场细分是企业战略营销的重要组成部分。根据一些调查数据显示,把抽油烟机市场细分变量区分为广度细分变量和深度细分变量,如果与传统市场细分方法进行对比,可了解到CHAID细分方法的优越性,方能用该方法对抽油烟机整体市场和潜在市场做以细分。     

基于AHP的航空货运客户价值细分方法研究

在资源有限的条件下,企业必须将资源投放到那些有利可图的客户上,因此有必要进行客户细分,对于处在激烈竞争环境中的航空货运尤其如此。本文借鉴客户价值细分理论,以客户的当前价值和增值价值为细分依据,提出基于层次分析法的航空货运客户价值细分方法。     

Understanding postorganic fresh fruit and vegetable consumers at participatory farmers’ markets in Ireland: reflexivity,trust and social movements

This paper examines how trusting relations between consumers and vendors of organic fresh fruits and vegetables (FFVs) in a particular type of farmers’ market (FM) in Ireland are established and maintained, and what the implications of this are. First, the food system is outlined, and then its attendant problems. These problems have led to various solutions, two of which are organic food and FMs. Then, the growth in these two areas is outlined, as is the accompanying growth in the academic literature on these two areas, some of which overlaps. Various pressures, including in particular the increasing distance food travels and disconnected stallholders and products at the FM, are suggested. In light of this, a need to apply an understanding of the reflexive consumer, trust and social movements is suggested. It is found that the consumers interviewed act reflexively by choosing to go to these FMs. They prioritize the trusting relationships built up through repeated personal contact at these FMs over and above organic certification. Along with and as part of this, they prioritize local, fresh, seasonal ‘chemical‐free’ FFVs over and above imported certified organic produce. Various aspects of collective identity formation, including modes of behaviour, objects and stories, and language, are involved in this process. These elements, to some extent, act as a buffer against the pressures of distance and disconnection. Along with this, the essential meaning of the word organic is, in this particular context, reconstructed to include various socio‐environmental values missing from some certified organic produce. The word postorganic is suggested. The main methodologies used are semistructured in‐depth interviews and participant observation.     

The morality of spending in Finnish youth consumer culture

This article discusses the morality of spending (i.e. the unnecessary spending) as well as the freedom of spending in Finnish consumer narratives written by 16‐ to 19‐ year‐old pupils. First, the study explores different meanings of the unnecessary spending discourse. Second, the study argues that young consumers are using a wastrel metaphor (i.e. a squanderer, a prodigal son/daughter) as a symbol of liberation from the shame of spending. A narrative research approach is applied for the collection and analysis of data and illustrating the results. The qualitative data were collected in five upper secondary schools between November 2001 and May 2002. The morality of spending comprises various significances, although the discourse is often pleasure‐oriented for youth. Some youngsters define the unnecessary spending as a criticism of the consumer society. Furthermore, the discourse strengthens self‐control as well as helps to arrange both positive and negative consumer experiences. Thus, the morality of spending is a part of the process of growing up as a consumer and constructing a consumer identity.     

Verti-zontal differentiation in export markets

Many trade models of monopolistic competition identify cost efficiency as the main determinant of firm performance in export markets. To date, the analysis of demand factors has received much less attention. We propose a new model where consumer preferences are asymmetric across varieties and heterogeneous across countries. The model generates new predictions and allows for an identification of horizontal differentiation (taste) clearly distinguished from vertical differentiation (quality). Data patterns observed in Belgian firm–product level exports by destination are congruent with the predictions and seem to warrant a richer modelling of consumer demand.     

Customer segmentation using unobserved heterogeneity in the perceived-value–loyalty–intentions link

Multiple facets of perceived value perceptions drive loyalty intentions. However, this value–loyalty link is not uniform for all customers. In fact, the present study identifies three different segments that are internally consistent and stable across different service industries, using two data sets: the wireless telecommunication industry (sample size 1122) and the financial services industry (sample size 982). Comparing the results of a single-class solution with finite mixture results confirms the existence of unobserved customer segments. The three established segments are “rationalists”, “functionalists” and “value maximizers”. These results point the way for value-based segmentation in loyalty initiatives and reflect the importance of a multidimensional conceptualization of perceived value, comprising cognitive and affective components. The present results substantiate the fact that assuming a homogeneous value–loyalty link provides a misleading view of the market. The paper derives implications for marketing research and practice in terms of segmentation, positioning, loyalty programs and strategic alliances.     

Like a member of the family: including and excluding paid caregivers in performances of family

Abstract

We explore the construction of family in contemporary families that employ professional providers of childcare and elder care. We find that families and caregivers at times construct family together, including the caregiver as a family member, while at other times, consumers construct family in ways that exclude the caregiver. Through our exploration of these various ways of constructing family, we offer three theoretical contributions. First, we challenge traditional distinctions between consumers and producers and highlight the fluid, contextualised nature of family by demonstrating that some contemporary constructions of family include paid service providers. Second, we elucidate the ways in which the provision and consumption of a service, everyday care, produces a liminal position for some service providers. Finally, we develop a broader understanding of the ways in which performances of family protect cultural values.     

中国企业家的终极关怀:探索性分析与群体细分

企业家终极关怀是管理哲学命题,它促使企业家不断地追求"终极目标",从而达到全面自由发展的境界。通过对587位中国企业家调查问卷分析,中国企业家的终极关怀包含三个构成维度:利他贡献、成就超我;财富声望、彰显本我;竞争整合、挑战自我。根据企业家终极关怀因子的得分再进行聚类分析,企业家群体分为四类:竞争整合导向型、利他贡献导向型、财富声望导向型、终极关怀淡漠型。将这四类企业家群体与企业类型和企业家类型的变量进行广义对应分析,得到更为确切的企业家细分群体及类型特征:有信仰的企业家更注重利他贡献;国有企业的企业家更容易淡漠终极关怀;中等规模、处于成长期企业的企业家更注重财富声望;高学历企业家更注重竞争整合。     

Consumer Preference for Traditional Products in West Balkans Countries

The objective of this article is to better understand consumers' attitudes, expectations, and behavior toward traditional food among consumers in selected Western Balkans Countries (WBC). The article also presents a picture of the profile of WBC traditional food consumers (TFC) in terms of their sociodemographics, attitudes, lifestyle orientations, and behavioral characteristics. The method used for the data collection was a face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire. In total, 800 respondents participated in the survey. WBC consumers expressed a positive attitude toward traditional food. If the researchers try to explain consumers' behavior toward traditional food, they can say that there are different types of consumers giving more or less importance to components considered traditional. The information about the profile, the image, and the actual characteristics of TFC has practical implications for marketing and communicating about traditional food, including their identification, differentiation, research and development, and positioning in the WBC food market.