A comparative and exploratory study of motor oil branding in Nigeria and the UK

A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of PhilosophyThe importance of branding in the consumer market has been emphasised in many studies. In contrast, branding in the industrial markets is under researched. Even so, few researches on motor oil have been conducted. Motor oil is a good example of an important industrial brand due to its use in the production of other goods. Thus, by studying branded motor oil products in two distinct economies, Nigeria and the UK, the thesis aims to understand the nature and extent of branding industrial products, based on comparing and contrasting aspects of motor oil branding in the two contrasting economies. The choice of comparing the two economies is significant bearing in mind that global brands operate globally, hence the need for a more appropriate global strategic orientation. The dearth of studies in this area supports the rational for the use of grounded theory as research strategy. To fill this gap, the study employed a multi methods research approach by employing the use of exploratory qualitative approach. The thesis utilised a longitudinal archival study to gain insight of motor oil branding. Participant observations in the supply chain of the two countries allowed gaining understanding of motor oil branding. Interviews and documents contributed to knowledge to allow triangulation of the findings. The findings suggest that a collection of branding strategies are done by focusing on inter firm relationships, purchase behaviour, effective distribution and various supporting services in the aftermarket. The thesis reveals motor oil functions between the consumer and the business markets with several branding strategies to attract awareness and differentiation. Additionally, the thesis develops a model of the branding strategies of low involvement, branded motor oil products. The model shows various branding strategies through the middlemen to the two markets (i.e. garages (B2B) and retail (B2C)). This research contributes to the literature by identifying the branding behaviour of a hybrid brand from the supply chain perspectives, showing an inter link of branding in both markets. The research further extends understanding of market behaviour of low involvement, business brands. The study further contributes to literature by understanding the effect of foreign brands operating in developing economies like Nigeria. In practice, the findings offer improvement of branding strategy especially with global brands that cross borders to operate in different economies

Digitally enhanced: Adorno for the 21st-Century

Theodor Adorno is an influential figure in cultural studies, philosophy, and musicology. However, a re-examination of Adorno\u27s framework in the context of contemporary media studies is necessary because audio production and distribution technologies have changed dramatically since Adorno\u27s time of writing. In this thesis, I apply Adorno\u27s critical framework to the electronic artist Owl City. In doing so, I enhance Adorno\u27s model of analysis in order to allow for both regressive and progressive interpretations of contemporary music culture. I argue that social media facilitate a more efficacious culture industry, and that digital media facilitate a progressive form of escaping from the culture industry\u27s oppression

An analysis of the use of market intelligence data by senior business leaders – the development of a new model (ICSAR) for the identification and implementation of specifically focused data

Big data, analytics and data science are terms that have come to represent a growing focus on decision making built on the foundation of market intelligence data. The enthusiasm for this form of evidence-based decision making has grown with the ability for businesses to better track their customers, competitors and market. Strategy firms such as McKinsey and company have also added to the discussion by highlighting the potential for data to improve business efficiency. News headlines such as 'Big data: The next frontier for innovation, competition, and productivity' (McKinsey and Company, 2011) and 'Data Scientist: The Sexiest Job of the 21st Century' (Harvard Business Review, 2012) are two examples illustrating the optimism for data use in business activities. The ability to better track customer and markets has resulted from the development of technology and the transition to more digital services. For example, a growing number of businesses offer their services and products based on a subscription model through the internet. Software-as-a-Service is one example of this. With many products now available in the digital space, there has been a corresponding increase in the volume and variety of data sources available to business leaders. For example, software services hosted in the digital space mean enhanced customer behaviour insights because digital forms and ‘clicks’ can be monitored and analysed. Marketing departments now have an enhanced ability to conduct rapid testing of video marketing content through social media that is faster and cheaper than testing two different television commercials. The move to more digital and mobile-based services is a phenomenon that has occurred in all industries and has given business leaders access to more data sources than ever before. In theory, this should support better decision making because the amount of information has grown rapidly. However, academic studies have shown that overwhelming levels of information resulted in poorer decision making ability. Industry analysts have also extensively commented that the large variety of data sources have made it more difficult to know which data sources to use when making decisions. These points raised questions about how business leaders were selecting from the growing variety of data sources and what factors influenced that selection process. From there, the question was raised about how data was being used in decision making. Answering these questions holds significant potential for businesses. Understanding limitations to data use and applying this knowledge in a structured way has the potential to ensure data is used objectively and holistically in decision making. The result is that businesses are better able to take advantage of market intelligence and extract the greatest value from its organizational knowledge. This research studied what data sources were used by business leaders, how the data was used in their day-to-day projects and what factors led to the selection of a data source over another in the decision making process. The research was an exploratory approach using a mixed methodology that included in-depth interviews, a survey and a case study. The research deliberately focused on senior business leaders to ensure the research participants were at the level that was most likely to be in a position to make decisions. The research found that there was a varied approach to data use with multiple factors being involved in how data was used. The first finding was that most business leaders used a variety of data sources. However, data sources were selected based on a hierarchy that was specific to each individual business leader and data sources were not used consistently. The hierarchy was subjective and was based on several factors shown in the second finding. There was not a standardised approach to the use of any single data source meaning a data source like surveys could be used for behavioural tracking by one business leader and for logo feedback by another, for example. This highlighted the need for organisations to educate business leaders on the best data source for answering different business questions and to put structure around how data sources were used. Second, the research showed there were four types of influence involved in selection of data sources. Those four influence types were organisational demographics, personal experience with a data source, time-based needs and project requirements. These four factors led to the subjective selection of data by business leaders. For example, a business leader was more likely to use a familiar data source even if there was a non-familiar data source that would have been more accurate. Additionally, business leaders were found to forgo accuracy in favour of a data source that was available more quickly. This highlighted the need for a framework that minimised the subjectivity involved in choosing a data source and encouraged objective data use. The third finding was that there was mix of data maturity levels and that most organisations did not have an integrated approach to data use. The possible cause of this was that many organisations lacked data leadership to ensure that data use in decision making was structured and holistic across the business. Instead, this study found silos between teams that resulted in duplicated or contradictory use of data and individual data sources used inconsistently. This highlighted the gap between the potential of market intelligence and the lack of organizational structures to support effective data use. It also showed the need for organisations to invest in data use structures and frameworks to complement data collection investments. These findings showed that businesses seeking to capitalise on the growing number of data sources needed to examine whether business leaders were using data effectively. The finding that there was a degree of subjectivity in the selection of a data source suggests businesses needed to invest in a decision making framework that ensured a data source was used objectively and based on its ability to meet the project needs. This led to the final section of this research which was the development of the ICSAR model for data use. The ICSAR model was designed by the research author as a five step framework that provides business leaders with a structured approach to selecting and using data objectively in decision making. The model was created based on the research findings in order to support business leaders to enhance their data use and to avoid the subjective influences. The design also promotes objective data use by tying research insights to organisational learning and is cyclical to ensure insights are continually developed

Next Generation Supply Chains

This open access book explores supply chains strategies to help companies face challenges such as societal emergency, digitalization, climate changes and scarcity of resources. The book identifies industrial scenarios for the next decade based on the analysis of trends at social, economic, environmental technological and political level, and examines how they may impact on supply chain processes and how to design next generation supply chains to answer these challenges. By mapping enabling technologies for supply chain innovation, the book proposes a roadmap for the full implementation of the supply chain strategies based on the integration of production and logistics processes. Case studies from process industry, discrete manufacturing, distribution and logistics, as well as ICT providers are provided, and policy recommendations are put forward to support companies in this transformative process

Enhancing product repairability through sustainable business models. An assessment of the 'consumer repair journey', business management and future legislation

The current linear economic model has created low-priced and on-trend products but at the cost of shaping lifestyles that demand fast and unsustainable consumption. Product repair, the process of maintaining the functionality of items by correcting a defect should, in theory, improve resource security and material efficiency. The transformation of current repair practices requires the comprehensive engagement of consumers and different business stakeholders, including manufacturers, retailers and repair service providers. In particular, the repair journey that consumers go through when deciding whether or not to fix an item involves a set of complex decisions and actions. Moreover, each manufacturer, retailer or brand may have its own strategy towards keeping up with – and gaining competitive advantage from – improvements in technology, changes in fashion, consumer demand and cost-efficiency. This PhD aimed to (i) identify influences upon the 'repair journeys' that consumers go through when deciding whether or not to fix a faulty item and (ii) determine how businesses could support consumers in their repair journeys, particularly through business innovation for product repairability. Consumer focus groups and in-depth business interviews were employed. Four consumer groups provided insights into consumers' repair journeys, which comprise an identification of product faults and repair need, information search and evaluation of alternatives, repair in action and post-repair evaluation. These group discussions revealed the complexity of the consumer repair journey and the significance of current business practices during it. In particular, the factors influencing consumers' intentions, their translations into behaviours and the need for support from businesses at each stage of the repair journey were identified. Interviews were conducted with 21 companies that manufacture or sell products or provide aftersales services, in three product sectors - clothing, furniture, and electrical and electronic equipment. These identified opportunities for and challenges to sustainable business innovations intended to promote repairable products and repair services. Business support needs from government were then explored, followed by proposals for future legislation. The data collected were transcribed by the author and then coded and thematically analysed using NVivo software. The research firstly demonstrates novel use of the Theory of Planned Behaviour, intention-behaviour gap concept and buying decision process to study consumers' repair journeys. This contributes to understanding the importance of product design, the provision of repair information and spare parts, and the quality of aftersales services in intentions to repair and their translation into behaviour at each stage of repair journeys. Secondly, the findings explain the requirements for sustainable business model innovation beyond product repairability as a part of companies' strategic development and business management. They also provide directions for business practitioners to consider interventions that go beyond design strategies and product features, supportive services during the use of products, and consumers' repair journeys. As a result, the findings can help business stakeholders to structure their sustainable activities more effectively and anticipate key challenges through collaboration between business stakeholders and customer-focused innovation. Finally, a contribution is made to understanding potential implications of future policies which aim at influencing or supporting behaviour changes during consumers' repair journeys and business model innovation, with reference to the Right to Repair and the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan

Three Fundamental Trade-offs in Expanding Sustainable Distributions of Manufacturing

The background of the research is the trend towards more inclusive manufacturing. This includes all levels of technologies to enable more diverse geographic and demographic distributions of manufacturing, which can improve ecological and social sustainability. Expanding distributions of manufacturing is of interest to governments, companies, communities and individuals. Interest among government and companies relates to manufacturing being re-shored and redistributed. Interest among communities and individuals is in people having more involvement in the production of what they consume: i.e. prosumption. Expansion of geographic distributions has potential to increase ecological sustainability, for example, by reducing long-distance transportation. Expansion of demographic distributions has potential to increase social sustainability, for example, by increasing the diversity of people involved in manufacturing. The dissertation addresses three research gaps concerned with sustainable distributed manufacturing. In particular, the fundamental challenges of three manufacturing trade-offs are addressed as follows: product originality, product complexity, and product unsustainability versus sustainable distributed manufacturing. There are three main findings from the research. First, technological advances enable expansion of sustainable distributed manufacturing of original products, if the products are small simple original products rather than large complicated original products. Second, technological advances enable sustainable distributed manufacturing of products that are more complex than could otherwise be made far from manufacturing infrastructures, but which nonetheless are not the most complex products. Third, technological advances enable more sustainable distributed production of products with unsustainable features, if technological advances are applied also to some existing distributions of manufacturing. Consideration of these three main findings and three further findings, suggests two complementary strategies for expanding sustainable manufacturing distributions: trade-off reduction and trade-off avoidance. Overall, the research is novel through its inclusion of diverse technologies and distributions of manufacturing in order to determine their relative potential to improve the production of physical goods at more diverse locations by more diverse people

Практикум по грамматике английского языка для студентов специальностей 1-37 01 02 "Автомобилестроение", 1-37 01 01 "Двигатели внутреннего сгорания" и 1-44 01 01 "Организация перевозок и управление на автомобильном и городском транспорте" и магистрантов АТФ

Настоящий практикум по грамматическим особенностям перевода технической литературы автомобильной и логистической тематики представляет собой систематизированный сборник упражнений для отработки таких тем грамматики английского языка, как система времен английского глагола, неличные формы, модальные глаголы и др. Каждый раздел состоит из части A, в которой представлены упражнения для технических специальностей, и части B, которая предназначена для логистических специальностей. Лексический материал подобран из аутентичных источников, что позволяет расширить словарный запас студентов и магистрантов