Leveraging firm-level marketing capabilities with marketing employee development ☆

Resource-based view of the firm Complementarities Employee development Customer satisfaction Performance Using the theoretical foundations of the resource-based view of the firm, this study develops and measures marketing employee development capabilities and investigates how it moderates the relationships between brand and customer relationship management capabilities and firm performance outcomes. Based on a random sample survey of chief marketing executives from selected industries, combined with objective firm performance indicators and controls, results demonstrate that marketing employee development capabilities can leverage the relationships between firm-level marketing capabilities and customer satisfaction, market effectiveness, and objective financial performance. Further, these results show that such capabilities can be complementary and, in some cases, even substitute for each other, which improves organizational performance. Implications for researchers and marketing managers are discussed

Zircon ages in granulite facies rocks: decoupling from geochemistry above 850 °C?

Granulite facies rocks frequently show a large spread in their zircon ages, the interpretation of which raises questions: Has the isotopic system been disturbed? By what process(es) and conditions did the alteration occur? Can the dates be regarded as real ages, reflecting several growth episodes? Furthermore, under some circumstances of (ultra-)high-temperature metamorphism, decoupling of zircon U–Pb dates from their trace element geochemistry has been reported. Understanding these processes is crucial to help interpret such dates in the context of the P–T history. Our study presents evidence for decoupling in zircon from the highest grade metapelites (> 850 °C) taken along a continuous high-temperature metamorphic field gradient in the Ivrea Zone (NW Italy). These rocks represent a well-characterised segment of Permian lower continental crust with a protracted high-temperature history. Cathodoluminescence images reveal that zircons in the mid-amphibolite facies preserve mainly detrital cores with narrow overgrowths. In the upper amphibolite and granulite facies, preserved detrital cores decrease and metamorphic zircon increases in quantity. Across all samples we document a sequence of four rim generations based on textures. U–Pb dates, Th/U ratios and Ti-in-zircon concentrations show an essentially continuous evolution with increasing metamorphic grade, except in the samples from the granulite facies, which display significant scatter in age and chemistry. We associate the observed decoupling of zircon systematics in high-grade non-metamict zircon with disturbance processes related to differences in behaviour of non-formula elements (i.e. Pb, Th, U, Ti) at high-temperature conditions, notably differences in compatibility within the crystal structure

Positive Interactions between Desert Granivores: Localized Facilitation of Harvester Ants by Kangaroo Rats

Facilitation, when one species enhances the environment or performance of another species, can be highly localized in space. While facilitation in plant communities has been intensely studied, the role of facilitation in shaping animal communities is less well understood. In the Chihuahuan Desert, both kangaroo rats and harvester ants depend on the abundant seeds of annual plants. Kangaroo rats, however, are hypothesized to facilitate harvester ants through soil disturbance and selective seed predation rather than competing with them. I used a spatially explicit approach to examine whether a positive or negative interaction exists between banner-tailed kangaroo rat (Dipodomys spectabilis) mounds and rough harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex rugosus) colonies. The presence of a scale-dependent interaction between mounds and colonies was tested by comparing fitted spatial point process models with and without interspecific effects. Also, the effect of proximity to a mound on colony mortality and spatial patterns of surviving colonies was examined. The spatial pattern of kangaroo rat mounds and harvester ant colonies was consistent with a positive interspecific interaction at small scales (<10 m). Mortality risk of vulnerable, recently founded harvester ant colonies was lower when located close to a kangaroo rat mound and proximity to a mound partly predicted the spatial pattern of surviving colonies. My findings support localized facilitation of harvester ants by kangaroo rats, likely mediated through ecosystem engineering and foraging effects on plant cover and composition. The scale-dependent effect of kangaroo rats on abiotic and biotic factors appears to result in greater founding and survivorship of young colonies near mounds. These results suggest that soil disturbance and foraging by rodents can have subtle impacts on the distribution and demography of other species

Customer Experience Management

Dieser Beitrag leistet einen Beitrag zur Marketingforschung, da er den jungen aber von zunehmender Relevanz geprägten Forschungsstrang zum Themenkomplex CEM grundlegend entwickelt. Zum einen zeigt das identifizierte Rahmenkonzept auf, dass CEM über einzelne unternehmerische Fähigkeiten wie dem Design von Serviceerlebnissen, das die bisherige CEM-Forschung bestimmt hat, hinausgeht. Zum anderen leistet das Konzept einen Beitrag zur Synthese fragmentierter, aber miteinander zusammenhängender Literaturströmungen in der Marketingforschung ..

CREATIVE MARKETING STRATEGY AND EFFECTIVE EXECUTION ON PERFORMANCE IN PAKISTAN

The purpose of the current research is to determine the influence of creative marketing strategies and effective execution on business unit performance. Moreover, strategic orientation and environmental uncertainty are used as moderating variables. Data are collected from 368 key informants working in Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), banking, pharmaceutical, chemical, insurance, and engineering industries using a multi-stage random sampling technique. Factor analysis and multiple hierarchal regressions are used to test the study hypotheses. The results indicate that creative marketing strategy and effective execution are positively associated with business performance. Moreover, environmental uncertainty and strategic orientation play a moderating role in the above relationships

Growth and microbiology of nonmedicated, segregated, early-weaned pigs

Seventy pigs, 7 to 10 d of age, were randomly selected by litter of origin from a commercial farm in Northeast Kansas to compare the growth and microbiology of nonmedicated, segregated, early-weaned pigs to controls raised at the farm of origin. After weaning, both groups were fed a similar nutritional programs consisting of dry diets. No antimicrobial drugs were administered to the pigs except for a feed grade antimicrobial (carbadox) from weaning to 50 lb. Pigs were monitored for 12 weeks. Individual pigs weights, nasal swabs, and serum samples were collected on d 0 and then every 14 d thereafter for a total of 7 collections. Four pigs were necropsied at the initiation of the study (d 0). In addition, four pigs were randomly selected at each collection period from each group for necropsy and collection of tissues for bacterial culture. The segregated earlyweaned pigs were able to reach an accelerated phase of growth before the controls. On d 14, 28, 42, 56, and 70 of the experiment, segregated early-weaned pigs were 21, 82, 90, 54, and 52% heavier than control pigs, respectively. A low percentage of pigs were infected with Pasteurella multocida at 7 to 10 d of age, which corresponds to d 0 of the experiment. The principal time of transmission of P. multocida infection was in the immediate postweaning period. The rate of isolation of P. multocida then declined from d 14 to d 84 of the experiment in both groups of nonmedicated pigs. This response must be kept in mind when evaluating the efficacy of antibiotic protocols. Appropriate nonmedicated controls must also be evaluated. The maximum difference in rate of isolation of P. multocida from nasal swabs and tissues between the early and control groups occurred on d 28 and d 42 of the experiment. This corresponds to the two collection days when segregated early-weaned pigs were 82% and 90% heavier than control pigs raised on-site. The only Pasteurella multocida isolates capable of producing toxin were detected on d 14 in the control group. Pasteurella multocida toxin has also been shown to have deleterious effects on systemic organs and immune response. The rates of Bordetella bronchiseptica isolation were similar between control and segregated early-weaned groups. However, B. bronchiseptica isolates were recovered from any tissues of any pigs necropsied. Antibiotic regimens targeted at this organism would appear unwarranted in a commercial production setting. Haemophilus parasuis and Streptococcus suis were present in both groups of pigs at 7 to 10 d of age. However, as indicated by the excellent growth performance achieved in the presence of H. parasuis colonization of the nasal cavity, elimination of this organism probably is not necessary to achieve excellent growth levels. More studies need to be undertaken to understand the mode of transmission and epidemiology of Streptococcus suis infection. Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae apparently was eliminated without medication by moving pigs to an isolated site. Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae could be detected only in the control group. Data from this experiment also suggest that weaning pigs at 14 to 17 d could prevent vertical transmission of Actinobacillus pleuropneumonia. The growth and microbiology of nonmedicated, segregated, early-weaned pigs must be considered when developing cost-effective and efficacious medication protocols for application of segregated early weaning in the commercial swine industry

Improving Marketing Capabilities and Firm Financial Performance via Marketing Exploration and Exploitation

Evidence within the marketing literature has shown that marketing capabilities are important drivers of firm performance. However, very little is known about how firms improve their marketing capabilities via the embedding of new market knowledge. Organizational learning theory provides us with a theoretical lens through which we can examine how existing customer-focused marketing capabilities may be improved and new customer-focused marketing capabilities may be created via marketing exploitation and exploration capabilities. In addition, this study investigates whether ambidexterity in marketing exploration and exploitation exists and finds that firms cannot do both at high levels without risking a negative impact on customer-focused marketing capabilities. This study also presents findings demonstrating how improving the two customer-focused marketing capabilities in our study, brand management and customer relationship management, impacts objective financial performance

Leveraging firm-level marketing capabilities with marketing employee development

Using the theoretical foundations of the resource-based view of the firm, this study develops and measures marketing employee development capabilities and investigates how it moderates the relationships between brand and customer relationship management capabilities and firm performance outcomes. Based on a random sample survey of chief marketing executives from selected industries, combined with objective firm performance indicators and controls, results demonstrate that marketing employee development capabilities can leverage the relationships between firm-level marketing capabilities and customer satisfaction, market effectiveness, and objective financial performance. Further, these results show that such capabilities can be complementary and, in some cases, even substitute for each other, which improves organizational performance. Implications for researchers and marketing managers are discussed.Marketing capabilities Resource-based view of the firm Complementarities Employee development Customer satisfaction Performance