Matching organizational frame of reference and business strategy with contemporary marketing practices: Evidence from Arab world

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate diversity of marketing practices of firms operating in the same environment, by identifying how management perception and business strategy (BS) fits with the choice of the marketing practice. Design/methodology/approach: A model was developed and tested using survey methodology based on three well-validated research instruments. Data were analyzed using the partial least square approach. Findings: The results showed that different marketing practice were coupled with different frame of reference, as well as different BS. These forces were found to be inter related, and internally coherent, resulting in viable configurational profiles. Research limitations/implications: The research is unique and exploratory, and was conducted in three Arabic countries with a small sample size. For these reasons, generalizability is somewhat constrained. Practical implications: The findings would help managers to carefully examine the internal logic of their marketing-related profiling; it can be used as an assessment tool, where performance should be enhanced if the variables are coherent. Originality/value: To author's knowledge this is the first study that inspect three variables that had been associated with decision making, but not integrated together in a holistic framework to explain marketing diversity. Additionally it identified four viable types of marketing practices with its corresponding frame of reference and BS. Therefore, the paper reports a work in an area not previously researched.Scopu

The Impact of COVID-19 on Physical (In)Activity Behavior in 10 Arab Countries.

Insufficient physical activity is considered a strong risk factor associated with non-communicable diseases. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on physical (in)activity behavior in 10 Arab countries before and during the lockdown. A cross-sectional study using a validated online survey was launched originally in 38 different countries. The Eastern Mediterranean regional data related to the 10 Arabic countries that participated in the survey were selected for analysis in this study. A total of 12,433 participants were included in this analysis. The mean age of the participants was 30.3 (SD, 11.7) years. Descriptive and regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between physical activity levels and the participants\u27 sociodemographic characteristics, watching TV, screen time, and computer usage. Physical activity levels decreased significantly during the lockdown. Participants\u27 country of origin, gender, and education were associated with physical activity before and during the lockdown (p \u3c 0.050). Older age, watching TV, and using computers had a negative effect on physical activity before and during the lockdown (p \u3c 0.050). Strategies to improve physical activity and minimize sedentary behavior should be implemented, as well as to reduce unhealthy levels of inactive time, especially during times of crisis. Further research on the influence of a lack of physical activity on overall health status, as well as on the COVID-19 disease effect is recommended

The Impact of COVID-19 on Physical (In)Activity Behavior in 10 Arab Countries

Insufficient physical activity is considered a strong risk factor associated with non-communicable diseases. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on physical (in)activity behavior in 10 Arab countries before and during the lockdown. A cross-sectional study using a validated online survey was launched originally in 38 different countries. The Eastern Mediterranean regional data related to the 10 Arabic countries that participated in the survey were selected for analysis in this study. A total of 12,433 participants were included in this analysis. The mean age of the participants was 30.3 (SD, 11.7) years. Descriptive and regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between physical activity levels and the participants' sociodemographic characteristics, watching TV, screen time, and computer usage. Physical activity levels decreased significantly during the lockdown. Participants' country of origin, gender, and education were associated with physical activity before and during the lockdown (p < 0.050). Older age, watching TV, and using computers had a negative effect on physical activity before and during the lockdown (p < 0.050). Strategies to improve physical activity and minimize sedentary behavior should be implemented, as well as to reduce unhealthy levels of inactive time, especially during times of crisis. Further research on the influence of a lack of physical activity on overall health status, as well as on the COVID-19 disease effect is recommended. 2022 by the authors.Scopu

Call for emergency action to restore dietary diversity and protect global food systems in times of COVID-19 and beyond: Results from a cross-sectional study in 38 countries

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the fragility of the global food system, sending shockwaves across countries\u27 societies and economy. This has presented formidable challenges to sustaining a healthy and resilient lifestyle. The objective of this study is to examine the food consumption patterns and assess diet diversity indicators, primarily focusing on the food consumption score (FCS), among households in 38 countries both before and during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 37 207 participants (mean age: 36.70 ± 14.79, with 77 % women) was conducted in 38 countries through an online survey administered between April and June 2020. The study utilized a pre-tested food frequency questionnaire to explore food consumption patterns both before and during the COVID-19 periods. Additionally, the study computed Food Consumption Score (FCS) as a proxy indicator for assessing the dietary diversity of households. Findings: This quantification of global, regional and national dietary diversity across 38 countries showed an increment in the consumption of all food groups but a drop in the intake of vegetables and in the dietary diversity. The household\u27s food consumption scores indicating dietary diversity varied across regions. It decreased in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries, including Lebanon (p \u3c 0.001) and increased in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries including Bahrain (p = 0.003), Egypt (p \u3c 0.001) and United Arab Emirates (p = 0.013). A decline in the household\u27s dietary diversity was observed in Australia (p \u3c 0.001), in South Africa including Uganda (p \u3c 0.001), in Europe including Belgium (p \u3c 0.001), Denmark (p = 0.002), Finland (p \u3c 0.001) and Netherland (p = 0.027) and in South America including Ecuador (p \u3c 0.001), Brazil (p \u3c 0.001), Mexico (p \u3c 0.0001) and Peru (p \u3c 0.001). Middle and older ages [OR = 1.2; 95 % CI = [1.125–1.426] [OR = 2.5; 95 % CI = [1.951–3.064], being a woman [OR = 1.2; 95 % CI = [1.117–1.367], having a high education (p \u3c 0.001), and showing amelioration in food-related behaviors [OR = 1.4; 95 % CI = [1.292–1.709] were all linked to having a higher dietary diversity. Conclusion: The minor to moderate changes in food consumption patterns observed across the 38 countries within relatively short time frames could become lasting, leading to a significant and prolonged reduction in dietary diversity, as demonstrated by our findings

Matching organizational frame of reference and business strategy with contemporary marketing practices

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate diversity of marketing practices of firms operating in the same environment, by identifying how management perception and business strategy (BS) fits with the choice of the marketing practice. Design/methodology/approach: A model was developed and tested using survey methodology based on three well-validated research instruments. Data were analyzed using the partial least square approach. Findings: The results showed that different marketing practice were coupled with different frame of reference, as well as different BS. These forces were found to be inter related, and internally coherent, resulting in viable configurational profiles. Research limitations/implications: The research is unique and exploratory, and was conducted in three Arabic countries with a small sample size. For these reasons, generalizability is somewhat constrained. Practical implications: The findings would help managers to carefully examine the internal logic of their marketing-related profiling; it can be used as an assessment tool, where performance should be enhanced if the variables are coherent. Originality/value: To author's knowledge this is the first study that inspect three variables that had been associated with decision making, but not integrated together in a holistic framework to explain marketing diversity. Additionally it identified four viable types of marketing practices with its corresponding frame of reference and BS. Therefore, the paper reports a work in an area not previously researched.Scopu

Strategic orientations and capabilities' effect on SMEs' performance

Purpose: This study aims to: first, examine the effect of interaction orientation (IO) and brand orientation (BO) on marketing capabilities and small and medium enterprises' (SMEs') performance, and second, assess the complementarity effect of IO and BO on marketing capabilities and SMEs' performance. Design/methodology/approach: A model was developed and tested using a survey methodology. Data were collected from 538 SMEs located in Qatar and analysed by structural equation modelling with AMOS. Findings: First, IO affects SMEs' performance only indirectly via marketing capabilities, whereas BO affects SMEs' performance both directly and indirectly. Second, contrary to expectations, the complementarity between IO and BO produced a destructive/suppressive effect, rather than a synergistic effect, on both marketing capabilities and SMEs' performance, reflecting the importance of a trade-off to enhance both marketing capabilities and SMEs' performance. Originality/value: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first paper to examine the complementary effect of BO and IO on marketing capabilities and performance

Other sources of FDIs in Sub-Saharan Africa: The case of Gulf Cooperation Council states

Academic research on Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) from emerging economies (EE) in Africa, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), has focused primarily on Chinese investments at the exclusion of investment activities from other emerging economies such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. This leaves unanswered questions of whether investment activities in SSA from other emerging economies such as the GCC states have the same or similar drivers as China's. To answer this question and close the research gap, this paper uses the traditional institutional theory as well as the institutional open access theory, the institutional fragility theory, and the OLI (Ownership, Location, and Internationalization) model to examine GCC states' investments in Sub-Saharan Africa, and compares them with Chinese FDIs in the region. The results of the analyses reveal interesting similarities and differences in the approaches taken by the GCC states and China.Scopu

Utilizing Neuroscience Perspective to Track Muslim Consumers’ Behavior Toward Halal Products

The global market of ethical products is growing substantially, especially the market of Halal products. Therefore, there is a need to understand how Muslim consumers perceive food products. This exploratory study is an attempt to study the brain responses of Muslim consumers to Halal and non-Halal food images using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique. During fMRI experiment, the brain images were collected for ten participants while watching the Halal and non-Halal food images. Across all participants, the level of brain activation in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) increased significantly when Halal images were presented to them. The variations in the results may be due to the high emotional sensitivity of Muslim consumers to using religious products

Exploring critical internal enablers to SMEs export performance: evidence from Qatar

Abstract This study seeks to provide a contextualized and nuanced understanding of what constitutes internal enablers among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in support of their export activities in international markets. We unpacked a unique set of critical enablers that can be cultivated as the internal impetus for enhancing the export performance of SMEs in a less-researched emerging market, Qatar. The study employs a qualitative approach for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data, which were collected through in-depth interviews with 20 SMEs managers from 11 manufacturing sub-sectors. A thematic analysis of our data reveals five key internal enablers needed for better export performance. These comprise employees with networking skills, effective supply chain management, product diversification, digitalization, and market intelligence capabilities. This research offers empirical insights into what enables non-hydrocarbon manufacturing SMEs to enhance their export performance