Employers’ Perception Of Competences Acquired Through Academic Marketing Training In Knowledge Based Economy

One of the current concerns of the academic environment in economics is highlighting the importance of competences that higher education graduates should display when they step across the threshold of the real economy. To this effect, the identification of those competences which are compatible with the needs of the real economy may serve as a solid basis for developing adequate curricula and obtaining remarkable educational outcomes reflected in the graduates’ performance as entry level employees. It is undeniably true that the said competences must meet the standards set by the real economy or by the regulations of accreditation bodies. The process by which these standards are defined or identified requires a strong sense of coherence between the academic curriculum and the needs of employers, as basis for the graduates’ comprehensive training in knowledge based economy. In this context, we set to conduct an exploratory research by means of which we may emphasize how the corporate world perceive the marketing training received by the entry-level employees as graduates of professional higher education institutions, and how to adjust the curriculum to improve graduates employability. The survey was conducted by using the face-to-face questionnaire administration. Data were collected in the Transylvania counties during October 2010, as part of a field survey. The employer’s perception, as highlighted by the answers received from the surveyed corporate entities, gives us reasons to state that practical experience cannot be substituted for the academic training in knowledge based economy; it can, however, strengthen its fundamental role in establishing the guidelines of moral and professional conduct such as learning and the theoretical approach to some practical situations of the real economy. Moreover, we appreciate that a continuous correlation between the practical needs and the academic training is imperative.competences, academic curricula, marketing training, perception, graduates

THE IMPACT OF ENDORSERS’ CHARACTERISTICS ON CONSUMERS’ REACTION TO THE ADS

Everyday, consumers are bombarded by messages inducing them to change their attitudes. These persuasion attempts can range from logical arguments to expressive images, from regular consumers’ advice to celebrities’ recommendation. The literature and the research on advertising indicates the benefits of using the right type of endorser as consumers respond in a different manner to the same advertisement conveyed by various endorsers. Thus the objective of this empirical research paper regards the evaluation of the impact of endorsers’ characteristics (credibility, attractiveness) on consumers’ reaction toward advertisements. Furthermore we examine the consumer’s perception of the credibility and expertise of, the resemblance to, admiration for, and attractiveness of the source used in advertisements. Our research shows that there are no universal recipes in the selection of the endorser of the advertisement. Rather, each endorser may become the optimal solution depending on the circumstances under which it will be used

Employers' Perception Of Competences Acquired Through Academic Marketing Training In Knowledge Based Economy

One of the current concerns of the academic environment in economics is highlighting the importance of competences that higher education graduates should display when they step across the threshold of the real economy. To this effect, the identification of those competences which are compatible with the needs of the real economy may serve as a solid basis for developing adequate curricula and obtaining remarkable educational outcomes reflected in the graduates’ performance as entry level employees. It is undeniably true that the said competences must meet the standards set by the real economy or by the regulations of accreditation bodies. The process by which these standards are defined or identified requires a strong sense of coherence between the academic curriculum and the needs of employers, as basis for the graduates’ comprehensive training in knowledge based economy. In this context, we set to conduct an exploratory research by means of which we may emphasize how the corporate world perceive the marketing training received by the entry-level employees as graduates of professional higher education institutions, and how to adjust the curriculum to improve graduates employability. The survey was conducted by using the face-to-face questionnaire administration. Data were collected in the Transylvania counties during October 2010, as part of a field survey. The employer’s perception, as highlighted by the answers received from the surveyed corporate entities, gives us reasons to state that practical experience cannot be substituted for the academic training in knowledge based economy; it can, however, strengthen its fundamental role in establishing the guidelines of moral and professional conduct such as learning and the theoretical approach to some practical situations of the real economy. Moreover, we appreciate that a continuous correlation between the practical needs and the academic training is imperative

ALTERNATIVE MEASURES OF BANK SERVICE QUALITY: AN EXTENDED REVIEW

The main purpose of this paper is to review the literature on bank service quality (hereafter SQ) measurement instruments and present a critical appraisal of the methodological process undertaken by researchers in their endeavour to develop new SQ scales for the banking context. This paper identifies and examines 36 SQ scales designed to measure either traditional or electronic banking (hereafter e-banking) SQ. The scales are thoroughly analysed with the objective to underline similarities and differences between them related both to conceptual issues and methodological approach. The review confirms that The North American School of Thought perspective on SQ provides a framework for new scale development in the banking industry, regardless of the nature of services (i.e. branch or e-banking services). The study further identifies bank SQ dimensions which are stable across different cultural settings but also outlines the methodological issues that might have posed dimensionality problems. This study deepens the research conducted by Ladhari (2008) in that it reviews SQ measures designed particularly for the banking context. Furthermore, the comprehensive review of traditional and e-banking SQ scales offer helpful guidance in the measurement of bank SQ both for academics and for practitioners

The Role of Car Aesthetics on Consumers’ Decisions: An Example from Romania

Visual impact is essential when consumers are assessing car preferences. The purpose of this paper is to present a holistic model focusing on car aesthetic dimensions and its impact on consumers’ purchase decisions. Our findings are based on a questionnaire completed by 388 participants and analyzed with SPSS and AMOS. The results show not only that the aesthetic dimensions such as color, shape and sound influence the processing stimuli, but also the significant and positive relationships established between the stimuli and the purchase decision. Also, this study can guide marketers when developing an effective marketing strategy. As our research focuses on the Romanian market, testing our framework in different cultures is strongly encouraged.JEL Codes - M31; M2

Book Review: The Changing Business Landscape of Romania

The transition of Romania’s economy from a centralized economic system to another one (such as the market economy) did not take place instantly, when the political orientation changed since 1990. In addition to political will, this process also requires time to enable the creation of specific laws and establishments, the adaptation of people to the new system and the creation of a business environment appropriate to a market-regulated economy. Against this new backdrop, competition has heated up, the proper operation of organizations depends directly on their managers’ skill, and the rules of the game have changed radically by contrast with those of the centralized system wherein Romania’s economy operated before 1990. Consequently, it was necessary to implement a complete restructuring of the way in which businesses were being conducted. This required new competences, attitudes and know-how. The academic community also needed time and sustained effort to accustom itself to the western management system peculiar to the market economy

THE POPULATION IN THE APUSENI MOUNTAINS AREA: PAST, PRESENT AND PERSPECTIVES (1900–2030)

Among the phenomena that drew attention to the Apuseni Mountains area, the population dynamics recorded over time has a prominent place. The present article carries out research regarding the evolution of this phenomenon over the last 110 years. The information the article relies upon was gathered from the censuses that were started in 1900 and continued in the years 1910, 1930, 1941, 1956, 1966, 1977, 1992 and 2011. The problem that requires attention nowadays concerning the population of the Apuseni Mountains is the constant and gradual population decline, which registered different intensities in all villages of the area included in the perimeter. The period we analyze witnessed different types of intervals: some of them were characterized by significant increases in population, others by relative stagnations and the last ones (since the 1966 census) by a dramatic reduction in the number of inhabitants. The demographic decline which has taken place in the Apuseni Mountains area over the last 60 year has, among other consequences, that of modifying the age structure of the population in an unfavorable direction with regards to the population stability in the area on the medium and long term. The changes in the population structure have led, and will continue to do so, to acceleration in the demographic decline over time. As it stands, the prognosis for the year 2030 underlines an increasingly worrisome situatio