Creating Value for Competitive Advantage in Supply Chain Relationships: The Case of the Sri Lankan Tea Industry

The declining competitiveness of the Sri Lankan tea industry is an example of shifting competitive advantage in agribusiness. This research uses a case study approach to identify the specific role of information and communication on exporter/importer relationships within the tea supply chain, and the impact on value addition, channel member performance and competitive advantage in the Sri Lankan tea industry. The main primary data collection was conducted through thirty face-to-face executive interviews in Sri Lanka using an extensive semi-structured interview guide. Analyses of the information from the interviews were qualitative in nature. Results demonstrated how good information and communication between exporters and importers promote joint decision making, commitment and loyalty. In turn these affect relationship quality in respect of concepts such as trust, commitment, satisfaction and opportunism. Relationship quality was also shown to have impacts on value creation. Results indicated that this approach leads to inimitable strategic advantages for supply chain players whereby it is difficult for competitors to duplicate such relationships.Agribusiness, Industrial Organization,

AN EXPLORATION OF THE ROLE OF CULTURE IN SOCIAL MEDIA ADVERTISING AND CONSUMER PURCHASE DECISION IN THE SAUDI ARABIA FASHION MARKET: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Social media advertising is a significant feature of digital marketing; it is an important marketing tool in the fashion industry since it can influence promoting mentalities, brand perspectives, and buying expectations. In Saudi Arabia, social media advertising has a significant influence upon consumers‟ purchase decisions. However, Saudi social life is based on Islamic foundations which shape the national culture; this creates an obstacle for many Saudi consumers when it comes to fashion advertisements on social media. Hence, this study aims to investigate the cultural factors influencing Saudi consumers‟ purchase decisions in the context of fashion YouTube adverts. This study adopts a qualitative approach based on semistructured interviews with Saudi consumers. The results reveal that Saudi consumers‟ purchase decision towards fashion advertisements on YouTube is highly influenced by the following: 1) Islamic foundations, 2) Celebrities, 3) Language, 4) Online word of mouth, and 5) Consistency and repetition

Revisiting the conceptualization of ethical consumption: an exploration of buyer and vendor views

Consumer purchase decision making is often influenced by their ethical concerns around fair trade principles, organically grown materials or depletion of natural resources. However, the motives of vendors to trade ethical products may not necessarily match buyers' motives. This paper focuses on the identification of the fit between consumer ethical stances and vendors’ initiatives and business approaches to supply ethical products. The paper conceptualizes how the deontological (obligations or rules) and teleological (guided by the consequences of actions) principles of buyers, motivate their ethical consumption decisions and behaviours. The paper attempts to bridge the gap in the understanding of the alignment of values that motivates buyers and sellers to trade ethical products, in a conceptual framework which draws arguments from the Theory of Planed Behaviour, the General Theory of Marketing Ethics, and the Attitude–Behaviour Gap. It generates propositions that explain ethical trading between vendors and buyers and consumption behaviour of consumers, as well as recommendations for future studies, which would empirically support the conceptual framework. The paper suggests ways in which companies and consumers could interact to develop market relationships, which create ethical shopping opportunities, based on consumers perceived links between their ethical values and the suppliers' ethical drives

Estimating the Global Burden of Snakebite Can Help To Improve Management

Jean-Philippe Chippaux discusses the implications and limitations of a new study on the global burden of snakebite

Snake antivenom for snake venom induced consumption coagulopathy

Background Snake venom induced consumption coagulopathy is a major systemic effect of envenoming. Observational studies suggest that antivenom improves outcomes for venom induced consumption coagulopathy in some snakebites and not others. However, the effectiveness of snake antivenom in all cases of venom induced consumption coagulopathy is controversial. Objectives To assess the effect of snake antivenom as a treatment for venom induced consumption coagulopathy in people with snake bite. Search methods The search was done on 30 January 2015. We searched the Cochrane Injuries Group's Specialised Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library), Ovid MEDLINE(R), Ovid MEDLINE(R) In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations, Ovid MEDLINE(R) Daily and Ovid OLDMEDLINE(R), Embase Classic+Embase (OvidSP), three other sources, clinical trials registers, and we also screened reference lists. Selection criteria All completed, published or unpublished, randomised, controlled trials with a placebo or no treatment arm, where snake antivenom was administered for venom induced consumption coagulopathy in humans with snake bites. Data collection and analysis Two authors reviewed the identified trials and independently applied the selection criteria. Main results No studies met the inclusion criteria for this review

Chronic health effects and cost of snakebite

The burden of disability among survivors and the socio-economic impact of snakebite have not been adequately researched. We reviewed original research articles, case reports and small case series relating to chronic physical, mental and psycho-social disability and economic burden of snakebite. Both physical and psychological health problems seem common in snakebite survivors and can lead to disability and loss of productivity. Chronic physical health effects, musculoskeletal disability being the commonest, can be largely attributed to limited and delayed access to optimal treatment of acute envenoming. The economic burden is considerable, and includes health system costs, out-of-pocket expenditure and opportunity costs, with regional variations. Health systems should be more responsive to needs and circumstances of bite victims, and a more holistic approach should be developed in the treatment of snakebite which incorporates the management of chronic health effects

Revisiting the innovation–export entry link through a configuration approach

Findings on the innovation–export entry nexus remain inconclusive, which may be attributable to methodological issues. Most research has focused on the separate effects of single predictors and has investigated only one or two types of innovation. However, firms’ exporting behavior is complex, and is likely to be determined by interactions between innovation types. Drawing on resource orchestration theory, we adopt a configuration approach to uncover combinations of innovation types (considered here as resources) associated with exporting, rather than investigating them in isolation. The study incorporates four types of innovation: product, process, organizational and marketing innovation. The findings from a sample of Spanish companies show that combinations involving product and process innovation, or product and marketing innovation make a more compelling case for export entry. The results have theoretical and managerial implications that progress thinking in this area and reconcile current literature on the innovation–export nexus

Regional variation in chronic kidney disease and associated factors in hypertensive individuals in rural South Asia: Findings from control of blood pressure and risk attenuation-Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka

Background: We aimed to determine the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its cross-country variation among hypertensive individuals in rural Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. We also explored the factors associated with CKD in these populations.Method: We studied baseline data from the Control of Blood Pressure and Risk Attenuation-Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka (COBRA-BPS) trial, an ongoing cluster randomized controlled trial on 2643 hypertensive adults ≥40 years of age from 30 randomly selected rural clusters, 10 in each of the three countries. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) /min/1.73 m2 or a urine albumin:creatinine ratio (UACR) ≥30 mg/g. Determinants for CKD were assessed using logistic regression analysis.Results: The overall prevalence of CKD was 38.1% (95% confidence interval 36.2-40.1%): 21.5% with eGFR \u3c60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and 24.4% with UACR ≥30 mg/g. CKD prevalence varied across the three countries (58.3% in Sri Lanka, 36.4% Bangladesh and 16.9% Pakistan; P \u3c0.001). The factors independently associated with higher odds of CKD were older age, being unmarried, higher 24-h urinary sodium excretion, presence of diabetes, elevated systolic blood pressure, diuretic use and living in Bangladesh or Sri Lanka (versus Pakistan).Conclusions: The prevalence of CKD is alarmingly high in community-dwelling hypertensive adults, with significant cross-country variation in South Asia. Our findings underscore the urgency for further research into the etiology of CKD and address associated factors in targeted public health strategies with hypertension care outreach services in rural South Asia

Effect of a multicomponent intervention on antihypertensive medication intensification in rural South Asia: post-hoc analysis of a cluster RCT

BACKGROUND: Inadequate treatment of hypertension is a widespread problem, especially in South Asian countries where cardiovascular disease mortality rates are high. We aimed to explore the effect of a multicomponent intervention (MCI) on antihypertensive medication intensification among rural South Asians with hypertension. METHODS: A post-hoc analysis of a two-year cluster-randomized controlled trial including 2645 hypertensives aged≥ 40 years from 30 rural communities, 10 each, in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Independent assessors collected information on participants' self-reports and physical inspection of medications. The main outcomes were the changes from baseline to 24 months in the following: 1) the therapeutic intensity score (TIS) for all (and class specific) antihypertensive medications; 2) the number of antihypertensive medications in all trial participants. RESULTS: At 24 months, the mean increase in the TIS score of all antihypertensive medications was 0.11 in the MCI group and 0.03 in the control group, with a between-group difference in the increase of 0.08 (95% CI (0.03, 0.12); P=0.002). In MCI compared to controls, a greater increase in the TIS of renin angiotensin-aldosterone system blockers (0.05; 95% CI (0.02, 0.07); P<0.001) and calcium channel blockers (0.03; 95% CI (0.00, 0.05);p=0.031) , and in the number of antihypertensive medications (0.11, 95% CI (0.02, 0.19);P=0.016) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: In rural communities in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, MCI led to a greater increase in antihypertensive medication intensification compared to the usual care among adults with hypertension. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT02657746