Strategy Implementation Effectiveness in a Nonprofit Environment: The Case of Museum Stores

The character of museums in America has changed significantly in this century as museums change how they market themselves to their constituents. One of these changes has been the growth and development of museum stores. First designed to supplement museum income museum stores are now a major source of museum funding (American Association of Museums 1999) and a source of educational enhancement of the museum\u27s educational mission (Theobald 2000). However, despite the growth of the museum store, virtually no academic research has been undertaken. This research seeks to help fill this void in the literature of not only museum store marketing, but nonprofit marketing as well. In particular, there are strong indications that museum stores should have multiple measures of performance (Slater, Olson and Reddy 1997) and that specific strategies are linked to the achievement of these measures. Two primary objectives of museums with respect to museum stores and the museum itself were identified: (1) Financial contribution to the museum (Lovelock and Weinberg 1990, Kotler and Andreason 1982), and (2) Education, an objective of almost all American museums (American Association of Museums 2000). Specific strategies that were clearly targeted to enhance financial or educational performance were identified by the literature. The objective of the research was to determine what linkages existed between educational or financial strategies and educational and financial performance. The results of the research, which was conducted through a survey of museums in the United States, showed that educational strategies had a positive direct effect on educational performance. Additionally, financial strategies had a positive direct effect on financial performance. Educational strategies had a positive direct effect on financial performance. While it was anticipated that financial strategies would have a negative or ambiguous effect on educational performance, it was found that they had a significant positive effect. The major contributions of this research include a multiple measure for performance evaluation in a nonprofit setting and an understanding of how different strategies affect that performance. Additionally, it gives the first major academic analysis of museum retail marketing. Finally, a measure of Educational Performance has been developed and tested

Upgrading of the flood retention basin Odenkirchen in Germany

The flood retention basin Odenkirchen on the river Niers in Germany was constructed around 60 years ago as consequence of a major, harmful flood event. The complete design and structures do not comply with up-to-date national regulations, the DIN 19700 [3], so that the owner, the Niers Association, decided to upgrade the basin. The upgrading works include different measures such as the adjustment of the reservoir operation management in consideration of the updated flood hydrographs and discharges as well as adjustments in respect to sewage disposal compensation. Latter purpose is an urgent consequence of the continuous urban development which led to a steady increase of the sewage discharges for which the required retention volumes cannot be realized locally. As part of the dam rehabilitation the reconstruction of the outlet works – a controlled weir with three bays and sluice gates – and construction of an overflow spillway as part of an embankment dam shall be realized. The complete project is dominated by the environmental restrictions comprising both environmental protection areas as well as requirements of fish passability and groundwater. The project area is located within a region with mining subsidence, groundwater management and high sediment loads

Wal-Mart: Supplier performance and market power

This research seeks to further the understanding of the relationship between Wal-Mart and its suppliers. 1988-1994 demonstrates Wal-Mart's market power in relation to manufacturers [Bloom PN, Perry, VG. Retailer power and supplier welfare: the case of Wal-Mart. Journal of Retailing 2001; 77( 3): 379-396.]. Wal-Mart suppliers for that period had lower profits than non-suppliers, which indicate a dependency model of market power when suppliers give concessions to a stronger retailer in order to obtain or maintain the relationship. Wal-Mart's dramatic growth and increasing marketing power since the 1988-1994 period offer an opportunity to retest previous findings and further the understanding of a major retailer's strategy for managing suppliers through the use of the strategic profit model. Initial results indicate that gross margin is significantly less for Wal-Mart suppliers than non-suppliers indicating pricing concessions and a dependency model of market power. However, a fixed-effects model controlling for unobservable firm characteristics such as strategic choice suggest that Wal-Mart suppliers are self-selecting or are implicitly pre-screened such that Wal-Mart suppliers have a low-cost strategy and choose lower returns as a market strategy. Findings indicate that small firms do experience a dependency model in that they have lower gross margin, lower operating income, and higher turnover. However, considering fixed-effects for these firms, small manufacturers experience only higher turnover as a result of doing business with Wal-Mart, thus indicating more of a partner-type model of market power.Retail Financial performance retail strategy Suppliers Wal-Mart Strategic profit model

Motivations and risks in international licensing: a review and implications for licensing to transitional and emerging economies

In the light of changes in technology and today's global business environment, recent contributions in the literature regarding international licensing, particularly the reasons, risks, and management of licensing are reviewed. The main reasons that firms choose licensing over other methods of international market entry are examined, and the risks associated with licensing are synthesized and updated, along with perspectives on managing those risks. Finally, areas are suggested for further inquiry that may help to enrich this field of study. Throughout, particular attention is paid to the issues of international licensing that affect emerging and transitional economies, particularly from the perspective of small firms.

Computertomographie als zerstörungssfreie Analysemethode zur Charakterisierung archäologischer Gläser.

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