The Role of Organizational Strategies, Social Support, and Technological Capabilities in International Marketing Channel Performance

Information communication technologies increase the competitive intensity among organizations. The only way to get a sustainable competitive advantage is to focus on their resources, and capabilities to establish, and implement effective strategies to increase international marketing channel performance (IMCP). The target population of this study is the food industry in Pakistan, and the sample size is 400. Data has been collected through survey method based on an adapted questionnaire. Data has been analyzed through partial least square – structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method. Results showed that validity and reliability of data, and organizational strategies (OS) focused on relationship strategies (RS) and marketing integration strategies (MIS) has positive and significant effect on IMCP. Whereas, technological capabilities (TC) has moderated and significant effect between OS and IMCP. Furthermore, social support (SS) has insignificant effect.  This study has theoretical and practical significance. Because this study opens the new horizons in literature and provide guidelines to align their strategies with their capabilities to gain sustainable competitive advantage, which will improve their IMCP.

The Role of Organizational Strategies, Social Support, and Technological Capabilities in International Marketing Channel Performance

Information communication technologies increase the competitive intensity among organizations. The only way to get a sustainable competitive advantage is to focus on their resources, and capabilities to establish, and implement effective strategies to increase international marketing channel performance (IMCP). The target population of this study is the food industry in Pakistan, and the sample size is 400. Data has been collected through survey method based on an adapted questionnaire. Data has been analyzed through partial least square – structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method. Results showed that validity and reliability of data, and organizational strategies (OS) focused on relationship strategies (RS) and marketing integration strategies (MIS) has positive and significant effect on IMCP. Whereas, technological capabilities (TC) has moderated and significant effect between OS and IMCP. Furthermore, social support (SS) has insignificant effect.  This study has theoretical and practical significance. Because this study opens the new horizons in literature and provide guidelines to align their strategies with their capabilities to gain sustainable competitive advantage, which will improve their IMCP.Â

ROLE OF BRAND LOYALTY IN BUILDING BRAN EQUITY: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CONSUMER INVOLVEMENT LEVELS

Although the concept of brand loyalty and equity in recent times has evolved one of the dominant phenomena of brand management, yet the picture is incomplete without considering the role of consumer involvement levels. The purpose of this study is to investigate significant antecedents of brand loyalty, and its role in building brand equity, relationships are also measured by conducting comparative analysis of consumer involvement levels. The self-administered survey and regression analysis used to measure relationships of variables. The findings showed significant and positive relationship of perceived quality, brand trust, and customer satisfaction with brand loyalty, and highly significant and positive impact of brand loyalty is found in building brand equity. Significant differences are found between high and low involvement settings. This research will provide exceptional learning opportunities for brand managers and scholars alike, through empirical verifying the relationships of variables, by using two brands of different consumer involvement levels.Â

Direction and Destination Pattern of Fresh Oranges Export from Pakistan: A Markov Chain Approach

Current study is an endeavor to examine the behavior of the big five Pakistani oranges importers i.e., Afghanistan, Ka-zakhstan, Russia, the UAE, and Ukraine. For measuring the occurrence probability of a random variable, the Markov chain analysis is applied to the time series data from FY 2013–14 to FY 2019–20 collected from secondary sources. The Markov chain process with the transition probability matrix (TPM), the compound annual growth rate (CAGR), the coefficient of variation, and the Cuddy Della Valle instability index (CDVI) have displayed interesting results. Based on the TPM, the study concludes that, in terms of quantity, Afghanistan and the UAE showed the highest retention levels and remained consistent. However, the CDVI of all the importing nations for the exports of fresh oranges from Pakistan displayed inconsistent export growth. This study demonstrated the significance of Markov chain theory and its application in the Pakistani context for behavioral prediction of importing countries. This study measures the retention behavior of importing countries, and the results showed that Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine are not willing to import fresh oranges from Pakistan in the future. Regulations and directions that can increase fresh oranges production and exports, as well as alternative management strategies and policies to improve fresh oranges exports in Pakistan, are required. &nbsp

A Comparative Analysis of the Business Models of Uber and Didi under Sharing Economy Background

With the development of ‘Internet +’, a new business model the Sharing Economy is booming，which as a revolutionary power to overthrow the business modes of traditional industries. The development of sharing economy has unique advantages and urgent reality in China. Therefore, based on the current situation of sharing economy, this paper analyzes and contrasts the business models of Uber and the Didi by using Johnson and Christensen's ‘Four Elements’business model，concludes business model of sharing economy should have certain characteristics, such as advocated sharing concept, setting up the Internet platform, providing personalized service, establishing the trust mechanism, the supply and demand matching reshaped.Finally, this paper provides comprehensive suggestions for the better development of Chinese enterprises under the sharing economy: enterprises should know their own advantages, not blindly copying the world's leading enterprises, and make effort to build a new model with Chinese characteristics to sharing economy; create "Internet platform + cooperation partner + customers†model and seek cross-border collaboration; In-depth understanding and analysis the macro and micro-environment of international market, seeking cooperation with foreign domestic enterprise, to speed up enterprises to "go out"

N′-[(1E)-1-(4-Chloro­phen­yl)ethyl­idene]formohydrazide

The structure of the title compound, C9H9ClN2O, consists of centrosymmetric dimers due to inter­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonding, forming R 2 2(8) ring motifs. The dihedral angle between the p-chloro­phenyl unit and the remaining heavy-atom group is 6.77 (17)°

ROLE OF BRAND LOYALTY IN BUILDING BRAN EQUITY: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CONSUMER INVOLVEMENT LEVELS

Although the concept of brand loyalty and equity in recent times has evolved one of the dominant phenomena of brand management, yet the picture is incomplete without considering the role of consumer involvement levels. The purpose of this study is to investigate significant antecedents of brand loyalty, and its role in building brand equity, relationships are also measured by conducting comparative analysis of consumer involvement levels. The self-administered survey and regression analysis used to measure relationships of variables. The findings showed significant and positive relationship of perceived quality, brand trust, and customer satisfaction with brand loyalty, and highly significant and positive impact of brand loyalty is found in building brand equity. Significant differences are found between high and low involvement settings. This research will provide exceptional learning opportunities for brand managers and scholars alike, through empirical verifying the relationships of variables, by using two brands of different consumer involvement levels.

Un estudio sobre el uso de combinaciones de palabras en estudiantes de administración

Previous studies have reported lack of collocational competence and difficulties among English as a second language (ESL) learners. However, collocation is crucial in second language acquisition. This research examined the receptive and productive knowledge of collocations among the business students of COMSATS University Islamabad Vehari Campus who studied ESL. It also investigated the gap in the use of collocations at a receptive and productive level. The sample included 61 males and 39 females out of the total sample size of 100. Employing a quantitative approach, we gathered the data through a questionnaire and two collocations tests, and we analysed them via SPSS version 20. The overall result of the collocation test indicated that 66.4% of the respondents had the correct answer at the receptive level compared with only 33.7% at the productive level. Moreover, the statistical result presented a great gap in the ability to utilise collocations at the productive and receptive levels. This result also affirmed that despite their ability to understand the collocations, the students had difficulties in identifying proper English collocations confidently. Local and native language experiences might be one of the reasons that caught the students from being more confident in identifying the English collocations.Previos estudios han informado de la falta de competencia en la ubicación y las dificultades entre los estudiantes de inglés como segunda lengua (ESL). Sin embargo, las combinaciones de palabras son cruciales en la adquisición de un segundo idioma. Esta investigación examinó el conocimiento receptivo y productivo de las combinaciones de palabras entre los estudiantes de administración de la Universidad COMSATS de Islamabad (Campus de Vehari) que estudiaron ESL. También investigó la brecha en el uso de estas combinaciones a nivel receptivo y productivo. La muestra incluyó 61 hombres y 39 mujeres, de un total de 100. Empleando un enfoque cuantitativo, recopilamos los datos mediante un cuestionario y dos pruebas de colocaciones, y los analizamos por medio del programa SPSS versión 20. El resultado general de la prueba de colocación indicó que el 66,4 % de los encuestados tenía la respuesta correcta a nivel receptivo y solo el 33,7 % a nivel productivo. Además, el resultado estadístico presentó una gran brecha en la capacidad de utilizar combinaciones de palabras en los niveles productivo y receptivo. Este resultado también afirmó que, a pesar de su capacidad para comprender las combinaciones de palabras, los estudiantes tenían dificultades para identificar con seguridad (...

Purification and characterization of α-amylase from Ganoderma tsuage growing in waste bread medium

The objective of this study was to purify and characterize the α-amylase for industrial perspective. The production of α-amylase through solid-state fermentation by Ganoderma tsuage was investigated by using waste bread as substrates. Production parameters were optimized as 2 mL of inoculum size, moisture 50%, additional carbon source (glucose) and nitrogen source (ammonium nitrate) 10:1, 1 mM/mL MgSO4, 0.75 mM/mL CaCl2 and 0.50 mM/mL KH2PO4. The purification value of α-amylase was observed as 1.2 fold with specific activity of 112 U/mg having a yield of 22%. Specific activity of α-amylase increased up to the level of 143 U/mg and had 1.5-fold purification factor having a yield of 6% after Sephadex gel filtration. Optimum value of α-amylase was obtained at 35°C and at pH 6 for the time duration of 72 h. The Km and Vmax values for α-amylase were 1.3 mg and 39 mg/min, respectively. Calcium chloride (CaCl2) was found to increase the activity of α-amylase while all other compounds seemed to have inhibitory action against α-amylase. Silver nitrate (AgNO3) was the strongest inhibitor and therefore would not be advised for use in future research against α-amylase production.Keywords: α-Amylase, purification, characterization, waste bread, Ganoderma tsuag

The Changing Role of Urdu News Media with Digital Communication in Pakistan

The growing use of digital media has influenced significantly the communication channels of society during recent years in the globe. The media and communication in Pakistan is transforming with information technology. The marvelous boost of digital media devices has changed the communication channels. With digital media revolution, the people in society who formerly had no chance to participate, now they have a great opportunity of to contribute. They can give feedback on news content, comment on stories and share information. If we talk about Urdu news in Pakistan, technology has not left it unchanged. The great revolution in technological field has modified the way public receives information on various aspects. This research work will boost our understanding of how effects of fast spreading technological means have affected traditional modes of Urdu news. During the past decades, western world has got a great benefit from immense development in information communication technology. Furthermore, developing world is widely seen accepting access to internet computer and mobile phone technology. Today's media organizations are extensively using various technological sources. This study also explore the phenomenon of adoption of information technology, role played by media in this digital age and to address the global audience and news collection, influence of internet and extent of freedom of expression to which it has impacted todays media in accessing and delivering information. Though traditional modes of information have got a great jolt by new digital platform and have brought great opportunities for information gathering ofUrdu news in Pakistan.</p