New Technologies and the Impact on Personality Rights in Brazil

As technology continues to evolve at an exponentially increasing pace, it transforms our lives and societies, thus shaping our perceptions of reality with high speed and impacting the relationship between the individual and the society, including businesses and, as a result, the legal system. The young area of law is trying to explore the effects of new technologies in our relationships with it, as well as identify the best use of new technologies to reduce the gap among new technology, new societal behaviors and various legal systems. The purpose of this paper is to examine the current uses of wearable technologies in Brazil and the legal issues emerging from the various uses of these technologies and their impact on personality rights. So, to what extent do the Brazilian users of emerging technologies appreciate the terms and conditions agreed by themselves and their impact on personality rights? The authors used empirical quantitative data from a cross-section of Brazilian users to explore the level of awareness in regards to the terms and conditions associated with the use of emerging technologies and the impact on their personality rights. The authors found that the large majority of these users of technology are unaware of the adverse impact of the agreed terms and conditions on their personality rights. Furthermore, they are also unaware of the basics of how the technology operates and therefore are unable to enforce their rights. The research is based on data collected by using only one survey with a sample of 500 students from three universities in three Brazilian States with an age range between 18 and 40 years old. This paper extends the previous research on the impact of emerging technologies on personality rights and demonstrates with empirical data that there is a serious risk of erosion of such rights. Furthermore, this research provides a unique insight into the users of emerging technologies in the emerging Brazilian market and the impact on the Brazilian legal system

E-consumer and the drive behind customer satisfaction: the Chinese online

The purpose of this paper is to present and validate a model of factors influencing the customers' satisfaction on internet shopping in China. To attain these, a questionnaire was sent to 300 potential Chinese customers. The findings indicate that there are 15 items that influence consumer satisfaction which covered the six determinant factors isolated for testing. The top nine moderators of the factors were classified as the most important. These factors are likely to become important and of practical value to companies engaging in internet marketing in emerging markets. Managerial implications of these results were discussed

Reducing risk in foreign market entry strategies: standardization versus modification

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate empirically the influence of six key contextual determinants upon the degree of standardization for firms who enter a new market directly. In the context of international business market entry, much research emphasis has been placed upon the issues of standardization versus modification. Generally, however, this research focuses on promotion and advertising.Design/methodology/approach– This paper investigates the research variables that influence standardization/modification decisions in a framework comprising “firm or company context” and “host country context”. The research, undertaken with a sample of 700 UK‐based for‐profit organizations, adapts and further develops Hofstede's study.Findings– It identifies that the elements of competition and political risk are negatively significant in relation to the degree of standardization. In addition, economic development and international experience are positively significant in relation to the degree of standardization. Firm size and culture differences have no impact upon the degree of standardization.Research limitations/implications– Research is only conducted among British companies operating cross border.Originality/value– This paper's originality is in providing specific types of elements as risk reducers in a firm's market entry strategy

Facts or gut feelings:Analysis of external pricing antecedents for SMEs in Germany

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the external antecedents of pricing information acquisition in an integrative manner. The study develops understanding of determinants of information acquisition as a crucial prerequisite of successful pricing strategies within German small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach A large scale survey of sampled 2,542 SMEs was conducted. A total of 220 questionnaires were completed, reflecting a response rate of 9 per cent. This was acceptable considering the sensitivity of pricing issues. A final sample of 173 usable questionnaires were obtained. Findings The result indicates that external antecedents of pricing information acquisition practices have a positive impact on SME pricing performance, and pricing performance is positively related to firm performance. Practical implications The study indicates that external antecedents of pricing information acquisition are strategic pricing capabilities, which should receive attention by SME managers. Originality/value This study bridges significant obstacle to knowledge generation and theory development of the important issues of pricing information acquisition in SMEs. </jats:sec

The Dragon evolves:is the social market economy a chimaera?

An earlier study by Deng and Dart (1999) shed a great deal of light on the unfolding dynamics of market orientation, searching out a range of macro-marketing concerns that may significantly impact the adjustment process to a market orientation.Market orientation for many organisations is a conceptual premise demanding change. This applies with particular force to organisations in transition economies, especially those that have to cope with the challenges imposed by the cultural rite of passage from political-based market governance to competitive market systems. The marketing mantra, market orientation, is routinely offered as the basis for business success. While the sincerity of this principle is in little doubt in most developed western economies, implementation in many transition-economy contexts is revealing a range of paradoxes. This paper using China as an example, offers initial observations on the degree to which local companies are adopting a market orientation. Although some of the early results are consistent with those obtained in the West, there is an underlying lacuna that needs to be addressed by offering culture-specific interpretations of localised events. To plug this gap, the paper argues for an approach that accommodates the institutional background, focusing on the temporal, spatial and wider socio-cultural and historical characteristics of marketing itself

Market Orientation and Innovators' Success: an Exploration of the Influence of Customer and Competitor Orientation

The concepts of market orientation and innovation and their interrelationship with business success have been exploredfrom a number of perspectives. However, research in this area has not explored the differences between start-up andmature companies. The research study acquired data from over two hundred Chief Operating Officers (CEO’s) andManaging Directors from both start-up and mature companies. The results illustrate the differences in both types ofcompany and reveals new insights with regard to market orientation and its constituent elements and its relationship withboth incremental and radical innovations. Key research results are that strong competitor orientation, a key ingredient ofmarket orientation, has positive relationship to incremental innovation for start-up companies but it is contra productivefor mature companies. In mature organizations a strong customer orientation is associated with radical innovatio

The effect of colonial legacies on Africa's inward FDI: the Case of UK FDI in Ghana

Purpose – This paper examines the role colonial ties play in attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Ghana, several years after the official end of colonisation in the African continent. Colonisation left behind legacies of institutional framework, social ties and remnants of companies of colonial masters which could potentially offer contemporary businesses from home countries the benefits of country of origin agglomeration. Design/methodology/approach – This paper uses sequential explanatory mixed research design through 101 questionnaires and eight interviews from UK companies with FDI in Ghana. This approached enabled the initial quantitative results to be explored further through the qualitative data. Findings – Colonial ties have limited influence on contemporary flow of FDI to Ghana, despite the institutional legacies between former colonisers and colonies. Majority of UK companies are influenced by agglomeration opportunities in general rather than country of origin agglomeration. However, country of origin agglomeration remains important to over a third of the companies surveyed. Research limitations/implications – The sample was taken from the non-extractive industry in Ghana and caution must be applied in generalising the findings. However, some universal issues concerning agglomeration and institutions are discussed. Originality/value – Although there has been some research on colonial history and its impact on FDI in Africa, existing knowledge on bilateral relations is rather limited. Unlike previous studies, this research provides depth by examining colonial influence on FDI between two countries, using two key concepts: country of origin agglomeration and institutions. It provides UK companies with contemporary views to consider when exploring FDI opportunities in Ghana, particularly in relation to the effects of the colonial history. It also provides investment promotion agencies with empirical results on the importance of various forms of agglomeration and institutions for FDI attractio

Gastro-tourism as destination branding in emerging markets.

Food related gastro-tourism refers to the pursuit of appealing, authentic, memorable culinary experiences of all kinds, while traveling internationally, regionally or even locally. For gastro-tourists, food is the focus and the motivation for the travel. In developed countries the gastro-tourism business is booming and has become one of the most dynamic and creative segments of tourism, attracting billions of tourists worldwide. Destination brand strategy is defined as “a plan for defining the most realistic, most competitive, and most compelling strategic reason for the country, region, or city” (Anholt, 2004). Gastro-Tourism can be a driver of destination choice, especially for emerging markets. This paper defines Gastro Destination Branding, and introduces and discusses a conceptual Gastro-Tourism Destination Identity process model to assist various towns, cities, regions and countries to maximize the potential of the growing gastro-tourism market through effective use of destination branding