Path Dependencies and the Long-term Effects of Routinized Marketing Decisions

The purpose of this paper is to discuss a simulation of marketing budgeting rules that is based on a simplified version of the market share attraction model. The budgeting rules are roughly equivalent to those that may be used in practice. The simulation illustrates the concept of path dependence in dynamic marketing systems and shows how it might result from decision rules potentially applied by marketers and retailers. Path dependence results from positive feedback in dynamic systems that imparts momentum to market choices. Where the potential for path dependence exists, there are implications for defining and measuring long-term effects of marketing decisions in a way that is meaningful to managers and researchers. In the simulations presented we show that limited retails assortment may contribute to path dependence when firms use either percentage-of-revenue rules or "market learning" experiments to set budgets. While other budgeting procedures (e.g., matching competition) may stabilize market share, this stability in the share dimension comes at the cost of instability for budgets and profits.marketing decisions;path dependencies

Path Dependencies and the Long-term Effects of Routinized Marketing Decisions

The purpose of this paper is to discuss a simulation of marketing budgeting rules that is based on a simplified version of the market share attraction model. The budgeting rules are roughly equivalent to those that may be used in practice. The simulation illustrates the concept of path dependence in dynamic marketing systems and shows how it might result from decision rules potentially applied by marketers and retailers. Path dependence results from positive feedback in dynamic systems that imparts momentum to market choices. Where the potential for path dependence exists, there are implications for defining and measuring long-term effects of marketing decisions in a way that is meaningful to managers and researchers. In the simulations presented we show that limited retails assortment may contribute to path dependence when firms use either percentage-of-revenue rules or "market learning" experiments to set budgets. While other budgeting procedures (e.g., matching competition) may stabilize market share, this stability in the share dimension comes at the cost of instability for budgets and profits

Engineering aspects of heterogeneous and homogeneous reactors

The core arrangement in an LMFBR can potentially affect the lower internals, upper internals, radial shielding, vessel, hot leg transients, head access area and control systems as well as breeding ratio, doubling time and core inventory. This paper describes the results of a study of the impact on these components and parameters that would result if the Clinch River Breeder Reactor were to incorporate a heterogeneous core

Soil phosphorus tests and grain yield responsiveness of maize (Zea mays) on Ferrosols

The grain yield response of maize (Zea mays) to various rates of applied phosphorus (P) was measured at each of 17 sites in the South Burnett region of south-eastern Queensland. The soils at all sites were Ferrosols. Relative grain yield of the nil applied P treatment [100 × (yield at nil applied P/maximum yield)] was related to Colwell (0·5 M NaHCO3) extractable P (PB), CaCl2-extractable P, and equilibrium P concentration and P buffer capacity calculated from P sorption curves. Of these P measurements, PB was most highly correlated with relative grain yield (R2 = 0·94 for a linear response and plateau fit, R2 = 0·92 for a Mitscherlich fit), and the PB values at 90% maximum grain yield were 20 mg/kg for the linear response and plateau model and 32 mg/kg for the Mitscherlich equation

Fission fragment rockets: A potential breakthrough

A new reactor concept which has the potential of enabling extremely energetic and ambitious space propulsion missions is described. Fission fragments are directly utilized as the propellant by guiding them out of a very low density core using magnetic fields. The very high fission fragment exhaust velocities yield specific impulses of approximately a million seconds while maintaining respectable thrust levels. Specific impulses of this magnitude allow acceleration of significant payload masses to several percent of the velocity of light and enable a variety of interesting missions, e.g., payloads to the nearest star, Alpha Centauri, in about a hundred years for very rapid solar system transport. The parameters reported in this paper are based on a very preliminary analysis. Considerable trade-off studies will be required to find the optimum system. We hope the optimum system proves to be as attractive as our preliminary analysis indicates, although we must admit that our limited effort is insufficient to guarantee any specific level of performance