Forming and maintaining cross-cultural interorganisational networks

This research addresses the problem: How do cross-cultural influences affect interorganisational formation and maintenance international business networks? In particular, the two concepts of stages of network development and psychic distance in partner selection are explored. A partnership between educational institutions and small and medium enterprises in developing trade relationships in the Asia Pacific region are analysed is analysed in depth. This cross-cultural business network did not appear to develop through clearly defined, predictable stages and all dimensions of culture appeared to consistently influence the networks' development. It seems that personal and business networks are important for both partners (not only for Chinese Malaysians) but if these networks are not consciously linked or expanded jointly, very little basis for cross-cultural understanding is built. An investment in a cross-cultural network should be a multi-faceted and long term financial, organisational and personal investment, which will have to change in ways that are difficult to forecast except to say that they will be needed if the network is not to eventually die

Reconceptualising and Reconstructing Consumer Involvement: Modeling Involvement in a Nomological Network of Relevant Constructs

The research reported herein concerns a specific stream of research within the general domain of consumer behaviour. The dissertation attempts to reconceptualise the construct of involvement and develop an instrument to measure consumers involvement. Largely, the significance of this dissertation rests in the development and presentation of a comprehensive model for the conceptualisation and analysis of involvement and key individual variables that act as antecedents to involvement and consequences of it. The study focuses on the philosophical and practical questions of involvement's content, nature and the direction and strength of its relationship with theoretically important constructs. It fundamentally asks the question: how should the construct of involvement be conceptualised and operationalised, and what is the relationship between involvement and self-image product-image congruency, consumer values, product knowledge/expertise, consumer confidence and consumption consequences. The methodology is based on the development and administration of a survey questionnaire. A mail survey was sent to a random sample of 900 students at an Australian University. The primary analytic procedure for the study was structural equation modeling using the computer program AMOS. The results of the research indicate significant support for the theoretical propositions developed in this study. The theoretical formulations of product involvement, purchase decision involvement, communications involvement and consumption involvement were strongly supported. Further, the introduction of consumer involvement as a second-order factor for the four forms of involvement proved significant. Nomological validity between involvement, values systems, product knowledge, consumer confidence, consumption consequences and self-image product-image congruency was established. A number of theoretical and managerial implications for marketers are identified and discussed

Increasing Success with Online Degree Courses and Programs in the VCCS

Over the last three years, 724,116 online courses were attempted within the Virginia Community College System (VCCS). From these attempts, 206,533 resulted in a grade of D or F or a withdrawal, accounting for 29% of all attempted online courses (Virginia Community College System, 2015). This does not account for the students who may have dropped the course early in the semester to avoid academic and/or financial consequences. Studies have shown that students who do not experience success in their courses drop out significantly more than their counterparts (Thayer, 1973). Additionally, these students experience delayed degree or certificate completions, higher program costs and student debt. It is for these reasons, that we must explore ways to increase student success in online courses and programs. By addressing accessibility to and student readiness for online education as well as applying best practices for distance learning, the VCCS can positively impact student success with online degree courses and programs

Influential factors of agricultural chemical purchase

The purpose of this research was to identify the key factors in the decision making process that motivate end users to purchase a particular brand of agricultural chemical within a designated product category. The Australian cotton industry was selected as a suitable candidate due to both the high purchase frequency and total volume of agricultural chemicals utilised in the production of the crop. It is anticipated that the results from the research project will enable manufacturers to more accurately target advertising and promotional strategies to the needs of the end user. Maximising the effectiveness of advertising and promotion will generate demand for branded products from the field and minimise the ever increasing influence of agricultural distributors on buyer behaviour

Examining client/accountant relationships: rural versus urban consumer selection criteria

This paper builds on research into client measurement of quality and satisfaction when consuming professional services, two of the factors influencing selection of an accountant and the differences arising between rural and urban clients. SERVQUAL is considered as a means of consumer satisfaction measurement and attempts to isolate key factors and attributes in service provider selection.The effect of formal qualifications and membership of professional accounting bodies on individuals' choice of accountant, differences between urban and rural selection criteria and managerial implications are discussed. This study deals only with accountants who offer their services in public practice

Beyond “not my type”: A quantitative examination of intraminority stigma among gay men who use dating apps

Gay men with intersecting diverse identities are at increased risk for experiencing intraminority stigma (i.e., negative attitudes or discrimination from the gay community based on a socially undervalued identity or trait). The use of dating apps is pervasive among gay men and becoming more common during the ongoing, global COVID-19 pandemic, representing a potential site for intraminority stigma. In this study, the association between online dating and experiences of stigma within the gay community was examined utilizing an international sample of 2,159 gay men through the lens of intraminority gay community stress theory. Participants reported how frequently they experienced stigma from other gay men based on age, socioeconomic status, nonconformity to popular gay culture (i.e., hobbies, beliefs, or ideologies perceived as typical of gay men), race/ethnicity, gender expression, and body size and shape. Approximately 60% of the sample used dating apps/websites every month or more frequently. More frequent dating app use was associated with more frequent experiences of intraminority stress across the constructs of age stigma, socioeconomic stigma, racial/ethnic stigma, and body stigma but not gay nonconformity stigma or gender expression stigma. More frequent dating app use was associated with more intraminority racial/ethnic stigma among gay men of color relative to White gay men and more intraminority age stigma among older gay men relative to younger gay men. Findings provide empirical and contextual evidence for multiple forms of intraminority stigma, paving the way for future intersectional research focused on the social, psychological, and physical well-being of multiply marginalized gay men.Immediate accessThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]