An e-Commerce Systems Integration Framework

The success of e-commerce activity is directly affected by system integration efforts associated with traditional back office and web-based systems. The potential benefits of enterprise-wide e-commerce activities to an organization emphasize the need for system integration beyond individual sales transactions. Unfortunately, many organizations are not capitalizing on the synergistic advantages of integrated systems. Despite the apparent lack of integration, some organizations are attempting to coordinate such customer activities. Planning for and integrating e-commerce technologies are essential to an organization\u27s survival

An E-Commerce Systems Integration Framework

Ernest A. Capozzoli is assistant professor of management information systems and accounting, Sorrell College of Business, Troy State University, Troy, AL 36082. Sheb L. True is associate professor of marketing, Michael J. Coles College of Business, Kennesaw State University, Atlanta, GA 30144

Fulfilling Our Obligation: Perspectives on Teaching Business Ethics

This anthology offers a myriad of perspectives on teaching business ethics. The authors are business and philosophy faculty, business school deans, industry practitioners, and a representative of AACSB International. Most chapters were inspired by presentations taking place at the 2004 Teaching Business Ethics Conference, which was sponsored by AACSB International, University of Colorado, Colorado State University, and University of Wyoming. The intent of Fulfilling Our Obligation: Perspectives on Teaching Business Ethics is not to offer a definitive answer demanding allegiance by all educators and academic institutions; rather, the goal is to provide a means of furthering exploratory discourse on the role of ethics in a business education. This volume is dedicated to providing faculty and administrators with direction, encouragement, and motivation as they design and deliver pedagogical methods that include ethical frameworks as a vital component of business decision-making models.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/ksupresslegacy/1013/thumbnail.jp

Measuring ROI: Is It Worth It? Interview by Richard K Thomas

Return on investment (ROI) for healthcare marketing is a hot topic among healthcare professionals. It has been discussed off and on in the past, but recent financial developments in healthcare have brought it to the forefront. Today, because of financial pressures, all operational efforts (including marketing) are under intense scrutiny, making the bottom line more important than ever

Teaching Business Ethics: Why Gen Y?

Each generation both influences ensuing generations and is influenced by preceding generations. As the most consumption-oriented and ethnically-diverse generation in history, Generation Y will likely change the landscape of the marketplace. The overarching purpose of this article is to assess how value orientations of Generation Y impact ethical decision-making. Specifically, the present research assesses the relationship between self-reported authority credence, needs determinism and altruism and un/ethical decision choice. In this way, the attention shifts from a curricular focus to a participant (student) focus in business ethics education. The findings suggest that Generation Y students may possess different value orientations that may or may not be accordant with traditional teaching methods or content areas

Purchasing Nonprescription Contraceptives: The Underlying Structure of a Multi-Item Scale

The authors develop a multi-item scale measuring attitudes associated with purchasing nonprescription contraceptives. Although contraceptives represent a common as well as consequential purchase for many people, published research has not addressed measures of attitudes associated with this purchase decision. A scale development method is presented measuring both male and female consumer attitudes toward purchasing contraceptives. Ultimately, a multi-item scale demonstrating a high degree of invariance across 2 samples (men and women) is developed

The Lost Frontier in Entrepreneurship: Aggregation, Saturation and Decimationof the Franchising Channel

The sociological perspective of structured ambivalence compels a greater examination of the processes involved in franchise relations as well as the reciprocal links between role players\u27 lives and their franchise system\u27s organization. By refashioning franchise system role conflict as a clash between two social domains, such as work and family, we elucidate a bridging concept between social structures and individual agency, allowing social structures to constrain action and social change initiated by individuals. Structured ambivalence is a possible bridging concept integrating the social processes within franchise systems to the social processes in other realms in the global marketplace

Perceived Managerial Sincerity, Feedback-Seeking Orientation and Motivation among Front-Line Employees of a Service Organization

Purpose - Literature on the services industry\u27s front-line employees has largely focused on the relationships between service providers and customers. However, there is increasing approbation that managers influence the front-line employees\u27 motivation, ultimately impacting service quality. This study investigates the relationship between front-line employees\u27 perceived managerial sincerity, need for feedback, and role motivation. Design/methodology/approach - The data were collected at 26 restaurants (from a global fast-food franchised chain) located in a large US city, using a self-administered questionnaire, from their front-line employees. The final sample size was 185 (47.4 percent response). Findings - The results suggest a positive association between front-line employees\u27 feedback-seeking orientation and their perceived managerial sincerity. A positive association also exists between front-line employees\u27 motivation levels and their job satisfaction. Research limitations/implications - The focus on a subset of restaurants (from a single franchise system) and the limited scope of states-of-mind and behaviors measured are two main limitations. A multitude of other front-line employee characteristics and factors should be investigated in future studies. Practical implications - Results suggest that managers\u27 interpersonal communication techniques enhance front-line employees\u27 perceptions of managerial sincerity, and increase their motivation and job satisfaction. However, managers need to balance a portfolio of diverse employee traits with relevant managerial styles to achieve desired outcomes. Originality/value - The association between perceived managerial sincerity and feedback-seeking orientation is intuitively appealing and comforting. However, some employees are happy being told what to do without any concern for involvement. Employees with low perceived managerial sincerity are also low on feedback need