Andrea Vocino

Relationship between the dominant social paradigm, materialism and environmental behaviours in four Asian economies

Purpose – This papers aim is to test the relationships between the Dominant Social Paradigm (DSP), materialism, environmental concern, and environmental behaviours, in four Asian economies. It examines the relationships between these constructs and identifies that the model of the relationship is applicable in regions with different cultural foundations. Design/methodology/approach – A sample of 1,174 consumers from four Asian economies with a strong Chinese background – mainland China (364), Hong Kong (260), Taiwan (289), and Singapore (261) – were recruited through an international online panel provider. Structural equation modelling was used to test the hypothesised relationships in the proposed model. Findings – The relationships within the model were all confirmed, with the exception of the link between the DSP and environmental concern, which was positive, which suggests that within these Asian economics there may be a realisation that consumption and the environment are intertwined. DSP was found t...

Message framing: keeping practitioners in the picture

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how message framing is commonly used by magazine advertisers.Design/methodology/approach – Following the classification suggested by Levin et al., the frequency and nature of message framing in magazine advertising is explored using a content analysis of 2,864 advertisements in a sample of popular US magazines.Findings – Results suggest a lack of consistency between marketing practice and academic findings. Contrary to academic recommendations, advertisers used positive framing in almost all advertising messages. Further, the use of attribute framing and combined attribute and goal framing was more popular than pure goal framingResearch limitations/implications – Although the findings are limited by a judgement sample of US magazines, they do suggest the need for academics to conduct more research on the effectiveness of combined attribute and goal framing techniques.Practical implications – Of equal importance is the need for practitioners to explore the ...

A decade of change in Australia's DBA landscape

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the dynamics of the Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) in Australia through the lens of a changing higher education landscape. The paper reflects on issues raised in a previous analysis of DBA programmes undertaken a decade ago, and highlights persistent challenges and emerging opportunities for professional Doctorate programmes in the Australian context. Design/methodology/approach – Interviews were undertaken with higher degree research directors, deans of graduate schools, and DBA programme directors from all 18 Australian institutions offering the DBA in 2013. Quantitative data on enrolments, accreditation requirements, course structures; and demographics are contextualised within a qualitative view of programme purposes, student and institutional motivations, rationales and concerns. Particular focus is given to perceptions of the difference between traditional research doctorates (PhDs) and professional doctorates, especially the DBA. Finding...

The influence of eco-label knowledge and trust on pro-environmental consumer behaviour in an emerging market

Abstract Consumers are increasingly concerned about the negative environmental implications of purchasing goods, which in turn shape their behaviour. Yet, there are indications that consumers do not always act on these concerns, causing an attitude–behaviour gap. For consumers to make ecologically responsible purchases, they need relevant product environmental information. Therefore, marketers and firms are increasingly integrating more detailed environmental information in their offerings, including eco-labels with externally validated information. This study integrates consumers’ knowledge and trust in eco-labels with their environmental knowledge to determine how these affect pro-environmental consumer behaviour (PECB). The findings suggest environmental and eco-label knowledge is positively associated with attitudes towards the environment, and that positive environmental attitudes and trust in eco-labels affect PECB. This implies that firms, policy-makers and accreditation organisations (i.e. labelling) can educate consumers about eco-labels and the environment to increase PECB. Such strategies will also build consumer knowledge and trust in eco-labels, necessary for facilitating PECB.

Framing the socialisation process of the DBA candidate: what can universities offer and what should candidates bring?

ABSTRACT In Australia, the Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) remains a popular program but considerable anguish persists within the university sector over just what it is offering students. In this article, we use the process of postgraduate socialisation to understand how candidates, supervisors and administrators navigate pathways to successful completion and offering of a DBA program. We identify four modes of knowledge applicable to the DBA and suggest that universities and candidates may draw on one anothers cultural capital to determine which mode(s) can be offered. We also illustrate how candidates exercise agency through their cultural and social capital as they move through the program. We present a conceptual framework to help guide future research, and resource allocation on the DBA.

Corporate patriotism as a source of corporate reputation: a comparative multi-stakeholder approach

This paper aims to define the concept of corporate patriotism and clarify its relationship with corporate reputation in the context of multi-stakeholder engagements. It develops a scale to measure corporate patriotism. It then determines the relative importance of corporate patriotism to the perceptions of corporate reputation in four key stakeholder relationships – consumer, purchasing, employment, individual share investment and community relationships. Our research evidence shows that the stakeholder relationship context moderates the role of corporate patriotism as a dimension of corporate reputation. The results further show significant differences in the role of national identity in organisation–stakeholder relationships. Specifically, corporate patriotism is more important for the reputation of a company as an employer and local citizen than as a provider of products and services. Marketing managers should consider the reputational advantage stemming from corporate patriotism in the design of multi-stakeholder corporate communication strategies.

The world wide web in modern marketing's contribution to organisational performance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a better understanding of the antecedents of organisational performance (OP), both financial and marketing, and the influence of holding a strategic market orientation (MO) where customer‐base volatility is taken into account.Design/methodology/approach – A sample of 167 marketing organisations in Australia was surveyed to test the hypothesised model. Structural equation modelling was employed in the data analysis.Findings – Use of the world wide web (Web) reported by organisations in this study indicates that there is still separate use of the Web and that it has yet to be fully integrated into the marketing strategy of many organisations. The study finds that traditional marketing effort mediates the relationship between holding a MO and OP in terms of financial indicators.Research limitations/implications – A major limitation of this study is that it surveys organisations from many industries rather than selected industries. This tends to mask some of t...

Segmenting Australian online panellists based on volunteering motivations

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to seek to assess whether online commercial panel volunteering can be segmented based on their motivations, using the volunteer functions inventor. The authors also investigate whether segments exist which differ in demographic characteristics. Design/methodology/approach – The authors survey 484 Australian online panel volunteers using a adapted version of the 30 item of the volunteer function inventory (VFI) scale developed by Clary et al. (1998). Data were analysed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and cluster analysis, as well as ANOVA and χ2 test comparisons of demographics between clusters. Findings – CFA verifies that the VFI scale is suitable instrument to gauge online participants’ motivations. Cluster analysis produced a five-cluster solution, where respondents with low motivations overall comprised the largest grouping. Segments are interpreted by assessing the difference between the total sample average and the segment profile. The examination also...

Investigating directionality for a media consumption construct: Establishing the utility of confirmatory vanishing tetrad analysis

Purpose – When assessing the psychometric properties of measures and estimate relations among latent variables, many studies in the social sciences (including management and marketing) often fail to comprehensively appraise the directionality of indicants. Such failures can lead to model misspecification and inaccurate parameter estimates. The purpose of this paper is to apply a post hoc test called confirmatory vanishing tetrad analysis (CTA hereafter) to a single construct called mass media consumption information exposure, which antecedent studies conceptually posited to be a formative (causative) representation.Design/methodology/approach – This paper analyses a consumer sample of 585 US respondents and applies the CTA test to a single construct by its inclusion in various matrices within a statistical analysis system‐macro that takes into account nonnormal data characteristics. The matrices are derived from Mplus 5 through the estimation of a single‐factor congeneric model. The CTA test calculates a ...

The direct and indirect effect of NFC on marketers’ work norms, vocational socialization, individual ethical position, and ethical perceptions

Purpose The research sought to expand the conceptual understanding of the antecedents of decision-making under ethical conditions. This study aims to better understand the relationships among need for cognition (NFC), the individual ethical positions of ethical idealism and ethical relativism, organizational and professional socialization, work-related norms and ethical perceptions. Design/methodology/approach The study compared the impact of environmental influences (i.e. socialization and work-related norm) and individual temporally stable characteristics (i.e. NFC and ethical position) on ethical perceptions. The research surveyed marketers and tested a hypothesized model using structural equation modeling. Findings NFC influences marketers’ individual ethical position, their professional socialization and their work norms. The work norms of marketers are influenced by individual ethical position and organizational socialization, but not by professional socialization. Professional socialization is influenced by ethical idealism and not ethical relativism. Research limitations/implications A judgmental sampling technique was used and the findings cannot be generalized to other populations. Practical implications This research provides managers with alternative tools to encourage compliance with professional and corporate guidelines. If managers are seeking an enduring positive influence on work norms, they should be as concerned about the thinking of their employees and their employees’ ethical positions as they are with the vocational rules their subordinates adopt. Social implications Society will benefit from better understanding the different ways in which the ethical perceptions of individual employees are influenced and the various ways in which managers can contribute to ethically responsible corporations. Originality/value Although NFC has been examined in other vocational and decision-making contexts, its influence on individual ethical position, vocational socialization and work-related norms has not been empirically examined in ethical contexts for business decision-making.