Bob D. Cutler

Identifying antecedents of information exchange within supply chains

Although information exchange among trading partners is consistently mentioned as a key requirement of successful supply chain management implementation, research on information exchange is scarce. This lack of research provides little guidance and support for those managers interested in improving their logistics operations through increased information exchange. The main goal of this paper is to identify potential antecedents of information exchange. Questionnaires were sent to logistics managers at manufacturing firms in several industries. The results of this exploratory study are detailed and the implications for logistics managers discussed.

At your service!Does country of origin research apply to services?

The objective of this paper is to examine the country of origin (COO) research as it applies to services. This stream of research has seemed to focus on products since the 1960s, but has been applied to services in only a very few areas. This dearth of research is surprising as trade in international services has increased greatly in recent years and continues to grow. This study thoroughly examines the related journal articles and attempts to answer the question: “Does COO research apply to services?” Our investigation found three classes of literature focusing on services, and details the studies in each. The study concludes with recommendations for future research.

The Visual Components of Print Advertising: A Five‐country Cross‐cultural Analysis

Today, one of the most important and creative challenges in international advertising is communicating to people of diverse cultures and nations. The challenge arises because of increasing globalization of economies, cultural and national differences, and advanced media technology. A review of the literature suggests a need for comparative analysis of advertising practices. Analyses, empirically, magazine advertisements from the US, UK, France, India and Korea to identify cross‐cultural similarities and differences in the visual appeal.

Print advertising at the component level: A cross-cultural comparison of the United States and Japan

Abstract We examined the visual components in 339 advertisements drawn from seven different U.S. magazines, with similar components in 194 ads from seven different Japanese magazines. The visual components examined were related to elements of the visual, process of visual appeal, the content of the appeal, headline type, and the portrayal of people shown in the ad. The specific hypotheses examined were: (1) the product is portrayed more often in the United States; (2) price information is included more often in the United States; (3) process appeal types differ by country; (4) content appeals differ by country; (5) headlines types differ by country; (6) ethnic groups portrayed more often in the United States; (7) sex roles portrayed more traditional in Japan; (8) elderly portrayed more often in the United States; (9) children portrayed more often in the United States; (10) young adults portrayed more often in the United States; (11) people are participating in product use more often in the United States. To investigate the specific hypotheses, x2 tests were used, and this was followed by a discriminant analysis to examine overall country differences in advertising practice.

Do the Management Components of Supply Chain Management Affect Logistics Performance

The literature suggests that implementation of supply chain management (SCM) programs will lead to improved logistics performance, but empirical research connecting supply chain initiatives with logistics performance remains scarce. This research empirically examined the relationship between seven SCM management components and perceived logistics performance. The results largely support the positive relationship between requirements and performance. Implications for logistics managers and directions for future research are reviewed.

Informational/Transformational Advertising

Abstract Using the two general categories of informational versus transformational advertisements, this study finds there are substantial differences in usage across media types, product categories, and national cultures. Implications for differences in usage are discussed.

Print Advertising in the Pacific Basin

Investigates the regional standardization issue in global advertising by comparing print advertising of the Pacific Basin countries of Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. The findings of the study reveal similarities and differences in print advertising components across the countries. Similarities were identified with respect to the use of photographs, the number of products shown per advertisement, the use of symbolic appeals, the use of product association and the use of product comparison appeals. However, the number of differences between the countries casts doubt on the extent of regional standardization that is feasible.

Comparison of business-to-business advertising: The United States and the United Kingdom

Abstract Much of the cross-cultural advertising literature indicates there are substantial differences in consumer advertising practice across national boundaries. This empirical comparison of trade magazine advertisements in the United States and the United Kingdom found substantial similarity across the two countries, with only minor differences.

Dogmatism and Internet Usage by University Students: Are Dogmatics Late Adopters?

Dogmatism is one of several personality traits that has been quite useful in differentiating between consumer innovators and noninnovators. This study examined the characteristics of Internet users and nonusers, and innovators and noninnovators in regard to their scores on the dogmatism scale. Contrary to expectations, the dogmatism scores of 425 students completing questionnaires were not able to distinguish between the groups studied.

The Influence of Culture on Services Marketing Research

Abstract As organizations continue to pursue more global strategies, the need to be able to understand consumers in far away places is increasing. Marketing research is the primary mechanism through which companies understand their current as well as potential customers. While many researchers and practitioners comment on cultural differences, the impact of national culture at the various stages of the research process is frequently not fully realized or even ignored. As companies contemplate the global marketplace, they must consider how domestic market research differs when conducted in international markets. This paper presents a comprehensive understanding of the importance of national culture in conducting international marketing research. A framework is provided to closely examine the relationships between culture, marketing research, and consumer behavior. The paper also discusses marketing research using actual company examples in the service industry. Finally, recommendations for researchers considering the international marketplace are also provided.