Daniel Laufer

The Role of Country of Manufacture in Consumers' Attributions of Blame in an Ambiguous Product-Harm Crisis

ABSTRACT This paper examines how country of origin, in particular country of manufacture (COM), impacts the assessment of blame by observers to a product-harm crisis when information is unclear as to a firms culpability for the crisis. In a pilot study and experiment involving three product categories, we find evidence that a negative country of manufacture increases blame attributions to the company when consumers are not familiar with the brand involved. However, when consumers are familiar with the brand, country of manufacture information does not impact blame attributions. In addition, we find evidence that brand affects how consumers process information pertaining to firm culpability. An unknown brand causes observers to assess information associated with company blame as more important when compared to a well-known brand.

Communicating charity successes across cultures: Highlighting individual or collective achievement?

Purpose – This paper aims to examine how different ways in which a charitable organization communicates successes (highlighting individual or collective achievement) can influence potential future donors, and to determine whether the effectiveness of the communication strategy is contingent on the cultural context.Design/methodology/approach – Experiments were conducted in the USA and Mexico.Findings – The findings of the study demonstrate that the effectiveness of communications with the public regarding a charitable organizations success stories depends on the type of message used in relation to the cultural context. When the message was congruent with the cultural dimension of individualism‐collectivism, the public was more likely to consider making a contribution to the charity.Research limitations/implications – The study examined the impact of conveying a message congruent with the cultural context in the context of charitable contributions. Further research is needed to examine whether one would e...

Age‐related reactions to a product harm crisis

Purpose – This article aims to examine differences between older and younger consumers in their reactions to a product harm crisis. Research suggests that motivational and cognitive changes due to aging might cause information to be differentially utilized. The authors use primary and secondary control influences on information processing to explain why older consumers perceive themselves as less susceptible to the threats associated with a product harm crisis. This has important implications in terms of blame attributions, and marketing variables of interest such as purchase intentions and negative word of mouth.Design/methodology/approach – Two studies were conducted in which participants were asked to read a short newspaper article about a product harm crisis and to respond to a series of questions. Participants were split into two groups based on age.Findings – The empirical findings indicate that, compared with younger consumers, older consumers perceive product harm crises as less threatening, place...

Training Heritage Students for Managing in Emerging Markets: The Case of Business in Israel in the United States

With economic opportunities growing in emerging markets, an increasing number of diaspora members living in industrialized countries are considering returning to their former homelands where they may pursue careers as managers or entrepreneurs. Gillespie et al (1999) in fact suggest that “as international migration and market liberalization expand globally, homeland investment by diaspora businesses and entrepreneurs may become a significant category of foreign investment”. In addition, a growing number of foreign governments are actively encouraging emigrants to consider returning to their former homelands (Waldman 2003). As a result of these trends, diaspora members are increasingly being drawn to learning more about the business environment in their former homelands. This paper describes my experience teaching a course about the business environment in Israel (“Israel course”) over a five-year period at the University of Texas at Austin from 1996-2001. The involvement of both government and industry played an important role in the success of the course. This paper provides guidance to educators about creating this type of course for other emerging markets. The success of the Israel course at the University of Texas at Austin is proof that courses targeting heritage groups can be successful and serve as a valuable source of training for managers and entrepreneurs who could be living in the future in emerging markets.