Erdener Kaynak

Consumer Attitudes towards Products of Foreign Origin: Do They Vary Across Product Classes?

Although a substantial body of literature exists on the country-of-origin bias, the issue of whether or not such perceptions are uniform across product classes has not been resolved. This study examines how quality perceptions of consumers vary across four product classes: electronic items, food products, fashion merchandise, and household goods. Responses obtained from a sample of Nova Scotian consumers suggest that quality perceptions tend to be product-specific. Quality perceptions vary also for the 25 countries studied. A number of policy implications are also offered in the paper.

Consumer perceptions of foreign products

The objective of this paper is to investigate product‐country images, lifestyles and ethnocentric behaviors of Turkish consumers and provide suggestions to the marketers about the implications of the study results. Data for the study were collected through personal interviews in the fifth largest Turkish City of Konya. Study findings indicate that Turkish consumers had significantly different perceptions of product attributes for the products coming from countries of different levels of socio‐economic and technological development. Results lend support to earlier studies conducted in western countries and also indicate the robustness of the ethnocentrism scale (CETSCALE), which was developed in the USA to measure consumer attitudes in an advanced developing country. Also, results of the study revealed that there were several lifestyle dimensions apparent among the Turkish consumers, which were closely correlated with their ethnocentric biases. This study contributes to the growing body of the literature related to cross‐cultural comparisons of country‐of‐origin influence by incorporating consumer ethnocentric biases as well as consumer lifestyles.

Environment, strategy, structure, and performance in the context of export activity: An empirical study of Taiwanese manufacturing firms

Abstract This study explored why some Taiwanese manufacturing firms had a better export performance than others. It examines variations in export performance in accordance with the operating environment (i.e., organizational characteristics, decision-maker characteristics, and foreign target market), export marketing strategy, and export operating unit structure. A random sample of 1,228 companies listed in the Exports of the Republic of China—1986–1987 was taken from five industries—metal products, machineries, electrical machines, transportation equipment, and precision instruments and equipment. Samples were drawn in proportion to the number of firms in each industry. Stepwise discriminant analysis showed significant differences between high- and low-performance exporters.

Consumers’ country‐of‐origin (COO) perceptions of imported products in a homogenous less‐developed country

In recent years, consumers worldwide have been having increased access to a wide variety of products and services from other countries. Furthermore, with advances in satellite communication, travel, television outreach and Internet access as well as increased education, consumers all over the world are becoming more aware of the products/services available throughout the world. As a result, the significance of products’ county‐of‐origin images in influencing consumer behavior is increasing rapidly. An understanding of the role of COO images for imported products as against domestic ones would aid in the formulation of better marketing plans, strategies and policies by companies of both domestic and international origin. The purpose of this empirical research study is to examine Bangladeshi consumers’ quality perceptions of products outsourced from nine foreign countries from where the country sources most of its product needs and compare them with their perceptions of domestic products. Study findings indicated that Bangladeshi consumers overwhelmingly preferred western made products, though there were differences in their perceptions across product classes as well as degree of suitability of sourcing countries.

An analysis of the factors affecting the adoption of electronic commerce by SMEs

Purpose – The study investigates the internet‐based electronic commerce (EC) adoption profile of small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in Turkey as well as the factors affecting their willingness to adopt EC usage.Design/methodology/approach – EC adoption is measured by a composite index of the usage frequency of 14 EC application tools. The study draws on the data obtained from a sample of 237 manufacturing SMEs with internet connection.Findings – In was discovered that EC adoption was significantly influenced by its perceived benefits. However, the perceived limitations of EC applications were found to have no statistically significant effect on EC adoption. The analysis also showed that company and industry‐specific factors, with the exception of amount of resources allocated for export development, did not appear to have any significant impact on EC adoption.Research limitations/implications – More efforts have to be made to remove or at least mitigate the impediments to a SMEs willingness to ado...

Conventional and Islamic Banks: Patronage Behaviour of Jordanian Customers

In recent years financial institutions, marketing researchers and public policy makers have recognised that behavioural analysis is vital for understanding bank customers. Most studies so far have focused on understanding the behaviour of customers of commercial banks in developed economies. Very little research has been undertaken concerning bank customers′ attitudes and behavioural characteristics in developing countries. The purpose of this study is to understand customers′ attitudes, beliefs and perceptions about the services offered by conventional and Islamic banks in Jordan. The information presented here will provide Jordanian bank executives and public policy makers, and other developing country executives, with insights into the kind of services bank customers find most appropriate to their banking needs.

Markets of a single customer: exploiting conceptual developments in market segmentation

Market segmentation has always had a very important place in the marketing literature. Besides being one of the ways of operationalizing the marketing concept, market segmentation provides effective guidelines for firms’ marketing strategy development and resource allocation among their diverse product markets. As market segmentation simultaneously addresses the roles of both marketers and customers, the segmentation concept has captured the attention of many scholars and practitioners alike in the field. Accordingly, within the last few years, a number of new developments have emerged in market segmentation. Although different terms or concepts may have been used by different researchers, the basic idea behind these developments has been to create more effective and efficient ways of reaching individual consumers in order to satisfy their unique needs and wants. Examines and conceptualizes the recent advancements in market segmentation and development studies and globally explores their managerial implications for marketing practitioners and researchers alike for orderly decision‐making purposes.

Bank and Product Selection: Hong Kong

Examines an empirical study by questionnaire survey to determine the importance of selected patronage factors used by 106 Hong Kong consumers in choosing domestic and foreign banks. Although Hong Kong consumers use domestic banks more, they perceive the usefulness of a select number of services in a similar manner for both domestic and foreign banks. Suggests lessons that banks may learn from the results.

Retail banking in Nordic countries: the case of Finland

Reports the findings and implications of a bank marketing study which was conducted in the Turku region of Finland in 1993. Determines the importance of selected patronage factors used by Finnish bank consumers in choosing national versus local banks, and determines the perceived usefulness of the variety of services offered by these two groups of commercial banks. Offers certain guidelines for bank managers. Suggests that the study findings would have wider application in other Nordic countries. With the recent entry of Finland into the European Union, banks from other member countries may find the study useful for policy development purposes. Suggests further avenues in Finnish commercial bank marketing.

The Delphi technique in the measurement of tourism market potential: The case of Nova Scotia

Abstract In order to plan for the development of tourism in Nova Scotia it has been necessary to gather information and opinions on the industry on a more detailed scale than has hitherto been done. Here the Delphi technique is used to gather data on tourism research, on future impacts of tourism and to strengthen a regional data base, all of which are intended to act as an effective policy-making tool in solving management and planning problems in the tourism and hospitality industry. The impact of new technology (in particular the CHECK-INN system) and training needs are discussed in detail.