Esther P.Y. Tang

Supply chain integration and product modularity: An empirical study of product performance for selected Hong Kong manufacturing industries

Purpose – While the beneficial impact of supply chain integration (SCI) and modular product design are generally acknowledged, few empirical studies have examined how an organization can achieve better performance through SCI with modular product design. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between SCI and modular product design, as well as their impact on product performance.Design/methodology/approach – By surveying 251 manufacturers in Hong Kong, structural equation modelling is used to test the research constructs and the hypothesized model.Findings – The results confirm that information sharing, product co‐development and organizational coordination are crucial organizational processes within SCI. Companies that have high levels of product modularity appear to be good at product co‐development and organizational coordination directly and at information sharing indirectly. Furthermore, companies that have high levels of product co‐development or product modularity appear to have be...

Supply chain product co‐development, product modularity and product performance: Empirical evidence from Hong Kong manufacturers

Purpose – This paper aims to examine how an organization can achieve higher performance through integrating supply chain product co‐development (SCPC) and modular product design.Design/methodology/approach – Based on a comprehensive review of literature on product development, supply chain management and system theory, the four proposed hypotheses concerning the relationships among SCPC, product modularity (PM), manufacturing capabilities and product performance (PP) were tested empirically through a sample of 251 Hong Kong manufacturers.Findings – SCPC is found to have a direct and positive relationship with PM and PP. PM improves flexibility and customer service and in turn PP.Research limitations/implications – Given the cross‐sectional nature of the study and the focus on manufacturing industry, future research should replicate this study in different industries with more longitudinal studies.Practical implications – The study provides solid evidence that managers should involve their suppliers, inter...

Visual and Verbal Communication in the Design of Eco-Label for Green Consumer Products

Abstract Eco-labels are meant to convey information to consumers about the environmental implications of purchasing the product, so that consumers who care about such effects can express their desires in the market. Whereas all eco-label designs utilize a visuallogo, only a few of them include verbalmessage withinthe label to communicate the main reason why the label is granted. As such, the purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of visual and verbal communication in eco-label designs on consumers purchasing behavior. Using an experimental design with homogenous sample, participants were randomly assigned one of four possible treatments in a 2 × 2 design with manipulations of both visual and verbal communication cues within a simulated web-based shopping experience. It was found that both the visual and verbal communication had significant individual and additive effects on the purchase of the designated products.

Factors influencing the relationship between product modularity and supply chain integration

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between product modularity (PM) and supply chain integration (SCI), and to identify factors influencing this relationship.Design/methodology/approach – A case study approach involving in‐depth interviews on three modular and two non‐modular design projects in the Hong Kong and Pearl River Delta region was conducted. Within and cross‐case analyses were adopted.Findings – Results support the current view that modular design is related to a loosely coordinated supply chain, whereas integrated design is associated with a tightly coordinated supply chain. However, this relationship is affected and explained by four contingency factors: new module/component development, technological knowledge leakage and creation, project team size and supply chain efficiency.Research limitations/implications – The paper used a case study approach so the generalizability of the study is limited. This approach, however, enabled us to examine explicitly the relat...

Transportation systems in Hong Kong and Southern China

Hong Kong has been a major entrepot for China for decades and its intermediate role has been enhanced in recent years. With the open door policy of China, Hong Kong manufacturers have relocated extensively their low‐cost operations to the Pearl River Delta in Southern China. Under the outward processing arrangement, raw materials, components and work‐in‐progress are shipped to China for further processing and the finished products are shipped back to Hong Kong for re‐export to other countries. This mode of operation has created tremendous loads on the already congested cross‐border traffic between Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta. In order to modernize its outdated and inadequate transportation systems, China has embarked on huge infrastructure development programmes in the Pearl River Delta and other fast developing regions. Hong Kong has also launched multi‐billion‐dollar ports and airport development projects scheduled to be completed in 1997/98. On completion of these projects, the strategic position of Hong Kong as an entrepot of Southern China will be further enhanced, despite increasing competition from neighbouring ports and airports in the medium to long term.

Analyzing Variety Seeking Behavior Using Panel Data

Abstract Past research into variety seeking has provided a growing body of research evidence on the significance of both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation factors as determinants of variety-seeking behavior. However, few of the many studies have addressed the role of product-specific characteristics on variety-seeking behavior across different product categories. This study presents the results of a field-based study that uses consumer panel data of Hong Kong consumers for analyzing variety-seeking behavior across six product categories: (1) packaged rice, (2) liquid milk, (3) instant noodle, (4) toilet tissue, (5) toothpaste, and (6) liquid soap. Specifically, the postulated influential power of both intrinsically (i.e., need for variety) and extrinsically motivated factors (i.e., product-category level characteristics) are assessed in terms of their relative degree of influence on variety-seeking behavior. Results show that need for variety, gender, type of product, purchase history, and number of available alternatives are significant predictors of consumer variety-seeking behavior.

Product variety strategy ‐ an environmental perspective

Argues that the dichtomy between greater product variety to meet market requirement and a smaller range to save costs has always led to controversy among top executives. Researchers of different disciplines have approached the study of product variety in great depth but none of their work includes environmental considerations. Reports on a survey in Hong Kong which provides empirical evidence of the relationship between product variety and market performance. Concludes first, that previous work has seldom discussed the issues of product variety from an environmental perspective; second, that great product variety leads to irresponsible consumption patterns, i.e. waste; and, third, that firms have not considered the environmental impacts in formulating their product variety strategies.

Ecologically conscious behaviour of urban Chinese consumers: the implications to public policy in China

The huge population of China, together with its rapid economic growth, has created problems of exhaustion of resources and environmental pollution, which not only harm the Chinese but the rest of the world as well. Studying the underlying forces of environment-related behaviours at all levels in China is very important. An awareness of resource conservation and environmental protection has gradually emerged in China. Nevertheless, consumers’ poor environmental consciousness is a major obstacle for China to build an environmentally-friendly society. Consolidating the experience of research in developed countries, a survey of 1392 Chinese consumers was conducted to explore the determinants of ecologically conscious behaviour (ECB) through an extended knowledge-attitude-practice (KAP) model. Results of the analyses showed that some socio-psychological factors have impacts on consumers’ ECB. Specifically, affection for resource conservation and environmental protection (eco-affection) and social responsibility consciousness have direct effects; eco-awareness has indirect effects; and eco-knowledge and materialistic values on consumption have both direct and indirect effects on consumers’ ECB. These findings provide important public policy implications for government and NGOs to guide consumers to engage in ECB.

Global marketers' dilemma : whether to translate the brand name into local language

Abstract Although brand name translation is meant to convey the brand message in a more articulate way, its effect on purchase intention is not always positive. Therefore, global marketers are facing the dilemma of whether to translate the brand name into local language or not, especially when it is a western brand product to be launched into the China market. It is believed that for certain kinds of western products the appearance of the Chinese in the brand name may jeopardize the “western image”-still a premium in the China market-of the products. This study is to investigate the influence of brand name Chinese translation on consumer purchase intention taking into consideration the moderating effects of the degree of product hedonism and the degree of consumer involvement in purchasing the product. A lab experiment in 2×2×2 factorial design with manipulation of translation (absence/presence), product hedonism (hedonic versus utilitarian product) and involvement (high versus low involvement product) is conducted. Results are discussed with implications to global marketers aiming at the China market.

New product development strategies for Hong Kong manufacturing industries

The new product development strategies for Hong Kong manufacturing industries were reviewed through surveys and interviews with special emphasis on the application and adoption of the Time-to-Market (TTM) concepts in Hong Kong. The study results imply that the majority of the Hong Kong manufacturers need to go through a substantial strategic change in order to sustain their competitiveness in the rapidly changing world market. The corporate focus should be changed from the low-cost manufacturing biased to the high-quality, customer-based and marketing/technology integrative emphasis.