Ian Walker

The Development of Competent Marketing Professionals

The process of transition from university undergraduate to business professional is a crucial stage in the development of a business career. This study examines both graduate and employer perspectives on the essential skills and knowledge needed by marketing professionals to successfully perform their roles. From in-depth interviews with 14 graduates and 14 employers, it is apparent that the transition trajectory is both diverse and dynamic. The first main finding is that the transition from marketing graduate to employee is marked by a lack of skills to organically “fit the organization.” Another finding is related to specific competencies such as the ability to have and, most importantly, apply marketing knowledge. These findings have strong implications for the development and redesign of curricula to produce highly skilled, employable graduates and to assist universities in retaining a competitive advantage within the tertiary sector.

Activity Theory to Investigate the Implementation of ICTE

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine how one primary school implements Information and Communication Technologies in Education (ICTE). The principal, IT coordinator and two class teachers were interviewed to determine their views of how ICTE was being implemented. Activity theory was used as a means of analysing the data. The findings suggest a range of views about ICTE existed within the school. The implications suggest it is important for schools to recognise the different views of ICTE existing in their communities and to take cognisance of this when, for example, planning professional development. The study also suggests that more sensitive analytical approaches need to be developed to enable more critical evaluations of ICTE’s implementation within schools to be made.

Use of, and Attitudes Towards Internet Shopping by Shopping Mall Shoppers

The pressure of time and consumers’ consequent desire for convenience in our technology driven society promotes the search for new and more convenient ways of undertaking everyday activities. One major change currently occurring is in how the population shops. The use of technology to facilitate shopping both at home and in the workplace, is one of the major influences on electronic commerce that is expected to continue into the 21st century and is reflected in the growth of non-store alternative forms of retailing.

Cause Related Marketing: Models of Business Support for Charity

Faced with declining funds from government and the public, charities have increasingly sought support from business organizations (Industry Commission, 1995). Three main types of support have been sought, namely donations, sponsorship and coalignments (commercial business deals, e.g. licensing the use of a logo). Organizations can provide either money or in-kind support, such as goods, services and staff time.

Australian Marketing Practitioner’s Perceptions of Customer Loyalty: A preliminary Study

A preliminary investigation of twenty (20) marketing practitioners from five (5) industry groups was undertaken using in depth interviews. The interviews were taped then transcribed and analysed to identify to what extent practitioner perceptions of customer loyalty were similar both within and between industry groups. The findings indicated that there were strong similarities between industry groups and practitioners about their perceptions of what constitutes customer loyalty. Additionally a dichotomy was identified whereby one group of practitioners focused on the behavioral aspects of customer loyalty while the other group focused on the combination of the behavioral and attitudinal characteristics of customer loyalty.