Subhash C. Lonial

The Impact of Organizational Orientations on Medium and Small Firm Performance: A Resource‐Based Perspective

Recent studies suggest that market, entrepreneurial, and learning orientations individually improve firm performance. In this study, we suggest that each of the orientations can enhance company success, but the potential of each orientation should not be viewed in isolation. Instead, we draw on the resource‐based view of the firm, looking at these three orientations as capabilities of small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). The analysis was carried out on a sample of 164 SMEs. The results indicate that market, entrepreneurial, and learning orientations jointly give rise to positional advantage, which, in turn, is positively related to the performance of the firm.

The impact of market orientation on NSD and financial performance of hospital industry

Purpose – The principal aim of this study is to determine the critical factors of market orientation (MO) and to measure its effect on new service development (NSD) and financial performance of hospital industry in Turkey.Design/methodology/approach – Drawing on a self‐administered questionnaire, the data were collected from a sample of privately‐held general hospitals within the city of Istanbul in Turkey. Based on theoretical considerations, a model was proposed to examine the interrelationships among MO, NSD‐performance and financial performance.Findings – Data analysis reveals that while MO has a strong and positive effect on NSD‐performance, it has no significant effect on financial performance. Also a strong and positive relationship was noted between NSD‐performance and financial performance. Finally, the findings also provided evidence for the mediating role of NSD‐performance in the relationship between MO and financial performance in the hospital industry.Research limitations/implications – Firs...

The relationship between market orientation and performance in the hospital industry: A structural equations modeling approach

There is general consensus in the research literature that market orientation is related to organizational performance. This study examines this relationship in the hospital industry. One unique feature of this study is that both market orientation and performance are conceptualized as being multi-dimensional constructs. Hence the technique of Structural Equations Modeling (SEM) is used to examine the relationship. Analyses were based on market orientation and performance data obtained from 175 hospitals in a five-state region of the United States. The SEM results confirm the multi-dimensional nature of both market orientation and performance, and the strong relationship between the constructs. Interestingly, this relationship is found to be much stronger for smaller hospitals than for larger hospitals. Implications for the hospital industry are discussed.

Wishful Identification with Fictional Characters: An Assessment of the Implications of Gender in Message Dissemination to Children

Abstract This study is concerned with a comparison of male and female childrens wishful identifications with fictional characters. The results of separate grade analyses revealed that kindergarten, second and fourth grade students have same-sex identifications (i.e., males identify with males and females with females). The results of a sixth grade analysis revealed females wishfully identifying with some male characters, and male sixth graders manifesting a high level of identification with the male. The study thus suggests a hypothesis of females departing from gender congruency around the ages of twelve to thirteen.

Children's Perceptions of Characters: Human versus Animate Assessing Implications for Children's Advertising

Abstract This study seeks to investigate the perceptual properties of kindergarten, second, fourth, and sixth grade students toward a stimulus set consisting of human and animate characters. The rationale is based on the potential deceptiveness of animation and possible ethical and legal problems which may emanate from the use of cartoon characters in promotion. The results of scaling judged similarity data revealed that the school-grade categories in question had similar perceptual structures and that an animate/human perceptual cue is apparently impacting on perceptions. The results also point to the viability of multidimensional scaling and the usage of simplistic judged similarities in the measurement of childrens perceptions.

Impact of Quality Management on Hospital Performance: An Empirical Investigation

Understanding the impact of quality management approaches on organization performance is essential in the healthcare arena. Prior research, however, is inconsistent in regard to the link between various quality management practices and firm performance. That is, some researchers find a strong link between quality management and firm performance, while others do not. The authors believe the use of causal models and an expansive view of quality management may help to bridge these opposing viewpoints or perspectives. To that end, the current research “decomposes” the construct of quality management into two subdimensions of quality practices and quality context, providing a richer conceptualization and understanding of the overall construct. Additionally, they employ structural equation modeling to evaluate the causal sequence showing that both quality practices and quality context are distinct model components concurrently operating through the endogenous construct of quality management to positively impact hospital performance. The implications for hospital managers and executives are clear: in order to improve hospital performance, the scope of the organizations quality activities need to be very broad and encompassing. Last, the authors assess the potential moderating effects of environmental uncertainty and hospital size on the quality management-performance relationship.

An Examination of the Relationship between Manufacturing Strategy and Marketing Objectives

The development of a manufacturing strategy that is in consonance with marketing objectives is an essential ingredient for success in the current business environment. Therefore, the relationship between marketing objectives and manufacturing strategies was examined in this article. Responses from 175 manufacturing organisations indicated that high levels of process structure complexity and organisational scope are associated with companies that have a dominant market share. Conversely, organisations that are minor competitors tend to have lower levels of process structure complexity and organisational scope.

Revisiting internal market orientation: a note

Purpose – This paper seeks to further the understanding of the domain of the IMO construct in a developing country, as suggested by Lings and Greenley. It seeks to build on their proposed construct and provide empirical evidence of its impact in the context of the Indian banking industry. Design/methodology/approach – The behavioral dimensions of the construct are confirmed in a manner consistent with established market orientation (external) construct. The paper validates scale pertaining to the wants and needs of bank employees for effective intelligence generation and dissemination as well as for effective response implementation. Findings – The authors find a positive significant relationship between internal market orientation and staff attitude and perceived customer satisfaction. Further, the impact of staff attitude on employee job satisfaction is also significant. Research limitations/implications – Internal market orientation, with the passage of time, may not be as prevalent and exhaustive as i...

MULTIDIMENSIONAL SCALING AND RETAIL POSITIONING: AN APPRAISAL

Multidimensional scaling (MDS) has often been utilised in retail store positioning and repositioning research. However, MDS results constrain store movement to existing perceptual dimensions. This work indicates that an assessment of higher level preference functions should be conducted before utilising MDS results in store positioning. Despite this limitation, the ability of MDS to reveal current perceptual criteria means that it can serve as a very useful diagnostic. In this regard, MDS can be utilised to determine if a new dimension has emerged from a given positioning, or whether consumers have changed the salience of their perceptual criteria, as a result of a positioning. It can also reveal if a referent store has moved in the appropriate direction (e.g. away from competitors and towards a gap that evidences utility).

Assessing Mutual Association between Alternative Market Segmentation Bases

Abstract This study seeks to investigate the nature of the relationship between benefits and problems as alternative market segmentation bases. In this regard, are benefit clusters mutually associated with problem clusters? The results of applying a segment congruence analysis to the benefits and problems associated with dog food revealed that each, at least contextually, is a separate theoretical concept. As a result, the study suggests that strategy may dictate the usage of either as a market segmentation base.