Ugur Yucelt

A Study of Risk-Taking Propensities among Small Business Entrepreneurs and Managers: an Empirical Evaluation

This study investigates the risk-taking propensities of a sample of Vermont small business entrepreneurs and managers. Risk-taking propensities as measured by responses to Kogan-Wallachs risk-taking questions varied more for business risk situations than for personal risk, career risk, or trivial risk situations. In addition, there were significant differences in risk-taking propensities according to differences in respondents’ age, education, years of business experience, years owned business, and the size and type of their business using the method of analysis of variance. Risk-taking propensities also varied significantly according to respondents’ motivation as to how they feel about themselves, the probability of improving themselves, and the probability of accomplishing something useful.

Marketing Museums: An Empirical Investigation Among Museum Visitors

ABSTRACT This study of museum visitors was conducted in 24 Historical and Museum sites in Pennsylvania. The study was designed to discover service quality, and the needs, wants, interest and satisfaction level of all visitors so that the 24 museum sites around the state of Pennsylvania can serve the public at a higher level. A self-administrated questionnaire was used to gather information. A reasonable number of visitors were selected using systematic and random selection procedures. According to this sampling method, every visitor would have a chance to be in the sample for perfect representation of visitor population. A total of 2,025 visitors were included in the sample, and 1,932 of them successfully completed the interviews. Findings indicated that museum visitors of Pennsylvania were highly satisfied with collections and exhibits, labels, educational and entertainment values of exhibits, audio-visual facilities, admission prices, parking, seating and restroom facilities, and directional signs. Ratings were very high for courtesy, friendliness, interpretive skills, availability, and ability to answer questions of staff and tour guides. In summary, the underlying dimensions of museum studies suggest that the museum experiences of visitors are great assets for policy analysis and managerial implications. Therefore, visitors satisfaction must be periodically checked and marketing plans of museums should be revised according to the needs and wants of museum visitors.

Internationally-Oriented Marketing Curriculum Development: A Comparative Study of Canada, the U.S.A., and New Zealand

The study compared business school programs and curricula in Canada, New Zealand, and the U.S.A. Findings indicate that business schools of all sizes and in different countries need to prepare their students for the competitive global markets. In particular, knowledge and expertise in international marketing are important prerequisites for general business education and they need to be acquired by all business students around the world.

Job Satisfaction, Absenteeism, and Workers' Choice in the Turkish Industrial Sector

Summary This study investigated the relation of absenteeism to job satisfaction and fulfillment of Maslows hierarchy of needs in Turkey. Responses of 154 white collar and 110 blue collar Turkish industrial workers to the Job Descriptive Index Questionnaire indicate that inadequate or unsatisfactory promotion opportunities and insecurity are attributes of high absenteeism among white collar workers and that low pay, inefficient supervision, and selfishness among coworkers are attributes of high absenteeism among blue collar workers. The findings were interpreted in terms of unfulfilled upper-level needs (motivational factors) among white collar Turkish workers and unfulfilled lower-level needs (hygiene factors) among blue collar Turkish workers.

A Cross-national/Cross-cultural Study of Radio Listening Preferences

It is claimed that consumers in diverse cultures place varying degrees of importance on different media sources. Among these, broadcasting is increasing its importance all over the world. The purpose of this cross-national/cross-cultural study was to identify the socio-economic, demographic and behavioural characteristics and the listening preferences of radio audiences in Vermont, USA, and Nova Scotia, Canada, to find out how to reach the maximum number of listeners in these selected regions of North America in the most effective way.

Attitudinal and Behavioural Characteristics of American and French Canadian Credit Card Holders

This study provides insights into the characteristics and attitudinal orientations of American and French Canadian credit card holders. The data were collected in Quebec, Canada and in Vermont, U.S.A. and analyzed using the stepwise discriminant analysis technique. Questionnaires were distributed to convenient samples of 200 households in Montpelier, Vermont and an equal number in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Ninety-seven questionnaires were returned from the American sample and 10 7 questionnaires from French Canada. Findings indicate that French Canadian and American card holders have distinct attitudinal characteristics in holding and using credit cards. The results indicate that, in both countries, credit cards are in the growth state and further growth is expected.

Buyers’ Perception of the Price-Quality Relationship: The Turkish Case

This study is contrived to evaluate the perceived price-quality connection in Turkey, which is among the world’s industrializing nations. Data was collected in Istanbul, Turkey and analyzed using the Factor Analysis Techniques in the SPSSX routine. The study findings indicated that the price-quality relationship shows formations based upon socio-economic patterns, economic foundations, and value structure of a particular country. The interdependence of price and quality will motivate consumers to be particular about their choice and persuade manufacturers to produce and sell high quality products. Market success will depend upon how well price and quality are connected and how positive an opinion consumers have in this process.

A Study Measuring the Influence of Advertising on Cigarette Consumption: Estimation with OLS Model

This study investigates the effects of advertising on cigarette consumption, particularly after 1967. Sources of data include the statistical abstract of the U.S., the Historical Statistics of the U.S., and the Vital Statistics between 1955 and 1979. A multiple regression model was used to analyze the data. Cigarette consumption was considered a dependent variable. Disposable income, death rate due to cancer of the respiratory system/total cancer death, advertising outlays for cigarettes: newspaper and television advertising/total advertising cost, cigarette production (including long and regular sizes), sales outlets, lag variable, average price for cigarettes, and a dummy variable were considered independent variables. Analysis revealed,, on the one hand, a significant negative relationship between cigarette consumption and total cancer death and average prices and, on the other, a significant positive relationship between loyalty and cigarette consumption. Although advertising expenditures were not found to be statistically significant, increased spending on advertising was found to have an increasing effect on cigarette consumption.

Credit Card Usage Behavior: Some Insights from Nova Scotia, Canada

This article presents the results of an empirical study of Nova Scotian Consumers’ attitudes and behavior toward credit buying and the role credit cards play as a facilitatory tool in consumer goods purchasing. Socioeconomic profiles of a sample of current credit card users are developed. The managerial implications of shopping with credit cards are discussed for orderly future marketing strategy formulation purposes. This study and its methodology could be replicated in other parts of the country for the purpose of generalizations.

Cultural Affects on Product Choice: An Empirical Study

Culture along with demographic profile, life style and economic well being of consumers effects product choices. The most important difference between Western, Eastern and Pacific cultures may be the economic factors which determine the buying power of consumers. Many products which are available to consumers in Western cultures may not be available in Eastern cultures because of lack of buying power. As a result, consumers in different regions may not be able to satisfy their needs although they are willing to do so.