Vanessa Ratten

International sport marketing : practical and future research implications

Purpose – Sport is a global product and service that many people around the world enjoy playing, watching and participating in. Whilst there has been an abundance of global media attention on sporting events such as the Olympics and World Football Cup, there seems to be a lack of integration between the sports marketing and international business disciplines both from a practical and also academic standpoint. This paper aims to discuss international sport marketing and why it is an important attribute of business‐to‐business marketing.Design/methodology/approach – The aim of the paper is to provide practical implications and research avenues for those seeking to further investigate international sport marketing as a unique area of academic research. The introduction to the paper focuses on the importance of sport to the global economy and how entrepreneurship is ingrained in many sport businesses and organizations. Next, different areas of international business management that relate to entrepreneurial s...

Special issue: Community-based, social and societal entrepreneurship

Community-based, social and societal entrepreneurship have increased in importance in the past decade as globally more people and organizations are interested in issues related to how to encourage a sustainable world for future generations. The aim of this special issue is to discuss the importance of community-based, social and societal entrepreneurship by focusing on the most cutting edge research in the field. Both community-based and social entrepreneurship involve cooperative relationships in which resources are exchanged to create beneficial value for all parties involved. Many governments around the world encourage community-based and social entrepreneurship because of its ability to transform society. Society is changed as the notion of entrepreneurship is embedded within societal expectations about how constituents should behave. Existing norms within business and society mean that entrepreneurs should be good citizens and focus on community initiatives (Aldrich and Fiol 2004). Both community-based and social entrepreneurship have received increased recognition as being part of contemporary society. Therefore, the studies of community-based, societal and social entrepreneurship deserve special attention as they are distinct forms of entrepreneurship that are integral elements of a global society. Social entrepreneurship is a process of bringing together resources to address a social need. This involves the active evaluation and pursuit of opportunities as a means for social transformation (Vasi 2009). Social entrepreneurship provides an opportunity for society, individuals, corporations, organizations and the government to address any unmet social issue. Social entrepreneurship can be achieved through both philanthropic and government expenditures that involve the public and private sector (Tracey and Phillips 2007). However, the traditional boundary between the public and private sector is blurred by social entrepreneurship as it provides innovative ways to treat social problems. Governments as well as organizations are instigators of social entrepreneurship through the formation and promotion of notfor-profit and for-profit programs. Not-for-profit programs are common in government agency initiatives that encourage community-based entrepreneurship such as community development banks. For-profit programmes include local community agencies that partner with businesses such as Ben & Jerry’s ice cream stores to employ disadvantaged youth. The community is important element of social entrepreneurship as it provides a conducive environment that influences the types of entrepreneurial activity that take place. Many communities have a social foundation and this is a defining characteristic of community-based entrepreneurs. Therefore, when a community acts both as the entrepreneur and enterprise they are achieving community-based entrepreneurship (Peredo and Chrisman 2006). In community-based entrepreneurship, there is a mutual dependence by different people and organizations that encourage a symbiotic relationship. This leads to communities involved in

Entrepreneurship, e-finance and mobile banking

This paper focuses on the role of entrepreneurship and e-finance in determining a persons intention to adopt mobile banking. The approach utilised in this paper is to develop a conceptual framework that includes a number of propositions that are developed and justified by the literature. The main findings of this paper are that peoples entrepreneurial inclination and learning tendency will determine how they respond to marketing and knowledge about mobile banking. The practical implications are that financial institutions involved in e-finance can focus their marketing efforts at increasing peoples exposure to mobile banking.

Does the sky have to be the limit? Utilizing cloud‐based learning in the workplace

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the benefits of cloud‐based learning.Design/methodology/approach – The paper provides examples of how cloud‐based learning is currently being implemented, and informs learning and development (L&D) professionals how to make the most of this technology.Findings – In order to get the most out of cloud‐based learning, L&D practitioners need to encourage content creation and knowledge sharing in their organizations. As cloud‐based learning offers a useful way to take data and information from all parts of an organization and make it readily accessible to all employees, it is important that a number of steps be followed.Practical implications – Cloud‐based learning reduces costs in terms of hardware purchase and maintenance, whilst increasing the availability of real time data from any geographic location.Originality/value – The paper offers a checklist that L&D professionals might find useful to assist their thinking on how they might make the most of the oppo...

Cloud Computing Services: Theoretical Foundations of Ethical and Entrepreneurial Adoption Behaviour

Cloud computing is an emerging service technology that has ethical and entrepreneurial implications. Due to technological innovations increasing the attention placed on cloud computing services, more people are focusing on the security and privacy issues determined by ethical guidelines and how the technology is evolving as an entrepreneurial service innovation. This paper presents a theoretical perspective on how a person adopts cloud computing. The literature on technology innovation and adoption behaviour is examined with a focus on social cognitive theory. A theoretical framework is then presented, which indicates a number of propositions to describe the intention of a person to adopt cloud computing services. The role of technology marketing capability, sustained learning and outcome expectancy are included in helping to understand the role of cloud computing applications. Suggestions for future research and practical implications are stated.

Exploring Behaviors and Perceptions Affecting the Adoption of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is a technological innovation that has been marketed to consumers as a revolution in the way people store and communicate data information. This paper extends previous research on technology adoption behavior of individuals by focusing on the role of e-business entrepreneurs in facilitating cloud computing services. As there are a number of technology adoption theories that can explain the process, this paper reviews the major innovation theories but focuses on social cognitive theory for its theoretical framework. Social cognitive theory is identified in this paper as being the most appropriate theoretical lens to understand e-business entrepreneurship as it focuses on social learning, which is an important determinant of a person adopting cloud computing services. A theoretical framework is developed based on social cognitive theory, which focuses on the role of mobile marketing, a persons emotions and belief system on their intention to adopt cloud computing services. The findings from this paper may help to bridge the gap between practical usages of new technological innovations like cloud computing services with the impact of e-business strategies on a persons behavior. This paper also has a number of managerial implications for technology marketers that include focusing on a persons emotions and belief system on their intention to adopt e-business technologies. Future research avenues for technology marketers of cloud computing services are stated in the paper that highlight the importance of facilitating e-business entrepreneurs to further develop mobile technological innovations.