William Ardrey

Entrepreneurial Women as Catalysts for Socioeconomic Development in Transitioning Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam

In this longitudinal study the authors examine the collective interplay of history, culture, policy and marketing, and their dynamic effects on entrepreneurial women in transitioning Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam (CLV). The authors introduce a systemic model to illustrate key factors and relationships, and then share results that indicate themes for entrepreneurial success and societal welfare. Important findings include insights into the evolving landscape in which women have opportunities to generate income, to provide employment, and to improve their own conditions, status and roles, as well as the well‐being of their families, communities and countries. The authors conclude with a discussion of policies and strategies to re‐orient various institutions and sectors to empower women as catalysts for greater economic growth and societal welfare. Opportunities for future research are suggested.

Treatment of irregular astigmatism with a 213 nm solid-state, diode-pumped neodymium:YAG ablative laser.

Purpose: To present the outcome of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) using a new neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) laser in patients with irregular astigmatism. Setting: Claremont Eye Clinic, Claremont, and the University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. Methods: In 3 patients with irregular astigmatism, PRK was performed with a solid‐state, 213 nm wavelength, 300 Hz scanning‐spot, diode‐pumped Nd:YAG ablative laser (CustomVis® Pulzar® laser system). The 3 patients had had previous PRK with penetrating keratoplasty, astigmatic keratotomy, or limbal relaxing incisions. At 3 and 6 months, best spectacle‐corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), manifest refraction, contrast sensitivity, and corneal topography were measured. Results: The first patient had a 1‐line improvement in BSCVA and a 4‐line improvement in UCVA, a 3.00 diopter (D) decrease in keratometric cylinder, and improvement in contrast sensitivity. The second patient had a 7.00 D decrease in myopia in 1 meridian and a 4.25 D decrease in the refractive cylinder in the other meridian. The third patient had a 2‐line improvement in BSCVA, a 5‐line improvement in UCVA, a 2.00 D decrease in the refractive cylinder, and improvement in contrast sensitivity. Conclusion: The lasers combination of a small spot, a fast pulse rate, and ultrafast tracking/scanning resulted in good results in 3 patients with difficult irregular astigmatism.

Structure, commitment and strategic action for Asian transitional nations' financial systems in crisis

The Asian financial crisis has not only reduced foreign investment in the transition economies of South‐east Asia, but has also impacted on the domestic financial structure with associated implications for strategy and marketing. Despite reform, the formal, state‐dominated banking systems continue to struggle, particularly with competition from the traditional informal financial institutions such as moneylenders, gold dealers and credit circles, a form of competition which is probably much less significant in Western economies. In this context, understanding and explaining consumer savings decisions can most usefully be developed by using ideas from its commitment construct. Implications for marketing and promotional strategies are offered, which include recommendations for strategic alliances with local organisations where consumer commitment already exists.

Involvement as a Mediator in Consumer Judgements

An experimental investigation designed to ascertain the dominant mode of information integration used by respondents when making judgments under different levels of involvement is described. Consumer judgements were elicited in the presence of an involvement manipulation using a 2×3 fully crossed factorial with two levels of purity and three levels of brand as well as three branded only stimuli. The pattern that emerged suggested that respondents were more likely to add items of information under low involvement, and to use an averaging paradigm under high involvement judgment situations.

Prudential Supervision, Banking and Economic Progress: Implementation of Risk Management Procedures in Joint Stock Banks in Vietnam

Classical economic theory suggests that for economic development, a nation needs people, resources and capital. In populous and resource-rich Southeast Asia, capital for investment is the critical ingredient for the transition of underdeveloped nations to more prosperous states. Sound prudential supervision, combining credit, market and operational risk management best practices, can collectively provide adequate levels of investment to sustain rapid economic growth, to improve living standards, and to begin tackling major systemic, infrastructure and environmental challenge. However, in Southeast Asian Transition Economies (SEATE’s), especially Vietnam, these nations remain dependent on foreign capital because reforms of the state-dominated banking system have further to go. This study, undertaken in Vietnam in the 2001-08 period, takes a three step process of reviewing Vietnamese legislation and local best practices at privately held “Joint Stock Banks”, comparisons to best practices such as those promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements and in leading banking journals, followed by a data collection effort involving semi-structured interviews from 28 joint stock bank senior managers in Vietnam from 15 joint stock banking institutions.