ALBERT

Notes: Purpose - This UK-based research aims to build on the US-based work of Keller and Aaker, which found a significant association between "company credibility" (via a brand's "expertise" and "trustworthiness") and brand extension acceptance, hypothesising that brand trust, measured via two correlate dimensions, is significantly related to brand extension acceptance. Design/methodology/approach - Discusses brand extension and various prior, validated influences on its success. Focuses on the construct of trust and develops hypotheses about the relationship of brand trust with brand extension acceptance. The hypotheses are then tested on data collected from consumers in the UK. Findings - This paper, using 368 consumer responses to nine, real, low involvement UK product and service brands, finds support for a significant association between the variables, comparable in strength with that between media weight and brand share, and greater than that delivered by the perceived quality level of the parent brand. Originality/value - The research findings, which develop a sparse literature in this linkage area, are of significance to marketing practitioners, since brand trust, already associated with brand equity and brand loyalty, and now with brand extension, needs to be managed and monitored with care. The paper prompts further investigation of the relationship between brand trust and brand extension acceptance in other geographic markets and with other higher involvement categories.

Notes: Purpose - Aims to explore the factorial structure of automobile brand image in the context of a cross-national study. More specifically, we intend to answer two questions: whether the factor structure of brand image perception differ across countries, and whether these differences are owing to nation's culture and level of economic development. Design/methodology/approach - An existing data set, which consists of data collected from survey research, was employed. Data covering the top 20 automobile markets consisting of 4,320 eligible new car owners. Perception of and attitude towards automobile brand associations were measured using nominal scales. Findings - Provides empirical evidence that supports the applicability of multiple brand image dimensions corresponding to the consumer's sensory, utilitarian, symbolic and economic needs at the global level. The study also suggested that factor structure of brand image differs across nations and these differences might be reflective to a nation's culture and its level of economic development. Research limitations/implications - As with any empirical study, this research inevitably has its limitations, which presents opportunities for further research: extensions of the present framework to other product categories; extensions of the national factors; extensions of the brand associations; and measurement improvement. Practical implications - Understanding the similarities or differences of the factor structure of brand image across the globe facilitates the formation of a successful global image strategy. First of all, by exploring brand image structure at the global level; and the specific interrelationships among the corresponding associations Originality/value - The results derived from the 20 diverse nations in the present study not only enhance our understanding of brand image structure but also provide a strong test of the empirical generalizability of automobile brand image dimensionality and factor structure in a global context.

Notes: Purpose - Innovation launch strategies are usually critical for innovation success. The main objective of this work consists of analysing the influence of the tactical launch decisions on new product performance Design/methodology/approach - Starts with a brief literature review. Then the results obtained in our study are compared with those obtained in other research. The data used in our research describes a new product launch in the Spanish agro-food sector. The method for collecting the information was through a mailed questionnaire. Because most of response variables were categorical, and in order to verify the proposed hypotheses, cross tabulation was used. We used Pearson's chi-squared (?2), likelihood ratio (H2) and the adjusted residuals too. Findings - The results propose a series of recommendations for the executives in charge of marketing new products. Specifically, suggests that it will be more likely to achieve success if, when launching a new product, skimming strategies are used, if intensive distribution is used for selling an innovation and the investment in the communication media is greater than that made by competitors. However, it is more possible to fail if the new product is marketed using an individual brand, penetration prices, push communication strategies and less expenditure on this concept than the competitors. Research limitations/implications - The literature review suggests that some of these tactical decisions seem to be related with other launch decisions (strategic launch decisions). As a result of this, it will be interesting to perform these similar analyses for those as well as to analyse the possible links that may exist between both and their influence on the results. Future research could explore these relationships in other industrial sector or countries. Perhaps, it would be possible provide a common perspective. Originality/value - In spite of the importance of the last phase of new product, there are few empirical works about it. This work tries to explain the transcendence of the tactical launch decisions and the influence of it on the success/failure of an innovation

Notes: Purpose - The paper attempts to answer "Will the shift from the locus of self to locus of others impact the magnitude of loss aversion?" and "Will different prices affect the self-other asymmetry in choice?". Design/methodology/approach - The design is a two (locus: self vs others) by two (anchoring price: $30 vs $90) between-subjects' factorial with both the locus of evaluation and the monthly service plan charges (anchoring prices) as the between-subjects' factors. Findings - The author finds that inertia equity is smaller when consumers evaluate peer customers than when they evaluate themselves to switch brands. It is also found that the locus effect is applicable to brands at various prices. Research limitations/implications - Further research should focus on the validations of the assumptions to support the empirical finding from the theoretical perspective. Practical implications - Price reductions should be made personally relevant to the consumer and price increases should be made relevant to other things. Originality/value - The locus effect expands the assessment of loss aversion from one (self or other) to two dimensions jointly (self and other). It demonstrates the impact of the locus of evaluation on the magnitude of loss aversion.

Notes: Purpose - The paper proposes investigating the timing of consumer requests for price-matching refunds, the relationship between the refund timing and consumer repeat store purchase and the reasons for buying from the price-matching store when a lower competitive price is found before purchase. Design/methodology/approach - In Study 1, qualitative research (consumer interviews) was conducted; Study 2 uses a shopping simulation in which the timing of consumer refund-seeking behavior is observed, and Study 3 involves a consumer survey in which information on consumer refund-seeking behavior at real stores is gathered. Findings - The paper finds that consumers request price-matching refunds more frequently at the time of purchase than after the purchase. Seeking (and receiving) the price-matching refund is associated with higher repeat store purchase behavior than not having had a refund-seeking experience. Key reasons for buying from the price-matching retailer when a lower competitive price is found before purchase include convenience, tangible extras, and store reputation/service quality. Research limitations/implications - A student convenience sample was used. In Study 2, fictitious stores were used. In Study 3, the timing of refund seeking may have been different on other (not reported) occasions. Ability to seek the refund was not accounted for. Practical implications - The majority of the retailer's price-matching cost will come from issuing at-the-time-of-purchase refunds, when consumers possess more bargaining power. A positive refund-seeking experience may create a more loyal customer. In addition to being a low-price signal, price-matching policies can serve as signs of retailers' customer orientation. Originality/value - This research fills the gap in understanding the consumer price-match refund-seeking behavior and offers practical implications for retailers employing price-matching guarantees.

Notes: Purpose - The paper aims to report the findings of research into perceptions of what makes the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) attractive or unattractive as a procurement system for projects in the UK. Design/methodology/approach - The research uses a postal survey questionnaire technique for primary data collection. Literature review is used to identify relevant factors, which are then incorporated into the design of the survey instrument. Survey response data is subjected to descriptive statistical analysis and subsequently to rotated factor analysis. Findings - Public/private partnerships (PPP)/PFI project procurement is perceived as most attractive in terms of positive factors relating to better project technology and economy, greater public benefit, public sector avoidance of regulatory and financial constraints, and public sector saving in transaction costs. Negative aspects, relating to factors such as the inexperience of the participants, the over-commercialisation of projects, and high participation cost and time, make PPP/PFI procurement less attractive. Originality/value - The procurement of public facilities and services under arrangements involving partnerships between the public and private sectors is claimed to provide a wide variety of net benefits to the public sector and to the private sector participants. In the project development process, the parties have to make decisions based on suitable evaluation criteria. At the early stage of preparing a business case, a clear and common understanding of the positive and negative factors surrounding PPP/PFI procurement will provide a more informed basis for decision making.

Notes: Purpose - Housing Associations in the UK are being encouraged to change the way in which they procure their building projects. This work aims to provide a snapshot of current practice in relation to the use of partnering as a procurement approach. Design/methodology/approach - Accordingly a quantitative research design was used to capture data from a sample of 100 of the largest Housing Associations involved in the commissioning of new house building projects in 2003. Two administrations of the survey generated a 43 per cent response rate. Findings - The findings of the study revealed that two differing types of partnering alliance could be identified. The types of partnering alliance identified were considered to have either a "supply side" or "demand side" focus. The results show that partnering practice, open-book cost management, risk analysis and the use of standardised and pre-fabricated components are now widespread and believed to deliver benefits in project costs, delivery times and quality levels. Research limitations/implications - The work is limited due to the size of the sample frame and the measuring instrument used which could not uncover reasons for the current practices that were revealed. Practical implications - The outcomes of the work provide practice with benchmarks that can be used to evaluate organisational approach and if necessary develop alternative approaches to the delivery of partnered projects. Originality/value - The paper contributes to the body of knowledge available on partnering practice in a client group that has been identified as being key in driving forward the post-Egan agenda in the construction industry.

Notes: Purpose - The selection and use of the most appropriate building project contract price forecasting model contribute to the provision of strategic advice that clients can use to make value-for-money business decisions. This work seeks to provide a snapshot of current practice in model selection by practitioners based in large-sized quantity surveying, project management and multi-disciplinary practices based in the UK. Design/methodology/approach - A quantitative research design was used to capture data from a sample of 300 such organisations in 2004. An initial and follow-up administration of the postal survey generated an overall response of 54 per cent. Findings - The findings of the study revealed that the traditional types of forecasting model continue to be in widespread use irrespective of organisational type. Lifecycle cost models and in-house knowledge-based systems were also found to be in use, but not on such a widespread scale. Newly developed models such as artificial neural nets, fuzzy logic nets, as well as environmental and sustainability cost models were found, as yet, to have only very limited application in practice. Practitioner assessment of model accuracy and value in-use provided statistically insignificant levels of variance between the organisational types and the models found to be in use. Research limitations/implications - The work is limited due to the size of the sample frame and the measuring instrument used which could not uncover reasons for the selection of particular types of models. Originality/value - The outcomes of the work provide benchmarks that can be used to evaluate organisational approach and future research. The paper contributes to the body of knowledge available on the process of building project contract price forecasting that is fundamental to the assessment of project value.

Notes: Purpose - The research presented in this paper aims to investigate highway construction/maintenance professionals' perceptions of the effects of night-time construction conditions on worker visibility and of issues associated with safety vests in night-time activities. Design/methodology/approach - The research was conducted by administering a questionnaire survey to Illinois Department of Transportation operations personnel, resident engineers, contractors, and construction/maintenance professionals involved in night-time construction in the Departments of Transportation of states other than Illinois. Findings - It was found that most accidents in night-time construction work areas are caused by the condition of the vehicle operator, that accidents are caused by through-traffic and construction equipment operating inside the work area, and that the poor visibility of the workers plays an important role in accidents. Research limitations/implications - A national survey (rather than mostly Illinois personnel) would certainly increase the sample size and therefore allow researchers to validate the findings of this study and to conduct extensive statistical analyses. Practical implications - Night-time construction/maintenance operations on highways may be hazardous for both drivers and construction personnel because of poor visibility at night. It is recommended that the design of safety vests adhere to existing standards issued by the American National Standards Institute and the International Safety Equipment Association. It is particularly important to ensure adequate performance in wet weather conditions. Originality/value - If safety vests are perceived by workers to be effective, the frequency and severity of night-time accidents can be reduced and labor productivity can be enhanced.

Notes: Purpose - Process mapping can lead to a more holistic understanding of how an organisation works. This paper seeks to discuss how an engineering design consultancy, which had developed a series of process maps on the design of steel frame buildings, developed a powerful management tool, the Management Briefing Sheet which has yielded numerous additional benefits enabling practice to be improved and quality procedures more easily accessed. Design/methodology/approach - To maximise the knowledge and expertise of its supply chain partners and to better understand how it designed steel-framed buildings, the engineering design consultancy undertook a process-mapping exercise. Various techniques for documenting the process were considered, but a modified IDEF notation was chosen for its ability to capture the iterative nature of the design process and its methodical approach for deconstructing complicated activities. Findings - Process-mapping exercises can change the way organisations work and make them more efficient, but to do this the changes that would lead to improvements need to be implemented successfully. Carrying out a process-mapping exercise in isolation from the end-user can lead to complications. Research limitations/implications - The key obstacle to implementing change identified by the engineering design consultancy, with whom the MBS was developed, was delivering the knowledge acquired from the process analysis in a format that end-users could understand easily and adopt effectively. Originality/value - This article will be of significant use to any organisation wishing to maximise the knowledge and expertise of its supply chain partners and identify inefficient working practices.