Proefschrift Universiteit Maastricht. / Met lit. opg. - Met samenvatting in het Nederlands.

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Lifestyle is a popular concept used to understand consumers' behaviors; however, the lifestyle concept rarely has been applied to housing studies. Although renting a multifamily dwelling is a non-normative housing choice in the United States, many people prefer to rent multifamily housing units for reasons other than financial. The purpose of this study is to identify the housing preferences of multifamily housing residents as determined by their lifestyles. The model of influences on housing choice was used as a theoretical framework for the study. Fifty nine housing activity, interest, and opinion (AIO) statements were developed as a lifestyle measurement for this study. A total of 211 responses were collected from residents of nine selected apartment communities in Charlotte, N.C., through two phases of questionnaire surveys. The respondents were represented by young single-person or couple households with high income and college degrees or higher education. Four lifestyle factors (Well-being, Social, Spaces, and Envirotech) were derived from housing interest and opinion items, and the respondents were grouped into four lifestyle clusters (Community Cluster, Basics Cluster, Home Cluster, and Environment Cluster) on the basis of the lifestyle factors. The relationships between the lifestyle clusters and their housing preferences were tested and the model of influences on housing choice was partially supported. Households in the Community Cluster had a strong downtown-orientation and the weakest perception of homeownership, and preferred to have security features. Households in the Basics Cluster had the weakest preferences for apartment home and community features and the second weakest perception of homeownership. Households in the Home Cluster had the strongest perception of homeownership and relatively strong feature preferences, including preferences for upscale interior design features. Households in the Environment Cluster had a strong suburban-orientation and preferred to have outdoor parking spaces in front of the building, plant watering service, and an on-site car care center. The findings from this study can be applied to the design and management of apartment communities and to marketing strategies that are sensitive to lifestyle concepts. Because of the unique sampling framework, the results from this study cannot be generalized. Instead, it is recommended that further research studies test the housing AIO statements with different groups in diverse markets. / Ph. D.

The combined study of consumer ethnocentrism and lifestyle is a unique approach that marketers can use to determine consumer buying behaviour and to refine market segmentation. In particular, marketers need to study consumer buying behaviour and examine the main influences regarding what, where, when and how consumers buy, as this knowledge will allow marketers to predict how consumers make their purchase decisions and how they will respond to various marketing strategies. A better understanding of the buying behaviour of consumers in a prospective market segment will help marketers to devise more effective marketing strategies for targeting consumers in the particular market segment they wish to pursue, and therefore, market segmentation is an extremely useful marketing tool. The Black Diamond consumer segment in South Africa has been receiving heightened attention from marketers recently due to the increasing purchasing power of this segment, and therefore it is necessary for marketers to gain a more profound understanding of these consumers so that they will be able to address Black Diamonds' specific needs, wants and preferences. This will assist marketers to devise marketing strategies that target the Black Diamond segment more effectively. The primary objective of this study was to determine consumer ethnocentrism and lifestyle among Black Diamonds in Sandton. This objective was addressed by using an adapted version of the Consumer Ethnocentrism Scale (CETSCALE) to measure the level of consumer ethnocentrism among Black Diamonds and by determining the lifestyle of this group by using the activities, interests and opinions (AIO) approach to measure the levels of six lifestyle dimensions, namely fashion consciousness, self–consciousness, health consciousness, homemaking, community orientation, and cost–consciousness. Based on literature consulted, an interviewer–administered questionnaire was developed and distributed to Black Diamond consumers by five fieldworkers in the Sandton area, in the city of Johannesburg, in the Gauteng province. Convenience and judgement sampling (non–probability sampling methods) were used and a total of 200 respondents participated in this study. The validity and reliability of the adapted version of the CETSCALE used in the questionnaire to measure the level of consumer ethnocentrism of respondents, as well as the six batteries of statements used to measure the levels of the respective lifestyle dimensions, were determined by means of factor analysis. The results indicated that consumer ethnocentrism is moderately high among respondents. Furthermore, moderately high levels of fashion consciousness, self–consciousness, health consciousness and cost–consciousness were found among respondents. Low levels of interest were established in homemaking activities and community orientation. It was found that various underlying relationships exist between consumer ethnocentrism and lifestyle dimensions of respondents, specifically between the lifestyle dimensions of health consciousness, homemaking and community orientation. It was further found that significant differences exist between the perceptions of respondents toward consumer ethnocentrism and the lifestyle dimensions in terms of their diverse age categories. It is recommended that marketers should stress product attributes, benefits, and superior aspects of the product by underplaying the product's country of origin, in light of the high level of consumer ethnocentrism prevalent among Black Diamonds. Furthermore, it is recommended that marketers and organisations should adapt and modify their current marketing strategies in order to appeal to the various lifestyle dimensions of Black Diamonds, specifically focussing on the higher levels of fashion consciousness, self–consciousness, health consciousness and cost–consciousness among Black Diamonds, whilst underplaying homemaking and community orientation. By considering consumer ethnocentrism and lifestyle, and realising that these factors affect the buying behaviour of Black Diamonds, marketers will be able to develop effective marketing strategies that will allow them to target the Black Diamond consumer segment more effectively and efficiently. Recommendations for future research include examining consumer ethnocentrism and lifestyle among Black Diamonds in a wider geographic area, drawing a larger sample size from the target population, and being more selective with regard to the respondents included in the study, in order to ensure that the most appropriate respondents do indeed form part of population under scrutiny. Furthermore, in order to improve the validity of the study, future research could be conducted by incorporating more qualitative forms of research such as focus groups and interviews. In addition to the six lifestyle dimensions that were measured in this study, a wider range of lifestyle dimensions can be measured in future research. / Thesis (M.Com. (Marketing Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The combined study of consumer ethnocentrism and lifestyle is a unique approach that marketers can use to determine consumer buying behaviour and to refine market segmentation. In particular, marketers need to study consumer buying behaviour and examine the main influences regarding what, where, when and how consumers buy, as this knowledge will allow marketers to predict how consumers make their purchase decisions and how they will respond to various marketing strategies. A better understanding of the buying behaviour of consumers in a prospective market segment will help marketers to devise more effective marketing strategies for targeting consumers in the particular market segment they wish to pursue, and therefore, market segmentation is an extremely useful marketing tool. The Black Diamond consumer segment in South Africa has been receiving heightened attention from marketers recently due to the increasing purchasing power of this segment, and therefore it is necessary for marketers to gain a more profound understanding of these consumers so that they will be able to address Black Diamonds' specific needs, wants and preferences. This will assist marketers to devise marketing strategies that target the Black Diamond segment more effectively. The primary objective of this study was to determine consumer ethnocentrism and lifestyle among Black Diamonds in Sandton. This objective was addressed by using an adapted version of the Consumer Ethnocentrism Scale (CETSCALE) to measure the level of consumer ethnocentrism among Black Diamonds and by determining the lifestyle of this group by using the activities, interests and opinions (AIO) approach to measure the levels of six lifestyle dimensions, namely fashion consciousness, self–consciousness, health consciousness, homemaking, community orientation, and cost–consciousness. Based on literature consulted, an interviewer–administered questionnaire was developed and distributed to Black Diamond consumers by five fieldworkers in the Sandton area, in the city of Johannesburg, in the Gauteng province. Convenience and judgement sampling (non–probability sampling methods) were used and a total of 200 respondents participated in this study. The validity and reliability of the adapted version of the CETSCALE used in the questionnaire to measure the level of consumer ethnocentrism of respondents, as well as the six batteries of statements used to measure the levels of the respective lifestyle dimensions, were determined by means of factor analysis. The results indicated that consumer ethnocentrism is moderately high among respondents. Furthermore, moderately high levels of fashion consciousness, self–consciousness, health consciousness and cost–consciousness were found among respondents. Low levels of interest were established in homemaking activities and community orientation. It was found that various underlying relationships exist between consumer ethnocentrism and lifestyle dimensions of respondents, specifically between the lifestyle dimensions of health consciousness, homemaking and community orientation. It was further found that significant differences exist between the perceptions of respondents toward consumer ethnocentrism and the lifestyle dimensions in terms of their diverse age categories. It is recommended that marketers should stress product attributes, benefits, and superior aspects of the product by underplaying the product's country of origin, in light of the high level of consumer ethnocentrism prevalent among Black Diamonds. Furthermore, it is recommended that marketers and organisations should adapt and modify their current marketing strategies in order to appeal to the various lifestyle dimensions of Black Diamonds, specifically focussing on the higher levels of fashion consciousness, self–consciousness, health consciousness and cost–consciousness among Black Diamonds, whilst underplaying homemaking and community orientation. By considering consumer ethnocentrism and lifestyle, and realising that these factors affect the buying behaviour of Black Diamonds, marketers will be able to develop effective marketing strategies that will allow them to target the Black Diamond consumer segment more effectively and efficiently. Recommendations for future research include examining consumer ethnocentrism and lifestyle among Black Diamonds in a wider geographic area, drawing a larger sample size from the target population, and being more selective with regard to the respondents included in the study, in order to ensure that the most appropriate respondents do indeed form part of population under scrutiny. Furthermore, in order to improve the validity of the study, future research could be conducted by incorporating more qualitative forms of research such as focus groups and interviews. In addition to the six lifestyle dimensions that were measured in this study, a wider range of lifestyle dimensions can be measured in future research. / Thesis (M.Com. (Marketing Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Tese (doutorado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Ciência da Informação, 2011. / Submitted by Albânia Cézar de Melo (albania@bce.unb.br) on 2011-12-22T12:13:22Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2011_JorgeCordeiroDuarte.pdf: 4994378 bytes, checksum: 87522d963519e02cd0e2362bfae5abca (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marília Freitas(marilia@bce.unb.br) on 2012-01-03T15:23:15Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2011_JorgeCordeiroDuarte.pdf: 4994378 bytes, checksum: 87522d963519e02cd0e2362bfae5abca (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2012-01-03T15:23:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2011_JorgeCordeiroDuarte.pdf: 4994378 bytes, checksum: 87522d963519e02cd0e2362bfae5abca (MD5) / As organizações atuam hoje em um ambiente caracterizado pela mudança constante. Por isso, necessitam de instrumentos que permitam agilidade para adaptar suas estratégias, processos e sistemas µas necessidades de cada momento. A Arquitetura Empresarial (AE) tem sido identificada por pesquisadores como a abordagem adequada para prover a agilidade organizacional, pois permite o conhecimento dos elementos organizacionais favorecendo planejar e realizar as mudanças necessárias. Entretanto, a AE ainda não é uma realidade para a maioria das organizações. Os motivos são a complexidade inerente, a falha das abordagens atuais para lidar com essa complexidade e o custo das ferramentas envolvidas. A AE é uma disciplina em desenvolvimento e requer princípios, teorias e instrumentos adequados µa sua natureza e acessíveis a organizações de qualquer porte. Nesse contexto, este estudo identifica um novo referencial teórico: a AE como Arquitetura de Informação Organizacional (AIO). O estudo propõe, ainda, uma abordagem para a AIO, que se fundamenta nos princípios da colaboração organizacional e nos métodos frágeis. Seu principal objetivo é reduzir a complexidade e o custo da AIO. A solução proposta é avaliada em estudo de caso em uma instituição do sistema financeiro brasileiro. ______________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT / Currently, organizations operate in an environment marked by constant changes. Thus, they need instruments bringing agility to adopt their strategies, processes and systems to each moment needs. Enterprise Architecture (EA) has been identified by researchers as the approach suitable to the organizational agility as it allows the know-ledge of different organizational elements leading to planning and accomplishment of the changing actions. However, AE has not comprised the most part of organizations yet. The reasons are due to its complexity, the current approach failure to deal with the complexity and the cost of the tools involved. AE is an on-going process discipline and it requires appropriate principles and specific theories and instruments for organizations of any size. In this context, this study identifies a new theoretical framework: EA as Architecture of Information for Organizations (AIO) and proposes a new approach that is based on the principles of organizational collaboration and agile methods. Its main objective is to reduce complexity and cost of AIO. The proposed solution is evaluated on a case study in an institution of the Brazilian financial system. Currently, organizations operate in an environment marked by constant changes. Thus, they need instruments bringing agility to adopt their strategies, processes and systems to each moment needs. Enterprise Architecture (EA) has been identified by researchers as the approach suitable to the organizational agility as it allows the know-ledge of different organizational elements leading to planning and accomplishment of the changing actions. However, AE has not comprised the most part of organizations yet. The reasons are due to its complexity, the current approach failure to deal with the complexity and the cost of the tools involved. AE is an on-going process discipline and it requires appropriate principles and specific theories and instruments for organizations of any size. In this context, this study identfies a new theoretical framework: EA as Architecture of Information for Organizations (AIO) and proposes a new approach that is based on the principles of organizational collaboration and agile methods. Its main objective is to educe complexity and cost of AIO. The proposed solution is evaluated on a case study in an institution of the Brazilian financial system.

Eee PC的低價小筆記型電腦的銷售成功，小筆記型電腦衍然己被筆記型電腦廠商視為下一個藍海市場，以產品生命週期來看，Eee PC由萌芽期進入成長期，而早期辨出消費者中的創新使用者及早期採用者，在新產品發展階段有策略上的重要意義，本研究目的在進一步辨識出消費者及其使用習慣，讓市場行銷人員能選定目標市場及制定適當的行銷策略。 本研究以消費者決策歷程(Consumer Decision Process, CDP)為基礎，在配合科技接受理論TAM (Technology Acceptable Model)當中的有用知覺(Perceived Usefuless, PU) 及易用知覺 (Perceived Eas of Use, PEOU) 發展成本研究的研究架構，並以線上問卷便利取樣己購買Eee PC的消費者，以AIO生活型態做為Eee PC消費者使用者行為的市場區隔基礎，以市場區隔理論(Segmentation)及創新擴散理論將消費者予以區隔，利用因素分析、集群分析、變異數分析、卡方檢定及區別分析等統計方法做為分析方法的工具，試圖分辨出購買Eee PC的使用者並了解Eee PC購買者的使用習慣。 本研究經由實證分析得到了以下的發現: (1)Eee PC消費者具有創新者與早期使用者的特性 (2)依Eee PC消費者之購買行為資料分析，消費者最重視的產品屬性 為小巧方便攜帶及重量輕盈而非價格低廉。 (3)Eee PC消費者資訊搜尋對象以網站為主，但購買仍以實體通路為 主。 (4)Eee PC消費者購買用途以休閒娛樂及工作課業需要為主，不同族 群之間有有顯著差異。 (5)依人口統計變數來看，各族群在特徵上有所不同。 (6)依知覺程度來看，各族群在知覺程度上有所不同。 / The success of selling of ASUS’s Eee PC, the low-priced laptop, led Eee PC be taken as the next blue ocean for notebook manufactures. In the product life cycle of Eee PC, it has been changed from the introduction stage to growth stage. Early identification of the innovators and early adoptors is a strategical important meaning for new product development. The research is to identify the the consumers and their consuming habits, so that the marketing departments can select an ideal market segment and to employ effective marketing tactics. The research is based on the conceptual framework for the consumer decision process proposed by Kolter & Keller (2007) and combines the perspective from the Technology Acceptance Model proposed by Davis(1989) to identify the consumer of Eee PC and explores their satisfacation and how they use Eee PC. Finally, the research uses the traditional stastics tool to differentiate Eee PC buyers based on Psychology variables from AIO theory proposed by Plummer(1974) and segmentation theory proposed by Wind(1978). The research obtains the following findings: (1) Eee PC buyers can be distinguished as innovator and rearly adoptor. (2) According to the data analysis from Eee PC, the features that consumers highly concerned are easy and light for hand-carry instead of cheap price. (3) Eee PC buyers use internet to search information, but they buy Eee PC via the physical channel or stores (4) Eee PC buyers use Eee PC for entertainment and academic or job purpose. (5) As the point of view in demographic, two clusters are significance different. (6) As the point of view in perspective, two clusters are significance different.

本研究有鑒於目前市場上仿冒品充斥，全球產業每年因偽造行為所產生的損失已高達美金4000億元左右，嚴重影響產業生存。為打擊仿冒現象，防偽產業因應而生，隨著消費者越來越重視消費權益及企業為了維護其品牌權益而蓬勃發展，嚴然已成為各種新產品不可或缺的附屬產品，防偽產業的未來發展及其競爭激烈是可以預期的。本論文提及的防偽標籤是專指『將單一或多種以上的防偽技術運用在可以黏貼或印製在目標產品的包裝或目標產品本身的標籤產品』。由於防偽標籤是附屬於目標產品，並非消費者所購買的標的。但透過對消費者購買行為的研究可以分析產品防偽的需求程度，進而提供產品製造商或供應商了解該產品是否需要防偽標籤？ 　本文首先蒐集消費者行為之文獻資料，找出消費者特性、消費者價值觀、消費者生活型態及消費者涉入程度等與防偽涉入程度相關的變數，整理各變數間的交互關係導出消費者對於防偽涉入程度會影響產品防偽的需求程度；其次透過焦點訪談及專家訪問內容得知，產品特性也是影響產品防偽的需求程度的重要因素；最後再由產品防偽的需求程度分析防偽標籤的市場需求。另一方面，不同的購買情境也會影響防偽標籤的市場需求，其中包括了購買通路以及標籤功效、法令規範、消費者對防偽標籤辨識能力等外在環境。 本研究經由消費者問卷調查，將所獲得的資料經由多變量變異數分析、相關分析及頻次分析等統計方法所得之結果來驗證假設。其結論均能滿足本研究所希望達到的五項目的。 　一、影響防偽標籤市場需求的因素 　二、影響消費者防偽涉入程度的因素 　三、哪些特性的產品需要防偽標籤 　四、哪些通路的產品需要防偽標籤 　五、現階段防偽標籤的推廣成效 最後將本研究之發現作整理，提供防偽標籤業者作實務上的建議，希望這些參考意見在防偽產業擬定防偽標籤行銷策略時，能給予適切的助益。