<p>Product innovation and its efficient diffusion are important to enhance factor productivity, market access, job creation and trade. Innovative firms remain competitive in an increasingly global environment. Product innovation add maximum economic value when the new knowledge and technical know-how are spread through the economy. Standardisation of products is regarded as a vital tool to enable the diffusion of product innovations. The economic rationale for standardisation is based on the theory market failure that requires some sort of correction. Standardisation is regarded as a public good, a form of technical infrastructure. It reduces transaction costs and information asymmetries / increased the willingness of consumers to pay, which in turn increases the success and diffusion of innovation. Lower transaction costs result in reduced production and distribution costs. For consumers it also results in reduced search and testing costs as well as reduced time and effort to evaluate quality. Studies on the impact of standardisation were done for some developed countries, but not for developing countries. Unlike most studies that have a narrow industry-focus, this report has a broader focus on the impact of various types of standards on product innovation, market access and trade. It presented specific case studies for various industries in South Africa as well as studies on the impact of standards internationally.</p>

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Montana, 2008. / Title from title screen. Description based on contents viewed Aug. 7, 2008. Includes bibliographical references (p. 121-124).

published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities / Department of Government and Public Administration

The green market is now one of the biggest markets in the world and green marketing is one of the major trends in modern business. This is a chance for businesses to take advantage of this opportunity by providing environmental solutions whilst at the same time contributing towards reducing the carbon footprint. To effectively achieve this, green manufacturers and marketers need to understand the perceptions, attitudes and behaviours of consumers towards green products and the factors that encourage and discourage their green purchases. Hence this study attempts to understand Durban’s consumers in this regard to enable local businesses to develop strategies around green product design, development, marketing and sales. The research objectives and questions were answered by sampling 450 consumers in Durban. A convenience sampling design was used as an appropriate sample frame could not be identified. This imposed a limitation on the study in that the findings cannot be generalized to the total population. The study found that 96% of respondents believed that climate change existed and 87% believed that it was having a major impact on the planet. Nevertheless, environmental issues did not weigh heavily in the buying decisions of the respondents. Instead quality and cost were the main factors. However, the study identified a significant market for green cars whilst a significant number of respondents were willing to pay a premium for green products. Furthermore, the respondents indicated that eco-labeling of products would encourage them to buy more green products. Moreover, the study found that green marketers should target the White female segment of the market as they were most conscious of environmental issues. It was also recommended that the pricing of green products needs to be more competitive, green products need to be promoted as the norm and not the exception, and consumers need to be educated to go green. Government, consumers and industry all need to work together to ensure the sustainability of the planet. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2011.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 312-338).

The commercial harvesting of Phragmites australis reeds in the Tembe Elephant Park, Maputaland, KwaZulu-Natal was investigated to determine the impact of reed use on the Muzi Swamp. The reed quality in the harvesting areas within the Tembe Elephant Park has deteriorated over time, with the reeds in the harvested areas being by and large shorter and thinner than the reeds in the other areas of the reserve where harvesting is not allowed. The impact of continuous harvesting in combination with the accidental burning of certain areas in the Muzi Swamp was also found to be detrimental to reed production when compared to other treatments. Poor rural communities neighbouring the Tembe Elephant Park are dependant on the reed resource for both income supplementation and for use in the construction of dwellings. Reeds offer a cheaper alternative to the more western building materials, which is of utmost importance in an area where the mean yearly income is around ZAR 6000 per annum. The manufacture of prefabricated reed and forest timber huts by the local reed harvesters in the summer months would facilitate a winter only harvest, which is more beneficial and is integral to the improvement of the long-term reed quality in the Muzi Swamp. In addition, the cost of these proposed prefabricated reed and forest timber huts is approximately one third of the cost of a similar sized hut that is constructed from bricks and cement. Management recommendations for the controlled harvesting area in Muzi Swamp of the Tembe Elephant Park, as well as the section of the Muzi Swamp that is not afforded protection by Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife, are also presented. / Dissertation (MSc (Wildlife Management))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Centre for Wildlife Management / unrestricted

The baobab tree represents a major contribution to rural communities of the south-east lowveld of Zimbabwe. The livelihood base of the study area was largely rain-fed subsistence farming whose production has declined due to frequent droughts. Harvesting of baobab tree products; leaves, fruits and bark fibre, has prospered due to poverty. These products are harvested for food, medicinal use, cash and animal harness. A mixed method approach on collection of data was employed through questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, 48-hour dietary recall and Household Food Insecurity Access Prevalence (HFIAP) template. Sixty-eight households from Wengezi and Gudyanga communities participated in this study. All the respondents from the study area indicated they were involved in using baobab products in one way or the other. According to the information collected by the HFIAP template, 76% of the households were moderate to severe food insecure. Baobab bark harvesting was common in the Gudyanga and harvesters were aware of sustainable way of harvesting it. Value-addition on baobab fruit pulp to make ice-lollies and seeds roasted to produce a coffee substitute was practised by youth projects with the help of a non-governmental organisation. Ninety-five percent of the households in the study area were in support of the idea of possible baobab tree commercial cultivation in the community. The support was in anticipation of job opportunities and reduced food insecurity. / Agriculture and  Animal Health / M. Sc. (Agriculture)

A 'wave of nostalgia' has gripped the US leading to nostalgic fashions, furniture, television programming and even food. The marketing literature suggests that nostalgic-related consumption is the result of an aging population. It has been proposed that the purchase of nostalgic-products and services is an attempt by mature consumers to return psychologically to the ease, certainties and conflict free periods that existed or seemed to exist during their childhood or adolescence. This paper proposes that discontinuity, as argued by Davis (1979), is a better explanation for why people develop a preference for and consume nostalgic goods. Although some insights have been developed, research focused only on mature consumers and is rather limited in offering alternative explanations for the evocation of nostalgic feelings. MANCOVA was the primary method used to test hypotheses. Findings of this study indicate that discontinuity does not necessarily lead to nostalgia and preference for nostalgic products varies. / by Jana Rutherford. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2010. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2010. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Although religion is an important cultural force that shapes consumers' values and norms, the taboo stigma attached to the investigation of religion's influences in marketing areas has limited the knowledge about how religion influences consumers' decision-making. This study explored the affect of Muslim motivation in following Islam in their decision-making process to perform behaviors that are subject to Islamic rulings known as fatwa. Three behaviors that are subject to fatwa declarations; smoking, listening to popular music and buying a Coca Cola soft drink, were chosen. Utilizing the Theory of Planned Behaviors, this study examined: 1) If a Muslim's motivation in following Islam is an effect in their cognitive and behavioral responses regarding the fatwa prohibited behaviors. 2) If Muslim motivation in following Islam is an effect in their decision-making in deciding to whether to perform fatwa prohibited behaviors. Based on a Malaysian university student sample, multiple analyses of variance with covariate's (MANCOVA) results show that a Muslim's motivation in following Islam, his or her gender and their interaction have significant effects in their responses in regards to the behaviors. Muslim males, who are extrinsically motivated towards Islam tended to report a greater intention to smoke, buy a Coca Cola soft drink and tended to report they experienced more social pressure to smoke as compared to others. Nonetheless, SEM analysis found that the sample's responses on items related to the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) about buying a Coca Cola soft drink brand did not fit the model. Other unaccounted for factors that may be related to the Muslims' decision-making about the product, such as possible consumer animosity, was not captured in the survey. The sample’s responses on smoking and listening to popular music provided a good fit to the model proposed. ii This study found that the Muslim respondents' motivation in following Islam had an effect on the role of perceived social pressure in their planning to smoke, and on the role of perceived social pressure in their planning to listen to popular music. Respondents' motivation in following Islam also had an effect on the role of perception of control in their reported smoking and listening to popular music. The intrinsically motivated Muslim consumers tended to be more concerned about others approval in their deciding to smoke and to listen to popular music, than the average extrinsic respondents. The intrinsic Muslim respondents also tended to perceive having incomplete control over smoking and listening to popular music, compared to their extrinsic counterparts. Respondents' attitudes towards smoking and listening to popular music were found to be not relevant in respondents' decision-making to perform the behaviors. This study also found evidence for the effect of type of fatwa prohibition ruling in Muslim respondents' responses and decision-making to perform behaviors in this study. Findings from this study suggest a significant effect of fatwa rulings on products or behaviors, among the sample of young Malaysian Muslim respondents. The findings highlight the needs for marketers to understand nature of fatwa rulings on products, in order to win over Muslim consumers in the marketplace.