Customer loyalty programmes are widely regarded by companies as an effective means of achieving a strategic advantage over competitors and as a highly-effective platform to build lasting relationships with their most-valued customers. However, in today’s fast-paced world and loyalty-mature marketplace, customer loyalty programmes are showing signs of limited sustainability. Companies are starting to realise the importance of focusing on deeper, more meaningful, relevant and mutually-beneficial relationships with their customers in an attempt to sustain brand loyalty. The process of developing true customer loyalty involves companies adding extraordinary human level customer treatment. The purpose of this study is to explore whether customer loyalty programmes are developing true customer loyalty amongst customers. This research study explicitly investigates the views, attitudes, beliefs and perceptions of consumers partaking in customer loyalty programmes. At the outset of the study a literature review was conducted to explore and discuss literature pertaining to the key concepts of this study, namely customer loyalty programmes and true customer loyalty. This research study initially made use of a qualitative research method in the form of a focus group. The findings from the focus group contributed to the design of the questionnaire for the survey. A survey formed the quantitative component of the research. The survey questionnaire was distributed by means of a mall intercept to shoppers in a predetermined shopping mall. The ordinal data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The analysis indicated a marked disconnect between customer loyalty programmes and true customer loyalty. Customer loyalty programmes are generally regarded by customers as discount drivers rather than loyalty drivers. Customers indicated superior service, quality, trust and aligned values as key drivers in developing true customer loyalty. The majority of respondents stated that their selected customer loyalty programme was not developing true customer loyalty. The study provides a clear indication that customer loyalty programmes are not shifting attitudes that lead to ongoing behavioural change such as motivating multiple purchases. A key recommendation resulting from this study is for companies to develop customer-centric loyalty programmes that sincerely consider the needs of the customer, rather than merely attempting to drive sales through discount initiatives masked as customer loyalty programmes.

Background In recent times the insurance industry has seen rapid migration of clients among the different companies in search of better rates from the latest intermediary. Cancellation and surrenders of policies have marked this migration of clients. Clients are dependent on brokers for advice, thus making client loyalty dependent on the relationship between the intermediary and the client. In this model there is a gap in the relationship between client and company. Objectives The primary objective of this study is to elucidate the preconception that client loyalty is dependent on the relationship that an intermediary has with a client. The secondary objective of this study is to determine how clients' perceptions and attitudes lends itself to either clients remaining with, or leaving a particular insurer in favour of another. Methods Data was collected by means of a research questionnaire received from 50 respondents, made of clients from the Sanlam Broker Services database. Open ended questions and disconfirmation scales were used. One sample chi-square was used to test the hypotheses. Results Despite clients having received expected levels and better than expected levels of service from a company, clients still prefer to deal with an advisor. The factors that affect clients' decision to remain or migrate to another company are service, reputation, performance and rates. The most common factors for discontentment are poor service, misrepresentation, lack of confidentiality, and poor performance. It was also found that that there is a higher degree of awareness and membership among higher income earners than lower income earners. Conclusion It is recommended that more than demographic knowledge be accessed to keep clients loyal. Lifestyle studies need to be conducted and perhaps this information used to develop innovative marketing strategies. Partnerships with successful existing loyalty programmes also need to be explored as a client retention mechanism. Client loyalty cannot be explored in isolation. It must encompass the entire organization. There is ample evidence in the literature review to support this view. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

The thesis deals with rules for right reporting of revenues, which result from International accounting standard IAS 18 -- Revenue. There is briefly characterized the harmonization of financial reporting in the introduction. After that follows the development and the history of IFRS. The third part contains the analysis of the standard IAS 18 -- Revenue and standard IAS 11 -- Construction contracts, including three according interpretations. The final section is focused on the research of ten annual reports with a view to explain the observance of IFRS standards in pracitice.