by Lok Wing-hung. / Bibliography: leaves 70-71 / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1986

This study is designed as an exploratory empirical attempt to audit the effectiveness with which retail buyers select fashion wearing apparel that meets needs and wants of their constituent target markets. This study presents the retail buyer of fashion wearing apparel as the "gatekeeper" who controls the flow of apparel products through various "checkpoints" as these products move from producer to consumer, thus controlling product availability. This study has a three-fold purpose. The first is to determine if significant differences exist between retail buyers' selections (ratings) and constituent market selections (ratings) when given like; alternatives on manufacturing levels. The second is to determine whether differences exist between the extents to which department store retail buyers and specialty store retail buyers meet the needs and wants of their constituent markets. The third purpose is to determine if significant differences exist between sales performances of like and unlike retail buyer/consumer choices.

O estudo sobre a decisão de customizar produtos nos mercados internacionais é importante para as empresas que decidem abrir uma subsidiária em outro país, mediante aquisição de uma empresa ou construção de suas próprias instalações. Qualquer que seja a decisão, constitui um alto grau de internacionalização, uma vez que a empresa fica exposta a elevados custos e riscos internacionais. Nesse contexto, existe a necessidade da empresa decidir quais produtos deverá customizar e quais deverá padronizar no mercado-alvo. O objetivo geral desta dissertação é o de identificar, na função marketing de empresa internacionalizada, os fatores de influência relacionados com decisões sobre customização de produtos para um determinado país. Inicialmente, em uma revisão da literatura, reuniram-se informações sobre internacionalização, marketing internacional, estratégias de entrada no mercado internacional, decisões dos profissionais de marketing, decisões sobre composto de produtos, sobre customização de produtos, fatores de customização de produtos entre outras. Assim, para se chegar ao objetivo geral, realizou-se um estudo de caso de caráter exploratório e qualitativo em uma empresa, localizada no Brasil, de origem alemã do setor de autopeças que comercializa produtos para clientes industriais, isto é, negócios entre empresas. Como resultado da pesquisa, chegou-se a uma escala de importância em que foram enumerados sete fatores de influência nas decisões sobre customização de produtos: 1. posicionamento de mercado; 2. importância estratégica de clientes; 3. desenvolvimento do ciclo de vida do produto; 4. exigências legais; 5. ambiente físico; 6. infraestrutura e compatibilidade; 7. importância estratégica de fornecedores. O estudo de caso mostrou que os fatores de influência estão relacionados entre si. Os resultados ainda sugeriram que os dois primeiros fatores são fundamentais para que a empresa de autopeças obtenha sucesso na customização de produtos no mercado-alvo, uma vez que o estudo de caso constatou evidências de que o setor automotivo tende a operar com poucos modelos de motores no mercado global, o que sugere poucos fornecedores de autopeças para desenvolver soluções para clientes globais que operam em mercados locais. Outros resultados advindos da pesquisa sugeriram uma possível relação entre a autonomia da subsidiária e o fator posicionamento de mercado à medida que os executivos tendem a tomar decisões sobre customização de produtos no mercado local e comunicá-las à matriz. / The study concerning products customization decision in the international markets is important for companies that have taken a decision to open an overseas subsidiary, either acquisition of a company or through its own Greenfield investments. Whatever decision follows, the result comes up with high degree of internationalization, as long as company has been liable to high costs and international hazards. At that context, the company has been needed to decide which products may be customized and which products may be standardized at a target-market. Thus, the central purpose of this dissertation is to identify, at internationalized company marketing function, the influencing factors that have been associated with decisions about products customization towards a particular overseas country. At first, literature was reviewed so that information had had gathered about internationalization, international marketing, international marketing strategies, marketing experts\' decisions, products mix decisions, products customization decisions, customization decision factors among others. Therefore, to reach at central purpose, a qualitative and exploratory case study was performed at auto-parts German company that deals in business to business customers. Amongst the main results from that research, it was reached a model of importance where it was numbered seven influencing factors with regard to products customization decisions: 1. marketing positioning; 2. strategic customers importance; 3. product life cycle development; 4. lawful requirements; 5. natural environment; 6. infrastructure and compatibility; 7. strategic suppliers importance. It has been noticed from research that influencing factors have been a relationship each other. The first two ones were considered very outstanding influencing factors for researched auto-parts company. It will reach success at new markets if the two ones are considered for products customization decisions because that research has found evidences about tendency in automotive industry for developing few motors model into global market. That tendency has suggested few auto-parts suppliers for local developing solutions for global customers. Other distinct result has noticed from this research suggests a possible relationship between subsidiary autonomy decisions and marketing positioning factor while executives take decisions about products customization at local market and release them to headquarters.

Collecting blood from repeat blood donors is cost effective and safer compared to other donor types. At the end of 2012, 84% of the SANBS donor panel were inactive or lapsed. There is a lack of research available on lapsed donors in the South African context and available research is mostly quantitative with subtle contradictions. Donors who donated blood in 2012 at fixed site donor centres in Port Elizabeth, and did not return in 2013, were studied. A descriptive analysis was done and a random sample of 78 lapsed donors were selected to participate in a face-to-face interview. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed. A grounded model was developed from various existing theories to seek out and conceptualise social patterns and structures of lapsed blood donors through a process of comparison. There were 10 062 donors who donated blood in 2012 and 4 923 became lapsed during 2013. Analysis of sub groups showed a higher proportion of donors who became lapsed in the following sub-categories: new donors (95%), re-joined donors (64%), black donors (63%), donors younger than 40 (61%), female donors (52%). The feedback received from the 11 participants highlighted peer pressure as the biggest motivator. Of the six communication theories applied, The Social Penetration Theory highlighted the cost-minus-benefit ratio which played a big role in a donor’s motivation and decision to return. The AIDA Marketing Model application described lapsed donor behaviour most comprehensively and it highlighted a missing step which was created as part of a Grounded Model and is called the AIDAA Model. The role and existence of peer pressure is directly linked to donor motivation and is categorised as an Action Motivator in the AIDAA Model. The new model creates additional recruitment opportunities which has not been explored and applied strategically before.

The purpose of this research was to conduct an exploratory study of the information processing utilized by incubator-housed manufacturers during channel member selection. The study included the evaluation of the decision models used by the manufacturers as well as criteria used in the selection process. The study was specifically designed to achieve the following objectives. First, the research was to identify the evaluation modes used by the manufacturers as either compensatory or noncompensatory. Second, the study was to evaluate the effect of the task on the selection of the evaluation model(s) used during the channel member selection process. Third, the study was to evaluate the effect of the selected decision strategy on the amount of information used during the decision process. Finally, the study was to identify and examine the importance of the criteria used by the manufacturers in the selection process. The methodology in this study consisted of primary research using protocol analysis as the main data gathering technique. A ranking instrument was also mailed to the respondents prior to the protocol session. The population for the study was identified as all manufacturers located in publicly-sponsored business incubators. A total of 235 incubators were in existence with approximately 47 percent of them being publicly-sponsored. Approximately 42 percent of the incubators house at least one manufacturing firm. It was estimated that there were approximately 46 manufacturing firms located in public incubators. A sample of six was used in this study. The statistical analysis included frequencies, cross tabulations, correlations, paired comparisons, and measures of association. The findings of this study suggest that the incubator-housed manufacturers' choice of evaluation models was not affected by the task nor did the selected strategy influence the amount of information used by the manufacturers. The findings indicate a need for further research to evaluate the relationships brought forth in this study. Based on the conclusions and findings of this study, recommendations for further research were given.

SUMMARY Research object – consumers of ecological food products. Research subject – consumer behavior of ecological food products Research aim – to present marketing decisions stimulating purchase of ecological products. Tasks: 1.To analyze outward and inward factors impact on consumer behavior. 2.To identify marketing tools influence on consumer behavior. 3.To prepare the research methodic of ecological products consumer behavior. 4.To conduct a sample survey and to identify factors impact of purchase of ecological food products. 5.To recommend marketing decisions stimulating purchase of ecological products. Research methods - Lithuanian and foreign authors scientific literature analysis and synthesis, logical abstracts, sample survey, data grouping, method of statistical analysis, graphic presentation. Marketing decisions recommended stimulating purchase of organic products are based on Lithuanian and foreign authors theoretical principles of outward, inward and marketing factors impact on consumer behavior, sample survey, identified consumers motives of purchase and usage of ecological food products, investigated marketing tools influence to ecological food products consumer behavior.

The aim of this diploma thesis is to explain a product´s life cycle principle and process and its influence at marketing decision process ( in a real company). The theoretical part explains the essential concepts related to marketing, such as information, marketing decision making, product´s life cycle and its phases, BCG matrix and marketing mix. The practical part presents the company MADETA, explains the definition of cheese, represents MADETA competitors, and associations that operate in the market of cheese and dairy. The second half of the practical part presents a product´s life cycle analysis. For the life cycle analysis was chosen cheese Madelad as a suitable product. In the framework of Madeland´s life cycle, the marketing decision was analysed in details in the four basic politics of marketing mix, and there were found such strategies, which could be used by Madeland during the individual phases of the life cycle. To confirm the results of a life cycle analysis of the product was designed BCG matrix. In conclusion of this diploma thesis is formulated recommendations that could contribute to an increase in sales volume of Madeland and thus affect its life cycle.

Customer insight is at the heart of the big data era. This revolution makesit possible to directly obtain high potential data and in large quantitiesabout customers. Thus we take note that, more than ever, a large volumeof big data is collected by companies.We observe that big data have become a necessary tool within marketing.More and more companies orient their decisions according to theinformations provided by data, with the aim of quickly having betterresults.Nevertheless, in order to integrate these big data in a better way and gaina competitive advantage, companies must face new challenges. Tomeasure and understand the impact of big data in marketing decisions,we propose, with the support of our scientific and theoretical resources, areasoning, demonstrating all the issues. Big data is increasinglyubiquitous and necessary for companies (I). Their impact in decisionsneeds to be taken into account (II) and their use is leading to amanagement revolution (III). Moreover, it modifies the close relationbetween decision and intuition. (IV). In this article, we present aperspective that study all these concepts. We close by offering a modeland a conclusion answering our problematic.

An investigation of the product life cycle concept as an instrument in marketing decision-making for selected small organisations in South Africa. The product life cycle concept is currently a dominant component of marketing theory. There is however much criticism on and doubt about the applicability of the product life cycle concept as a marketing decision-making instrument. No evidence exists of the efficacy of the product life cycle concept as an instrument to develop marketing strategy. The purpose of the study was to test the underlying theory of the product life cycle concept with the primary objective of establishing what the use and practical value of the product life cycle concept is in making marketing decisions in small manufacturing and dealer organisations. The main focus was to test the ability of marketing decision-makers in small manufacturing and dealer organisations to associate their application and use of the product life cycle concept with Kotler's assumptions on the identified marketing characteristics, described marketing objectives and proposed marketing strategies. A major finding was that small organisations tended to display a marketing knowledge level that was not in total unison with the existing marketing theory. Another important conclusion of the study was that the current product life cycle concept theory needs to be broadened to include strategies on the expanded marketing mix (people, processes and physical evidence). Apart from the different use and application by marketing decision-makers in small organisations in South Africa the product life cycle concept theory has potential as a strategic tool and a high likelihood for its future use as a marketing decision-making instrument. / Dissertation (DCom)--University of Pretoria, 2003. / Marketing Management / DCom / Unrestricted

This study investigates the prevalence of public relations in Qatar's private sector and assesses the marketing manager's awareness of and attitude towards public relations.