Dialogic features of brand South Africa’s website and tourists’ intentions to visit

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 569-584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert E. Hinson ◽  
John Paul Basewe Kosiba ◽  
Henry Boateng ◽  
Raphael Odoom ◽  
Ransford Edward Gyampo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Impression Management ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Nation Branding ◽  
Country Image ◽  
Dialogic Communication ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Nation Brand ◽  
Analyse Data ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Despite the recognisable importance of nation brand websites, they have seemingly not been the focus of dialogic communication interrogations of marketing and communications scholars. This paper is one of the initial attempts to address such research lacuna. The paper aims to examine the dialogic potential of the Brand South Africa website and its effect on the country’s image, as well as the impact of this image on consumers’ (tourists) visiting intentions. Design/methodology/approach Drawing from the dialogic communication and impression management theories, the authors applied partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to analyse data solicited from 672 participants via an electronic survey. Findings This paper demonstrates that the dialogic communication principles of the Brand South Africa website have positive influences on the image impression of South Africa. Country image impression was also found to have a significant effect on intentions to visit. Practical implications This study is of potential benefit to researchers, government agencies and those responsible for nation branding. Originality/value This study contributes to marketing and tourism literatures, by drawing on theories of dialogic communication principles and impression management, to fill the gap regarding the effect of nation brand websites on country image impression and visiting intention of consumers (tourists).

The impact of innovation on agribusiness competitiveness: the mediating role of technology transfer and productivity

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patient Rambe ◽  
Peter Khaola
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Technology Transfer ◽  
Emerging Economies ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Innovation And Technology ◽  
Agricultural Business ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Productivity And Competitiveness

PurposeThe pre-eminence of innovation and technological transfer in promoting agricultural productivity and competitiveness in developing countries is widely acknowledged. However, the disparate streams of literature on productivity and competitiveness have explored innovation and technology transfer as independent predictors. Consequently, the mechanisms through which innovation and technology transfers jointly affect productivity and competitiveness of small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in emerging economies remain under-explored in literature. The present study sought to examine the relationships among innovation, technology transfer, productivity and competitiveness of small-scale agricultural businesses (SSABs) in selected regions in South Africa and Zimbabwe, neighbouring countries which have been plagued by food insecurity in recent years.Design/methodology/approachA total of 400 questionnaires were distributed to SSABs owners based in Free State and Mashonaland provinces of South Africa and Zimbabwe, respectively. In total, 268 usable questionnaires (67%) were returned for analysis. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) and Process macro (based on SPSS) techniques were used to analyse data.FindingsThe results supported direct significant paths between innovation and technology transfer; technology transfer and productivity; and productivity and competitiveness. Furthermore, the results suggested that technology transfer and productivity consecutively fully mediate the relationship between innovation and competitiveness.Research limitations/implicationsThe use of a survey could not provide sufficient explanations as to why the variable examined related the way they did.Practical implicationsThe study provides useful insights into the significance of considering the dimensions and methods of innovation and technology transfer in agricultural business activities and processes to improve productivity and competitiveness of SSABs.Social implicationsThe study provides some insights into how innovation and technology transfer could be employed by small scale agricultural businesses as critical mechanisms for heightening productivity and competitiveness of these firms to guarantee food security and employment creation for emerging economies.Originality/valueTo the researchers' knowledge, this is one of the pioneer studies to examine the impact of both innovation and technology transfer on productivity and competitiveness of SSABs in two countries in Southern Africa. The study also constitutes a significant contribution to examining serial mediation of technology transfer and productivity of innovation and competitiveness.

Exploring retention factors and job security of nurses in Gauteng public hospitals in South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nelesh Dhanpat ◽  
Tlou Manakana ◽  
Jessica Mbacaza ◽  
Dineo Mokone ◽  
Busisiwe Mtongana
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Job Security ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Retention Factors ◽  
Analyse Data ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between employee retention and job security and the impact of retention factors on the job security of nurses in public hospitals in South Africa. The retention of nurses is essential in public hospitals in South Africa. It is therefore critical that retention strategies are primed to ensure the job security of nurses.Design/methodology/approachThe study is quantitative in nature, adopts a cross-sectional approach and is set within a positivist research paradigm. Pre-established questionnaires were used to collect data. Non-probability sampling was used to select a convenience sample. Questionnaires were distributed to three public hospitals in Johannesburg and 202 responses were received. The psychometric properties of the questionnaire were established through validity and reliability. Inferential and descriptive statistics were deployed to analyse data.FindingsThe study established that there is a relationship between retention factors and job security. The study further identified retention factors as predictors of job security and noted that training and development was the strongest predictor of job security amongst nurses. In addition, the study contributes towards research on retention practices of nurses from a South African perspective.Practical implicationsThe study recommendations are diagrammatically represented. If implemented by human resource practitioners and nursing management, they are likely to enhance job security.Originality/valueThe study provides insights on the retention of nursing professionals in public hospitals in Gauteng and identifies retention factors which contribute most towards job security.

Migration intentions: a sign of a weak nation brand? A multi-group analysis between China and Pakistan

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Salman Yousaf ◽  
Mohammad Zubair Tauni ◽  
Fan Xiucheng
Keyword(s):  
Home Country ◽  
Group Analysis ◽  
Nation Branding ◽  
Country Image ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Guides ◽  
Complex Decision Making ◽  
Nation Brand ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Push And Pull

Purpose This study aims to focus on the internal audiences of a nation brand, i.e. the citizens of a country and is built on the theoretical premise that migration intentions (MIs) prevalent among the skilled and educated elite of a home country signifies a weak nation brand. Design/methodology/approach Through the theoretical support of the migration motive theory of push and pull (Richmond, 1993), nation branding theory (Anholt, 2006) and the two-construct country image model (Roth and Diamantopoulos, 2009), the authors constructed a framework that incorporates the relationship between affective and cognitive country images of both home and migrant country and migration motives and intentions to migrate. Findings The findings reveal that push and pull factors are strongly affected by the images of the home country and the migrant country, respectively and strong home country images are associated with weak MIs, while the opposite is true if a strong migrant country image is possessed. Further, evidence of the dominance effect of cognitive images in complex decision-making environments such as migration was also provided. Moreover, the results also suggest significant differences between Chinese and Pakistani respondents. Practical implications This study guides nation branding researchers by opening up a debate on self-images and conceptually independent attitudinal constructs of country image. For policymakers in developing countries, the results reveal that they should primarily strengthen their internal brands and focus on cognitive images to stem the flow of brain drain. Originality/value This study takes the traditional country image debate to migration discourse, moves it forward, contextualizes it as a function of a nation’s brand strength and provides evidence that confluence of migration studies with the theoretical stream of nation branding can provide significant explanations for migrant behavior.

Soft power and nation rebranding

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Ping Hung Li ◽  
Hyun Jeong Min ◽  
Somin Lee
Keyword(s):  
Soft Power ◽  
Medical Tourism ◽  
Global Market ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Nation Branding ◽  
Global Marketplace ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Nation Brand ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the interconnection between the corporatisation of K-beauty and Korea’s nation branding exercise and its links with soft power. Through the investigation of the transformation of Korea’s beauty industry, the authors seek to illustrate the inter-relationship of the market systems and national identification practices. Design/methodology/approach This study employed the qualitative case study approach to examine the latest development of Korea’s medical tourism. Through analysing a variety of secondary data that associated to the latest development of cosmetic tourism, this paper presents the impact of the transformation and reconfiguration of Korea’s beauty industry on the country’s nation branding strategy and the development of Korea’s soft power in the global marketplace. Findings The findings highlight how Korea’s new cosmetic tourism industry contributed to the renewal of Korea’s nation brand in the global market. The findings also illustrate the interconnection of the emerging Korean popular cultural products (K-pop and K-beauty) in the regional and global marketplace. Research limitations/implications The findings demonstrate the role of market in re-defining a nation’s brand and identity. The findings also illustrate how market-driven strategy influences the development of a nation’s soft power in the regional and/or global marketplace. Practical implications The study shows that practitioners can be active agents in nation branding. Through highlighting strategies to develop soft power within and beyond the country boundary, this study shows how market agents, governments and other stakeholders can co-create a market system that transform and reconfigure the nation brand in the global marketplace. Social implications In additional to explore the transformation of the beauty industry in Korea, this paper also presents the history and transformation of the beauty standards in Korea and other Asian cultures. Such dialogue invites marketing and consumer researchers to further explore the role of history and culture in guiding the production and consumption of new (consumption) standards. Originality/value This is the first paper that connects the theory of soft power in nation branding and country-of-origin literature. The case analysis of the socio-historical development of K-beauty also demonstrates how non-Western cultural goods enter the international marketplace. In summary, this paper provides new conceptual framework that illustrates a new collaborative mechanism that engages government and practitioners to co-create new cultural norms and standards to the local and international markets.

Nation Branding in A Transnational Marketing Context: Serbia’s Brand Positioning Through Food and Wine

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 84-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evinc Dogan ◽  
Goran Petkovic
Keyword(s):  
Nation Branding ◽  
Place Marketing ◽  
Brand Positioning ◽  
Country Branding ◽  
Tourism Marketing ◽  
Nation Brand ◽  
Emerging Themes ◽  
Tourism Organization ◽  
The Impact ◽  
People’S Perceptions

Food and gastronomic values of a country are distinguished assets in marketing places. The aim of this article is exploring the ways in which Serbia rebrands itself through promoting the local food and culture and positions the nation brand in a transnational marketing context. The key concepts for this research originate from the literature in place marketing and branding. The gastronomic offer is an instrument shaping people’s perceptions about Serbia that is represented and communicated through values, narratives and manifestations. Accordingly, semiotics is adopted for analysing the data, which builds on three levels: axiological, narrative and discursive. Content analysis is used as a supportive method to infer meanings from codes and to determine emerging themes overarching the units of meaning.  The tourism marketing strategy of The National Tourism Organization of Serbia (TOS) is closely examined through the touristic promotion materials (i.e. catalogues, posters, Soul Food video). In sum, the analysis results reveal how the country branding strategy of Serbia is handled in terms of the impact on the perceptions with a focus on food as a tourist attraction. The research is valuable for place-marketers, strategists, governments, and scholars from different fields of academia.

The impact of collaborative engagement on knowledge and performance gains in episodic collaborations

2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy W. Nix ◽  
Zach G. Zacharia
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Ancillary Benefits ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Empirical Survey ◽  
Collaborative Engagement ◽  
Relational Outcomes ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Ancillary Benefit

Purpose – Supply chains are embedded in a larger network of enterprises where firms exchange offerings, often compete for the same customers, and constantly innovate to improve their performance. In these dynamic environments, firms are increasingly dependent on the knowledge and expertise in external organizations to innovate, problem-solve, and improve performance. Firms are increasingly collaborating to exchange and pool skills and knowledge and deploy resources and capabilities not found in their own firm. This research using both structured interviews and survey data seeks to determine what are the direct benefits and the ancillary benefits of collaboration. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – A mixed methodology approach was utilized, using qualitative structured interviews leading to developing a research model and then an empirical survey of 473 participants who are involved in their respective organization's collaboration projects. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling to examine relationships between collaborative engagement, knowledge gained, operational outcomes and relational outcomes. Findings – The results of the study indicate that collaborative engagement has a direct effect on knowledge gained, operational outcomes and relational outcomes in collaboration. The ancillary benefit of collaboration is the learning that takes place leads to improved operational outcomes and relational outcomes. Research limitations/implications – In this research study all the constructs are only examined from a single perspective. This can be a limitation as it would be of greater value to collect data from all the members involved in the collaboration. Originality/value – Collaboration has been well studied in many fields but this research suggests an important ancillary benefit that needs to be considered when deciding to collaborate is the knowledge and learning that happens during a collaboration.

Residents’ perceptions of the impact of tourism in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 551-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nada Hammad ◽  
Syed Zamberi Ahmad ◽  
Avraam Papastathopoulos
Keyword(s):  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Social Exchange ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Social Exchange Theory ◽  
Cultural Influences ◽  
Abu Dhabi ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to investigate residents’ perceptions of tourism’s impact on their support for tourism development in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Design/methodology/approach Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires from Abu Dhabi residents (n = 407), who represented 30 nationalities residing in the emirate. Based on social exchange theory, structural equation modeling was used to test hypotheses. Findings Results suggest that Abu Dhabi residents perceive the impacts of tourism positively and are more sensitive to the environmental and economic influences of tourism than the social and cultural influences. Research limitations/implications This study was limited to Abu Dhabi residents; findings cannot be generalized to other emirates in the UAE, or other countries. Originality/value This study adds value to extant tourism literature by investigating residents’ perceptions of the influence of tourism in one of the richest cities worldwide, which aspires to be one of the fastest growing tourism destinations in the Middle East.

The impact of globalization on the performance of Banks in South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 517-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fadzlan Sufian ◽  
Fakarudin Kamarudin
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Host Country ◽  
Banking Sector ◽  
Generalized Method Of Moments ◽  
Estimation Method ◽  
Bank Performance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multinational Banks ◽  
Dynamic Panel Regression ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to provide empirical evidence for the impact globalization has had on the performance of the banking sector in South Africa. In addition, this study also investigates bank-specific characteristics and macroeconomic conditions that may influence the performance of the banking sector. Design/methodology/approach The authors use data collected for all commercial banks in South Africa between 1998 and 2012. The ratio of return on assets was used to measure bank performance. They then used the dynamic panel regression with the generalized method of moments as an estimation method to investigate the potential determinants and the impact of globalization on bank performance. Findings Positive impact of greater economic integration and trade movements of the host country, while greater social globalization in the host country tends to exert negative influence on bank profitability. The results show that banks originating from the relatively more economically globalized countries tend to perform better, while banks headquartered in countries with greater social and political globalizations tend to exhibit lower profitability levels. Originality/value An empirical model was developed that allows for the performance of multinational banks to depend on internal and external factors. Moreover, unlike the previous studies on bank performance, in this empirical analysis, we control for the different dimensions of globalizations while taking into account the origins of the multinational banks. The procedure allows us to test for the home field, the liability of foreignness and global advantage hypotheses to deduce further insights into the prospects of banking across borders.

Curbing electronic shopper perceived opportunism and encouraging trust

2017 ◽  
Vol 117 (10) ◽  
pp. 2210-2226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia San-Martín ◽  
Nadia Jimenez
Keyword(s):  
Information Asymmetry ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
External Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Quality Signals ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Relevant Factors ◽  
Analyze Data

Purpose Consumers can face a situation of information asymmetry in electronic shopping (ES). The purpose of this paper to examine the relationships between: relational variables such as satisfaction, trust and perceived opportunism; and website cues (cognitive signals such as security and personalization, and experiential signals, such as design and entertainment). Design/methodology/approach The paper opted for the structural equation methodology to analyze data collected from 447 Spanish e-shoppers. Findings Results show different factors that relate to satisfaction, trust and perceived opportunism in ES. Satisfactory experience with ES and entertainment emerge as the most relevant factors to achieve trust and prevent perceived opportunism in e-commerce. Originality/value The five contributions of this study are: the introduction of variables from several theoretical approaches to the study of an agency problem in e-commerce; the study of different ways to gain buyer trust and reduce perceived opportunism in an electronic shopper-vendor relationship; the application of signaling theory as part of the process of helping the principal (e-shopper) to solve their shopping problem in a context of information asymmetry; the analysis of the impact of external cues from e-vendor/site, which allows for a comparison between internal experiences and external quality signals; and the study of entertainment as an important hedonic variable in order to have satisfied and confident e-shoppers.

Parent-adolescent conflict and choice of conflict resolution strategy

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rashmi Singh ◽  
J. K. Nayak
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Conflict Resolution ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Conflict Resolution Strategies ◽  
Adolescent Conflict ◽  
Conflict Resolution Strategy ◽  
Resolution Strategy ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Resolution Strategies

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of family communication patterns (FCPs) on adolescents’ choice of conflict resolution strategies during family holiday planning. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is framed by and builds on the literature on the adolescents’ choice of conflict resolution strategies and the FCP. The sample was collected using a survey among 400 adolescents in India. Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling have been used to analyse the data. Findings – The paper provides a significant relationship between FCP and the choice of conflict resolution strategies. The study findings suggested that adolescents’ choice of resolution strategy depends on the type of communication environment in the family. It has been seen that adolescents have more say in concept-oriented families and use different types of resolution strategies compared to socio-oriented families. Practical implications – The present study has considerable implications for the marketers and the academicians. Through FCP, marketers will be able to segment the families and, hence, may introduce efficient and competent marketing strategies and promotional campaigns. Originality/value – The paper offers insights into the choice of conflict resolution strategy by adolescents’ in different FCPs. The study has originality and offers value to marketers as it focuses on adolescents, and explores their perceptions about their influence during the decision process.

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