Ethical standards and perceptions of CRM among millennial consumers

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 863-884 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Cosgrave ◽  
Michele O'Dwyer
Keyword(s):  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Marketing Ethics ◽  
Ethical Standards ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Cause Related Marketing ◽  
Developing Markets ◽  
Role Of Religion

PurposeThis study explores the millennial perceptions of cause-related marketing (CRM) in international markets through the lens of an ethical continuum. Literature gaps exist in our understanding of cause-related marketing, ethics and millennials in an international context, with few studies offering insights into successful CRM campaigns in developed vs developing countries. Previous studies have yielded differing responses based on culture, sociodemographic and consumer perceptions.Design/methodology/approachAn exploratory qualitative research method was adopted to build the theory necessary to address this research gap. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 155 undergraduate and postgraduate students representing 17 nationalities. Interviews were conducted in two regions (Ireland and United Arab Emirates) representing developed and developing markets.FindingsDiscrepancies exist between millennial consumers when it comes to ethical self-reporting, perceptions of CRM initiatives, choice criteria of CRM offers and purchase intentions. Findings also suggest that there is a relationship between the religious and ethical beliefs of millennials in certain regions. Gender showed no significant differences in perceptions of CRM.Originality/valueThis study examines millennial perceptions of CRM from multiple nationalities in developed vs developing markets. It introduces the ethical continuum in international CRM as a lens to examine perceptions of millennial consumers. The study identifies that millennials should not be treated as a homogenous group, suggesting different choice criteria of millennial consumers based on their ethical standards. It demonstrates emerging support for the role of religion in successful adoption of CRM.

Engaging with arranged marriages: a lesson for transnational higher education

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 284-297
Author(s):  
Carrie Amani Annabi ◽  
Amanda L. McStay ◽  
Allyson Fiona Noble ◽  
Maha Sidahmed
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Male Students ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Arranged Marriages ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Transnational Higher Education ◽  
University Policies ◽  
Familial Obligations

Purpose High levels of absenteeism have been observed amongst male students attending two transnational higher education (TNHE) institutions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). One reason offered is an obligation to attend engagement ceremonies. Many ceremonies are linked to arranged marriages. The purpose of this paper is to contradict assumptions that suggest that higher education reduces arranged marriages, and to highlight that university policies overlook cultural nuances. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 male postgraduate students aged between 22 and 45. Content analysis was used to analyse and interpret the data. Findings Several interviewees chose to have an arranged marriage and some saw their postgraduate studies as an opportunity to have a better chance of securing a wife. Equally, several students felt that university policies were unsympathetic to cultural obligations. Research limitations/implications This research was restricted to male students from two TNHE institutes in the UAE. Practical implications This research provides insight for TNHE managers by providing student-centric research into cultural reasons that prevent student attendance. Social implications TNHE is not fully responsive to familial obligations within collective societies. In consequence, there has been a lack of sympathy within policies regarding students’ requirement to fulfil cultural commitments. Originality/value The paper explores the challenges of creating culturally sensitive educational policy and practices.

Food “buycott” as an ethical choice against mafia in Italy

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 490-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio Rivaroli ◽  
Arianna Ruggeri ◽  
Roberta Spadoni
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Food Products ◽  
Type Systems ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Marketing Ethics ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Italian Law ◽  
Critical Choice

Purpose As indicated in the Italian law (No. 109-1996), agri-food co-operatives can also play a role in combatting mafia-type systems by choosing to grow their food products in lands confiscated from mafia-type organisations. These food products provide individuals with a new opportunity to fight criminal organisations on the marketplace. The purpose of this study is to explore how people react to a social marketing initiative devoted to promoting food “buycotting” to counteract mafia-type organisations in Italy. Design/methodology/approach The data were obtained from a convenience sample of 339 Italians, and the study adopted a model inspired by the general theory of marketing ethics. A structural equation model was applied to estimate both the parameter and coefficient functions. Findings Individuals recognise the ethical value of “buycotting”. However, they perceive this form of critical choice as not yet being fully effective in counteracting mafia-type systems in Italy. Practical implications The results suggest that promotional and psychological approaches from marketing literature can be effectively used to influence the consumer’s ethical judgement by selectively communicating and emphasising the benefits of the critical consumption investigated. Originality/value This is one of the first studies to address consumers’ ethical judgments and their reactions towards buycotting food as a critical choice to reward socially responsible corporations.

Building resilience in retail supply chains: Lessons learned from COVID-19 and future pathways

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Atif Saleem Butt
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Cash Flows ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis study explores the countermeasures taken by retailers to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on supply chain disruptions.Design/methodology/approachThis research uses a multiple case study approach and undertakes 36 semi-structured interviews with senior management of the four largest retailers of the United Arab Emirates. The respondents were designated at different positions such as Vice President, Director and Project Manager.FindingsResults reveal that retailers are employing six countermeasures to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on supply chains. Particularly, retailers are securing required demand, preserving cash flows, redirecting inventory, adding capacity to their distribution centres, becoming more flexible with their direct or third-party logistics provider and finally widening delivery options for their suppliers to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has some limitations. First, the results of this study cannot be generalized to a broader population as it attempts to build an initial theory. Second, this study uses a cross-sectional approach to explore the countermeasures employed by retailing firms to mitigate the effects of COVID-19.Originality/valueA notable weakness in a supply chain disruption literature is an unfulfilled need for research examining the strategies employed by retailers to respond to/address the challenges posed by COVID-19. Our study fills this gap.

scholarly journals Global careers in the Arabian Gulf

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yehuda Baruch ◽  
Ingo Forstenlechner
Keyword(s):  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Emerging Economies ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Arabian Gulf ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cultural Fit ◽  
Muslim Countries ◽  
Career Opportunities

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a better understanding of expatriation, both firm-initiated and self-initiated. The authors identified factors influencing the motives of expatriates to locate to the Arabian Gulf, and possible factors that may influence their decision to remain. Design/methodology/approach Using a qualitative approach, the authors conducted 123 semi-structured interviews with expatriates in the United Arab Emirates, from various backgrounds. These interviews are analyzed based on the thematic analytic approach. Findings The authors identified four clusters of reasoning for global assignments to the Gulf and the outcomes of the expatriation. Remuneration was the main motivator cited for the move, but an obstacle for returning to the home country. For Westerners, the second most important factor was career opportunities, whereas for expatriates from Muslim countries it was cultural fit. Practical implications The findings may be a valuable source of reference for individuals and for policy makers, employers, HR practitioners, and career counselors to provide an understanding of expatriation in emerging economies. Originality/value The paper uses evidence from the Gulf to bridge the gap between current knowledge of expatriation and the context of emerging economies.

Mitigating knowledge hiding in firms: an exploratory study

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 631-645 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atif Saleem Butt
Keyword(s):  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Senior Managers ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Incentive Policy ◽  
Chain Of Command ◽  
Hiding Behavior ◽  
Knowledge Hiding

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how firms can mitigate knowledge hiding behavior among their managers.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs a multiple case study methodology for studying nine United Arab Emirates-based (UAE-based) firms. Furthermore, 26 semi-structured interviews with senior managers are undertaken.FindingsBased on the qualitative interviews and comprehensive data analysis, results unveil three strategies that firms can opt for in order to mitigate knowledge hiding behavior among managers (reducing chain of command, developing informal interaction among managers, introducing and implementing incentive policy.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has some limitations. First, the results of this study are not generalizable to a broader population. Second, this study explores behavioral patterns with respect to the UAE culture only.Practical implicationsFirms can use the findings from this study to understand strategies that can help them to mitigate the knowledge hiding behavior of managers.Originality/valueThis study contributes to knowledge hiding literature by revealing strategies which discourages knowledge hiding behavior in firms.

Mitigating the effects of COVID-19: an exploratory case study of the countermeasures taken by the manufacturing industry

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Atif Saleem Butt
Keyword(s):  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Process Manufacturing ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this study is to understand how manufacturers (both discrete and process) are managing disruptions amid the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, using UAE as an empirical context. Design/methodology/approach This research uses a multiple case study approach and undertakes 36 semi-structured interviews with senior management of four discrete and four process manufacturing firms that outsource products/components from overseas and domestic suppliers. Findings Results reveal that manufacturing firms are using six distinct actions to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, they are relying on the automation process, transferring new and updated knowledge to the current and new suppliers, managing workforce diversity, understanding the impact of demand’s disruption, managing the ecosystem and finally using digital technologies to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Research limitations/implications This study has some limitations. Firstly, the results of this study cannot be generalized to a broader population as it attempts to build an initial theory in manufacturing supply chains within the context of a pandemic outbreak. Second, the study uses a cross-sectional approach to explore the actions used by manufacturing firms to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Practical implications Manufacturing firms can replicate the actions proposed in this study to lessen the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and emerge stronger in the post-COVID-era. Originality/value This study contributes to the manufacturing supply chain literature within the context of pandemic outbreaks by exploring the steps taken by manufacturing firms to minimize the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Particularly, it explores such steps by considering both the discrete and process manufacturing industries within the United Arab Emirates.

Are there any antecedents of top-down knowledge hiding in firms? Evidence from the United Arab Emirates

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. 1605-1627 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atif Saleem Butt ◽  
Ahmad Bayiz Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Senior Managers ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Foreign Nationality ◽  
Knowledge Hiding

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the antecedents of top-down knowledge hiding in buying and supplying firms. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a multiple case study methodology by considering four UAE-based firms and further employing 20 semi-structured interviews with managers of buying and supplying firms having a local and foreign nationality. Findings Based on the qualitative interviews, senior managers were found to be intentionally hiding knowledge from their managers based on five individual, three interpersonal and two firm-level reasons. Research limitations/implications This study has some limitations. First, the results of this study are not generalizable to a broader population. Second, this study explores behavioural patterns with respect to United Arab Emirates culture only. Practical implications Firms can use the findings of this study to understand what really motivates senior managers to intentionally hide knowledge from their subordinates. Also, this study provides some constructive guidelines to firms/senior management, which can discourage the culture of knowledge hiding in firms. Originality/value This study contributes to knowledge management literature by revealing multi-level and multi-faceted antecedents of top-down knowledge hiding in buying and supplying firms in the supply chain context.

Exploring the double-edged sword of familiness from a knowledge-based perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-96
Author(s):  
Omar Belkhodja ◽  
Abdelkader Daghfous
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Family Relationships ◽  
Family Firms ◽  
Organizational Outcomes ◽  
Comparative Case Study ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Knowledge Based

PurposeFor family businesses, familiness constitutes a unique bundle of resources and capabilities resulting from family relationships and influences. The extant literature has shown that familiness impacts organizational outcomes such as performance and innovation. This paper investigates the role of familiness in relation to absorptive capacity (ACAP). It also explores the specificities of nonfamily members’ social capital when different knowledge management (KM) approaches are adopted.Design/methodology/approachAn exploratory comparative case study design is adopted. Data from three family firms based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) provide the empirical setting for this study. The data were collected using semi-structured interviews, available documents, observations and company websites.FindingsOur results reveal that the role of familiness in relation to ACAP varies according to the adopted KM approach. Familiness targets the potential ACAP when an explicit KM approach is adopted, the realized ACAP when a tacit KM approach is adopted, and both potential and realized ACAPs when a strategic KM approach is adopted. Our results also show that family firms invest in KM processes that support knowledge exploration and/or exploitation.Originality/valueThis paper provides further evidence for the role of familiness. It moves beyond the study of familiness from a resource-based view and adopts a knowledge-based perspective to develop a better understanding of the role of familiness in relation to ACAP. It also improves our understanding of nonfamily members’ social capital in family firms.

scholarly journals Food-and-wine experiences towards co-creation in tourism

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susana Andreia Salgueiro Rachão ◽  
Zelia Breda ◽  
Carlos Fernandes ◽  
Veronique Joukes
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Awareness ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Theoretical Concepts ◽  
Wine Tourism ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Tourism Experience ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Group 5

Purpose In general, literature recognises that co-creative experiences add value to the tourism experience, yet empirical research within food-and-wine context remains scarce. This study aims to analyse the tourists’ perceptions of the co-creation construct, their food-and-wine tourism experiences and their willingness to actively co-create in this type of experiences. Design/methodology/approach Departing from general co-creation theoretical concepts, this research explores how they can be applied in a specific food-and-tourism context. The end goal is to formulate a model that can be applied by food-and-wine managers when they create their tourism experience. A convenience sample of 19 tourists composed by 1 focus group (5 participants) and 14 face-to-face semi-structured interviews provided data for the qualitative research to explore tourists’ perceptions of co-creation and how these perceptions can be used to create engaging and successful food-and-wine experiences. Findings Results reveal that co-creation is perceived by tourists as one or a combination of seven categories: social interaction, novelty, creativity, social sustainability, environmental awareness, enjoyment and memorable experiences. Respondents have participated in food-and-wine activities while travelling as a complement to their tourism experience displaying more willingness to actively participate in food rather than wine experiences. Research limitations/implications This study is exploratory in nature which makes the data not generalisable. The findings need further quantitative validation. Although the food-and-wine experiences were created based on existing experiences, they are composed of a different number of stages (without standardisation), which may make further statistical analysis (comparisons) difficult. Practical implications By conceptualising the co-creation construct, tourism managers may use the outcome of this study to turn their experiences more environmentally friendly and to improve the creative process of the experiences. The research findings not only emphasise the significance of understanding tourists’ co-creation conceptualisation, but also indicate the importance of integrating creativity and environmental awareness dimensions into experiences. Particularly, the study develops a theoretical model supportive of the co-creation dimensions that can be applied on food-and-wine tourism contexts. Originality/value This study fills a gap in the literature between co-creation in tourism and its application in food-and-wine settings by highlighting the significance that co-creation has in developing tourism business experiences.

Assessing the health, safety, and environment culture in the United Arab Emirates oil and gas industry

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 495-512
Author(s):  
Mohmaed Almazrouei ◽  
Khalizani Khalid ◽  
Salam Abdallah ◽  
Ross Davidson
Keyword(s):  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Oil And Gas Industry ◽  
Leadership Roles ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Leadership Responsibilities ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Health Safety ◽  
Safety And Environment

Purpose This paper aims to assess the ways through which the concept of health, safety and environment (HSE) is perceived by workers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) oil and gas industry. The study focused on different aspects of the HSE culture and how employees with and without leadership responsibilities differed in their conceptualization of HSE culture. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted for 30 staff of the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company in the UAE. The interviewees were purposively selected which included both those in leadership and non-leadership roles. Findings The findings revealed that the interviewees viewed HSE culture as a descriptive term, a causal phenomenon, a systemic approach or a legal requirement/obligation. Interviewees in the production and maintenance units mentioned safety most often. Employees and managers exhibited negligible differences in their usage of the HSE culture concept. Managers predominantly featured in the narratives as important drivers of HSE culture. Physical conditions, behavior and procedures, management, competence and collaboration emerged as important components of a sound HSE culture. Originality/value To enable better communication and subsequent improvement of the HSE culture, an analogical HSE culture “vehicle” was developed in the study. The vehicle is a novel illustration based on the key roles of managers and employees, as well as the main components of a sound HSE culture.

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