An image worth a thousand words? Expressions of stakeholder identity perspectives in place image descriptions

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carola Strandberg ◽  
Maria Ek Styvén
Keyword(s):  
Place Identity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Place Image ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Qualitative Nature ◽  
Place Brand ◽  
Gathering Place ◽  
Social Group Identity ◽  
Image Descriptions ◽  
Depth Interviews

Purpose This paper aims to explore how place identity can be expressed in residents’ place image descriptions, addressing differences and similarities in place identity expressions between residents’ descriptions of the image of their place and the image of the place as described to others. Design/methodology/approach In-depth interviews were conducted with residents of a Swedish city. Place image descriptions were analyzed through thematic analysis. Findings Different types of identity perspectives manifest in the place image descriptions of residents. Respondents’ associations reflect place, person and social group identity perspectives, including their own perspective as residents, but also as visitors, or a combination of both. Priming is needed when gathering place image perceptions, to establish which underlying identity perspective is expressed. Research limitations/implications This study offers a Nordic perspective on the organic communication of place image. The scope and qualitative nature of this study is a limitation to its generalizability but also suggests a rich ground for future cross-cultural studies on the topic. Practical implications Results point to the importance of accurately formulating questions to catch stakeholders’ place image. Insights are offered into how stakeholders communicate Nordic place image perceptions when engaging in communication about a place and into the effects of identity on organic place brand communication. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to explore how key stakeholders’ lenses to interpret a place brand are activated in the communication of place image, and how this influences their descriptions of the place.

A deliberately emergent strategy – a key to successful city branding

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janne Lindstedt
Keyword(s):  
Place Branding ◽  
Place Identity ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
City Branding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Emergent Strategy ◽  
Branding Strategies ◽  
Local Stakeholders ◽  
Place Brand

Purpose – The paper aims to address a neglected issue in the literature on place brand co-creation, namely, the strategic planning of the branding process. Furthermore, the paper demonstrates the benefits of a deliberately emergent strategy. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative case study focusing on Turku, Finland, supports the development of the argument. In this study, branding of Turku is examined both during the European Capital of Culture 2011 (ECoC) project and after it. Findings – The contribution of the ECoC 2011 project – which was widely perceived as a success – to Turku’s brand was based on a deliberately emergent strategy. Afterwards, the local government has, however, chosen a different approach to branding. Research limitations/implications – Given the increasing popularity of brand thinking among practitioners all over the world, it would be meaningful for scholars to pay more attention to the application of brand co-creation in place branding strategies. Practical implications – The deliberately emergent branding strategy could be considered an approach to applying the idea of brand co-creation in practice. It enables local stakeholders to make their voices heard and results in increased credibility of a branding process. Originality/value – Place brand co-creation has not yet been examined from strategic planning’s point of view. The need for this kind of examination is apparent, because branding strategies have traditionally been based on the idea of static place identity. The Turku case helps to propose a solution in terms of the notion of deliberately emergent branding.

scholarly journals The growing scale and scope of the supply chain: a reflection on supply chain graduate skills

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 610-626 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Jordan ◽  
Ozlem Bak
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Future Supply ◽  
Industry Needs ◽  
It Skills ◽  
Depth Interviews

Purpose The growing scale and scope of the supply chain requires a greater understanding of the broader supply chain skills picture. This study aims to assess the supply chain skills needs within the context of a UK-based higher education institution involving graduates, academics and employers to appreciate the graduate skills demands of modern supply chains. Design/methodology/approach A mixed methods study entailing in-depth interviews with academics followed by a questionnaire distributed to graduates and employers has been designed and utilised. Findings The findings indicate that the changing supply chain scope encourages the requisition and development of different supply chain skills with varied levels of emphases in relation to 25 skills identified in the literature. Key graduate skills needs are highlighted, including time management, collaborative learning, teamwork and problem solving, with the addition of two supply chain skill areas, namely specialist training and the understanding and application of regulations. The findings of the current study present a limited emphasis on information technology (IT) skills, despite the significant IT advancements and changes in supply chains. Research limitations/implications The study has been carried out in a UK university delivering undergraduate supply chain management courses. It would be beneficial to test whether the findings are exemplary across other supply chain courses and to investigate the integration of these skills within the supply chain syllabus and how employers, graduates and academic parties could actively engage in developing the agenda for future supply chain skills needs. Practical implications This research paper highlights the gaps in supply chain skills, which inevitably puts considerable pressure on operatives and managers whose responsibility it is to ensure compliance with regulations and professional bodies. Originality/value This paper contributes to the supply chain skills discussion and reports subject relevant challenges for supply chain educators by engaging three key stakeholders – graduate employers, graduates and academics. The findings have generated additional supply chain skills to the academic literature, in addition to providing an understanding of the weighting of skills in terms of their importance and application to industry needs.

scholarly journals Towards a theoretical framework on sensorial place brand identity

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clarinda Rodrigues ◽  
Heather Skinner ◽  
Charles Dennis ◽  
T.C. Melewar
Keyword(s):  
Place Branding ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Place Identity ◽  
Integrative Model ◽  
Brand Identity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sensory Marketing ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Place Brand ◽  
New Framework

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose a new framework on sensorial place brand identity. Design/methodology/approach This conceptual paper draws from sensory marketing and brand identity theories to propose an integrative model to develop sensorial place brand identity. Findings By relying on a broad spectrum of the literature, the study supports the notion that sensorial place brand identity is a bottom-up approach to branding that involves several enactment stakeholders and key influences as co-creators in the process of delivering sensory place branding messages based on a strong and unique place brand identity. This leads to the presentation of a provisional framework linking sensorial place identity, experiencescapes and multisensory place brand image. Originality/value This novel approach to place brand identity follows a holistic approach by considering several enactment stakeholders and key influencers as co-creators in the process of branding a place through the senses.

Stakeholder value-based place brand building

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 807-818 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mechthild Donner ◽  
Fatiha Fort
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Place Identity ◽  
Brand Identity ◽  
Brand Value ◽  
Measurement Scales ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Brand Building ◽  
Place Brand ◽  
Value Measurement

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the place brand building process based on multi-stakeholder perceived value. It contributes to an understanding of how place brands are developed, providing diverse benefits, and proposes a conceptual framework for place brand building and value measurement scales. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on the place brand Sud de France. Qualitative data from stakeholder interviews is used to investigate the main place brand value dimensions. A survey of consumers from the Languedoc-Roussillon region is conducted to measure consumer place brand values. Quantitative data is analyzed using structural equation modelling. Findings Results indicate that place brand value is a multiple-perspective and multidimensional construct that includes new measurement scales related to dimensions such as quality of life, a common local identity and local development. Brand identity is not only constructed on place identity, but should also incorporate stakeholder values and provide value to consumers. Practical implications For place brand managers, this study provides a methodology that helps identify the main place image and stakeholders values to be integrated into place brand identity construction. The place brand value measurement scales can be used to ensure a permanent match between brand identity and consumption trends. Originality/value Literature dealing with place equity has focused mostly on country-of-origin or destination image effects from a non-local consumer or tourist perspective. The originality of this study lies in analyzing the perceived benefits of a regional brand by its local stakeholders, leading to a new brand building framework and value measurement scales.

What determines residents’ commitment to a post-communist city? A moderated mediation analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-68
Author(s):  
Laurent Tournois ◽  
Chiara Rollero
Keyword(s):  
Place Attachment ◽  
Power Distance ◽  
Place Branding ◽  
Moderated Mediation ◽  
Place Identity ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Place Image ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This study aims to investigate how residents’ perceptions of the image of their place of living influence their level of commitment toward it. The mediating role of human place bonds (place attachment and place identity) and the moderating effect of the socio-demographic characteristics of the host community in this relationship is specifically examined. Design/methodology/approach The theoretical direct–indirect–moderation relationships are examined using structural equation modeling and moderated-mediation or condition process analysis (Hayes and Preacher, 2013). Data were collected from 472 residents living in Belgrade (Serbia). Findings The findings support the contention that place attachment and place identity mediate the relationship between place image and commitment. The study further shows that the conditional indirect relationship of place image with commitment through place attachment and place identity is significant for age. Age and place of birth are found to moderate the relationship between place image and place attachment. Research limitations/implications A stimulating avenue for future research is to explore the effect of culture (individualist, short-term oriented and low on power distance vs collectivist, long-term oriented and high on power distance cultures) on model’s relationships as well as on commitment specifically. Practical implications To enhance their residents’ commitment, place marketers should focus on two levels of action. The first lever is to assess how residents perceive the image of the place where they live as it can serve as a strategic outline to explore their level of support and address the possible negative feelings they may have toward any development project. The second level of action is developing bottom up strategies that are likely to enhance residents’ commitment which aims at transforming residents into active place ambassadors and actors of the public life of the city. Originality/value To the best of authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first in the place branding research domain to examine the role of human place bonds in the relationship between place image and commitment using mediation, moderation, and moderated-mediation analyses. Moreover, place branding literature is underdeveloped regarding the current issues most post-communist countries face.

Understanding resident city brand disengagement

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 172-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Insch ◽  
Menique Stuart
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Brand Awareness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Resident Participation ◽  
City Brand ◽  
Place Brand ◽  
The City ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors underlying residents’ lack of involvement and engagement with their city brand. This paper addresses the gap in understanding residents’ disengagement from their city brand. Design/methodology/approach – In-depth interviews with 14 residents of Dunedin City, New Zealand, were conducted to identify and understand the factors that underlie residents’ disengagement from their city brand. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Findings – Four major themes or factors that influence residents’ disengagement were identified: lack of brand awareness/knowledge; lack of brand identification; disapproval of local government actions; and cynical attitudes towards involvement. Research limitations/implications – This paper focuses on one city brand, with its unique history and institutional context, and the thoughts and experiences of a limited group of residents, thus limiting the applicability of the findings. A longitudinal study would be helpful to identify if residents’ engagement with their place brand change over time and the underlying reasons for such changes. Practical implications – Extant research highlights the importance of a participatory, co-creative process between citizens and local governments for building city brands. Despite this, this study’s findings demonstrate that there might be several formidable barriers to resident participation in their city’s branding process. Originality/value – This paper represents a first step in understanding what might trigger or contribute to residents becoming disengaged from their city’s brand. Therefore, this paper considers the “hidden voices” of residents who have become largely disconnected from the city brand.

Designing place brand architecture: the potential of a sub-brands strategy

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Zelenskaya ◽  
Elena Elkanova
Keyword(s):  
Supply And Demand ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
City Branding ◽  
Target Groups ◽  
Brand Architecture ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Suggested Strategy ◽  
Place Brand ◽  
Depth Interviews

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the problem of place brand architecture. Despite being a well-established research domain in the field of product and services marketing, brand architecture remains an under-explored phenomenon in relation to places. The paper aims to discuss a new approach to a sub-brands strategy that builds on both the supply and the demand sides, and explores the benefits and challenges of the suggested strategy. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based on a case study of St Petersburg, Russia, using both secondary and primary data. The primary data consists of in-depth interviews with stakeholders involved in city branding and applies thematic analysis. Findings The results demonstrate that place brand architecture helps to design a differentiated system of sub-brands that are customer-focused and reflect the complexity of a place. The paper outlines the benefits (such as, flexibility of the sub-brands strategy and the increased credibility of the brand) and the challenges for strategy implementation (such as, higher promotional expenditure and communication risk and stakeholder misalignment). Practical implications This paper will be helpful for place brand and tourism managers who seek to attract new target groups and avoid various problems, such as the overcrowding of popular sights. Originality/value While the existing literature on place brand architecture is mainly approached from a geographical perspective, this paper proposes a new target-group-specific approach that incorporates the supply and demand sides.

scholarly journals Advancing capacity to adapt to climate change: addressing information needs in the Australian property industry

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 321-335
Author(s):  
Georgia Warren-Myers ◽  
Anna Hurlimann ◽  
Judy Bush
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Dissemination Of Research ◽  
Depth Interviews

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand the sources of climate change information used and trusted by key stakeholders in the Australian property industry, their information needs and their capacity to translate that information into decision-making. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative research applying in-depth interviews with 24 key stakeholders from a diverse range of property/real estate companies in Australia. Findings This research identified a wide range of information types used by key stakeholders, ranging from reliance on unsophisticated mass media reporting to detailed analysis of scientific research. The capacity of stakeholders to translate this information for their organisation was polarised; 11 of the 24 interviewees indicated they had the capacity, while the other 13 indicated they did not, often owing to time horizons or lack of current interest within the organisation or from clients. Research limitations/implications This research was limited to 24 in-depth interviews and is not intended to be a representative sample. However, this limitation is offset by the fact that a diverse range of stakeholders were interviewed and an in-depth and rich understanding has been provided about their approach to climate change. Practical implications The results can inform the development of better communication channels for climate change for the property industry by supporting science-practice collaborations in the timely and effective dissemination of research. This is important to understand given the identified need to bridge the gap among research, policy and practice. Social implications Climate change poses significant challenges and risks for built environments. The property industry, as a key stakeholder, has great potential to influence current practices. The results reported here assist in addressing these challenges. Originality/value At present, limited research globally has been conducted about climate change actions in the property industry. This research responds to this gap.

Using BPM governance to align systems and practice

2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 184-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaby Doebeli ◽  
Ron Fisher ◽  
Rod Gapp ◽  
Louis Sanzogni
Keyword(s):  
Process Management ◽  
Comparison Method ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Roles And Responsibilities ◽  
Governance Model ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose a business process management (BPM) governance model that sets BPM decision making, along with roles and responsibilities. The setting context of the study is a government‐owned corporation operating in Australia.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative case study examined and analysed organisational documents using a content analysis approach. Results of document analysis are used to inform a series of in‐depth interviews of key stakeholders in the organisation. Interviews are analysed using a constant comparison method to derive themes and build categories of description.FindingsA BPM governance model is proposed. Results of thematic analysis are interpreted against the framework of the BPM governance model, leading to findings that include implications for theory and practice.Practical implicationsIn practical terms, the research shows how BPM practice can be aligned and integrated with the corporate governance and management systems in the selected case study organisation.Originality/valueDespite research identifying the importance of governance, along with associated capabilities, there has been little progress on how the abovementioned capabilities can be effectively deployed across an organisation. This paper addresses a gap in the literature relating to how to deploy BPM governance in an organisation.

Leicester, Festival City, or a City with Festivals

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Brown
Keyword(s):  
Local Authority ◽  
Ethnically Diverse ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Place Identity ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Religious Festivals ◽  
The City ◽  
Depth Interviews

This chapter examines the notion of ‘festival city’ in relation to festivals and events in the City of Leicester, and considers whether a coordinated approach to festivals is appropriate for the city. Through in-depth interviews it examines to what extent the drawing together of festivals and events is important to a selection of the city’s key stakeholders, including the festival organisers and the policy makers, and the potential roles for the local authority. It looks at whether there are place identity and economic benefits of drawing the festivals together, and the value of a promoting a title such as ‘Festival City’. In contrast, a city with festivals may be defined as a city where, although many festivals happen, there is no, or very little, coordination, and no shared strategy, particularly in relation to the role of local government. This is also distinct from a ‘festival city’ in that festivals are seen as separate and promoted as such, with no clear overall purpose, though recognised as positive for a city and actively encouraged. Crucially this chapter asks if leadership in developing a focused, coordinated approach to festivals may be better positioned outside the municipal council. Although the role of the local authority would remain important in providing funding and access to resources, we ask if it could potentially achieve more through developing delivery partnerships. For the purposes of this chapter a ‘festival city’ has been defined as a city where there is coordination of festivals for the purpose of creating a brand to promote tourism and support place marketing. It may also have benefits in raising the profile of smaller events, widening audiences, and increasing potential for raising sponsorship or accessing funding. As we shall see, other UK cities such as York, Bath and Cheltenham have all used this coordinated approach with their festival programmes. This chapter will focus on the City of Leicester where, even within an environment of huge cuts to public spending, there is a commitment to culture, and in particular festivals, as seen in its investment in festivals and the 2013 bid for UK City of Culture, for which it was shortlisted. Leicester has a large number of festivals and its culturally and ethnically diverse population is reflected in its strong mix of arts, cultural and religious festivals.

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