ExerStart: helping seniors be active and independent for less

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-160
Author(s):  
Patrick van Esch ◽  
Sarah Maree Duffy ◽  
James Teufel ◽  
Gavin Northey ◽  
Edward Elder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Social Marketing ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Functional Fitness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Marketing Program ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Within Subjects ◽  
Criterion Referenced ◽  
Cost Efficient

Purpose The purpose of this research is to examine a downstream social marketing program that slows the typical decline in functional fitness and independence of adults over 55 with particular attention to the ROI and the efficiency of the program. Design/methodology/approach Within subjects quasi-experimental design. Findings The ExerStart program is cost-efficient and effective delivering an ROI of 33 per cent. The participants of the ExerStart social marketing program significantly improved functional fitness. Further, this program demonstrates that this result may be achieved with just four exercises rather than six. Practical implications A successful, cost-effective, high-retention social marketing program is outlined for social marketers who aim to increase the functional fitness and independence of adults over 55 years. Social implications Two societal benefits, the first is that it provides direction about how to efficiently prolong the independence of adults over 55 years, and the second is that it decreases pressure and costs on the healthcare system. This may be useful for policy makers and social marketers alike. Originality/value The authors contribute to the literature in two important ways. First, this paper details a cost-effective intervention that improves the physical fitness of a significant and growing portion of the community and suggests additional considerations for future ROI calculations. Second, this paper contributes methodologically by introducing the senior fitness test (a new criterion-referenced clinically relevant physical fitness standard specifically developed for seniors).

scholarly journals Effectiveness of a brief versus a comprehensive social marketing program

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 377-394
Author(s):  
James Durl ◽  
Timo Dietrich ◽  
Krzysztof Kubacki
Keyword(s):  
Social Marketing ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Program Effectiveness ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Repeated Measure ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Pilot Program ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Comprehensive Program ◽  
Marketing Program

Purpose Gamified and engaging school-based alcohol social marketing programs have demonstrated effectiveness; however, wide-scale dissemination of these programs is limited by their resource-intensive character. The purpose of this paper is to address this limitation, a brief alcohol social marketing pilot program was derived from a comprehensive alcohol social marketing program to compare effectiveness. Design/methodology/approach A sample of 115 14–16-year-old adolescents from six secondary schools participated in the brief alcohol social marketing pilot program. Program effectiveness was assessed using repeated measure analysis on adolescents’ knowledge, attitudes, social norms, self-efficacy and intentions to binge drink. Results were compared with the comprehensive social marketing program and a control group. Findings The brief pilot program produced statistically significant outcomes for the same measures as the comprehensive program across attitudinal variables, descriptive norms and opportunistic self-efficacy. Research limitations/implications Converting existing social marketing programs into brief alternates is more cost-effective and, in this case, demonstrated better outcome effects. However, findings are limited as in-depth comparisons were hindered by changes to content across program modes. No process for converting comprehensive programs into brief alternates was identified prior to this study, and therefore a number of considerations for program alteration were derived from program facilitator experiences. Originality/value The findings provide initial evidence that a brief version of an existing comprehensive program can be an effective alternate to more resource-intensive programs under more cost-effective circumstances for program developers and facilitators.

Midstream social marketing intervention to influence retailers’ compliance with the minimum legal drinking age law

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanja Kamin ◽  
Daša Kokole
Keyword(s):  
Social Marketing ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Excessive Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
Drinking Age ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Minimum Legal Drinking Age ◽  
Marketing Intervention ◽  
Marketing Approach

Purpose Alcohol availability is strongly related to excessive alcohol consumption. This study aims to examine social marketing’s response to concerns about retailers’ noncompliance with the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) law by proposing and evaluating a social marketing intervention directed at sellers in off-premise stores. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on a non-randomized quasi-experimental design, focusing on an evaluation of the implementation of the “18 rules!” intervention in four cities in Slovenia. Two waves of underage purchase attempts were conducted pre- and post-intervention in 24 off-premise businesses, following a mystery shopping protocol. Findings The initial rate of retailers’ noncompliance with the MLDA law in off-premise establishments was high. After the social marketing intervention, an increase with compliance with the law was observed; the proportion of cashiers selling alcohol to minors after the intervention decreased from 96 to 67 per cent. Qualitative insight suggests an existence of retailers’ dilemma in complying with the MLDA. Research limitations/implications A social marketing approach could contribute to a better understanding of the social working of the MLDA law. Practical implications A social marketing approach could complement the usual enforcement strategies and contribute to a better understanding of the social working of the MLDA law, and encourage deliberate retailers’ compliance with it while developing valuable exchanges among people and stakeholders. Originality/value The paper conceptualizes retailers’ dilemma in complying with the minimal legal drinking age law and offers social marketing response to it. Results of the study show that also solely non-coercive measures have the potential in increasing retailers’ compliance with regulations.

scholarly journals Community-based social marketing: effects on social norms

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Schuster ◽  
Krzysztof Kubacki ◽  
Sharyn Rundle-Thiele
Keyword(s):  
Social Norms ◽  
Social Marketing ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Media Campaigns ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Final Sample ◽  
Quasi Experimental

Purpose This paper aims to investigate whether application of a community-based social marketing (CBSM) principle, namely, increasing the visibility of a target behaviour in the community, can change social norms surrounding the behaviour. Design/methodology/approach A repeated measures quasi-experimental design was used to evaluate the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation’s Walk to School 2013 programme. The target population for the survey were caregivers of primary school children aged between 5-12 years old. The final sample size across the three online surveys administered was 102 respondents. Findings The results suggest that the programme increased caregivers’ perceptions that children in their community walked to and from school and that walking to and from school is socially acceptable. Originality/value The study contributes to addressing the recent call for research examining the relationship between CBSM principles and programme outcomes. Further, the results provide insight for enhancing the social norms approach, which has traditionally relied on changing social norms exclusively through media campaigns.

The Islamic gold dinar: a hedge against exchange rate volatility

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 722-738 ◽  
Author(s):  
Calvin W.H. Cheong
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Exchange Rate Volatility ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Market Volatility ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sample Country ◽  
Islamic Financial Institutions ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
Lower Magnitude ◽  
First Time

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the ability of the Islamic gold dinar to hedge against two well-established foreign exchange (FX) risk factors namely, the dollar risk factor and global FX volatility innovations. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses a combination of the Markowitz (1952) portfolio optimization, visual data representations and the classic Fama-Macbeth (1973) two-pass procedure regressions. Findings The findings show that the Islamic gold dinar can serve as a hedge against market volatility, outperforms a diversified currency portfolio, and through its inclusions into the diversified currency portfolio, improve said portfolio’s ability to hedge against market volatility. Research limitations/implications Due to the spread of the sample, country-specific factors could not be taken into account. Practical implications The Islamic gold dinar is a cost-efficient, cost-effective, and Shariah-compliant instrument that provides a solid hedge for investors and/or firms that have financial positions denominated in foreign currencies. Should these investors or firms find it costly to maintain a dinar-only portfolio, including the dinar into their currency portfolios also provides the same benefit, albeit at a lower magnitude. Originality/value This study is timely as the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions has recently for the first time recognized gold as a Shariah-compliant investment. The findings of this study provide the first look as to how investors and firms can benefit through the use of the Islamic gold dinar in their risk management practices.

Cryptocurrencies vs global foreign exchange risk

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 330-351
Author(s):  
Calvin W. H. Cheong
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Exchange ◽  
Financial Risk ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Detailed Examination ◽  
Barriers To Entry ◽  
Alternative Mode ◽  
Foreign Exchange Risk ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Exchange Risk ◽  
Cost Efficient

Purpose This study aims to examine the properties of four major cryptocurrencies and how they can be used as a simpler alternative mode of hedging foreign exchange (FX) risks as compared to existing mainstream financial risk management techniques. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a combination of visual data representations and the classic Fama and Macbeth (1973) two-pass procedure regressions. Findings The findings show that cryptocurrencies can be a more effective hedge against FX risks as compared to other common hedging instruments and/or techniques such as gold or a diversified currency portfolio. Research limitations/implications The conclusions were arrived at based only on a small group of cryptocurrency, i.e. Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and Ripple. Other cryptocurrencies such as Dogecoin or ZCash might exhibit different properties. Practical implications Cryptocurrencies can be cost-effective and cost-efficient instruments that provide a solid hedge for investors and/or firms that are exposed to global FX volatility. Its ease of trade and virtually zero barriers to entry makes it an easily accessible alternative hedge instrument as compared to more complex items such as derivatives. Originality/value If cryptocurrencies are to be accepted into mainstream usage, a detailed examination of its various uses is necessary. In particular, as they are often touted to be the future of currency, its properties and price behavior relative to other mainstream financial instruments need to be well-understood, not only by finance professionals but also by laypersons.

A comparative study of the efficacy of intervention strategies on student electricity use in campus residence halls

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 503-519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison K. Wisecup ◽  
Dennis Grady ◽  
Richard A. Roth ◽  
Julio Stephens
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Design ◽  
Residence Halls ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Residence Hall ◽  
Intervention Strategies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Electricity Use ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Energy Dashboard

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine whether, and how, electricity consumption by students in university residence halls were impacted through three intervention strategies. Design/methodology/approach The current investigation uses a quasi-experimental design by exposing freshman students in four matched residence halls and the use of three different interventions designed to encourage energy conservation, specifically electricity conservation. A control residence hall received no intervention. One residence hall had an energy dashboard prominently displayed. Another received various communications and programming designed to raise awareness of the need for energy conservation. A fourth residence hall had an energy dashboard and received programming. Electricity consumption among the residence halls was compared using multivariate analysis. Findings Students in all residence halls receiving interventions demonstrated significantly lower electricity consumption compared to the control residence hall. Across two years with different student populations, results were consistent: the residence hall receiving only the communications and programming, but not the dashboard, had the lowest electricity use. The residence hall with only the dashboard also demonstrated a significant but smaller decline in electricity use. Curiously, the residence hall wherein both interventions were used demonstrated the smallest decline in electricity use. Practical implications While total costs for the communications and programming are difficult to accurately assess, the results suggest that this approach is cost-effective when compared to the avoided cost of electricity and is superior in terms of electricity cost savings to both the dashboards and to the combined intervention. Results also suggest that any intervention is likely to induce a large enough electricity reduction to be cost-effective and there may be non-economic benefits as well. Originality/value This study takes advantage of the availability of four “matched” residence halls to approximate the rigor of a controlled quasi-experimental design to compare different strategies for inducing electricity consumption among freshman residents.

How post-merger integration duration affects merger outcomes

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joon-Hee Oh ◽  
Wesley J. Johnston
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Research ◽  
Organizational Support ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Integration Process ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Effective Expansion ◽  
New Finding ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
Post Merger Integration ◽  
Merger Integration

Purpose This study aims to confirm earlier findings that differences between merger and acquisition (M&A) participant firms are a hurdle for successful mergers and shows that merger outcomes can also be affected by the post-merger integration duration (PMID). Design/methodology/approach Experimental research on distinct cultures developed within experimental pre-merger subject groups is used to compare pre- and post-integration performances. Findings This study finds that firm distance (i.e. inherent differences between pre-merger firms) negatively influences merger success; no significant relationship between firm distance and PMID exists and PMID is positively related to merger success. Specifically, a slower integration minimizes conflicts between merger partners, enhances trust-building and reduces the disruption of existing resources and processes in both firms, which may benefit M&As. By contrast, a fast integration that shortens the overall integration process may discourage the combined entity from recognizing the intended synergy quickly. Research limitations/implications The new finding that PMID can affect merger outcomes invites empirical validation. This study presents experimental evidence that prolonged, well-structured post-merger integration may compensate for the negative time-variant issues associated with PMID. Practical implications Organizational support for collaborative learning between professional members should be a strategic consideration for firms so that acquiring business capabilities can be more natural and cost-efficient than building internal capabilities despite possibly slowing down the integration process. Encouraging a transfer of technical and client knowledge between the combined members can create value and understand differences in both the form and content of each firm’s knowledge base and the pre-existing mechanisms for sharing knowledge. It may lower the level of resistance in knowledge transfer. Originality/value While M&As may better facilitate the cost-effective expansion of business offerings than building capabilities internally, they can require considerable time, preventing many firms from realizing their intended outcomes. Nevertheless, less attention has been focused on PMID and its influence on M&As. This study is the first to use experimental research to examine the effects of PMID on merger success.

360 degree immersive videos: a way to improve organizational learning practices

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 8-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kung Wong Lau ◽  
Pui Yuen Lee ◽  
Min Ying He
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Learning ◽  
Situated Learning ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Independent Learning ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Learning Improvement ◽  
New Learning ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Criterion Referenced

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the potential of immersive situated learning with adoption of 360-degree videos in organizational learning improvement. Design/methodology/approach A quasi-experimental research method was used to investigate employees’ learning achievement. A criterion-referenced assessment scale was chosen to exam their learning progress on Omni-channel retailing practices and knowledge after 12 h in four weeks, from four perspectives including professional knowledge, problem-solving, independent learning, and critical reflection. Findings The result shows us the significant enhancement of employees’ learning outcomes when using virtual reality (VR), compared with traditional apprenticeship practices. Originality/value This study reinforces the opinion that situated learning approaches with 360-degree videos evoke employees to explore new learning behaviors and experience and make proactive adjustments on their own learning pace, based on the view from prior study that VR in situated learning can enrich learning experience.

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