Behavior Strategy Analysis Based on the Multi-Stakeholder Game under the Plastic Straw Ban in China

Since 1 January 2021, China has banned nondegradable disposable straws in the catering industry. To promote the enforcement of the ban of plastic straws and improve the relationship between economic development and environmental protection, based on the evolutionary game method, this paper constructs the game model from the supply side and the demand side, respectively. Subsequently, through the dynamic equation, stable system evolution strategy is obtained. Furthermore, simulation is conducted to test the influence of the main parameters in the model on the evolution of system strategy. The results show that (1) the change of the government strategy mainly depends on its regulation costs and revenue, while the production strategy of a company is affected by the government and consumer strategies. (2) From the perspective of enterprise supply, government subsidies can promote technological innovation and develop new plastic straw substitutes. However, government penalties have little effect on violating enterprises. In addition, from the perspective of enterprise demand, with the collaboration of enterprises and consumers, it is easier for enterprises to carry out technological innovation. (3) Consumer acceptance of the substitutes for disposable plastic straws as well as online comments have a decisive influence on the enterprises’ selections for research and development (R&D) strategies.

Data-Driven Methodology to Support Long-Lasting Logistics and Decision Making for Urban Last-Mile Operations

Last-mile operations in forward and reverse logistics are responsible for a large part of the costs, emissions, and times in supply chains. These operations have increased due to the growth of electronic commerce and direct-to-consumer strategies. We propose a novel data- and model-driven framework to support decision making for urban distribution. The methodology is composed of diverse, hybrid, and complementary techniques integrated by a decision support system. This approach focuses on key elements of megacities such as socio-demographic diversity, portfolio mix, logistics fragmentation, high congestion factors, and dense commercial areas. The methodological framework will allow decision makers to create early warning systems and, with the implementation of optimization, machine learning, and simulation models together, make the best utilization of resources. The advantages of the system include flexibility in decision making, social welfare, increased productivity, and reductions in cost and environmental impacts. A real-world illustrative example is presented under conditions in one of the most congested cities: the megacity of Bogota, Colombia. Data come from a retail organization operating in the city. A network of stakeholders is analyzed to understand the complex urban distribution. The execution of the methodology was capable of solving a complex problem reducing the number of vehicles utilized, increasing the resource capacity utilization, and reducing the cost of operations of the fleet, meeting all constraints. These constraints included the window of operations and accomplishing the total number of deliveries. Furthermore, the methodology could accomplish the learning function using deep reinforcement learning in reasonable computational times. This preliminary analysis shows the potential benefits, especially in understudied metropolitan areas from emerging markets, supporting a more effective delivery process, and encouraging proactive, dynamic decision making during the execution stage.

Changes in consumer behavior in the BRICS countries during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of trust and anxiety

In the spring of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic created a new reality. Each country has implemented different measures to contain the pandemic, which has had many consequences for society and businesses. The purpose of this paper is to improve understanding of how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed consumer behavior in the BRICS countries and discuss the role of consumer trust and anxiety. A systematic literature review with a bibliometric analysis was carried out to identify research directions and reveal the role of trust and anxiety in consumer behavior. Differences in consumer responses to the COVID-19 pandemic challenges in Brazil, Russia, India, and South Africa were identified based on an analysis of an international database of online surveys. An empirical study of Russian consumers was conducted in the spring of 2020. Cluster and factor analyses were applied to reveal different consumer strategies of coping with the crisis. The study revealed differences in consumer trust and the level of anxiety in the BRICS countries. In the empirical study of Russian consumers, anxiety was identified as one of the factors in changing consumer behavior in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hey Alexa, Launch Twitch: Using Sport Sponsorship to Drive Business Development

In this case study, students will explore how sport sponsorship can be used to drive business development. They will follow the fictitious story of Amazon, developing a plan to expand its operations into the Middle East through the eSports platform Twitch. Twitch, a video game livestreaming site has contributed to the rise popularity of eSports. Thanks to its appeal to the youth demographic, it is revealed Twitch offers a unique platform that can give Amazon a competitive advantage. This aligns with the Middle East’s increasing interest in becoming a global sport leader. After further exploring the Middle East market, the potential value of this sponsorship will be determined. In addition, business-to-consumer strategies will be consulted to justify the plan put forward by Amazon. Learning objectives include understanding the role of new media and being able to understand the early phases of a sponsorship plan.

Online marketplace: student consumer strategies

Introduction. The Internet is becoming a part of everyday life; it is in this space that communication, purchases, and payment for various services are carried out. Young people are the most dynamic social group that has long mastered the Internet market with its advantages, namely, comparing prices, book products, and buy at discounts. Materials and methods. The quantitative data collection method is used for studying young people’s consumer strategies in the Internet market and understand the prevalence of online shopping practices. This task led to the application of the survey and the analysis of the data obtained. Comprehension of values and behavioral practices in consumer groups (generally active experts, partially active experts, passive experts) is based on a qualitative strategy in the form of semi-formalized interviews. Research results, their discussion. The factors of the popularity of the Internet market among students have been determined: activity on the Internet and social networks, attractive prices for goods, an expanded range of goods; it was found that such categories of goods as tickets, music, software, and food delivery are frequently purchased via the Internet; it was revealed that the frequency of online purchases varies from “once every six months” to “once every 1-3 months”, while a purchase does not always accompany a visit to an online store. The survey showed that the most preferable for young people are such services, Internet catalogs, the possibility of placing a preliminary order, booking goods with subsequent self-pickup. Conclusions. The study made it possible to establish a trend towards increasing online purchases among students in the Internet market as a consumer platform with new consumption practices.

Are Russian Consumers Ready for the Technologies of the Future? Practical Approbation of the Digital Innovation Readiness Assessment

In the article, the authors analyze behavioral practices and consumer strategies of digital resistance. They aim to identify the ways to minimize the adverse effect of digitalization. The general framework for this study of digital resistance is the diffusion of innovations theory, which explains resistance to digitalization as an inevitable process that flows simultaneously with and antagonistic to digital innovation. The research is based on the materials of a preliminary in-depth interview about the level of consumer resistance to digitalization. The article proposes an original methodology for measuring the level of readiness to adopt digital innovations. It also shows the results of its testing on a small quota sample. The methodology is a tool to test a potential consumer’s willingness to adopt general and industry-specific digital.

Consumer Behaviour: Current Realities and Global Trends

The article analyses the current realities of consumer behaviour, the reasons that prompted the population to change the vector of their consumer strategies, global and Russian trends in consumption. The economic and political upheavals of recent years, consisting in the food embargo, the devaluation of the ruble, the decline in buyers’ incomes have led retailers and their suppliers to understand and respond quickly to the transformation of the needs of the population, its resource capabilities and motivations for buying. The development of digital technologies, online market, the emergence of innovative instruments of the transaction entails the formation of new trends in consumption that require constant evaluation and monitoring. Data on customer behaviour in combination with demographic trends, indicate a steady shift, which leads to the fact that purchases will be more deliberate and targeted. Demonstrative consumption will give way to a more practical one. A free search of the transaction will be replaced by higher selectivity of purchases and the use of equipment and tools that have emerged during the crisis.