Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jayoti Das Author-Name: Cassandra E. DiRienzo Author-Name: Danny Lanier, Jr. Author-Name: Coleman Rich Title: ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING POLICIES AND FREEDOM OF THE PRESS: A CROSS-COUNTRY STUDY Abstract: Human trafficking has been called the ‘dark side’ of globalization. Interpol estimates that human trafficking is now the third largest transnational crime and the number of victims increases with each passing year. In an effort to combat the crime, the United Nations created the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons (Protocol) which outlines three anti-human trafficking policy dimensions. Some countries have been very successful in complying with the Protocol and fighting human traffickers while other countries struggle. It is hypothesized in this study that the degree of press freedom within a country significantly affects a country’s ability to comply with the Protocol. It is argued that greater press freedom enables the media to increase public awareness of the atrocities of human trafficking, sway public opinion, and call on government officials to take action and adhere to the laws prescribed in the Protocol. This hypothesis is tested using a cross-country data set of 119 countries. The results indicate that countries that allow for greater press freedom are more successful in their compliance with the Protocol. Classification-JEL: O57, O15 Keywords: Anti-Human Trafficking Policies, Press Freedom, Cross-Country Journal: International Journal of Management and Marketing Research Pages: 1-10 Volume:6 Issue: 2 Year: 2013 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/ijmmre/ijmmr-v6n2-2013/IJMMR-V6N2-2013-1.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:ijmmre:v:6:y:2013:i:2:p:1-10 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Robert Frankel Author-Name: Scott R. Swanson Author-Name: Mariusz Sagan Title: SERVICE SWITCHING, WORD-OF-MOUTH, AND NEW PROVIDER SEARCH: A FIVE COUNTRY EXPLORATORY STUDY Abstract: Based on a conceptual framework provided by Keaveney (1995), the current study explores the reasons service customers switch providers and the related post-switching behaviors in five countries. Specifically, we identify statistically significant differences between the investigated nations in 1) the frequency of the types of reported switching incidents, and 2) the word-of-mouth (private voice and public complaint) behavior. Search strategies for a new service provider were not found to differ substantially across the countries. The paper includes a discussion of the managerial implications of the findings as well as study limitations and potential future research directions. Classification-JEL: M300 Keywords: Consumer Research, Customer, Relationship Journal: International Journal of Management and Marketing Research Pages: 11-20 Volume:6 Issue: 2 Year: 2013 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/ijmmre/ijmmr-v6n2-2013/IJMMR-V6N2-2013-2.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:ijmmre:v:6:y:2013:i:2:p:11-20 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Kwabena Obiri-Yeboah Author-Name: Wilberforce Owusu-Ansah Author-Name: Eliezer Ofori Odei-Lartey Title: FACTORS THAT DRIVE INTERNET USAGE AMONG SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES: EVIDENCE FROM GHANA Abstract: The internet continues to significantly affect the way business is carried out globally. As businesses of all sizes align information communication technology to its processes to achieve operational excellence while reducing cost, using the internet has become even more critical than ever. This study uses both quantitative and qualitative approaches to assess factors that drive the usage of internet as part of the business operations of small and medium-scale enterprises. The analysis compares internet usage with the use of mobile phones and televisions. From the results, service-related businesses are more likely to use the internet for business operations than other business typologies. However, the length of experience in internet usage is strongly associated with business operators that use the internet. Results also indicated that the small and medium-scale enterprises are gradually adopting more sophisticated internet technologies in business. Although respondents assert to the benefits derived from the use of the internet in business, replacing conventional media with internet services is unlikely. Issues about cost, slow access speed and customer communication preferences are major internet usage challenges. We propose that further studies should adopt extensive statistics financial indices to measure internet usage against perceived outputs and benefits in these enterprises. Classification-JEL: M15, O33 Keywords: Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises, Information and Communication Technology, Internet Adoption, Business Operations Journal: International Journal of Management and Marketing Research Pages: 21-37 Volume:6 Issue: 2 Year: 2013 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/ijmmre/ijmmr-v6n2-2013/IJMMR-V6N2-2013-3.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:ijmmre:v:6:y:2013:i:2:p:21-37 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Xiaodong Qiu Title: CORPORATE PHILANTHROPIC DISASTER RESPONSE AND POST PERFORMANCE: EVIDENCE FROM CHINA Abstract: This paper examines whether the decision and amount of firm charitable giving in response to catastrophic events are related to firm post-performance, and whether firm ownership type moderates this relationship. Using data on Chinese firms’ philanthropic response to the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, we find that firm future sales growth and ROA change are positively associated with both the probability and the amount of corporate giving. The results also indicate that this positive philanthropic giving-post performance relationship is more pronounced in non-state-owned firms as philanthropic donation is more strategically driven for those firms. This study thus provides evidence suggesting that corporate philanthropic giving furthers firms’ economic objectives, even in an emerging market setting. Classification-JEL: G11, G12 Keywords: Catastrophic Events, Corporate Philanthropy, Corporate Social Responsibility, Post Performance, State-owned Firms Journal: International Journal of Management and Marketing Research Pages: 39-51 Volume:6 Issue: 2 Year: 2013 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/ijmmre/ijmmr-v6n2-2013/IJMMR-V6N2-2013-4.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:ijmmre:v:6:y:2013:i:2:p:39-51 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Lucila Zárraga Cano Author-Name: Gabriela Aracelly Solís González Author-Name: Joe Holland Title: TOURIST PERCEPTIONS REGARDING SERVICE AT RECREATIONAL PARKS: EVIDENCE FROM QUINTANA ROO, MÉXICO Abstract: This research focuses on tourist parks, which have attracted enormous attention for their business potential, as well as their attractiveness to tourists who visit the state of Quintana Roo, offering as they do a variety of products and services that meet the needs of all market segments. The present research aims to understand and assess the perceptions of tourists visiting Quintana Roo in light of the model of the flower of service, and its applicability to recreational parks like Xcaret, Xel–há and Xplor. The study is a descriptive cross, using factor analysis with which to detect complementary, value added services, as well as factors which significantly impact the perception of visitors, so as to advance development of new marketing strategies. Classification-JEL: M3, M31, M39 Keywords: Marketing Services, Flower of Service, Perception, Recreational Park Journal: International Journal of Management and Marketing Research Pages: 53-66 Volume:6 Issue: 2 Year: 2013 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/ijmmre/ijmmr-v6n2-2013/IJMMR-V6N2-2013-5.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:ijmmre:v:6:y:2013:i:2:p:53-66 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jorge Hernández Palomino Author-Name: José de Jesús Espinoza Author-Name: Manuel Aguilar Arellano Title: IMPLEMENTATION OF LEAN BUSINESS STRATEGIES: EVIDENCE FROM MEXICO Abstract: This research, identifies lean management practices and elements. Despite widespread interest and little empirical evidence to support its position in improving organization performance, there is little understanding of lean business strategy key organizational factors. This research identifies five elements of lean business practices. An instrument was developed to empirically analyze dimensions underlying the constructs of this study. To verify the results, cluster analysis was used to group organizations having different patterns of lean manufacturing practice implementation. The results confirm that lean organizations significantly differ from non-lean organizations with regard to manufacturing strategies having emphasis on cost and volume flexibility. Classification-JEL: L6, L2, L1 Keywords: Manufacturing, Organization, Firm Strategy Journal: International Journal of Management and Marketing Research Pages: 67-78 Volume:6 Issue: 2 Year: 2013 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/ijmmre/ijmmr-v6n2-2013/IJMMR-V6N2-2013-6.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:ijmmre:v:6:y:2013:i:2:p:67-78 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Angy Geerts Title: CLUSTER ANALYSIS OF LUXURY BRANDS ON THE INTERNET Abstract: This paper is examines the way luxury brands use the Internet in their communication strategy. The research is based on a literature review of luxury brands and Internet concepts as well as the way luxury brands use the Internet as a media. The paper develops an analysis grid based both on academic and managerial perspectives. A content analysis of web sites is realized to propose a typology of luxury brands in four categories: Traditional E-shops; Artistic E-shops; Luxury Interactive; Traditionalists. Classification-JEL: M31 Keywords: Internet, Luxury Brands, Typology, Web Sites Journal: International Journal of Management and Marketing Research Pages: 79-92 Volume:6 Issue: 2 Year: 2013 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/ijmmre/ijmmr-v6n2-2013/IJMMR-V6N2-2013-7.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:ijmmre:v:6:y:2013:i:2:p:79-92 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Arabinda Bhattacharya Author-Name: Amit Kundu Title: ORGANIZATION DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE: EVIDENCE FROM INDIA Abstract: Research on organization design, its transformation, change management, organizational restructuring for the last two decades makes it a challenging and complex research area. The central problem is to design organizations for superior performance on the basis of mechanisms such as uncertainty, differentiation and integration. The design-performance relationship is also dependent on the business environment as well as the business sector. This study examines the Chemical; Petro-chemical Process Industry; Agricultural related Industry; Processed Food Industry and Bio-Chemical related Industry. It is important to understand the measures of organization design parameters on the performance of the organizations. The objective of this study is to identify homogeneous groups present in the sector to develop a mathematical functional form for establishing the relationship between organization design parameters and performance. It is also intended to examine differences across the groups with respect to the strength of design parameter influence and organizational performance Classification-JEL: D23 Keywords: Organization Design, Performance, India, Chemical Sector Journal: International Journal of Management and Marketing Research Pages: 93-107 Volume:6 Issue: 2 Year: 2013 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/ijmmre/ijmmr-v6n2-2013/IJMMR-V6N2-2013-8.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:ijmmre:v:6:y:2013:i:2:p:93-107