Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Rizwan Ali Author-Name: Gao Leifu Author-Name: Ramiz-ur-Rehman Title: THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ORIENTATION AND CUSTOMER ORIENTATION ON FIRM PERFORMANCE: EVIDENCE FORM CHINESE FIRMS Abstract: This study examines how Technology Orientation (TO) and Customer Orientation (CO) with organizational characteristics e.g. firm size and culture collectively impact firm performance. A sample of 158 Chinese firms were clustered of the basis of their mix of Technology Orientation (TO) and Customer Orientation (CO). The paper provides evidence that firms combining several strategic orientations such as (TO) and (CO) perform better. The second key finding is that organizational characteristics e.g. firm size and collectivism have a positive influence on firm performance while power distance and risk taking have a negative influence on firm performance. Implications of the findings are discussed. Classification-JEL: M3 Keywords: Technology Orientation (TO), Customer Orientation (CO) and Firm Performance Journal: International Journal of Management and Marketing Research Pages: 1-11 Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Year: 2016 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/ijmmre/ijmmr-v9n1-2016/IJMMR-V9N1-2016-1.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:ijmmre:v:9:y:2016:i:1:p:1-11 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Andrew T. Norman Title: THE EFFECTS OF PRODUCT FIT AND BRAND FIT ON MEMORY RETENTION FOR BRAND ALLIANCES: WHEN LESS IS MORE Abstract: The literature on brand alliances establishes the significance of the fit concept. Specifically, it has been shown that consumers evaluate the extent to which the brands and products in a brand alliance are congruent. Various articles have studied the effects of brand and product fit on attitude toward the brand alliance suggesting that stronger degrees of fit result in the most favorable outcomes. However, there is a lack of research on the effects of brand and product fit on memory retention. This research is based on concepts in cognitive psychology, leading to hypotheses that suggest that stronger fit is not always better. A 2 x 2 experiment provides support for those hypotheses. Classification-JEL: M310, C30 Keywords: Brand Alliances, Brand Promotion, Consumer Behavior, Memory Effects, Brand Identity, Brand Management Journal: International Journal of Management and Marketing Research Pages: 13-28 Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Year: 2016 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/ijmmre/ijmmr-v9n1-2016/IJMMR-V9N1-2016-2.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:ijmmre:v:9:y:2016:i:1:p:13-28 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Todd Royle Author-Name: Gavin Fox Author-Name: Luis Gonzalez Title: THE INTERACTIVE EFFECTS OF SELF-EFFICACY AND INFORMAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OTHERS ON CAREER ENGAGEMENT Abstract: This research examines the relationship between self-efficacy, informal accountability for others (IAFO) and career engagement. Our study enhances organizational research by demonstrating the moderating effect of IAFO on the self-efficacy and career engagement relationship. We test hypotheses using data collected in a convenience sample of 299 working adults. Findings indicate that IAFO moderates the selfefficacy – career engagement relationship such that career engagement decreased when we consider both factors together. The paper concludes with probable managerial and theoretical implications as well as the study’s relevant strengths, limitations and directions for future research. Classification-JEL: M10, M12 Keywords: Self-Efficacy, Informal Accountability for Others, Career Engagement Journal: International Journal of Management and Marketing Research Pages: 29-45 Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Year: 2016 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/ijmmre/ijmmr-v9n1-2016/IJMMR-V9N1-2016-3.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:ijmmre:v:9:y:2016:i:1:p:29-45 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Charles M. Rambo Author-Name: Stephen O. Lucas Title: MACRO-ECONOMIC FACTORS INFLUENCING THE FINANCING OF BUILD-OPERATE-TRANSFER PROJECTS: EVIDENCE FROM A RAILWAY PROJECT IN KENYA Abstract: The Government of Kenya entered in a concessional agreement with Rift Valley Railways (RVR) in 2006, under the build-operate-transfer financing arrangement, to boost economic growth. However, 10 years later, RVR’s performance failed to meet performance targets, due to financing and technical capacity constraints, as per anecdotal reports. This article examined the influence selected macro-economic factors on the project’s financing. We sourced primary data from 348 staff of key stakeholders. We applied Relative Importance Index to rank the factors based on their importance; besides, we applied Kendall’s Coefficient of Concordance (W) to determine the degree of agreement among participants. Findings show that inflation rates ranked highest, scoring an index of 0.8; followed by interest rates (0.7), debt ratio (0.6) and taxation burden (0.6). The study obtained a strong level of concordance in perceptions regarding influence of macro-economic factors on the project’s financing, which was also statistically significant at 0.01 error margin (W = 0.833, X2 = 41.8223, df = 3 & p-value = 0.000). Besides financial and technical capacity, stakeholders should consider macro-economic environments, when evaluating RVR’s performance. The study suggests the need for appropriate adjustments of the monetary, fiscal, taxation and domestic borrowing policies, among other interventions. Classification-JEL: O16 Keywords: Macro-economic, Financing, Build-Operates-Transfer, Railways Project Journal: International Journal of Management and Marketing Research Pages: 47-62 Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Year: 2016 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/ijmmre/ijmmr-v9n1-2016/IJMMR-V9N1-2016-4.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:ijmmre:v:9:y:2016:i:1:p:47-62 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Satoshi Tomita Author-Name: Yoshiyasu Takefuji Title: A MATHEMATICAL MODEL FOR OPTIMAL CORPORATE ALLIANCES: EVIDENCE FROM JAPAN Abstract: In this paper, we are proposing a new mathematical model for choosing business partners in corporate alliances. We have used the real corporate data of 152 Japanese companies graded on eight characteristics. These characteristics include sales force, technical ability, capital resources, human resources, production capacity and other items that represent management resources. These characteristics can be described using a one-dimensional matrix. The subtraction of two such one-dimensional matrices results in a bipolar vector shows the relationship of the corporate alliance between two companies. The strength of a mutually complementary relationship is mathematically represented as the distance from the maximum point. The proposed model was implemented in the Python programming language. We have analyzed 152 Japanese companies and the computed results of the mutually complementary strength coefficient. Based on this, we have verified the functionality of the model. By using the proposed model, we can determine which candidate(s) from multiple potential companies form the best-suited alliance. Classification-JEL: C63 Keywords: Mathematical Model, Corporate Alliance, Mutually Complementary Relationship, Management Resources, Python Programming Language, Japanese Companies Journal: International Journal of Management and Marketing Research Pages: 63-80 Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Year: 2016 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/ijmmre/ijmmr-v9n1-2016/IJMMR-V9N1-2016-5.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:ijmmre:v:9:y:2016:i:1:p:63-80 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Mohamed M. Mostafa Title: DO CONSUMERS RECALL PRODUCTS’ WARNING LABELS? A META-ANALYSI Abstract: Meta-analysis is a statistical technique that allows one to combine the results from multiple studies to glean inferences on the overall importance of a certain phenomenon. This study employs a substantive metaanalysis approach to quantitatively summarize the results of empirical studies of the direct impact of products’ warning labels on consumers’ recall. When all the available estimates are combined and averaged, there seems to be a genuine and positive effect of warning labels on consumers’ recall (average effect size = 0.34, aggregate n = 1882). The findings of this study significantly refine the body of knowledge concerning the impact of products’ warning labels on consumers’ recall, and thereby offer an improved conceptual framework for marketers and warning label designers. Classification-JEL: M30, M31, M37 Keywords: Warning Labels, Consumer Recall, Meta-Analysis Journal: International Journal of Management and Marketing Research Pages: 81-96 Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Year: 2016 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/ijmmre/ijmmr-v9n1-2016/IJMMR-V9N1-2016-6.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:ijmmre:v:9:y:2016:i:1:p:81-96