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Abstract Increasing demands on cost reduction, continuity of supply, and materials quality together with rapidly changing technology and intensifying competition have significantly broadened the scope of procurement, and elevated its [...]

The aged population requires products and services that are different from those of the population as a whole. Marketers who respond in proper fashion will be able to fill the product and service needs of the elderly at a reasonable profit. Promotion, price, product, place, and packaging plans are given that can be used by marketers to effectively meet the needs of the aged.

Birth order provides unique insight into individuals' personalities, risk tolerances, and investment needs. Use of this information will allow financial service firms to create a more customized experience for clients. This should increase customer satisfaction and retention, and with appropriate promotion, attract new investors. The practical implementation of birth order segmentation is discussed in a framework that includes the relationship with the financial advisor, investment advice, access to financial services, receptiveness to new products, packaging of services, and promotion of benefits from considering birth order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Procurement has recently received increased corporate recognition, and its responsibilities have significantly expanded. Hence, a need has arisen for conceptual, integrative models that assist purchasing executives to more effectively manage their increased responsibilities in a dynamic environment. One such model is the Product Life Cycle (PLC) concept. Recently, two researchers formulated a set of procurement strategies for each PLC stage, which they recommended purchasing managers implement. To test this model, practitioners from five chapters of the Institute for Supply Management were asked to indicate the importance level and usage frequency of each procurement strategy. Almost 81% of the 145 purchasing strategies were rated "important" or higher by respondents, and about 58% were "used frequently" or more often. Executives were also asked to assign each procurement strategy to the sales phase they thought most appropriate. Their assignments matched almost 60% of the prescriptive model. Above-average assigners were more likely than their average/below-average counterparts to have worked 13 or more years in procurement, earned a college degree, and majored in business or purchasing as well as be professionally certified (i.e., CPM) and at least a manager or higher. Limitations and implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates how company response strategies to complaints affect customers' image of the company. Measurement of the change in corporate image using six image dimensions; Improvement of corporate image through appropriate defensive strategy.