The impact of the quality of a marketing decision support system: an experimental study

In this paper we present the results of an experimental study of the impact of the quality of a marketing decision support system (MDSS). The experiment was conducted in the MARKSTRAT environment. The quality of an MDSS was operationalized as the predictive precision of its simulation models. The results show that marketing decision-makers using a high-quality MDSS outperform marketing decision-makers using a medium-quality MDSS. The superior performance with the high-quality MDSS was obtained for both low and high time-pressure

The Powerful Triangle of Marketing Data, Managerial Judgment, and Marketing Management Support Systems

In this paper we conceptualize the impact of information technology on marketing decision-making. We argue that developments in information technology affect the performance of marketing decision-makers through different routes. Advances in information technology enhance the possibilities to collect data and to generate information for supporting marketing decision-making. Potentially, this will have a positive impact on decision-making performance. Managerial expertise will favor the transformation of data into market insights. However, as the cognitive capabilities of marketing managers are limited, increasing amounts of data may also increase the complexity of the decision-making context. In turn, increased complexity enhances the probability of biased decision processes (e.g., the inappropriate use of heuristics) thereby negatively affecting decision-making performance. Marketing management support systems, also being the result of advances in information technology, are tools that can help marketers to benefit from the data explosion. These systems are able to increase the value of data and, at the same time, make decision-makers less vulnerable to biased decision processes. Our analysis leads to the expectation that the combination of marketing data, managerial judgment, and marketing management support systems will be a powerful factor for improving marketing management. Implications of our analysis are discussed

Effectiviteit van markting management support systemen

Verhoogt het gebruik van marketing management support systemen de kwaliteit van marketingbeslissingen? En zo ja, onder welke omstandigheden? Aan de hand van een experimenteel laboratoriumonderzoek met het simulatiespel MARKSTRATonder 80 marketing managers en 160 studenten, kan de eerste vraag positief worden beantwoord. Omstandigheden als tijdsdruk, ervaring in het nemen van marketingbeslissingen en de analytische capaciteiten van de gebruikers vormen een belangrijk aandachtspunt als het gaat om de implementatie en de kostenlbaten-afweging bij de aanschaf van een systeem

Ruthenacycles and Iridacycles as Catalysts for Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation and Racemisation

Ruthenacycles, which are easily prepared in a single step by reaction between enantiopure aromatic amines and [Ru(arene)Cl2]2 in the presence of NaOH and KPF6, are very good asymmetric transfer hydrogenation catalysts. A range of aromatic ketones were reduced using isopropanol in good yields with ee’s up to 98%. Iridacycles, which are prepared in similar fashion from [IrCp*Cl2]2 are excellent catalysts for the racemisation of secondary alcohols and chlorohydrins at room temperature. This allowed the development of a new dynamic kinetic resolution of chlorohydrins to the enantiopure epoxides in up to 90% yield and 98% enantiomeric excess (ee) using a mutant of the enzyme Haloalcohol dehalogenase C and an iridacycle as racemisation catalyst.

Cross-National Logo Evaluation Analysis: An Individual Level Approach

The universality of design perception and response is tested using data collected from ten countries: Argentina, Australia, China, Germany, Great Britain, India, the Netherlands, Russia, Singapore, and the United States. A Bayesian, finite-mixture, structural-equation model is developed that identifies latent logo clusters while accounting for heterogeneity in evaluations. The concomitant v

HEALTH COMMUNICATION ANALYSIS OF DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP AND PATIENTS’ HEALTH BEHAVIOUR IN SOUTH WEST NIGERIA

Communication in doctor-patient relationship has undergone a transition over time from doctor-dominance to patient-centred approach. Unfortunately, the patient-centred approach adopted today has not positively influenced the health behaviour of patients. For this, health communication scholars wonder if there is any difference between patient-centred and the doctor-dominance approach. The study adopted the descriptive survey research method, using two sets of questionnaires for data collection from patients and doctors. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 120 respondents for the study. Data collected were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages and chi-square technique. Communication in doctor-patient relationship had significant influence on patients’ follow-up appointments (χ2 = 112.867) and compliance to prescribed drugs (χ2 = 48.333).   Communication in doctor-patient   relationship had significant influence on patients’ choice of the hospital (χ2= 44.083) and  consumption of balanced or specific diet (χ2 = 61.350). Communication in doctor-patient relationship had significant influence on patients’ exercising regularly (χ2 =18.80).The study concluded that doctor-patient relationship in health communication influences patients’ health behaviour in South West Nigeria. It is therefore recommended that doctors should apply an integrated/ synergetic approach in communicating with their patients and that audience-specific social media platforms should be utilized to complement the doctor-patient communication for more effective result. &nbsp

Detection of RNA from a Novel West Nile-like Virus and High Prevalence of an Insect-specific Flavivirus in Mosquitoes in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico

As part of our ongoing surveillance efforts for West Nile virus (WNV) in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, 96,687 mosquitoes collected from January through December 2007 were assayed by virus isolation in mammalian cells. Three mosquito pools caused cytopathic effect. Two isolates were orthobunyaviruses (Cache Valley virus and Kairi virus) and the identity of the third infectious agent was not determined. A subset of mosquitoes was also tested by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using WNV-, flavivirus-, alphavirus-, and orthobunyavirus-specific primers. A total of 7,009 Culex quinquefasciatus in 210 pools were analyzed. Flavivirus RNA was detected in 146 (70%) pools, and all PCR products were sequenced. The nucleotide sequence of one PCR product was most closely related (71-73% identity) with homologous regions of several other flaviviruses, including WNV, St. Louis encephalitis virus, and Ilheus virus. These data suggest that a novel flavivirus (tentatively named T\u27Ho virus) is present in Mexico. The other 145 PCR products correspond to Culex flavivirus, an insect-specific flavivirus first isolated in Japan in 2003. Culex flavivirus was isolated in mosquito cells from approximately one in four homogenates tested. The genomic sequence of one isolate was determined. Surprisingly, heterogeneous sequences were identified at the distal end of the 5\u27 untranslated region

Factors Influencing the Awareness and Utilization of Solanum Macrocarpon (Egg Plant) as a Medicinal Plant among Rural Farmers in Oyo State Nigeria

The study examined the awareness and utilization of solanum macrocarpon (eggplant) in Oyo State, Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 150 farmers in the state. Data were collected through a structured interview schedule and analyses using frequency counts percentages and chi-square. Among the respondents 71.3% are married, the mean household size was 5 persons, 92.0% were female, more than two-thirds (80.0%) of the respondents had formal education. The level of awareness of the nutritional and medicinal value of the plant was high. Sex, marital status, level of education, religion and age significantly associated with the respondents’ level of utilization of the cultivation practices @p 12鈮?/m:t>"> 0.05. The study recommended that better cultivation practices should be introduced to the farmers by extension personnel with a view to increasing production and farmer’s standard of living Keywords: Awareness, Utilization, solanum macrocarpon

Transverse Momentum Dependent Parton Distribution/Fragmentation Functions at an Electron-Ion Collider

We present a summary of a recent workshop held at Duke University on Partonic Transverse Momentum in Hadrons: Quark Spin-Orbit Correlations and Quark-Gluon Interactions. The transverse momentum dependent parton distribution functions (TMDs), parton-to-hadron fragmentation functions, and multi-parton correlation functions, were discussed extensively at the Duke workshop. In this paper, we summarize first the theoretical issues concerning the study of partonic structure of hadrons at a future electron-ion collider (EIC) with emphasis on the TMDs. We then present simulation results on experimental studies of TMDs through measurements of single spin asymmetries (SSA) from semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering (SIDIS) processes with an EIC, and discuss the requirement of the detector for SIDIS measurements. The dynamics of parton correlations in the nucleon is further explored via a study of SSA in D (`D) production at large transverse momenta with the aim of accessing the unexplored tri-gluon correlation functions. The workshop participants identified the SSA measurements in SIDIS as a golden program to study TMDs in both the sea and valence quark regions and to study the role of gluons, with the Sivers asymmetry measurements as examples. Such measurements will lead to major advancement in our understanding of TMDs in the valence quark region, and more importantly also allow for the investigation of TMDs in the sea quark region along with a study of their evolution.Comment: 44 pages 23 figures, summary of Duke EIC workshop on TMDs accepted by EPJ