Shopping Behavior Of Supermarket Consumers In Kuwait

This study determines the product selection processes from Kuwaiti nationals based on their shopping habits in the Co-Operative Supermarkets (A government owned grocery stores).  This paper expands the concept of Consumer Satisfaction and includes an evaluation of the post purchase affective response. It presents the development of a consumer typology based on affective response, basically broken into two groups. The first group is formed by consumers who face grocery shopping as their duty the second group considers grocery shopping as their pleasure. The paper also presents the implications of such typology in the Co-Op operation itself. The literature on consumer behavior and store choice suggests that consumers make decisions to patronize a particular store on the basis of a set of attributes that they view as important. This study attempts to explore the determinant attributes that influence the patronage decisions of supermarket consumers in Kuwait. Based on a descriptive analysis of data collected via an accidental sampling procedure, fourteen store attributes were identified. These attributes were factor analyzed, generating four image dimensions intuitively labeled merchandise, personnel, accessibility and promotion. A stepwise regression showed that merchandise image was the most salient in determining the frequency of supermarket shopping. None of the demographic characteristics of consumers did seem to have an impact on the perceived importance of the promotion image. Most of the differences among the categories of the consumers' demographic characteristics were found in the accessibility image, providing possible explanation for why the rank of the importance of accessibility elements varies considerably from one study to another. &nbsp

On The Experience Of The Arab Open University With The Standard Deviation Method

The Arab Open University (AOU) has adopted the standard deviation method (SDM) as a grading system in replacement of a fixed scale. Adopting SDM was intended to remedy a problem that has resulted from discrepancies between AOU's graduation requirements and those of its partner, UK Open University. This paper aims mainly at investigating whether SDM has served the purpose for which it was selected. A data set of the final letter grades of students enrolled in 18 licensed courses from UK-OU at Kuwait branch was used. These letter grades were analyzed in comparison with the letter grades that would have been assigned to students had the fixed grading scale been utilized. The results of the comparative analysis revealed that SDM resulted in benefiting 39.4% of all students and lowering the letter grades of 10.4% of the students. Despite its positive results, SDM has not contributed significantly to remedying the problem in question. Thus, a case for withholding the D grade while continuing with using SDM was presented

A Strategic Response Through Distance Learning: A Case of The Arab Open University

The Arab countries of the Middle East and North Africa face the challenge of providing educational opportunities to various sections of society to be able to meet the needs of the changing labor markets. Indeed, incessant efforts have been made by the governments of these countries to develop the education sector rapidly. However, they still have a long way to go before the avowed objective of spreading education far and wide in these countries is met. This paper makes an attempt to examine and analyze a strategic response in the form of distance learning to the changing labor market needs in the Arab world with special reference to the establishment of the AOU, Kuwait Branch. The paper suggests a suitable strategy for ensuring cooperation between labor markets and education sector in the Arab world

Reimaging the city: the value of sport initiatives

A growing number of post-industrial cities are utilizing sport initiatives to present an attractive image to potential tourists. Despite insufficient evidence of, and explanations for, image effects, it is widely assumed that these initiatives have the capacity to enhance city images. The aim of this paper is to explore the value of sport as a reimaging theme for the contemporary city destination. This assessment is based primarily on evidence regarding the effects of sport reimaging initiatives adopted by three UK cities - Birmingham, Manchester and Sheffield. The findings suggest that, although sport reimaging does exhibit some advantageous qualities, there are also significant problems associated with this mode of place marketing

PROMISING THE DREAM: changing destination image of London through the effect of website place

Drawing on theories of place identity and social identity, this study aims to fill a gap in place identity studies regarding the effect of a place website on the destination image of customers/visitors/tourists. The research addresses three questions: (1) what are the main impacts of tourists’ attitude on place identity and the place website, (2) what are the factors that influence destination image, and (3) what are the main impacts of a favorable destination image? The favorability of a destination image is reflected by the extent to which visitors positively regard that place website. Results reveal the importance of the destination image in enhancing the intention to revisit and recommend. Also, visitors’ satisfaction impacts on their intention to revisit and recommend the place. Significant implications for place managers and researchers are highlighted

Evaluating The Antecedents And Consequences of ERP Implementation

Despite the obvious advantages that can be derived from implementing ERP (enterprise resource planning) systems, many organizations fail to realize the ERP-related benefits.  ERP-related successes or failures need to be analyzed from an organizational standpoint since ERP is essentially an organizational construct.  In this paper, we have attempted to explore relationships between constructs that have been linked theoretically and anecdotally.  The motivation, use of, and outcomes of EPR takes place at various levels and stages.  For this study motivators for ERP, their business or organizational impact, impact at the individual or group level, ROI (and related issues) and facilitators and inhibitors associated with ERP are included.  These constructs have subjected to pair-wise analysis.  In doing so it has gone beyond the typical approach used to define and measure ERP implementation success that has been the critical success factors approach.  The results indicate support for a model for ERP success that is based on four perspectives i.e. organizational, technological, strategic and tactical.  The implications of our results in terms of theory and managerial utility have been discussed