A method for short-term profit analysis

The focus of this paper is a description of a methodology for identifying corporate strategies which explain short-term profit performance. The methodology is illustrated through its application to the Swedish textile and clothmaking industry. There are three important features of the methodology: (1) A conceptual framework of the firm which cuts across the traditional fields of management. (2) Concepts derived from the framework are linked to operationalized variables on the basis of their empirical patternings. (3) A quasi-experimental design is used in order to provide causal inferences concerning short-term profit performance.

Corporate greed: its effect on customer satisfaction, corporate social responsibility and corporate reputation among bank customers

Corporate greed has received increasing attention in recent years with various stories hitting the headlines, particularly after the global financial crisis and the ensuing negative attitudes toward banks. Customer satisfaction and corporate social responsibility are known to have a positive effect on corporate reputation among customers, but perceived corporate greed is likely to impede their effect. Corporate greed, customer satisfaction, corporate social responsibility and corporate reputation are considered, and a research model is proposed. Results indicate that the effect of corporate greed is stronger on corporate social responsibility than on customer satisfaction, implying that corporate social responsibility activities may be futile if the company is perceived to be acting greedily by its customers. Thus, perceptions of corporate greed need to be dealt with swiftly, to enable management to enhance the corporate reputation of the firm