A Comparative Study of the Chinese and British GP Systems

--Chengbo Wang, John Vaughan, David Edgar, Zhaofang Mao, Xuezhong Chen and Tong Yang

The paper presents an investigation into the development history and current status of Chinese General Practitioner (GP) system and an exploratory comparison between the same and its British counterpart. The research findings contribute to the theoretical knowledge of the difference and similarity between the UK and Chinese GP systems and facilitate in harnessing the opportunity for British or any other countries’ healthcare service providers willing to access the Chinese healthcare marketplace. This study helps to provide a firsthand account of how the Chinese GP system operates. This knowledge can be of immense help for organizations and countries which have the requisite expertise and are looking at expanding their business horizons. China could be a good opportunity.

© 2014 IUP. All Rights Reserved.

Corporate Reputation in the Era of Social Media: A Study in Turkish Banking Industry

--Duygu Toplu, Murat Yaslioglu and Nil Selenay Erden

During the shift from industrial age to information age, globalization wave and technological developments made a huge impact on the organizational structures and practices. The ability of adapting to technological changes and using the advances in information technology to respond to customer needs have also become essential. The purpose of the study is to analyze the impact of social media applications on corporate reputation. The data was gathered from users of online banking services in Istanbul, Turkey. The results reveal that electronic service quality has a positive impact on perceived corporate reputation in the banking industry. The implications for further studies are discussed in line with the study findings.

© 2014 IUP. All Rights Reserved.

Manufacturers’ Perspective of Retailers’ Power and Its Behavioral Consequences on Retailer-Manufacturer Outsourcing Relationship: A Path Analysis

--Sushil S Chaurasia

In a typical retailer-manufacturer outsourcing relationship, retailers are gaining greater control over strategic activities and locus of power, which were formerly the remit of manufacturers. Given the diversity of different cultures (Hofstede, 1980), channel behavior is expected to be different in different countries. Understanding the concept of power merely from a western perspective may not be relevant for developing countries like India. Also, very few studies conducted in India have focused on supplier-buyer relationships post economic liberalization that was initiated in the early 1990s. The objective of this study is to propose and test an effective conceptual model using power sources and selected behavioral constructs (satisfaction, trust, cooperation, switching costs, and commitment). The research is based on primary data collected from 230 respondents representing 128 apparel manufacturing units. The results of the study show that mere economic satisfaction with reference to monetary benefits to the Indian manufacturer will not alone be sufficient to develop trust in relationship. Economic and non-economic satisfaction factors positively influence cooperation and trust in the apparel retailer manufacturer relationship. Therefore, it is suggested that the retailers who are engaged with manufacturers for direct outsourcing must focus on trust and cooperation and benefit mutually.

© 2014 IUP. All Rights Reserved.

Case Study
SKS Microfinance: On the Road to Redemption

--Debapratim Purkayastha and Adapa Srinivasa Rao