Wei Song’s research while affiliated with Black Hills State University and other places

This article reports the results of research investigating residents’ perceptions, attitudes and behavioral intention (BI) toward sports festivals and special events (FSE) from a pre-event perspective. A structural equation modeling (SEM) was utilized. Two sets of theoretical frameworks have been employed for this study: Social Exchange Theory (SET) and Social Representation Theory (SRT). A quantitative analysis was utilized. Using structural equation modeling (SEM). The authors have identified a strong association between media influence and FSE image evaluation; FSE image evaluation and residents’ perceptions; residents’ perceptions and attitudes; and residents’ attitudes and behavioral intention. However, the study found that social interactions do not have a significant impact on FSE image evaluation. The practical application of this research is that event planners should use media to promote FSE to local residents. This article concludes with the management implications for FSE planners and organizers. Future studies can build on the findings of the paper to generalize this China model for adaption to other countries.

The significant growth of store brands in grocery retailing has encouraged extensive studies of Western grocery markets, while similar studies of emerging markets like Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe are limited. This qualitative study investigates how a store brand strategy may lead to store loyalty in Chinese grocery sector. The theoretical foundation of the study is derived from various concepts of competitive advantage, including the classic differentiation concept, Hunt's resource-advantage theory and Aaker's brand relevance model. The findings reveal that a new approach that combines brand relevance, differentiation and resource advantage can develop qualitatively differentiated Chinese store brands. The study concludes that the store brands built through such a strategic approach drastically enhance store loyalty in China's retail grocery market. This study provides guidance for Chinese and international retailers who are engaging in Chinese store brand development. The limitations of the study are also presented, together with suggestions for future research.

This paper presents the results of a preliminary study which serves as a precursor to a more intensive study into developing ethics modules for undergraduate marketing courses. This initial effort is designed to advance the movement toward effectuating the inclusion of ethics in marketing courses. The authors use as a starting point the Hunt-Vitell general theory of marketing ethics. This paper then reviews the research on specific marketing ethics subjects and uses that data in semi-structured interviews conducted with experienced marketing professors from the USA, Canada and China. Some of the specific topics reviewed with the interviewees included ethical aspects of general marketing, advertising, sales force management and consumer relations. The results of this preliminary study provide practical groundwork for a larger study and further research into incorporating ethics into various marketing courses. This may provide a more complete marketing education experience for undergraduate marketing majors.

Whereas Western literature on the teaching of business ethics is extensively developed, research of the subject in a non-Western setting is somewhat limited. This study investigated the possible impact of the teaching of business ethics on the cognitive competence and decision-making processes of Chinese business undergraduate students by using the Hunt-Vitell experiential learning model. A university in the northern region of the People’s Republic of China was selected and a qualitative study, comprising both observation and in-depth, semi-structured interviews, was undertaken. The findings revealed that taking a business ethics course could have a significant effect on students’ cognitive development, but little impact on their ethical decision-making process. The study identified an inconsistency between the students’ comprehension of ethical principles and their application. Their behaviour when confronted with an ethical dilemma or situation was not consistent with the ethical theories they indicated could apply. The theoretical and the practical implications and the limitations of the study are noted. Directions for future study in this area are suggested.

While extant literature has mainly concentrated on contemporaneous event tourism marketing (i.e., on visiting the city during or around the event) and on intentions to revisit after the event's completion, this research investigates the impact of the event on the decisions of potential tourists/visitors who have never visited the host city and want to visit it after the event's completion. Research in this area, especially in those emerging markets where event marketing is developing rapidly, is limited. In order to address the issues raised, a conceptual model is proposed. This model is based on a multivariate research approach, examining the interrelationships between event image, destination image, participants’ perceived satisfaction with the event and intentions to visit, under the context of non-repeat event marketing. Five hypotheses postulating these interrelationships were tested using structural equation modeling. A “non-repeat” event, the National Games, the biggest traditional sports event in China, was chosen to test this model. Selfadministered questionnaires were used to collect data relating to a period of two months after the event's completion. The findings show that the sustainability of event marketing strategy can be achieved through the post-event visit to the host city. First published online: 15 Jan 2013

Several studies pertaining to outsourcing in the banking and financial services sector in developed countries show a gradually growing trend of outsourcing among banking and financial organizations, both in terms of nature and scope of activities outsourced. Outsourcing of Information Technology (IT) services to achieve competitive advantage has become a key part of the organizational strategies in the banking industry. However, not many studies focus on outsourcing trends and practices of banking industries in developing countries like India and China. The present paper investigates the trends in IT outsourcing (ITO) practices among the private and public sector banking institutions in India and makes a comparative analysis of these practices with reference to four importantt dimensions of outsourcing, shoring, sourcing, engagement and duration.