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Current data provide enough evidence of the popularity of Social Networking Sites (SNSs) worldwide and it can clearly be seen that Facebook is by far the most commonly used online social networking site. The main focus of this research... more
Current data provide enough evidence of the popularity of Social Networking Sites (SNSs) worldwide and it can clearly be seen that Facebook is by far the most commonly used online social networking site. The main focus of this research study is twofold: a) to provide some empirical data regarding current use of Facebook by Greek users, and b) based on the empirical research findings, to present some suggestions to marketing managers on the successful exploitation of Facebook for their companies. Data were gathered via an online survey of 649 Greek Facebook users who had an active account prior to the collection of the questionnaires. The findings regarding Facebook usage in Greece indicate that the vast majority of the respondents use Facebook on a daily basis, from less than an hour to six hours/access with a preference to night hours (20:01-00:00). Their average number of Facebook friends is 671, their favourite device for logging in to Facebook is their mobile phone and they are very careful on accepting and adding Facebook friends that they do not know personally or through other people from their real world network. Based on the data collected from the survey, possible suggestions for marketing managers were formed.
Internet seems to provide Greek companies with new opportunities to escape the ongoing financial crisis by enhancing their existing export activities or by targeting new foreign customers. The main focus of this study is twofold: a) to... more
Internet seems to provide Greek companies with new opportunities to escape the ongoing financial crisis by enhancing their existing export activities or by targeting new foreign customers. The main focus of this study is twofold: a) to identify the factors of successful Internet use for exporting purposes, and b) to assess the overall influence of the financial crisis in Greece on Internet use for exporting activities. Data were gathered via a self-administered mail survey of 77 Greek exporting companies identified as having a corporate website (fully operational) for at least 18 months prior to the collection of the questionnaires. The findings indicate that the level of IT and Internet literacy within the firm have a significant positive impact on export performance of Greek companies. The level of management’s entrepreneurial orientation and enthusiasm in promoting Internet use and foreign customers’ need for personal contact with the firm also had a significant positive impact on export performance. Finally, the results revealed that the vast majority of the companies were already using Internet for exporting purposes before 2009, and they were either positively or not at all influenced by the financial crisis in terms of Internet use for their exporting activities.
Facebook has become a spectacular success by creating a massive new domain in which millions of social interactions are played out every day. This burgeoning new sphere of social behavior is inherently fascinating, but it also provides an... more
Facebook has become a spectacular success by creating a massive new domain in which millions of social interactions are played out every day. This burgeoning new sphere of social behavior is inherently fascinating, but it also provides an unprecedented opportunity for companies and marketing managers: a) to observe behavior in a naturalistic setting, b) to follow the preferences of users worldwide regarding a great variety of subjects and fields, and c) to form customized and personalized campaigns based on gender differences. The aim of the present study is to perform a survey in order to examine if there are significant gender differences regarding: i. the reasons that men and women are using Facebook for, ii. the frequency that they are checking their Facebook profile, and iii. the number of their Facebook friends. The results showed that there are no significant gender differences in all three research questions. Based on the data collected from the survey, possible implications for marketing managers were formed.
Greece (as well as most of the Southern European countries) faces one of the worst financial crises of its recent history since (2009). However, recent studies from various sources (including Greek and European institutions) show an... more
Greece (as well as most of the Southern European countries) faces one of the worst financial crises of its recent history since (2009). However, recent studies from various sources (including Greek and European institutions) show an increase in online spending, in spite of a general decline in retail sales. The aim of the present study is to identify the current Internet usage and views among Greek users, regarding brick and mortar and online shops, and examine the impact of the crisis on their online spending. Results show that online stores still lack, in terms of service attributes, but are considered as offering significant larger range, better prices and convenience. The present study identifies a relationship between users who have felt the impact of their financial crisis and the disposable income for online purchases, but no significant relationship to the intentions to buy online.
The present research attempts to identify the impact of the financial crisis on online shopping in Greece, while identifying the percentage of Greeks purchasing food online, as well as their characteristics and preferences. In that sense,... more
The present research attempts to identify the impact of the financial crisis on online shopping in Greece, while identifying the percentage of Greeks purchasing food online, as well as their characteristics and preferences. In that sense, it acts merely as a starting point for related academic research in the Greek online market. Results show a negative impact of the financial crisis in the disposable income towards online purchases and rather low levels of online food purchases.
Based on a literature review on the subject of identified stages of Internet use at company level, a theoretical five stages model of Internet adoption and use by exporting SMEs was proposed. In order to test the validity and... more
Based on a literature review on the subject of identified stages of Internet use at company level, a theoretical five stages model of Internet adoption and use by exporting SMEs was proposed. In order to test the validity and appropriateness of the proposed model an empirical research study was conducted on a sample of 80 Greek exporting SMEs. Based on the results of the research, a significant conclusion is that Greek exporting SMEs of the sample seem to have passed the first stages of Internet adoption and use, and they are in the way of incorporating more advanced uses. Current Internet use is mainly for communication and promotion purposes, with little activity taking place based on e-commerce technology.
Internet provides SMEs with new opportunities to enhance existing export activities or to find new foreign customers. This study seeks to reveal the impact of Internet on export revenues of Greek SMEs by examining several factors that... more
Internet provides SMEs with new opportunities to enhance existing export activities or to find new foreign customers. This study seeks to reveal the impact of Internet on export revenues of Greek SMEs by examining several factors that lead to successful Internet use. Data were gathered via a self-administered mail survey of 312 Greek SMEs identified as having a corporate website (fully operational or under construction and operational within a time span of a month). The findings indicate that the technological infrastructure and internet capabilities of the firm have a significant positive impact on export revenues of Greek SMEs. Psychic distance also had a significant impact on export revenues.
In their effort to compete more efficiently with other companies, as well as larger counterparts, in the international business arena, SMEs can use the Internet as a tool for the enhancement of their exporting activities. The aim of this... more
In their effort to compete more efficiently with other companies, as well as larger counterparts, in the international business arena, SMEs can use the Internet as a tool for the enhancement of their exporting activities. The aim of this study is to reveal the influence of five specific intra-firm characteristics regarding successful Internet use on export profitability of Greek SMEs. Data were gathered via a self-administered e-mail survey of 312 Greek SMEs identified as having a corporate website. The findings indicate that the level of investment on Internet technologies within the firm along with the level of firm’s management enthusiasm in promoting Internet use, have a significant positive impact on export revenues of Greek SMEs.
It has been suggested that the Internet has the potential of eroding some existing advantages of larger and better established firms and creating a level playing field by allowing SMEs to compete on a more equal basis in world markets. In... more
It has been suggested that the Internet has the potential of eroding some existing advantages of larger and better established firms and creating a level playing field by allowing SMEs to compete on a more equal basis in world markets. In order to encompass the Internet technology, exporting SMEs have to face several impediments and prerequisites. This paper reports the results of a survey of the sporadic empirical investigations that have been conducted throughout the world both in developed and developing countries in order to identify the best practices on the subject of Internet use for exporting purposes by SMEs. The literature survey leads to the identification of the prerequisites of Internet use by exporting firms and the main impediments to a more intensive use of the Internet. Finally, based on a qualitative research study, we present the current situation for Greek SMEs regarding Internet use in exporting.
Despite the very short life and history of the Internet, it was only fifteen years ago when Tim Berners-Lee invented and released the World Wide Web (WWW) in CERN, a large number of opportunities and pitfalls lies in its commercial use.... more
Despite the very short life and history of the Internet, it was only fifteen years ago when Tim Berners-Lee invented and released the World Wide Web (WWW) in CERN, a large number of opportunities and pitfalls lies in its commercial use. One great opportunity that Internet has created is the possibility for exporters to serve international markets via WWW. Even though, there is a growing volume of research studies on the role of the Internet in international marketing, little space has been devoted on the subject of Internet use for exporting purposes. The aim of this paper is to review and assess the existing relevant literature in order to: a) identify the factors that influence success in using the Internet and WWW to export, and b) create a theoretical framework for the creation, implementation and evaluation of a model describing the determinants of successful Internet use for exporting purposes.
The vast majority of organizations, institutions, governments, academics, business managers, owners, politicians, and researchers have repeatedly underlined the importance of the existence of SMEs for every country. A large number of... more
The vast majority of organizations, institutions, governments, academics, business managers, owners, politicians, and researchers have repeatedly underlined the importance of the existence of SMEs for every country.  A large number of empirical research studies focused on the subjects of: a) the most important problems that SMEs face in their efforts to survive and grow in the highly competitive business arena, and b) the export procedure of SMEs. The aim of this paper is to review, assess and categorize the results of these surveys in order to provide a framework for future studies on the specific subject.
Despite Internet’s short life and history, during the last fifteen years, a large number of research studies focused on the subject of Internet use as a marketing tool. However, further research is needed in the area of Internet’s... more
Despite Internet’s short life and history, during the last fifteen years, a large number of research studies focused on the subject of Internet use as a marketing tool. However, further research is needed in the area of Internet’s contribution to international and export marketing activities. The aim of this paper is to present the main findings regarding the use of Internet for both marketing and international marketing purposes and to describe an extended model of identified stages of Internet use for international marketing purposes at company level. The model was developed based on the findings of the in depth and careful investigation and analysis of six empirical research studies combined with a literature review conducted on the specific subject.
This paper reports the results of a survey of the sporadic empirical investigations that have been conducted throughout the world both in developed and developing countries in order to define the best practices on the subject of the... more
This paper reports the results of a survey of the sporadic empirical investigations that have been conducted throughout the world both in developed and developing countries in order to define the best practices on the subject of the Internet use for exporting purposes by SMEs. The literature survey leads to the identification of the prerequisites for SMEs application of e-commerce and Internet strategies, the benefits of Internet use, the exporting problems that can be resolved by the Internet, the critical factors that affect the successful integration of Internet strategies for SMEs and the problems involved. Finally, based on the international experience, we present the potential challenges and opportunities for Greek SMEs regarding Internet use in exporting.
Based on a literature review on the subject of identified stages of Internet use at company level, a theoretical five stages model of Internet adoption and use by exporting SMEs was proposed. In order to test the validity and... more
Based on a literature review on the subject of identified stages of Internet use at company level, a theoretical five stages model of Internet adoption and use by exporting SMEs was proposed. In order to test the validity and appropriateness of the proposed model an empirical research study was conducted on a sample of 80 Greek exporting SMEs. Based on the results of the research, a significant conclusion is that Greek exporting SMEs of the sample seem to have passed the first stages of Internet adoption and use, and they are in the way of incorporating more advanced uses. Current Internet use is mainly for communication and promotion purposes, with little activity taking place based on e-commerce technology.
Research Interests:
Η παρούσα μελέτη εξετάζει τη χρήση του Διαδικτύου στα πλαίσια άσκησης του Διεθνούς Εξαγωγικού Μάρκετινγκ των ελληνικών μικρομεσαίων επιχειρήσεων (ΜΜΕ). Η εκτενής και πολύ λεπτομερής βιβλιογραφική ανασκόπηση ανέδειξε τη σχετική έλλειψη... more
Η παρούσα μελέτη εξετάζει τη χρήση του Διαδικτύου στα πλαίσια άσκησης του Διεθνούς Εξαγωγικού Μάρκετινγκ των ελληνικών μικρομεσαίων επιχειρήσεων (ΜΜΕ). Η εκτενής και πολύ λεπτομερής βιβλιογραφική ανασκόπηση ανέδειξε τη σχετική έλλειψη μελετών αναφορικά με τους παράγοντες που επηρεάζουν τη χρήση του Διαδικτύου και την απουσία ενός σχετικού θεωρητικού μοντέλου.

Για την πλήρωση των ελλείψεων αυτών καθορίστηκαν ο βασικός ερευνητικός σκοπός της μελέτης και μια σειρά επιμέρους στόχοι.  Ο βασικός σκοπός της μελέτης είναι η αναγνώριση και ο καθορισμός των παραγόντων που επηρεάζουν την επιτυχημένη χρήση του Διαδικτύου στις εξαγωγικές δραστηριότητες (και πιο συγκεκριμένα που συνεισφέρουν στη βελτίωση της εξαγωγικής επίδοσης) των ελληνικών ΜΜΕ. Για την επίτευξη του σκοπού αυτού, ακολουθήθηκε η διαδοχική υλοποίηση μιας σειράς επιμέρους στόχων, οι οποίοι είναι:

1. Η συγκέντρωση (για πρώτη φορά) όλων των μελετών, ερευνών, και αναφορών πάνω στο συγκεκριμένο γνωστικό αντικείμενο, η κριτική αξιολόγηση, και η ομαδοποιημένη παράθεσή τους σε έναν πίνακα.
2. Η δημιουργία ενός περιεκτικού θεωρητικού μοντέλου των παραγόντων που είναι πιθανό να επηρεάζουν την επιτυχημένη χρήση του Διαδικτύου στις εξαγωγικές δραστηριότητες των ελληνικών ΜΜΕ.
3. Η παραμετροποίηση του μοντέλου και η διερεύνηση της ύπαρξης σχέσεων τόσο μεταξύ της εξαρτημένης και των ανεξάρτητων μεταβλητών του μοντέλου, όσο και μόνο μεταξύ των ανεξάρτητων μεταβλητών.
4. Η εμπειρική τεκμηρίωση του παραμετροποιημένου θεωρητικού μοντέλου μέσα από τη διεξαγωγή πρωτογενούς έρευνας και τη χρήση προηγμένων πολυμεταβλητών στατιστικών εργαλείων.
5. Η εξαγωγή και διαμόρφωση μιας σειράς διοικητικών προτάσεων σε πρακτικό, κυρίως, επίπεδο.

Η συγκεκριμένη μελέτη στηρίχθηκε και ακολούθησε τις αρχές της επιστημονικής έρευνας, η οποία αναφέρεται σε μια σταδιακή, λογική, οργανωμένη και ακριβή διαδικασία αναγνώρισης προβλημάτων, συλλογής στοιχείων, ανάλυσής τους και εξαγωγής συμπερασμάτων. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, υιοθετήθηκε, με κάποιες προσαρμογές, η γενική Υποθετικοσυμπερασματική (Hypothetico-deductive) μεθοδολογία έρευνας. Οι προσαρμογές που πραγματοποιήθηκαν στη συγκεκριμένη μεθοδολογία ήταν απαραίτητες, έτσι ώστε να μπορεί να είναι εφαρμόσιμη και συμβατή με τις ιδιαίτερες συνθήκες διεξαγωγής της συγκεκριμένης μελέτης. Μετά τις απαραίτητες προσαρμογές, διαμορφώθηκε μια γενική ερευνητική μεθοδολογία εννιά σταδίων.

Στη συνέχεια, η εκτενής βιβλιογραφική ανασκόπηση οδήγησε στην αναγνώριση 20 πιθανών παραγόντων επηρεασμού της επιτυχημένης χρήσης του Διαδικτύου, βάση των οποίων δομήθηκε το ερωτηματολόγιο της πρωτογενούς εμπειρικής έρευνας. Αφού ελέγχθηκε πιλοτικά και έγιναν οι απαραίτητες προσαρμογές, η τελική μορφή του ερωτηματολογίου στάλθηκε σε 404 ελληνικές εξαγωγικές μικρομεσαίες επιχειρήσεις.
Το τελικό δείγμα βάση του οποίου συγκεντρώθηκαν τα απαραίτητα στοιχεία, αποτέλεσαν 80 ελληνικές εξαγωγικές μικρομεσαίες επιχειρήσεις από διάφορα μέρη της Ελλάδας. Η ανάλυση και επεξεργασία των στοιχείων αυτών, διαμόρφωσε τα τελικά αποτελέσματα και αποκάλυψε, ότι από τους είκοσι πιθανούς παράγοντες επιτυχημένης χρήσης του Διαδικτύου οι οκτώ (Επίπεδο Επένδυσης στο Διαδίκτυο, Τεχνολογική Υποδομή της Επιχείρησης, Ασφάλεια και Προστασία των Συναλλαγών στο Διαδίκτυο, Ενθουσιασμός της Διοίκησης για τη χρήση του Διαδικτύου, Χαρακτηριστικά και Είδος του Προϊόντος, Ο Τύπος του Εξαγωγέα, Το Φαινόμενο του Δικτύου, και Ο Αριθμός των Γλωσσών στις οποίες είναι μεταφρασμένη η Εταιρική Ιστοσελίδα) επηρεάζουν σε σημαντικό βαθμό την εξαγωγική επίδοση των ελληνικών ΜΜΕ του δείγματος.

Τέλος, διερευνήθηκε περαιτέρω η ύπαρξη πιθανών σχέσεων μεταξύ των οκτώ στατιστικά σημαντικών παραγόντων που προέκυψαν από την προηγούμενη ανάλυση  και επεξεργασία των στοιχείων της έρευνας. Η διερεύνηση αυτή αποκάλυψε έξι επιπλέον σχέσεις μεταξύ των οκτώ μεταβλητών. Όλα τα παραπάνω αποτελέσματα οδήγησαν στη δημιουργία του προτεινόμενου θεωρητικού μοντέλου των παραγόντων που επηρεάζουν την επιτυχημένη χρήση του Διαδικτύου στις εξαγωγικές δραστηριότητες των ελληνικών ΜΜΕ. Η παρούσα μελέτη ολοκληρώνεται, αφενός με μία κριτική εξέταση και αξιολόγηση των αποτελεσμάτων της έρευνας σε σχέση με την αντίστοιχη υπάρχουσα βιβλιογραφία, και αφετέρου με την παρουσίαση μιας σειράς από χρήσιμες, ουσιαστικές, και εφαρμόσιμες διοικητικές προτάσεις απευθυνόμενες κυρίως προς τους επιχειρηματίες και τα εξαγωγικά στελέχη των ελληνικών επιχειρήσεων.
"Το θέμα της παρούσας μελέτης είναι η επίδραση των πολιτιστικών και πολιτισμικών χαρακτηριστικών στις διεθνείς επιχειρηματικές δραστηριότητες. Η ανάλυση χωρίστηκε σε τρία μέρη. Στο πρώτο μέρος, εξετάστηκε η έννοια της κουλτούρας και... more
"Το θέμα της παρούσας μελέτης είναι η επίδραση των πολιτιστικών και πολιτισμικών χαρακτηριστικών στις διεθνείς επιχειρηματικές δραστηριότητες. 
Η ανάλυση χωρίστηκε σε τρία μέρη. Στο πρώτο μέρος, εξετάστηκε η έννοια της κουλτούρας και δόθηκαν ορισμένες γενικές έννοιες και χαρακτηριστικά έτσι ώστε να μπορεί ο αναγνώστης να είναι σε θέση να αντιλαμβάνεται κάποια βασικά ζητήματα γύρω από το συγκεκριμένο ζήτημα.
Στο δεύτερο μέρος, αρχικά έγινε η περιγραφή των στρατηγικών διοίκησης της κουλτούρας. Στη συνέχεια, ακολούθησε η περιγραφή των λειτουργιών των βασικών τμημάτων της επιχείρησης που ασκεί διεθνείς επιχειρηματικές δραστηριότητες. Τα τμήματα που αναλύθηκαν ήταν τα εξής:
1. Το τμήμα Διοίκησης Ανθρωπίνων Πόρων (ΔΑΠ),
2. Το τμήμα Χρηματοοικονομικών,
3. Το τμήμα Διοίκησης Παραγωγής, και
4. Το τμήμα Μάρκετινγκ.
Στο τρίτο και τελευταίο μέρος της παρούσας μελέτης, εξετάστηκε η περίπτωση της Ιαπωνίας. Στο πρώτο κεφάλαιο του τρίτου μέρους, παρουσιάστηκαν τα γενικά στοιχεία της χώρας, στο δεύτερο, μελετήθηκε η Ιαπωνική κουλτούρα και στο τρίτο εξετάστηκε η επίδρασή της πάνω στις διεθνείς επιχειρηματικές δραστηριότητες."