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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2005.08.007 Byline: Daryl McKee (a), Guangping Wang (b) Keywords: Economic development; Economic exchange; Social exchange; Path analysis Abstract: This paper examines the relative role of relationships in shaping business satisfaction with, and commitment to, a business location. Economic and social exchange provides the theoretical perspectives for this study. In particular, this paper addresses the question: is social exchange valued in its own right (as a separate element alongside economic benefits) or does it rather add value to the economic exchange process? That is, is social exchange a benefit, or is it a facilitating condition? These issues are tested using path analysis with data from a survey among executives of manufacturing firms located in a 10-county area of the southeastern United States. The results support a model wherein social exchange facilitates the relationship between location factors (in particular, transportation access, labor quality, and government support) and location satisfaction. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Marketing, E.J. Ourso College of Business Administration, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803-6314, United States (b) Department of Management, School of Professional and Graduate Studies, Penn State University, 30 E. Swedesford Rd., Malvern, PA 19355, United States Article History: Received 1 October 2004; Accepted 3 August 2005

Researchers found that marketing managers at savings and loan associations under stock governance took strategic action to manage their environments during the period of deregulation. This action differed distinctly from environmental decision-making by managers of S&Ls under mutual governance during this period.

A basic process for evaluating target industries is presented. The target market analysis involves the examination of the attractiveness of a set of industries, determination of the area's competitive advantage in serving these industries and creation of a target industry matrix based on these parameters. The alternative targeting methods utilized by area economic development agencies and the role of industry targeting in economic development strategic planning are presented.

Abstract This study examines the extent to which the use of mail survey questionnaires with an identification number - and announced plans to follow up with non-respondents - is related [...]

Companies devote a large percentage of their resources to gain a competitive advantage in the market. However, this advantage cannot be easily maintained since it may require constant innovation of products, marketing strategies or services and may also be affected by new customer preferences. Some ways to ceate a sustainable competitive advantage would be include adopting a working metaphor for the business, using information technology and product differentiation.

Strategic alliances can help communities achieve economic development. However, careful planning is needed for these alliances to succeed. Organizations must assess the merits and costs of the alliance prior to entering. Moreover, they must set realistic expectations, employ formal methods to plan alliance strategy and involve their partners in planning. They must also be flexible, regularly address the concerns of members, make objective decisions and work hard to develop trust among alliance members.

The article presents a discussion on the marketing strategies of hospitals in the United States. The authors investigate the types of data used by hospitals to formulate these strategies. They submitted a mail survey to several hundred hospital administrators to determine the involvement of hospital personnel and/or external groups in the planning process. They found that most hospitals are still not monitoring the status of their competitors, conducting staff surveys, or using outside consultants.

While interest in economic development is growing and increasingly urgent, relatively little conceptual or empirical research has been conducted on the subject of area marketing. Generally, area marketers have adapted techniques from the industrial location schools of economic geography, without sharing the purpose or assumptions upon which these techniques are based. This article develops a framework for analytic approaches to area marketing planning, based on a review of existing and potential techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]