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Attempts to model consumer satisfaction/dissatisfaction (CS/D) responses rely on linear assumptions regarding the effect of various causes (e.g., attribute performance, expectancy disconfirmation) on the consumer's reaction to a product or service. This assumption has been pervasive in the CS/D literature despite observations in the trade that consumers are 'sticky' in their preferences or 'dispreferences' for products. We present and operationalize a model which relaxes the linearity assumption and allows for lagged and threshold effects of performance increments on CS/D responses in product involvement. Our approach uses the cusp catastrophe model, which has been shown to be robust in a number of contexts, but has had only limited use in the marketing literature. We apply a catastrophe model to data on consumers' use of an appetite suppressant and show that, under high involvement conditions for this product, consumers do not shift preferences over a range of reported performance (e.g., weight loss). The catastrophe model is also shown to be superior to a linear (i.e., OLS) model of the same data.

The impact of a 15-second television commercial is discussed. This type of advertising emerged in 1983 and has reached its peak in 1989 when it contributed 40% to total network TV advertising. Critics oppose it because of its alleged contribution to advertising clutter, the damage it can cause to brand equity and the negative attitudes that could be generated among viewers. On the other hand, proponents cite its ability to create better brand recall and its lower production cost.

A study was conducted to evaluate brand equity and brand extensions. The study assumes that brand name extendability is conditioned by brand name interaction with the product's physical attributes based on consumer utility for the brand in the parent category. It is shown that extendability maximization is influenced by attempts in enhancing brand name features which consumers associate with their products.

Changes in the nature and scope of marketing require a more holistic and flexible framework for analyzing marketing phenomena. Miller's General Living Systems Theory is offered as such a framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When developing strategy, a manager considers how various tactics will affect short-term performance and broad strategic direction. The skilled manager keeps those factors in mind and, simultaneously, gauges what the competition is up to. The authors describe a mapping technique that will help mangers to do just that. Not only does the technique provide an accessible measure of relative competitive standing, but it also allows managers to simulate tactical changes and analyze their probable impact on business performance. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

Anomalies have played a big part in the analysis of decision making under risk. Both expected utility and prospect theories were born out of anomalies exhibited by actual decision making behavior. Since the same individual can use both expected utility and prospect approaches at different times, it seems there should be a means of uniting the two. This paper turns to nonlinear dynamical systems (NDS), specifically a catastrophe model, to help suggest an "out of the box" line of solution toward integration. We use a cusp model to create a value surface whose control dimensions are involvement and gains versus losses. By including "involvement" as a variable the importance of the individual's psychological state is included, and it provides a rationale for how decision makers' changes from expected utility to prospect might occur. Additionally, it provides a possible explanation for what appears to be even more irrational decisions that individuals make when highly emotionally involved. We estimate the catastrophe model using a sample of 997 gamblers who attended a casino and compare it to the linear model using regression. Hence, we have actual data from individuals making real bets, under real conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a methodology for empirically estimating any specified univariate or multivariate catastrophe theory model. As such, the paper is appropriate for those interested in modeling virtually all levels of living systems and subsystems which can be described by catastrophe theory models, as well as those interested in testing cross-level hypotheses about such systems and subsystems. The lack of such flexible estimation procedures has limited the potential application of catastrophe modeling in the social and behavioral sciences. More specifically, a methodology called GEMCAT is presented, using the cusp model for expositional convenience, which allows the traditional canonical catastrophe model variables to be described as latent constructs of univariate or multivariate observable variable sets. A Monte Carlo analysis is presented demonstrating the performance of the methodology under various conditions. Furthermore, it is shown how this method is superior to the common practice of generating univariate composites (e.g., by summing, averaging, etc.) which has been traditionally used because of either computational convenience or the lack of such a methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper represents the second half of an extensive empirical analysis of general systems theory (GST) core concepts. An ANOVA examination of concept usage by discipline type, time period, and publication category is made. The analysis supports Miller's contention that it is not necessary to create a new vocabulary for GST; but, that a GST language may be created by choosing broadly applicable terms which can be used in a general sense at all levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper identifies 51 key general systems theory (GST) vocabulary components based on a sample of 400 GST articles. The sources of the articles studied were 2183 published works which make up the core of the GST literature. In addition, the paper presents both a descriptive and a factor-analytic grouping of the words. It is hoped that this work will serve as a core document for generating a dictionary of GST terms, the final goal being improved communication among GST researchers through the standardization of terminology. As such, the paper addresses James Grier Miller's call for the development of a general systems vocabulary and the paper applies to all system levels. Hence, it is of value in the development of cross-level hypotheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an overview of the modeling process, which is then used to suggest a means of developing a typology of metamodels in collective bargaining. The typology helps to categorize existing models and it pinpoints gaps which indicate that new forms of analysis may be needed. The paper is epistemological in nature and deals with conceptual systems across several levels of abstraction. Finally, strengths and weaknesses of the current major categories of bargaining theory are presented. The paper focuses on the human activity at the group level and deals with the decider subsystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While much interest has been stirred by the apparent face validity of certain catastrophe theory models to describe social situations (see, for example, the entire September 1978 issue til Behavioral Science; Zeeman, 1977; Starobin, 1976; Brown, 1977; Fung, 1980), to date not much empirical testing of such models has been accomplished. For the most part, the lone exception is Zeeman's (1977) examination of prison disturbances. This paper presents the results of a set of preliminary tests of a collective bargaining model which uses the cusp catastrophe. As such, the paper deals with the group level of living systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines Laszlo's solution to the semantic problems of system definitions which hinder development of general systems theory. Laszlo's set theoretic structure is shown to add little to the reduction of semantic difficulties encountered in the development of an explication of the concept of a system. It is also suggested that the construal approach used by Marchal is more useful to produce a rigorous yet functional explication of the term system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the relationship between the Entropy Law and marketing from a macro perspective. The authors examine the relationship between environmental disorder, technology, and societal levels of standard of living. They conclude that the tradeoffs between order and disorder can be theoretically managed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Human resources/personnel management, a subdiscipline of business ad- ministration, is examined as a metadiscipline. Support for the metadisciplinary treatment is found in an evolutionary analysis of the field, drawing from system precursors theory. Extensions of this viewpoint are made and indications of likely future developments in the HR/PM area are discussed. A n analysis of the advantages of the treatment of academic subdisciplines as metadisciplines over traditional "phase-oriented" approach is presented and directions for future research are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a classification scheme to be used as a starting point for comparing and integrating the multitude of bargaining models that have been developed. Additionally, in tabular form the strengths, limitation, and selected examples for each model type are presented. Unlike most taxonomies, the categories are presented in pictorial form. This unique mode of presentation helps the reader more easily undserstand the given classification scheme as well as point to areas for possible future research and integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]