Haghirian Parissa

Information technology (IT) innovations have and continue to have a significant impact on international marketing practice and customer interactions. With the marketing environment becoming increasingly dependent on technology, marketing teaching in higher education faces a challenging task of effectively leveraging technology in diverse learning environments. This article investigates key developments of recent years and explores drivers of learners' satisfaction within two different IT-based learning environments. Both virtual classrooms via video conferencing technology and the use of simulations for testing international marketing campaigns will be investigated. Factors which contribute to successful teaching outcomes by means of these technologies are identified. A learner satisfaction model for IT-based learning environments is used for identification of these factors and recommendations for marketing educators based on the evaluation of the results are given.

The recession during the last decade hit Japan's image as an economic powerhouse hard. It added a layer of skepticism to the already existing difficulties in coping with tariff and nontariff entry barriers as well as cultural and business differences. However, even against the background of strong economic transformations in countries such as India and especially China and a strong enthusiasm for dealing with these upcoming economies, it should not be forgotten that Japan is still the world's second-largest economy in terms of gross domestic product. Japan offers an array of business opportunities for foreign investors. As employment and other traditions are under pressure from a young generation more in tune with Western culture and ideas, the Japanese triad market allows for a promising future. This article aims to inform managers who wish to extend their market reach of the tremendous opportunities in the Japanese market. We unveil cultural particulars and challenges for foreign businesses that allow for a refreshed look into the economic miracle of the second half of the twentieth century. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Advertising on the mobile internet is considered as an influential new marketing channel in the new future. So far technological limitations inhibit its optimised usage in Europe and the US, whereas in Japan constant access to the internet via mobile devices is already a reality. This paper therefore discusses the relevance of advertising on the mobile internet as a marketing tool and investigates antecedents of Japanese consumer attitudes toward this new advertising channel. The analysis is based on a Japanese consumer survey. The results indicate that informativeness and credibility of the advertising message have the greatest impact on consumers' attitude towards advertising on the mobile internet. Copyright © 2007 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.

This paper explores cultural aspects of knowledge management and focuses onthe knowledge transfer processes within multinational corporations. Knowledge transfer transmits knowledge from one company unit to another to improve competitive advantages. However, transfer processes may be influenced by geographical distances as well as the cultural differences between the sender (unit) and the receiver (unit). This paper investigates these issues and presents results of an empirical investigation on knowledge transfer processes between Japanese and German company units. Its main objective is to analyze whether knowledge transfer activities are influenced by the fact that there are intercultural challenges to overcome. Three aspects of the knowledge transfer process are examined: the type of knowledge chosen to be transferred, the knowledge transfer instrument and knowledge implementation at the receiving unit. Hypotheses comparing Japanese and German knowledge transfer processes are defined and the results of a survey of 155 German and Japanese companies are presented. The results suggest that cultural differences do not have an impact on the type of knowledge transferred; however, they do have small influence on some of the transfer instruments senders chose. On the contrary, they strongly influence knowledge receivers' perceptions towards knowledge from overseas units.