Avraham Shama - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Avraham Shama

Psychological Reports, Aug 1, 1984

Summnsy.-This paper describes the relation between values and behavior of a new life style, that ... more Summnsy.-This paper describes the relation between values and behavior of a new life style, that of voluntary simplicity which is characterized by low consumption, self-sufficiency, and ecological responsibility. Also, specific hypotheses regarding the motivation for voluntary simplicity and adoption in two areas of the United States were tested. Analysis shows (a) values of voluntary simplicity and behaviors are consistent, (b) the motivation for voluntary simplicity includes personal preference and economic hardship, and (c) adoption of voluntary simplicity is different in the Denver and New York City metropolitan areas. Voluntary simplicity describes a lifestyle of low consumption, ecological responsibility, and self-sufficiency. It was first defined by Richard Gregg in 1936 as the: "singleness of purpose, sincerity and honesty within, as well as the avoidance of exterior clutter, of many possessions irrelevant to the chief purpose of life. It means an ordering and guiding of our energy and our desires, a partial restraint in some directions in order to secure greater abundance of life in other directions. The degree of simplification is a matter for each individual to settle for himself" (quoted by Elgin, 1977, p. 9). Quickly forgotten with the advent of World War 11, voluntary simplicity was reintroduced in the 1970s and early 1980s as a growing movement in the United States (Elgin

Journal of Environmental Systems, 1982

Solar energy innovations are likely to concern public and business policy makers in the decade ah... more Solar energy innovations are likely to concern public and business policy makers in the decade ahead. Sooner or later the focus of concern must move from the general to the specific, from the macro to the micro, from the national level to the regional and state levels. In this paper the diffusion of innovations framework is presented and discussed as an approach capable of explaining and increasing the market share of solar energy innovations. Solar domestic water heating systems serve as a prime example.

Society, May 1, 1972

The immediate problem for the new and small state was one of housing and feeding the massive numb... more The immediate problem for the new and small state was one of housing and feeding the massive numbers of new immigrants, many of whom were in desperate personal condition. The Europeans were survivors of concentration camps; the Sephardim often arrived with no money or ...

Long Range Planning, Feb 1, 1982

Solar energy policy-makers and solar energy advocates use significantly different scenarios upon ... more Solar energy policy-makers and solar energy advocates use significantly different scenarios upon which they perceive and evaluate the adoption of solar technologies. The differences between the two groups seem to be rooted in different hierarchies of values relating to solar energy ...

Journal of Environmental Systems, 1980

The absence of a marketing-oriented behavioral perspective from energy analysis presently dominat... more The absence of a marketing-oriented behavioral perspective from energy analysis presently dominated by an economic-engineering perspective is responsible for the low adoption rate of conservation energy. Unless these two perspectives are integrated, little can be expected in the way of speedy market penetration of conservation energy.

International Marketing Review, May 1, 1992

Centres on the transformation of the consumer in Russia, Hungary and Poland. Reports on a study, ... more Centres on the transformation of the consumer in Russia, Hungary and Poland. Reports on a study, carried out in co‐operation with scholars in these countries, which uses focus groups to outline the impact on consumers of the transformation to a market economy, and discusses the adjustments these consumers have been making in response to new economic realities. Concludes with research propositions and by pointing out implications for international marketing managers.

Journal of Marketing, Jun 1, 1981

Stagflation, a significant economic, social, and political phenomenon since the Depression, is ch... more Stagflation, a significant economic, social, and political phenomenon since the Depression, is changing consumers and creating a voluntary simplifier consumer segment. This paper outlines the impact of stagflation and focuses on the simplifier segment and its implications for marketing.

Thunderbird International Business Review, 2005

This study surveyed a random sample of 136 e-commerce companies to provide baseline information a... more This study surveyed a random sample of 136 e-commerce companies to provide baseline information about their marketing and international marketing strategies. The findings show that one in five companies do not market internationally and another four in ten generate 10% or less of their sales from international markets. About half of the companies reporting international sales did not adapt their strategies to the international markets. This may have contributed to the failure of many of these companies. A more savvy use of international marketing strategies by e-commerce companies could be very helpful to their future well-being. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

International Marketing Review, 1992

Centres on the impact of stagflation on marketing management in Yugoslavia and on the responses o... more Centres on the impact of stagflation on marketing management in Yugoslavia and on the responses of managers to stagflation. Based on personal interviews and a survey, reports that while the impact of stagflation was drastic, managers responded by taking only mild countermeasures. This high impact‐mild adjustment phenomenon is quite different from reactions in the USA, where high impacts bring extensive adjustments. Explanations for this Yugoslav phenomenon, which have important implications for international marketing, are found in the country′s self‐managed economy.

Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 1996

This study compares the effects of and adjustments to market economy forces on the part of market... more This study compares the effects of and adjustments to market economy forces on the part of marketing managers in Russia and Romania. Data supporting this comparison and the test of four hypotheses were gathered by personal interviews with Russian and Romanian managers. The findings show that, although marketing managers in both countries were drastically affected by market forces, Romanian managers were able to recognize and respond to market forces better than were Russian managers. The behavior of Romanian marketing managers also depended more on the type of enterprise ownership (state, joint stock, or private) than did the behavior of Russian marketing managers.

Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 1995

This project centers on marketing management during the ongoing economic restructuring of Russia.... more This project centers on marketing management during the ongoing economic restructuring of Russia. It is carded out in three sequential stages. First, it generates fundamental information about Russian marketing managers in a centrally planned economy by using qualitative research tools of focus groups conducted in 1989 and 1991. Second, using this fundamental information, it develops a theory of the transformation of marketing management from a planned to a market economy. Finally, it tests this proposed theory, using data from a survey conducted specifically to test the model.

Energy, Aug 1, 1982

Abstmet-Solar energy innovations are likely to concern public and business policy makers in the d... more Abstmet-Solar energy innovations are likely to concern public and business policy makers in the decade ahead. Sooner or later, the focus of concern must move from the general to the specific, from the macro-to the micro-environment, from the national level to the regional and state levels. A diffusion of innovations framework is presented and discussed as an approach capable of explaining and increasing the market share of solar energy innovations. Solar domestic water heating systems serve as an illustrative example.

The International Executive, Sep 1, 1994

Casual observers of Russian management are quick to portray a simplistic, well packaged, and seem... more Casual observers of Russian management are quick to portray a simplistic, well packaged, and seemingly accurate picture of life of Russian managers. Russia, they say, is imploding and disintegrating. In 1992, the inflation rate was 3,000 percent, and in the first 6 months of 1993, the monthly inflation rate ranged from 25 to 30 percent. The gross national product declined 25 percent in 1992 and continued to decline in 1993. Management life in Russia, these observers say, is unbearable, hell. Russian managers have been order-takers from central planners and regulators for more than 70 years. They have been accustomed to working in a stable and predictable environment, and therefore could not possibly be effective in the shock-therapy-induced market economy that began in January, 1992. However, these observers could not be further from the truth. I concluded from my study of Russian management decision making in 1989, 1991, and 1992 that in a rapidly changing and chaotic environment, Russian managers are quick to recognize the effects of the evolving market economy and take rapid This research project has been supported by grants from the Robert 0. Anderson School of Management and the University of New Mexico Research Allocation Committee. The author acknowledges the assistance of Christian Aubert (Robert 0. Anderson School of Management, University of New Mexico) and Andrey V. Drozdov (Academy of National Economy) on different aspects of this research project, and the review and constructive comments of a n anonymous reviewer.

Journal of Technology Transfer, Dec 1, 1992

Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Sep 1, 1976

Journal of Small Business Management, 1993

Recession is a phenomenon of decreasing demand for raw materials, products, and services. Technic... more Recession is a phenomenon of decreasing demand for raw materials, products, and services. Technically, its beginning, progress, and ending depend on the operational measures used by different researchers and federal agencies. For example, in the United States a recession is said to exist when the gross national product (GNP) declines for two consecutive quarters, or when the leading economic indicators (LEIs) decline for three straight months, or when the index of the Association of Purchasing Managers dips below 50 points. Whichever the case, recession requires marketing managers to modify their marketing strategy and action in order to stay both profitable and consumer-responsive. This generally means adapting the marketing mix and/or changing the target markets. However, the response of marketing managers to recession depends on how they perceive its meaning and impact on their businesses. As a result, it is possible that a recession on the national level may affect different com...