Purpose To explore how inclusive banking services are marketed to financially vulnerable consumers (FVCs) in Ghana from the perspective of managers. This study aims to explore this under-researched area and contribute towards a transformative service research in the country. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a multiple case study research approach to analyse six banks, including commercial, development, investment and rural and community banks. Specifically, semi-structured interviews and archival documents were used to collect data from the perspectives of bank managers. Findings The empirical research based on practical and theoretical models shows that Ghanaian banks design an array of financial products and services (FPS), adopt innovative traditional marketing strategies and apply inclusive technologies to reach out to the FVCs. Research limitations/implications The authors conducted this study on six banks in Ghana; thus, service researchers are cautioned when generalising the findings and conclusions in other contexts beyond the country of focus. Practical implications This study offers practical ideas to guide marketers to better understand how banks market their inclusive banking services to FVCs. Social implications This paper provides implications for addressing financial inclusion amongst the “unbanked”, “underserved” and “unserved” collectively known as the FVCs and how Ghanaian banks design FPS to improve service research and well-being outcomes. Originality/value This study provides vital information to policymakers in designing FPS aimed at achieving an inclusive financial system to improve the well-being of FVCs in Ghana.

Lean manufacturing or lean production, often simply "lean", is a systematic method for the elimination of waste ("Muda") within a manufacturing system. The concept lean also comprises waste created through overburden ("Muri") and the ones created through unevenness in work loads ("Mura"). This has led to this paper review on managing Lean Principles applicability and implementation in the mining industry in Ghana. This paper reviewed both theoretical and empirical literature on lean applicability in the mining industry in Ghana. The paper seeks to explore variables, which may be considered in lean applicability and implementation in the mining industry on: principles that are identified with the lean strategies application; assess the various tools that are adopted for lean implementation; determine how the lean management strategies are applied in the mining industry; explore the main benefits derived by the players in the mining industry for adopting lean strategies; and finally, identify the challenges that confront mining companies in their quest of adopting lean strategies. It is concluded that leanness as a management principle can successfully be applied to any sector of the economy. Base on such premise (postulation), it is worth noting that there is evidence of great advances regarding leanness as a management practice in the mining industry across the globe.

The fierce competition and the similarity of competing merchandise characterised modern fashion industry impel fabrics retailers to utilise various visual merchandising displays (VMDs) to improve the desirability of their products and to achieve differentiation of their offerings from competition. This has led to this study investigating on the role played by the various VMDs in the promotion of Asante Kente fabrics. Reviewed literature comprised: the Kente apparel, various VMDs adopted by retailers to promote products, and benefits derived by apparel retailers from adopting VMDs. An explorative research and qualitative data were gathered by means of projected images and focus groups discussions and direct observations. The data were analysed by means of thematic analysis. Findings indicated that respondents have knowledge on certain VMDs both exterior and in-store, whereas, other VMDs were considered not appropriate in their line of business. This is to say that all the respondents contacted on the field agreed to certain positions established by extant theories regarding the adoption of VMDs and the role they play in promoting apparels in retail shops

No abstract