With the increasing prevalence of group work in marketing courses there is a need to consider the impact of students' social dynamics on both learning and satisfaction outcomes. This article explores one such dynamic at both intra-and intergroup levels. Using data generated from multiple sources, it was identified that students who are actively contributing to group processes have difficulty distinguishing between students, and indeed groups, that are socially loafing and those that are genuinely struggling with the material. As a consequence, the struggling students are subject to incidences of socially destructive behaviors, critically harming their ability to develop. This has the potential to harm not only the individual struggling student and their group but also burden the other members of the class with a class member that will never be able to meaningfully contribute. Using social interdependence theory, a framework is proposed to explain how this confusion among contributing students arises. Recommendations are made regarding how to design curriculum so as to minimize the incidence of this phenomenon as well as intervention strategies to mitigate its effect should it present.

Traditional country-of-origin strategy in international marketing uses a country-image halo to cue beliefs about the country's products. With expansive trade globalization, domestic consumers are likely to have experience with foreign products but know little of the products’ origin country. Thus, equally important as traditional theory is the question of whether product beliefs can imbue country image, but little is known of this reverse influence. If product beliefs can generalize into a favorable country image, a chain effect will then enable traditional country-of-origin effects to benefit the country's other products. In this study, the results of three surveys across two countries show that product beliefs can indeed influence country image. However, the influence weakens with increasing country familiarity and exists only when the product and country are congruent. Furthermore, the influence can operate outside of conscious awareness. The authors draw on the associative network theory of memory to explain their findings. This research improves the theoretical understanding of country- and product-image halo and provides the grounds for product and brand managers to work with government and tourist organizations for increasing mutual effectiveness.

Background The effectiveness of healthy food promotion on food and beverage sales in real-world food retail settings has been shown in randomised trials. The effectiveness of restrictions on the promotion of unhealthy food is, however, less clear. We aimed to assess the effect of restricted unhealthy food promotion, specifically those items contributing most to free sugar sales, on food and beverage sales. MethodsIn this community-level pragmatic, partially randomised, parallel group trial, stores were randomly assigned by a statistician using a single sequence of random assignments to the intervention group, in which a co-designed strategy restricted merchandising of unhealthy food, or to a control group of usual retail practice. The trial was done in partnership with an organisation operating 25 stores in remote Australia. The primary analysis was based on difference in weekly sales with the strategy compared with no strategy in free sugar from all foods and beverages (g/total MJ; primary outcome), targeted food or beverages (weight and free sugars; g/total MJ), and gross profit (AU$) using mixed models. This trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12618001588280.Findings Between June 13 and Aug 15, 2018, 20 stores were recruited; ten stores were randomly assigned to the intervention group and ten stores to the control group. The trial was done between Sept 2 and Dec 2, 2018. The Healthy Stores 2020 strategy resulted in a reduction in sales of free sugar of 2•8% (95% CI -4•9 to -0•7). Targeted beverages were reduced by 8•4% (-12•3 to -4•3) and associated free sugar by 6•8% (-10•9 to -2•6), sugar-sweetened soft drinks by 13•2% (-18•5 to -7•6), and associated free sugar by 13•4% (-18•7 to -7•7). Reductions in sales of free sugar from confectionery of 7•5% (-14•3 to -0•2) and in weight sold (-4•6%, -11•1 to 2•3) resulted; however, the reduction in weight was not statistically significant. No differences in sales of table sugar and sweet biscuits were observed. Gross profit was not impacted adversely; a small increase resulted (5•3%, 0•3 to 10•5).Interpretation Restricted merchandising of unhealthy foods and beverages, while allowing for complementary merchandising of healthier foods and beverages in a real-world store setting and co-designed with retailers, can achieve both public health and business relevant gains.

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