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This study aims to identify the determining factors of perceived altruism and attitude toward an inclusive sponsorship activation, as well as the impact of these variables on the attitude toward the sponsor.

Online survey data were obtained from 1,228 respondents from France, the UK and South Africa. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

The results show that the cause-brand fit has a strong positive impact on the perceived altruism toward the motivations underlying inclusive activation, while skepticism toward advertising has a very weak negative impact. In return, perceived altruism positively influences the attitude toward inclusive activation and sponsor attitude. Furthermore, this attitude toward inclusive activation is positively influenced by involvement in women’s soccer and France men’s national football team identification. The attitude toward inclusive activation also positively influences the attitude toward sponsor attitude. However, contrary to what had been advanced, identification with the France women’s national football team and the nationality of the respondents (French, British or South African) had no impact on the attitude toward inclusive activation, while the perceived importance of the cause had very weak impact on attitudes toward inclusive activation.

This study highlights the potential benefits of investing in inclusive sponsorship activations, particularly with respect to their positive impact on consumer attitude toward sponsor attitude. It also highlights the importance of establishing, in advance, a strong association between the brand image and the cause supported, so that the motivations underlying the inclusive activations are perceived as more altruistic.

This chapter addresses the issue of value creation in the retail banking sector, focusing on France. The author shows that since the 2007 financial crisis, banking organizations have used a disruptive innovative approach to regain the trust of retail banking customers. This innovative hybrid design is not only driven by efficiency and fully dematerialized solutions, but also considers human, social, and territorial development aspects.

This chapter is based on an EU statistical analysis (2009–2013) of two strategies used by French, Italian, and German national banks to manage the 2007 financial crisis: closing retail bank branches and lay-offs. Interestingly, in France, bank units and employee numbers fell the least. A complementary qualitative analysis of the principal banking innovations promoted by R&D directors helps to explain the main features of the French strategy to cope with the mistrust of clients and employees.

Though low-cost models are promoted as major innovations today (“banking is necessary, bankers are not”), and result in massive offshoring and restructuring levels to face new global competitors such as Google, Amazon, and PCCW-HKT, the French retail banking sector, previously state regulated but progressively deregulated, has adopted an original strategy to regain trust and loyalty. Rather than adopting these low-cost models strictly, with full dematerialization, it focuses on balanced innovation – such as the “neighbourhood bank format,” which improves knowledge of the expectations and needs of local clients and environments. These solutions are not only global or local, but a mix of both dimensions.

Global industries like finance are embedded in both territorial and historical relationships and governance. This means that they can only be observed from this dual perspective, which is a dilemma that characterizes today’s economy. Innovation decisions and design particularly illustrate the banking sector’s embeddedness, with the dichotomy between fully digitalized options and fully territorialized services. Therefore, innovation is neither a “Champion” or leadership question, nor a mere ICT option. It is a hybrid combination to restore trust and relations.

The implications of such a balanced approach to innovation are highly important in terms of offshoring, lay-offs, and outsourcing practices, which are adopted as essential, and taken for granted by owners and CEOs in global value chains such as finance.The given data and analysis give concrete means to integrate local cultural and institutional habits, so that innovation make sense to stakeholders.

This chapter suggests a critical approach to innovation strategies and trends in the finance sector.

This paper outlines a model of the factors that are critical to the establishment and maintenance of sustainable competitive advantage for education services enterprises in international markets. It draws together theories of competitive advantage developed by industrial economics and management theory, with literature relating to services marketing. In examining a theory of sustainable competitive advantage for services exports, the paper discusses the concepts involved and presents a model of the process involved in achieving it. The model seeks to explain the strategic decision making environment in which the education exporter operates, and the outcome ideal to achieving a competitive advantage.