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This study develops a pricing framework that focuses on relationship-building — a factor that has been largely ignored in the pricing literature. First, a case-study method has been employed to better understand how a production-oriented company sets prices for its products. Then a framework has been developed which incorporates the service component in the pricing equation. The results of this research suggest that factoring in the price for services offered can enhance relationship management, thus having a positive impact on the company's business performance.

Outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT) is currently used for an increasing number of diabetic patients worldwide. It provided several potential advantages including quality of life, cost savings and reduced risk of hospital-acquired infections. Most commonly used access device is the peripherally inserted central catheter. The National University Hospital (NUH) has a hospital-based infusion centre which has recently expanded to provide outreach and caregiver delivered dosing. Blood samples are obtained at regular intervals to monitor laboratory values during the course of treatment. In setting up this OPAT service, senior ownership is very important and a nurse champion with intrinsic knowledge of local systems crucial and a team approach needed. Operations, finance, pharmacy, nursing administration are key stakeholders. OPAT helps diabetic patients return home safely and faster — thereby reducing hospital stay and costs, allowing better use of inpatient resources and restoring dignity and independence to our diabetic patients.

This investigation aims to compare the usefulness and the potential contributions of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) in the marketing field, particularly, when compared to traditional modelling based on Structural Equations. It uses neural network modelling and structural equation modelling (SEM) to evaluate loyalty in the bank industry in Brazil. Based on a data collection of 229 bank customers (micro, small, and medium companies) from the Northeast of Brazil, the key objective of this study is to investigate the main drivers of customer loyalty in this industry. Neural networks highlight the role of the relationship quality on customer loyalty. The technique SEM confirmed six of the seven hypotheses of the proposed model. The findings highlighted the point that micro, small, and medium companies’ loyalty to their main bank is strongly influenced by affective commitment. Comparing the results achieved from both methodologies, some similarities can be found. Relationship quality is a second order construct that includes satisfaction and affective commitment as its key components, both of which are highlighted on the structural model. The strongest impact in this model is in the relation between satisfaction and affective commitment. This result suggests that, for this marketing problem, ANN and SEM seem to be complementary statistical tools, bringing complementary conclusions.

This investigation aims to compare the usefulness and the potential contributions of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) in the marketing field, particularly, when compared to traditional modelling based on Structural Equations. It uses neural network modelling and structural equation modelling (SEM) to evaluate loyalty in the bank industry in Brazil. Based on a data collection of 229 bank customers (micro, small, and medium companies) from the Northeast of Brazil, the key objective of this study is to investigate the main drivers of customer loyalty in this industry. Neural networks highlight the role of the relationship quality on customer loyalty. The technique SEM confirmed six of the seven hypotheses of the proposed model. The findings highlighted the point that micro, small, and medium companies' loyalty to their main bank is strongly influenced by affective commitment. Comparing the results achieved from both methodologies, some similarities can be found. Relationship quality is a second order construct that includes satisfaction and affective commitment as its key components, both of which are highlighted on the structural model. The strongest impact in this model is in the relation between satisfaction and affective commitment. This result suggests that, for this marketing problem, ANN and SEM seem to be complementary statistical tools, bringing complementary conclusions.