Examines the current situation for logistics in Bulgaria. Reviews the prospects for applying logistics concepts with respect to the economic environment for privatization and investment. Presents the findings. Concludes with some cautions concerning the issue of transferring logistics knowledge...

Discusses analysis of the organizational structures utilized to conduct international purchasing activities which was undertaken at 24 multinational corporations. The majority of the corporations studied had decentral‐ ized purchasing organizations and all had corporate purchasing staffs. Four...

Posits that relationship marketing is often suggested as being the best approach to dealing with suppliers and customers. However, there may be situations where the costs or goals of the parties involved do not require or justify incurring the costs of building a relationship. Presents an...

At this time UN/EDIFACT is best suited to companies with “tied” customers, e.g. MNCs and their subsidiaries and companies who conduct a very high proportion of their overseas business with a small number of customers. Such EDI utilisation has been found to be most effective in the transport...

The changes required in the policies of organisations to cope with the challenges of the 1990s are discussed – managers not only as managers per se but also as entrepreneurs, the increasing competitive muscle of the Japanese, the re‐evaluation of strategies, the increase in international...

The concept of channels has long been used to analyse and understand the functions of domestic marketing and distribution. The concept is carried further and used as an aid in understanding international logistics. Three channels are discussed: the international transaction and payment channel;...

International trade is steadily increasing. Most of this relies to some extent on ocean‐going ships and, in consequence, the size of the world shipping fleet has been growing. Some years ago it became apparent that there was an anomaly in the composition of this fleet. In particular,...

A mail survey was conducted among 535 worldwide water ports and water carriers to learn about (1) the importance of various port selection factors and (2) the influence of contemporary trade issues on international port operations. Analysis of 134 responses (25 per cent response rate) revealed...

By the year 2000, it is estimated that Asian economies will control over 40 per cent of the world′s trade. In this context, the trading developments and relationships in the Asia‐Pacific region are examined and forecast growth patterns are discussed.

Purpose – This paper aims to evaluate the potential of 24 country-level measures for predicting the number of outbound international medical travelers into the USA, including health and healthcare system, economic, social and diplomatic and travel pattern factors. Medical travel is recognized...