New paper: The Pandemic-Induced Personal Data Explosion

Back in June 2020, I came across a special collection of papers about COVID-19, in the Journal of Public Policy & Marketing. Within that collection, the paper “Consumer Privacy During (and After) the COVID-19 Pandemic”, by Aaron R. Brough and Kelly D. Martin caught my attention. That paper reflected on the implications of the increased … Continue reading New paper: The Pandemic-Induced Personal Data Explosion

Tales of developing an AI-powered chatbot

Chatbots are computer programmes designed to conduct conversations with humans about specific topics, through text, voice or touch. Because they can run 24/7, chatbots are becoming increasingly popular in situations where there are frequently asked questions which can be resolved from a limited pool of answers. Examples include accepting an order, updating the status of … Continue reading Tales of developing an AI-powered chatbot

More than a party – A consumer behaviour look at the impact of government sleaze on public health

Trust in politicians in the UK has taken a tumble, recently. The IPPR revealed that, as of the end of last year, the British Public’s distrust in politicians was at an all-time high: Image source Moreover, according to YouGov numbers, as of last week, almost 2/3 of all UK adults disapproved of the Government’s record … Continue reading More than a party – A consumer behaviour look at the impact of government sleaze on public health

Blockchain: definition, applications in marketing, and issues emerging

There is a lot of talk about blockchain technology these days. This technology has come a long way since it was primarily associated with crime (for instance, crypto currency, which is based on blockchain technology, was the main means of exchange in the now defunct, online black-market, Silk Road). It is now being touted as … Continue reading Blockchain: definition, applications in marketing, and issues emerging

Guest talk: Jacob Thundil, MBE; Founder & MD Cocofina

The style and appearance of the space where the service is delivered (including online space) is highly consequential for: Facilitating the service encounter and enhancing productivitySignalling quality, and positioning the brandReinforcing the value proposition, andShaping customers’ (and employees’) feelings and behaviours in the space For instance, warm colours are energising, while cool colours are calming. … Continue reading Guest talk: Jacob Thundil, MBE; Founder & MD Cocofina

Balancing the multiple sides of academic life

I recently did a talk about how to balance teaching, research and administrative roles, as part of a career in higher education. As academics, we are expected to excel at three types of tasks: teaching, research, and administrative roles. For teaching, the work is cyclical, done in short, intense bursts; requires strong communication skills; and … Continue reading Balancing the multiple sides of academic life

This blog is 12 – Some thoughts on thinking through how best to get your message out there

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash As of this week, I have been blogging for 12 years. It's my 12th blogday. My most popular post was published in 2017; the second, in 2011; the third, in 2010. That 2017 post is still attracting a steady stream of visitors which is an example of a key feature of blog … Continue reading This blog is 12 – Some thoughts on thinking through how best to get your message out there

What I have been reading #7

In 2021, I set myself the goal of reading more and of reading more widely. To help me with accountability, I started sharing short reviews on Instagram and, later, here on the blog. However, these reviews turned into so much more than a record of what I had read, that I decided to continue doing … Continue reading What I have been reading #7