ABSTRACT Culture plays a significant buying role in shaping different aspects of consumer behavior such as rational, impulse, and compulsive buying behavior. Impulse buying is one of the prevalent phenomena that significantly affect the sales revenue of companies. This study focuses on unveiling the interaction between cultural factors and impulse buying behavior. For this systematic literature review, 112 significant articles were examined to understand the relationship between various aspects of culture and impulse buying behavior in both online and offline contexts. Further investigation of impulse buying in cross-cultural context helps to understand and classify different theoretical perspectives to study impulse buying behavior and cultural factors. This study offers practical implications for retail professionals and e-commerce strategists to design and implement viable cross-cultural marketing campaigns. Academic researchers may also understand research gaps and contribute further to understanding cross-cultural impulse buying.

Resumo A cultura desempenha um papel de compra significativo na formação de diferentes aspectos do comportamento do consumidor, como comportamento de compra racional, por impulso e compulsivo. A compra por impulso é um dos fenômenos predominantes que afetam significativamente a receita de vendas das empresas. Este estudo tem como objetivo desvendar a interação entre fatores culturais e o comportamento de compra por impulso. Para esta revisão sistemática da literatura, 112 artigos significativos foram examinados para entender a relação entre vários aspectos da cultura e o comportamento de compra por impulso em contextos online e offline. Uma investigação mais aprofundada da compra por impulso no contexto intercultural ajuda a entender e classificar diferentes perspectivas teóricas para estudar o comportamento de compra por impulso e os fatores culturais. Este estudo oferece implicações práticas para profissionais de varejo e estrategistas de comércio eletrônico para projetar e implementar campanhas de marketing interculturais viáveis. Pesquisadores acadêmicos também podem entender as lacunas de pesquisa e contribuir ainda mais para a compreensão da compra por impulso intercultural.

Abstract In this paper we draw on the theoretical perspective of new institutionalism, particularly on that of world culture and world polity, and discuss the influence of policies of three selected international intergovernmental organisations (IIOs) concerning the recognition of prior learning (RPL) on adult learning and education (ALE) policies, of which RPL is a part, in one developing country from the global South (India) and one developed country from the global North (Germany). Based on a comparative analysis of two country cases, we show that there is evidence of a worldwide convergence of ALE policies as IIOs play a crucial role in the formation and dissemination of European and/or global RPL policies that are based on similar standards. However, it is also evident that this does not indicate a wholesale implementation and adoption of policies, especially in local environments.

Resumo Neste artigo, inspiramo-nos na perspetiva teórica do novo institucionalismo, particularmente na da cultura mundial e da constituição política mundial, discutindo a influência das políticas de três organizações internacionais governamentais (OI) escolhidas relativamente ao reconhecimento de aprendizagens experienciais (RAE) nas políticas de aprendizagem e educação de adultos (AEA), das quais o RAE faz parte, num país em desenvolvimento do hemisfério sul (Índia) e num país desenvolvido do hemisfério norte (Alemanha). Com base na análise comparativa dos casos de dois países, mostramos que existem provas de uma convergência mundial das políticas de AEA enquanto as OI têm um papel fundamental na formação e divulgação de políticas de RAE europeias e/ou globais que se baseiam-se em standards semelhantes. No entanto, também é evidente que isto não indica uma implementação e adoção generalizada de políticas, principalmente em contextos locais.

Resumen En este artículo, nos inspiramos en la perspectiva teórica del nuevo institucionalismo, particularmente la de la cultura mundial y la constitución política mundial, discutiendo la influencia de las políticas de tres organizaciones intergubernamentales internacionales (OII) elegidas en relación con el reconocimiento de aprendizajes de la experiencia (RAE) en las políticas de aprendizaje y educación de adultos (AEA), de las que RAE forma parte, en un país en desarrollo del hemisferio sur (India) y en un país desarrollado del hemisferio norte (Alemania). Con base en el análisis comparativo de casos de dos países, mostramos que existe evidencia de una convergencia mundial de políticas AEA, mientras que las OII tienen un papel fundamental en la formación y difusión de políticas RAE europeas y/o globales que se basan en estándares similares. Sin embargo, también es evidente que esto no indica una implementación y adopción masiva de las políticas, particularmente en entornos locales.

BACKGROUND: Currently, globalisation, economic uncertainty and fluctuating market demands prompt leaders all over the world to improve their operations and to enhance innovations in processes, products and services in a very reactive manner. Literature shows that the adoption of an integrated Lean Six Sigma tool can assist them to compete with the rest of the world in a manner where productivity, quality and operational costs reduction are crucial for economic success. AIM: This article investigates the integration of Lean and Six Sigma tools as a unified approach to continuous improvement and develops a Lean Six Sigma framework for selected automotive component manufacturing organisations in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. METHOD: The quantitative methods of research were adopted. The target population (42) was organisations within the Durban Automotive Cluster of which five were used for the pilot work. An empirical study was conducted using a survey questionnaire in measurable format to gather practical information from the sample organisations on the status of their existing business improvement programmes and quality practice. RESULTS: The results of the study demonstrated that the organisations had a very low success rate of Lean and Six Sigma adoption as standalone systems, as they found it difficult to maintain the transition from theory to practice. CONCLUSION: Hence the adoption of an integrated Lean Six Sigma approach was absent and it can be concluded that the proposed Lean Six Sigma framework affords the KZN automotive sector a unique opportunity to integrate and operate with both tools of quality that complement its management style and industry demands.