GENERAL INFORMATION
The mission of the Center for Mature Consumer Studies (CMCS) is to generate and disseminate information that could be used by government, industry, and nonprofit organizations for the purpose of enhancing the well-being of older adults. It conducts research aimed at understanding the older persons' consumption-related patterns, needs, and abilities to interact effectively with the marketplace for the purpose of promoting the well-being of present and future aged cohorts.
The Center's research addresses issues of potential interest to corporations, legislators, educators, and organizations that wish to improve the quality of life of the aged population. It focuses on topics such as the older people's vulnerability to various types of marketing practices, the effectiveness of communication strategies in increasing preventive health care behaviors, and the effects of various consumption activities on the person's physical, emotional, and economic well-being.
The Center is inviting educational institutions, corporations, nonprofit organizations and government agencies around the globe to collaborate in pursuing its mission. It is seeking affiliates, sponsors and collaborators to participate in, assist with, or facilitate its efforts. CMCS relationships with other organizations are in the forms of affiliations and sponsorships.
International affiliations with organizations around the globe are in the form of CMCS satellite centers ("Units") that operate independently. These Units have the same mission, operate in the same fashion, and pursue the same goals as CMCS-USA. They are academic institutions and corporations whose activities are restricted to select geographic regions (usually countries).
Academic Units. These satellite centers are academic institutions that conduct research of interest to several potential users. Their research is aimed at generating information to address issues of interest to marketing practitioners, public policy makers, and academicians.
Corporate Units. Corporate units of CMCS are similar to the academic units, but their activities lack academic focus.
A. Benefits to CMCS Satellite Units:
a. Access to national and cross-cultural studies conducted by the Units in various
parts of the globe.
b. Name recognition (strong "brand equity") due to CMCS's twenty-year visibility in
USA and abroad, making easier to obtain sponsorships, contracts and grants
from corporations and governments.
c. Ready-to-implement concepts (products and services) that CMCS has already
developed, pre-tested or determined to be in demand.
d. A vehicle for attracting grants and contracts due to affiliate Centers' access to
networks of experts.
e. International visibility via each Unit's affiliation with other similar Centers around
the world.
f. Access to advisory services (consultation) on issues that professionals at CMCS
and its Units have had familiarity and expertise.
g. Enhanced image/specialization of the Unit's organization, department, college, and
university.
h. Networking among the CMCS affiliate units for the purpose of locating experts,
services, and information needed.
i. A vehicle for organizing conferences, symposia, and roundtables for bringing
together professionals from other Units, sponsors, and other interested parties
around the globe.
j. Peer reviews of manuscripts before submission to journals.
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B. Requirements/Expectations:
a. The Unit's web page, stationary and other tangible vehicles of communication
should mention its affiliation with the "parent" CMCS at Georgia State University.
b. Pay for expenses for data collection and processing that involve collaborative
studies in which the Unit's researchers participate.
c. Provide assistance and feedback, such as review papers, to other researchers
who request it.
d. Share working papers, articles, and monographs, other than proprietary
information, with researchers of other Units.
e. For sponsorships, government grants or other contracts a university-based Unit
receives, where the Unit's activities or affiliation with CMCS-GSU and its global
of network of experts was mentioned for the purpose of obtaining these funds,
10% of the total funds are to be transferred to CMCS-GSU.
f. As long as corporate Units use "CMCS" or mention their affiliation with any CMCS
Unit, they are required to donate to CMCS-GSU the sum of US$3000.00 annually.
g. Compensate faculty members of other Units, either monetarily or via co-
authorship, for providing significant assistance with commercial/government and
academic projects, respectively. Such arrangements are to be agreed upon by
the interested parties prior to the initiation of the project.
h. All Units are to adhere to the code of ethics set forth by the American Marketing
Association.
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C. Criteria for Accepting Affiliations:
Organizations interested in establishing CMCS satellite centers in their regions must meet several criteria that are needed for accomplishing their mission. Such criteria include the educational and professional preparation of the organization's staff that would be involved in the various activities related to the center's mission, its available resources for carrying out the various tasks, and its interest in a long-term relationship with CMCS and other satellite centers.
Organizations that would like to be a part of the global CMCS network must submit a letter of request that outlines their interests for joining the network, their background and present resources, the geographic territories in which they would like to operate, as well as the types of activities they wish to pursue as CMCS satellite Units. A committee reviews such requests bi-annually, and determines whether the organization should represent CMCS and its affiliate Units. In the event more than one organization applies for the same geographic region simultaneously, priority is given to the one that best meets the criteria. Units are given territorial exclusivity, and no more than one organization may operate within a specified region (usually country). Letters should be addressed to: George P. Moschis, Center for Mature Consumer Studies, Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University, University Plaza, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
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The sponsors of CMCS's activities are various types of organizations interested in supporting the Center's mission.
A. Benefits of Sponsorships:
The sponsorship of CMCS or any of its affiliate Units:
a. Communicates and documents organization's altruistic concern for the well being
of mature consumers.
b. Documents sponsorship of one of the top research Centers in the U.S. dedicated
to generating information for enhancing older consumers' well-being.
c. Creates a strong association with one of the top research organizations in the
country researching older consumer segments
d. Communicates organization's association with one of the top business schools in
the nation (U.S. News and World Reports ranks GSU's part-time MBA program
as fifth in the Nation).
e. Includes an invitation for participation in CMCS-organized conferences,
roundtables, or symposia by any Unit around the globe, where one can network
with others and obtain up-to-date information on topics of his or her interest.
f. Receipt of industry specific research reports produced by the Center for Mature
Consumer Studies and its affiliated satellite centers around the globe.
B. Requirements/Expectations:
Sponsors are urged (but not required) to promote their support and sponsorship of CMCS to third parties.
Sponsoring organizations are expected to donate annually the sum of $5000.00 payable to the Center for Mature Consumer Studies.
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a. Organizations which wish to understand how to appeal to mature consumer
segments to better satisfy their consumption needs.
b. Organizations which want to communicate their support of older consumers.
c. Organizations which want to learn more about what is being done in the
research arena to better satisfy mature consumers.
d. Organizations which wish to learn what other corporations are doing in their
efforts to better appeal to mature consumers.
e. Foundations or agencies interested in information that could be used in
developing social programs and legislation to protect older consumers and
enhance their well-being.
f. Organizations that represent the interests of older consumers and need
information to lobby in favor of their members.
g. Corporations that wish to communicate and document their altruistic concern for
the well-being of older adults to combat public criticism and create positive
image.
h. Organizations based in foreign countries (governments, corporations,
foundations) interested in addressing similar issues by forming alliances with
CMCS and its satellite Units to support CMCS 's mission.
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Address:
Center for Mature Consumer Studies,
Robinson College of Business, 13th Floor,
Georgia State University,
University Plaza,
Atlanta, GA 30303
USA
Overnight/courier/express mail:
Robinson College of Business
35 Broad Street, 13th Floor,
Atlanta, GA 30302,
USA
Phone: 404-413-7670
Fax: 404-413-7699
