Who is the UBELAB

Robert Davis is the UBELAB. Now to the more serious stuff that is ego related….

Robert is a teacher, researcher and strategist in marketing.

Robert Davis has published research in the the Journal of Advertising Research (Sept 2008), Marketing Science, Journal of Service Research, Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education, Communications of the ACM, the Journal of Information Technology, Strategic Direction,  International Journal of Bank Marketing, Australasian Marketing Journal and the University of Auckland Business Review. Publications have consistently been achieved in the area of marketing communications and related areas at the forefront of practice.  

Robert started his academic career in 1996 when he moved from a marketing management leadership position at IBM New Zealand (IBM Global Network) to complete his PhD in marketing and electronic commerce. The IBM Global Network was at the forefront of the commercialisation of the Internet in a web-based eBusiness environment. Robert and team was also primarily responsible for helping Telecom New Zealand understand the significant potential of the Internet for commerce and consumers. Following the completion of his PhD and related publications, Robert went to research (mCommerce) and teach at 3 of the leading Universities in Thailand. In 2003 he returned to The University of Auckland.

Currently, Robert is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Business, Manukau Instriture of Technology. Previously he was a Senior Lecturer in digital commerce and marketing at the University of Auckland Business School, Tamaki Division New Zealand. He has a PhD (2000) in Marketing and Electronic Commerce from the University of Auckland on branding and marketing relationships in online retail service environments. This PhD was one of the first of its type in New Zealand and was based upon a close research relationship with Woolworths New Zealand (1997 – current). This PhD obtained 7 international journal publications and 6 conference publications that were directly related to this research and in collaboration with other researchers. His primary research interests are in mobile commerce, electronic commerce and marketing. Projects are and have been implemented in the USA, New Zealand and Asia. Research methods employed include both quantitative and qualitative analysis across a wide range of methodological approaches, that is, case studies, focus groups, surveys, campaign response server data. Robert has two international publications in both online product and online service branding. A recently published paper is one of the first of the interactivity between the mobile and television mediums.

Robert Davis, has taught a wide range of marketing and integrated courses in Asia and New Zealand at the undergraduate, postgraduate and executive programme levels. Teaching positions have involved teaching across departments/campus locations, new course development, team teaching and course co-ordination. 

Robert was an elected member of the Marketing Association of New Zealand, eMarketing Committee. He has worked in executive positions for IBM Corporation (Marketing Manager/Team Leader) and has consulted for companies such as ARPASS, Paralympics NZ, Go Holidays (travel.co.nz), BMW, Air New Zealand, Telecom New Zealand, Price Waterhouse Coopers, the Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand and the New Zealand Health Software Cluster. He research on the Paralympics branding was recognised and method employed by the International Paralympics Committee for the recent International Paralympics Olympics. Since 1997 industry based research relationship have been developed with, ARPASS, Pacsoft, Telecom NZ, Television NZ, Txtstation, Woolworths NZ, Siemens Mobile and The Outfit/Hyperfactory. 

His research and managerial insights on eCommerce and mCommerce have received New Zealand and international industry recognition by being cited in Computerworld, InfoTech Weekly, the Sun Microsystems eZine, The Listener, the New Zealand Herald and Marketing Magazine. Robert has been called upon as an international expert witness on branding issues.

Contact: drradavis@gmail.com or (64-9) 274380704