Denni Arli, Fandy Tjiptono, Aaron Tkaczynski and Marat Bakpayev
The concept of grit has been receiving increased attention in recent years. Grit is a trait that enables individuals to persevere while facing challenges and obstacles in life…
Abstract
Purpose
The concept of grit has been receiving increased attention in recent years. Grit is a trait that enables individuals to persevere while facing challenges and obstacles in life, sometimes “winning at any cost”. The purpose of the study is to understand how ethical views may vary among different groups of people segmented on grittiness. Our key argument is that grittier segment is more inclined towards Machiavellian factors (amorality, desire for control, desire for status, distrust of others) and materialism.
Design/methodology/approach
Data derived from self-administered questionnaires completed by convenience samples of Indonesians living in Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta (DIY), a region commonly considered as the miniature of Indonesia. Turning to market segmentation tools (n = 467), we first segment people based on their level of grittiness and, subsequently, investigate each segment's perception towards various Machiavellian factors (amorality, desire for control, distrust of others) and materialistic attitudes.
Findings
The study identified three segments of grittiness: The Least Gritty (the Good), The More Gritty (the Bad) and The Most Gritty (the Ugly). The results of this study showed the dark side of grit. Individuals with higher grit traits are more likely to behave unethically which could be referred to as “bad” and “ugly”. To help them succeed, cheating and lying are more likely considered acceptable by gritty individuals compared to less gritty “good” individuals.
Practical implications
Merely focussing on grit–be it grit promotion or training–may produce individuals who achieve success at all costs and disregard ethical values. An implication from the study is not to discourage developing grit in individuals but instead to add and emphasise ethical components. This implication is especially critical for educators and managers developing grit as a part of their activities.
Originality/value
The results of this study will have important theoretical implications and managerial implications educators balancing the consequences of teaching grit, but also for managers interested in understanding employees' level of grit within their workplaces along with ethical considerations.
Details
Keywords
An extant scale concerning festival performance (FESTPERF) was developed to measure service quality perceptions of attendees to an Australian jazz and blues festival. Despite its…
Abstract
An extant scale concerning festival performance (FESTPERF) was developed to measure service quality perceptions of attendees to an Australian jazz and blues festival. Despite its noted applicability to music festivals, the study by Tkaczynski and Stokes (2010) focused on one festival of a particular type, and the generalizability of its findings to multiple special events and nonmusic events remains untested. To address these research limitations, this study applied FESTPERF to a theater performance and a film festival. One-hundred and sixty valid responses were collected and analyzed using exploratory factor analysis. It was identified that three factors, human service, venue, and performance, represented attendees’ perception of service quality at these special events. The performance factor was also significantly related to satisfaction and repurchase intent. Results from this study provided justification for the usage of the items proposed in the FESTPERF instrument to be applied to different special event settings with some minor modifications. Opportunities for future research are outlined and the limitations of this study are also provided.
Details
Keywords
Aaron Tkaczynski and Sharyn Rundle‐Thiele
This paper aims to recommend a two‐step approach to destination segmentation that incorporates the views both of multiple stakeholders and of tourists.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to recommend a two‐step approach to destination segmentation that incorporates the views both of multiple stakeholders and of tourists.
Design/methodology/approach
Step one applies a case study approach incorporating semi‐structured interviews with 13 destination stakeholders. Step two involves segmenting tourists to the destination based on a questionnaire survey developed from the semi‐structured interviews. The study compares and contrasts the result with the current DMO approach.
Findings
The two‐step approach produces three segments for the destination under study using four segmentation bases and ten variables. The DMO approach also utilizes all four segmentation bases but produces six segments with five different variables. The DMO approach captures fewer tourists visiting the destination.
Research limitations/implications
This study considers one regional Australian destination. Future research is recommended in a range of alternative destinations to further understand the two‐step segmentation approach. It is recommended that the two‐step approach should be extended to destination branding and positioning.
Originality value
Segmentation guides positioning and branding strategies and the proposed two‐step approach may assist destination stakeholders to reach more of the types of tourists who are likely to visit the destination.
Details
Keywords
Aaron Tkaczynski and Sharyn Rundle-Thiele
This chapter aims to compare two data collection methods to ascertain whether the method impacts the segments derived for events. A total of 1,180 onsite surveys were collected…
Abstract
This chapter aims to compare two data collection methods to ascertain whether the method impacts the segments derived for events. A total of 1,180 onsite surveys were collected during a music festival and 522 online surveys were completed by attendees a fortnight after the event ended. Both sets of data were analyzed separately using TwoStep cluster analysis. Four valid segments were identified in both models. In each case 4 segmentation bases and 12 variables represented the final solutions with minimal but observable differences. Of note, a difference in the size of the clusters was identified. Furthermore, in a few instances a category that was ranked first for the onsite approach fell to second, or vice versa. Both online and onsite data collection methods are capable of providing data for segmentation purposes with a high degree of accuracy observed between data collection methods. Researchers must be aware that the choice of data collection will have a minor influence on the segments derived. Ideally researchers should seek to collect data using multiple data collection methods to gain a more holistic view of festival attendees.
Details
Keywords
An increasing number of environmental threats towards tourism landmarks have significantly raised public concerns about tourists being environmentally responsible. Negative…
Abstract
An increasing number of environmental threats towards tourism landmarks have significantly raised public concerns about tourists being environmentally responsible. Negative ecological consequences from tourism-related activities have triggered the growing usage of environmental-focused events such as Earth Hour as a means to promote pro-environmental behaviour. Despite their size, increasing holiday behaviour and their marketplace dominance within the next decade, students’ environmental beliefs and their interest in participating in environmental-focused events such as Earth Hour is relatively unknown. This academic limitation and potential theoretical and practical implications provide the impetus for this study. Based on a sample of 410 students, three environment belief factors of students were determined. Further, students’ concerns for the environment were derived from the environmental vulnerability factor. Students’ beliefs do not directly impact their decision to participate in environmental-focused events or their awareness of the theme of Earth Hour. However, environment vulnerability influenced students’ intention to participate in future Earth Hour events. Recommendations are made, while future research opportunities are also outlined.
Details
Keywords
Sharyn Rundle-Thiele, Krzysztof Kubacki, Aaron Tkaczynski and Joy Parkinson
The purpose of this paper is to: first, illustrate how market segmentation using two-step cluster analysis can be used to identify segments in the context of physical activity;…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to: first, illustrate how market segmentation using two-step cluster analysis can be used to identify segments in the context of physical activity; second, identified segments are used to offer practical implications for social marketers working in the area of physical activity.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 1,459 respondents residing within 20 kilometres of the Melbourne Central Business District participated in an online survey. The questions in the survey included items relating to respondents’ health perceptions, health knowledge, attitudes, intentions to start a new physical activity, demographics, place of residence and self-reported physical activity. Two-step cluster analysis using the log-likelihood measure was used to reveal natural groupings in the data set.
Findings
This research has identified four distinctive segments in the context of physical activity, namely: Young Disinteresteds, Successful Enthusiasts, Vulnerables and Happy Retirees.
Research limitations/implications
The study was conducted in March and some sports were not in season at the time of the study, therefore future research should extend the current sample to take seasonality and geography into account and to ensure the clusters are fully representative of the Australian population.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the literature by outlining a two-step cluster analytic approach to segmentation that can be used by social marketers to identify valuable segments when developing social marketing programmes.
Details
Keywords
Lisa Ruhanen, Noel Scott, Brent Ritchie and Aaron Tkaczynski
Despite the proliferation of the governance concept in the broader academic literature, there is little agreement on definitions, scope and what actually constitutes governance…
Abstract
Purpose
Despite the proliferation of the governance concept in the broader academic literature, there is little agreement on definitions, scope and what actually constitutes governance. This is arguably due to the fact that empirical research on the topic, with some exceptions, is generally limited to case studies without use of any common conceptual framework. This is certainly the case in other fields of study and is becoming increasingly obvious in tourism research also. Therefore, the purpose of the paper is to explore and synthesize the governance literature with the objective of identifying the key elements and dimensions of governance.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing on the two “parent” bodies of literature originating in the political sciences and corporate management fields of study, the paper provides a review and synthesis of the governance concept with the objective of identifying the primary elements and factors that have been employed in studies of governance to date.
Findings
A review of 53 published governance studies identified 40 separate dimensions of governance. From this review, the six most frequently included governance dimensions were: accountability, transparency, involvement, structure, effectiveness and power.
Originality/value
A synthesis of the governance literature has not been undertaken to date, either in the tourism literature or in other fields of study, and in doing so the authors provide a basis for tourism researchers to draw on a set of comparable conceptual dimensions in future research. Comparable dimensions which can be replicated and tested in empirical research will add additional depth and rigor to studies in this field.
Details
Keywords
Divya Mishra and Nidhi Maheshwari
This paper aims to explore the dimensions of spiritual tourism development, examine its current status, effectiveness and scope and analyze the knowledge landscape in terms of…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the dimensions of spiritual tourism development, examine its current status, effectiveness and scope and analyze the knowledge landscape in terms of theories, contexts and research methodologies. The study also seeks to guide future research on spiritual tourism development.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic literature review (SLR) and bibliometric analysis were used using a framework-based approach. The theories, constructs, characteristics and methods (TCCM) framework guided the SLR, whereas VOS-Viewer facilitated comprehensive bibliometric analysis.
Findings
The study conducted a quantitative SLR, analyzing 80 research articles published between 2003 and 2023. Using the TCCM framework, the research identified crucial factors influencing the growth of spiritual tourist destinations, such as intrinsic motivation, destination physicality, tourist experience, spiritual activities and host community support.
Research limitations/implications
This study contributes to theoretical advancement in spiritual tourism, provides insights into the current research landscape, offers practical guidance for stakeholders and serves as a roadmap for future research endeavors.
Originality/value
This research enhances knowledge by thoroughly assessing prior research, addressing gaps and offering practical managerial insights for spiritual tourism development. The managerial implications outlined in the study offer practical insights for destination planning and promotion in the context of spiritual tourism.