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Book part
Publication date: 15 April 2024

Sara Poggesi

The aim of this chapter is to investigate the immigrant women entrepreneurship phenomenon by analysing management academic literature on the issue. Stemming from the most current…

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to investigate the immigrant women entrepreneurship phenomenon by analysing management academic literature on the issue. Stemming from the most current data on immigration and from the awareness that entrepreneurship is a viable instrument of immigrant (women) integration and inclusion, this chapter analyses the most updated management results on the issue. The analysis is mainly centred on works published after 2019, and some interesting insights emerge. Among them, we can refer to the awareness that research on immigrant women entrepreneurship is still in its infancy. Although, indeed, immigrant entrepreneurs and women entrepreneurs have been analysed considerably by researchers, it has been mainly in isolation. Therefore, room for investigating still exists, and this chapter uncovers some possible future research avenues. Moreover, by reviewing the selected papers, it clearly emerges that not all immigrant women entrepreneurs are alike; different targets (that is, different ethnicities) must be addressed differently by policy makers when policy measurements are identified. In other words, generic programmes aimed at increasing entrepreneurship among immigrant women cannot necessarily be successful.

Details

Current Trends in Female Entrepreneurship: Innovation and Immigration
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-83549-101-0

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Book part
Publication date: 5 September 2022

Raushan Aman, Reem Alothmany, Maria Elo and Julie Emontspool

The issues of women empowerment and gender equality have gained the increased attention of scholars and policymakers in Western societies. Gender diversity and the professional…

Abstract

The issues of women empowerment and gender equality have gained the increased attention of scholars and policymakers in Western societies. Gender diversity and the professional participation of women are increasingly acknowledged as transversal drivers for economic development. However, in less developed countries, research and evidence are still accumulating. Thus, this study aims to explore actors and factors empowering female talent to work and achieve managerial positions and run their businesses in two countries with patriarchal social and cultural norms, Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan. Based on the qualitative interview data collected from 15 female managers and entrepreneurs working in the healthcare sector, we explore the conditions under which women can start their businesses and get promoted to managerial positions in the organizations. Our findings indicate that individual agencies and structural factors in female talent capacity building and empowering women to achieve higher hierarchical positions in organizations form together important dynamics that foster more inclusive practices and internalized schemes. Furthermore, the findings also demonstrate the importance of female talent empowerment in achieving gender diversity in managerial positions in healthcare organizations. Hence, by stating that increased female talent participation in the upper-echelons of the organization and entrepreneurship contributes to the decent employment of women in countries with male-dominated social and cultural norms and promotes the more inclusive and sustainable economic growth of these countries, our research contributes to United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) #5.5, #8.5 and #10.2.

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Article
Publication date: 15 January 2021

Dafnis N. Coudounaris

This study aims to develop a new internationalisation model to describe the exporting and non-exporting behaviours of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and then applying…

572

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to develop a new internationalisation model to describe the exporting and non-exporting behaviours of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and then applying it to a sample of UK SMEs. The conceptual model consists of four forces leading to a successful business.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample is a stratified one taken from KOMPASS directory and focussing on the Greater Manchester area. In total, 250 firms were chosen to be the population of this survey. In total, 110 surveys were received by email i.e. 24 non-exporters and 86 exporters that were fully completed.

Findings

The four forces of the model include the non-exporting activity, the activity before and after the first export order, differences and similarities between non-exporters and exporters and the regular exporting activity. This model’s findings demonstrate important empirical determinants related to four forces, which, in turn, shape the successful exporting activity.

Originality/value

The empirical evidence from the study suggests that the major differences between non-exporters and exporters, which include the differences in management perceptions towards exporting, and the differences and similarities of firm and management characteristics, explain only to some degree what constitutes successful exporting behaviour. The model is considered useful for smaller businesses located in the UK. The study highlights the importance of firms before and after the first export order, which provides insights for managers of firms about going through with the first export order rather than withdrawing from this effort. The study reveals the motivations for exporting, the timing, the modes through which firms export, firms’ management characteristics and attitudinal differences between exporters and non-exporters, which are essential for practitioners.

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Article
Publication date: 25 May 2012

Fang Ji, Xiongliang Yao and Aman Zhang

The structure‐borne sound generated by power equipment can be isolated effectively through vibration absorber under hull base structures. The practical vibration isolation…

265

Abstract

Purpose

The structure‐borne sound generated by power equipment can be isolated effectively through vibration absorber under hull base structures. The practical vibration isolation performance is limited due to the weight, size and cost. The dramatic attenuating wave propagation characteristic of hull base without adding weight is essential to the vessel acoustic stealth.

Design/methodology/approach

The characteristics of vibration wave propagated from typical shape base link structures have been investigated according to impedance mismatch and wave conversion in non‐homogeneous structure. The hull base is simplified to three degrees of freedom damped system through the mechanical impedance method. The influence of blocking mass weight, as well as location properties to the base vibration isolation performance have been discussed. Furthermore, the structure‐borne sound design of a typical hull base is carried out.

Findings

The impedance mismatch of the hull base is further increased by the comprehensive use of high transmission loss base link structures, blocking mass as well as damping layer. The effectiveness of structure‐borne sound design is verified through numerical calculation together with underwater model test. The test data show that the noise has been reduced larger than 3 dB.

Originality/value

The paper describes what is believed to be the first application of the high transmission loss base in hull structures based on the literature survey. The method of structure‐borne sound design of a typical hull base can be applied in different types of vessels.

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Article
Publication date: 30 March 2012

Fang Ji, Xiongliang Yao, Aman Zhang and Xi Ye

Laying the acoustic decoupling material on the surface of underwater structures is an effective noise reduction technology. The underwater sound radiation experiment of finite…

258

Abstract

Purpose

Laying the acoustic decoupling material on the surface of underwater structures is an effective noise reduction technology. The underwater sound radiation experiment of finite stiffened double cylindrical shell with separate‐sound and decoupled tile is carried out with the aim of finding out the most effective laying condition.

Design/methodology/approach

The segmentation power function interpolation method and vertex extreme value envelope continuation method are introduced into basic theory of empirical mode decomposition (EMD). The original measured sound pressure signals are decomposed to intrinsic mode function (IMF) group through EMD, and the high‐frequency components are filtered out. Because the mechanical noise of submarine is mainly at low frequency, the IMFs in low frequency are researched through power spectrum analysis. The noise reduction effects of different separate‐sound and decoupled tile laying conditions are compared.

Findings

The sound pressure signal components' amplitudes, periods and phases are obtained through EMD. The test data show that the double cylindrical shell entirely covered with separate‐sound and decoupled tile is the most effective laying condition in noise reduction.

Originality/value

With reference to the case study, this is believed to be the first application of the EMD in sound radiation time‐frequency characteristics of double cylindrical shell. The evaluation of separate‐sound and decoupled tile laying conditions is of great importance in engineering applications.

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Article
Publication date: 5 May 2015

Xi Ye, Longquan Sun and Fuzhen Pang

The purpose of this paper is to research the interaction between multiple bubbles and their noise radiation considering the influence of compressibility. The influences of bubble…

252

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to research the interaction between multiple bubbles and their noise radiation considering the influence of compressibility. The influences of bubble spacing, initial inner pressure, buoyance and phase difference are presented with different bubbles arrangements.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on wave equation, the new boundary integral equation considering the compressibility is given by the matching between prophase and anaphase approximation of bubble motion and solved with boundary element method. The time-domain characteristics of noise induced by multiple bubbles are obtained by the moving boundary Kirchhoff integral equation. With the surface discretization and coordinate transformation, the bubbles surface is treated as a moving deformable boundary and noise source, and the integral is implemented on the surface directly.

Findings

Numerical results show the manner of jet generation will be affected by the phase difference between bubbles. With the increasing of phase difference, the directive property of noise becomes obvious. With the enlargement of initial inner pressure, the sound pressure will arise at the early stage of expanding, and the increasing of buoyance parameter will reduce the sound pressure after the generation of jet. Since the consideration of compressibility, the oscillation amplitude of bubbles will be weakened.

Originality/value

The paper could provide the reference for the research about the dynamics and noise characteristics of multiple bubbles in compressible fluid. And the new method based on boundary integral equation to simulate the multiple bubbles motion and noise radiation is presented.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 32 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Available. Open Access. Open Access
Article
Publication date: 21 May 2024

Raushan Aman, Maria Elo, Petri Ahokangas and Xiaotian Zhang

Entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) research has focused on high-growth scale-up entrepreneurship, whereas the role of EEs in nurturing the ventures of marginalised groups like…

1809

Abstract

Purpose

Entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) research has focused on high-growth scale-up entrepreneurship, whereas the role of EEs in nurturing the ventures of marginalised groups like migrant women entrepreneurs (MWEs) has often been elided from extant discussions. This research explores how the EE's structure, policies and programmes advance diversity, equity and inclusion to foster MWEs, and MWEs' contribution to the dynamics and sustainability of the host country's EE based on EE actors' perspectives. We contribute to EEs' diversity, equity and inclusion, which are important but neglected social aspects of sustainable EEs.

Design/methodology/approach

The qualitative data was collected through thematic interviews with EE actors, including NGOs and entrepreneurial support-providing organizations based in Finland. The collected data was complemented by interviews with MWEs, archival data and published supplementary materials on ecosystem actors.

Findings

EE structure, policies, programmes and individual agency, coupled with MWEs' proactivity in lobbying the necessary actors in the required places for their interests, enhance their businesses' development. There were both impeding and fostering dynamics, which may have idiographic and contextual features. Evidently, by being occupied in various sectors, from science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to socially beneficial niche service sectors, MWEs contribute to the host country's EE dynamics not only through their productive entrepreneurship but by enriching the ecosystem's resource endowments and institutional arrangements.

Originality/value

We argue that exploring the gender and inclusivity aspects of EEs as the accommodating context is particularly relevant, given that the United Nation's sustainable development goals 5, 8 and 10 aim to improve women's empowerment at all levels, promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and ensuring equal opportunities and reduced inequalities within the population. Inclusion and embeddedness in EEs positively affect diversity and sustainability in the host country. Theoretically, our contribution is twofold. First, by exploring female migrants' entrepreneurial experiences within the EE based on EE actors' perspectives, we broaden the research on inclusivity in EEs and gender aspects and enrich the research on their societal impact, which has received scant attention from scholars. More specifically, we contribute to EE research with (1) a novel understanding of MWEs and EE elements, their interconnections and dynamism, (2) identifying previously ignored elements shaping MWE and (3) providing EE actor insights into the co-creation of EE for MWE. Second, by analysing the impact of MWEs' businesses on the host country's EE, we contribute to calls for research on MWE contributions to its economic environment.

Details

International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, vol. 30 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2554

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Abstract

Graphical abstract

Purpose

Amid rising concerns over unhealthy dietary habits and their impact on public health, this study aims to explore the role of avatars in promoting healthier eating and enhancing customer satisfaction in restaurants. By leveraging the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and nudge theory, this research sought to gain insights into consumer behavior and assess how digital innovations can encourage healthier food choices.

Design/methodology/approach

This study recruited 672 participants in the USA. Participants viewed a video featuring an avatar that informed them about available healthy food options, simulating a restaurant ordering scenario. Following the video, participants completed comprehensive online surveys. The collected data was analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling to assess the effectiveness and implications of the intervention.

Findings

The findings revealed that health consciousness, environmental awareness, social norms and perceived behavioral control significantly influence dietary habits. Restaurant health initiatives and avatar persuasiveness were found to encourage healthier food choices, improve customer satisfaction and loyalty and enhance electronic word-of-mouth. The study confirmed that avatars equipped with attributes such as competence, warmth, trustworthiness and credibility can be an effective digital nudge for consumers toward healthier dietary decisions.

Originality/value

This study’s originality lies in its integration of TPB and nudge theory, bridging the gap between individual psychological factors and external cues. This comprehensive framework provides valuable insights for restaurant managers, artificial intelligence developers and policymakers, offering practical strategies to promote healthier eating and enhance customer experiences through digital innovation.

目的

鉴于公众对不健康饮食习惯及其对公共健康影响的日益关注, 本研究旨在探索虚拟形象在促进更健康饮食和提升餐厅顾客满意度中的作用。通过利用计划行为理论(TPB)和劝导理论(Nudge Theory), 本研究试图深入了解消费者行为, 并评估数字创新如何鼓励更健康的食品选择。

设计/方法/途径

本研究在美国招募了672名参与者。参与者观看了一个展示虚拟形象的视频, 该虚拟形象向他们介绍了可供选择的健康食品选项, 模拟了餐厅点餐场景。观看视频后, 参与者完成了全面的在线调查。收集的数据通过偏最小二乘结构方程模型(PLS-SEM)分析, 以评估干预的有效性和影响。

发现

研究发现, 健康意识、环境意识、社会规范和感知行为控制显著影响饮食习惯。餐厅健康倡议和虚拟形象的说服力被发现能够鼓励更健康的食品选择, 提高顾客满意度和忠诚度, 并增强电子口碑。研究证实, 具备能力、温暖、可信度和信誉等属性的虚拟形象可以成为有效的数字劝导工具, 引导消费者作出更健康的饮食决策。

原创性/价值

本研究的原创性在于它将计划行为理论和劝导理论结合起来, 填补了个体心理因素和外部线索之间的差距。这一综合框架为餐厅经理、人工智能开发者和政策制定者提供了宝贵的洞见, 提供了推动更健康饮食和通过数字创新增强顾客体验的实用策略。

Objetivo

En medio de la creciente preocupación por los hábitos alimentarios poco saludables y su impacto en la salud pública, este estudio pretende explorar el papel de los avatares en la promoción de una alimentación más saludable y la mejora de la satisfacción del cliente en los restaurantes. Aprovechando la Teoría del Comportamiento Planificado (TPB) y la Teoría del Impulso, esta investigación trata de profundizar en el comportamiento del consumidor y evalúa cómo las innovaciones digitales pueden fomentar la elección de alimentos más saludables.

Diseño/metodología/enfoque

El estudio reclutó a 672 participantes en Estados Unidos. Los participantes visionaron un vídeo en el que un avatar les informaba sobre las opciones de comida saludable disponible, simulando una situación en la que solicitaban comida en un restaurante. Después del vídeo, los participantes rellenaron unas exhaustivas encuestas en línea. Los datos recogidos se analizaron mediante un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales por mínimos cuadrados parciales para evaluar la eficacia y las implicaciones de la intervención.

Resultados

Los resultados revelaron que la conciencia saludable, la conciencia medioambiental, las normas sociales y el control conductual percibido influyen significativamente en los hábitos alimentarios. Se comprobó que las iniciativas relacionadas con la salud en los restaurantes y la capacidad de persuasión de los avatares fomentan la elección de alimentos más sanos, mejoran la satisfacción y la fidelidad de los clientes y potencian el boca a boca electrónico. El estudio confirmó que los avatares dotados de atributos como competencia, calidez, fiabilidad y credibilidad pueden ser un estímulo digital eficaz para que los consumidores tomen decisiones dietéticas más saludables.

Originalidad/valor

La originalidad de este estudio radica en la integración de la TPB y la Teoría de los Estímulos, que tiende un puente entre los factores psicológicos individuales y las señales externas. Este marco integral aporta valiosas ideas a los gestores de restaurantes, desarrolladores de IA y responsables políticos, ofreciendo estrategias prácticas para promover una alimentación más sana y mejorar las experiencias de los clientes a través de la innovación digital.

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Article
Publication date: 8 May 2018

Yasuhiro Watanabe, Cassendra Gilbert, Mohd Salleh Aman and James J. Zhang

The purpose of this paper is to examine the systematic influence of core product features, event operation quality, sport fan identification, and image of host city as a tourism…

2078

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the systematic influence of core product features, event operation quality, sport fan identification, and image of host city as a tourism destination on behavioral intentions of international spectator at a Formula One (F1) event held in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey form assessing the specified concepts was designed and employed to examine the structural relationships. The research participants were international spectators (n=512) attending the event. Data were randomly split into two halves, one for EFA (n=256) and the other for CFA and SEM (n=256).

Findings

Findings revealed that core product feature and sport fan identification factors were significantly (p<0.05) related to both of international spectators’ desire to stay at the event, attend the event in the future, and revisit the country; whereas, event operation quality was only found to be significantly influential of the re-patronage, and destination image was only significantly influential of the desire to stay. The findings highlight the importance and relevance of these concepts in attracting, serving, and retaining international visitors to the event.

Originality/value

Unlike other studies that are centered merely on game and event factors, this study expanded on a bigger ecological spectrum surrounding a F1 event and systematically evaluated the critical concepts and factors affecting international tourist to the event that can be considerable sources of economic growth. The findings provide empirical evidence for event and tourism management and marketing.

Details

International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship, vol. 19 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1464-6668

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Article
Publication date: 25 March 2024

Fei Hao, Adil Masud Aman and Chen Zhang

As technology increasingly integrates into the restaurant industry, avatar servers present a promising avenue for promoting healthier dining habits. Grounded in the halo effect…

738

Abstract

Purpose

As technology increasingly integrates into the restaurant industry, avatar servers present a promising avenue for promoting healthier dining habits. Grounded in the halo effect theory and social comparison theory, this study aims to delve into the influence of avatars' appearance, humor and persuasion on healthier choices and customer satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper comprises three experimental studies. Study 1 manipulates avatar appearance (supermodel-looking vs normal-looking) to examine its effects on perceived attractiveness, warmth and relatability. These factors influence customer satisfaction and healthy food choices through the psychological mechanisms of social comparison and aspirational appeal. Studies 2 and 3 further refine this theoretical model by assessing the interplay of appearance with humor (presence vs absence) and persuasion (health-oriented vs beauty-oriented), respectively.

Findings

Results suggest that avatars resembling supermodels evoke stronger aspirational appeal and positive social comparison due to their attractiveness, thus bolstering healthier choices and customer satisfaction. Moreover, humor moderates the relationship between appearance and attractiveness, while persuasion moderates the effects of appearance on social comparison and aspirational appeal.

Research limitations/implications

This research bridges the halo effect theory and social comparison theory, offering insights enriching the academic discourse on technology’s role in hospitality.

Practical implications

The findings provide actionable insights for managers, tech developers and health advocates.

Originality/value

Despite its significance, avatar design research in the hospitality sector has been overlooked. This study addresses this gap, offering a guideline for crafting attractive and persuasive avatars.

Details

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, vol. 36 no. 12
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-6119

Keywords

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