This study aims to identify the individual and trip characteristics that are associated with intention to use peer-to-peer accommodation, including past experience (users vs…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to identify the individual and trip characteristics that are associated with intention to use peer-to-peer accommodation, including past experience (users vs non-users), accommodation preferences, traveler personality and tripographic variables.
Design/methodology/approach
To compare Airbnb users and non-users, quantitative research was conducted to test for group differences. A questionnaire was designed and administered face-to-face in major tourist areas. Quota sampling was used to ensure comparable samples of Airbnb users and non-users.
Findings
While Airbnb users and non-users expressed few differences in their demographics and perceived importance of accommodation attributes, the two groups vary in their perception of Airbnb and evaluation of Airbnb compared to hotels, suggesting some positive and negative changes after experiencing Airbnb. Respondents who were more allocentric were more likely to use Airbnb. Hotels were preferred for traveling with family as well as shorter trips, while Airbnb was preferred for traveling with friends as well as longer trips.
Practical implications
This study identified several challenges for Airbnb and other sharing platforms, including consumers’ security concerns, potential decrease in the likelihood of repeat usage and low likelihood of using Airbnb when traveling with family.
Originality/value
While previous studies focused more on existing customers of peer-to-peer accommodation, this study compared users and non-users and identified key differences in their perceptions. The use of traveler personality and tripographic variables to examine intention to use Airbnb provides a unique perspective to consider Airbnb as an “allocentric destination” and the type of trips that are more compatible with the Airbnb experience.
Details
Keywords
Li-zi Luo, Chao Mao, Li-yin Shen and Zheng-dao Li
An industrialized building system (IBS) is regarded as an effective residential building system that provides several benefits, including high quality, low cost, short time, good…
Abstract
Purpose
An industrialized building system (IBS) is regarded as an effective residential building system that provides several benefits, including high quality, low cost, short time, good flexibility, reduced waste, and strong environmental performance. This system is considered to be valuable in promoting sustainable practices in China, where plans for urbanization have been established. However, the adoption of IBS in China is extremely limited. Potential risks exist and affect the attitudes of practitioners toward the use of this system. The purpose of this paper is to prioritize and analyze these risks and to develop corresponding strategies for mitigating these risks in China.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 24 risks that inhibit the implementation of IBS in China are identified through literature review and examined through interviews for consistency. A questionnaire survey is conducted to quantify the significance of these risks. Cronbach’s coefficient α is employed to measure the internal consistency among the risk factors. The survey results are further analyzed using three case studies.
Findings
The top five risks identified are “poor cooperation between multi-interface,” “inappropriate design codes and standards for industrialized buildings,” “lack of management practices and experiences,” “enormous difficulty in achieving return on high initial investment,” and “lack of a quality monitoring mechanism for the production process.” The findings emphasize the government’s leading role in promoting the new building system in its introduction and enforcement of adequate policies and regulations. Practitioners are also instrumental in establishing proper understanding and knowledge of IBS and its application.
Originality/value
This study bridges the knowledge gaps on risk identification for implementing IBS in China. The findings provide practitioners and decision makers with valuable references for adopting adequate risk management methods and policies to promote IBS in China.
Details
Keywords
Obuks Augustine Ejohwomu, Olalekan Shamsideen Oshodi and Ka Chi Lam
Communication plays an important role in the quality of the relationship, trust and collaboration among construction project teams. Literature suggests that effective…
Abstract
Purpose
Communication plays an important role in the quality of the relationship, trust and collaboration among construction project teams. Literature suggests that effective communication is vital for achieving improved project performance. The purpose of this paper is to identify and assess the barriers to effective communication in the Nigerian construction industry, using attribution theory paradigm.
Design/methodology/approach
Questionnaires detailing 15 barriers to effective communication were administered to consultants and contractors engaged in the Nigerian construction sector. In total, 100 valid responses were analysed using mean score, factor analysis and factor score.
Findings
Unclear project objectives, ineffective reporting systems and poor leadership were ranked as the most significant barriers to effective communication. Factor analysis uncovered that the principal reasons responsible for ineffective communication include: managerial and technical barriers and credibility and background barriers.
Practical implications
The results provide information on barriers which needs to be addressed in order to improve communication in construction projects in Nigeria. There is a need to conduct post-completion reviews of construction projects so that project team members can learn and share knowledge on past experiences. Although the present study was conducted in the Nigerian context, it is envisaged that the research outcome will be widely applicable to other developing countries.
Originality/value
The study provides insights on the perceived barriers to effective communication in Nigerian construction projects. The paper presents the direction for further research aimed at improving communication in construction projects in Nigeria.
Details
Keywords
Milad Kolagar, Seyed Mohammad Hassan Hosseini and Ramin Felegari
Nowadays, the risk assessment and reliability engineering of various production processes have become an inevitable necessity. Because if these risks are not going to be evaluated…
Abstract
Purpose
Nowadays, the risk assessment and reliability engineering of various production processes have become an inevitable necessity. Because if these risks are not going to be evaluated and no solution is going to be taken for their prevention, managing them would be really hard and costly in case of their occurrence. The importance of this issue is much higher in producing healthcare products due to their quality's direct impact on the health of individuals and society.
Design/methodology/approach
One of the most common approaches of risk assessment is the failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), which is facing some limitations in practice. In this research, a new generalized multi-attribute failure mode analysis approach has been proposed by utilizing the best–worst method and linguistic 2-tuple representation in order to evaluate the production process of hemodialysis solution in a case of Tehran, Iran.
Findings
According to the results, entry of waste to the mixing tanker, impurity of raw materials and ingredients and fracture of the mixer screw have been identified as the most important potential failures. At last, the results of this research have been compared with the previous studies.
Originality/value
Some reinforcement attributes have been added to the traditional FMEA attributes in order to improve the results. Also, the problems of identical weights for attributes, inaccuracy in experts' opinions and the uncertainties in prioritizing the potential failures were improved. Furthermore, in addition to the need for less comparative data, the proposed approach is more accurate and comprehensive in its results.
Details
Keywords
Khwanhathai Changyai, Puangpaka Kongvattananon and Chomchuen Somprasert
The purpose of this paper is to synthesize the experiences and needs of colorectal cancer patients during postoperative recovery.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to synthesize the experiences and needs of colorectal cancer patients during postoperative recovery.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is an integrative review, conducted by CINAHL, PubMed, ScienceDirect and ThaiJO from 2009 to 2019. Ten research articles published have been selected by PRISMA process.
Findings
Results show the experiences of colon cancer patients during postoperative recovery consisted of four themes, namely suffering, decreased activity, ambivalent feeling and need of caring.
Research limitations/implications
The health care personnel should be aware of these experiences and give holistic care in order to let the patients free from unpleasant experiences and receive the responses which really meet their needs.
Originality/value
Knowledge about the experience and needs of colorectal cancer patients after surgery is of great benefit to healthcare providers who are planning the care, so as to achieve complete holistic care in the future research.