Pedro Vaz Serra and Cláudia Seabra
Tourism, as a system, develops strategies for risk prevention and mitigation. The shock generated by the COVID-19 pandemic is different when compared with previous events because…
Abstract
Tourism, as a system, develops strategies for risk prevention and mitigation. The shock generated by the COVID-19 pandemic is different when compared with previous events because it is more intense and prone to structural changes. Tourists' perceptions condition their behaviour and decisions, with adverse results on travel and tourism consumption; and hygiene and health risks generate a cause-effect relationship on destination specificities.
From globalisation to risk perception and crisis management, in a framework where technology, communication and digital content represent undeniable importance, we are facing circumstances especially conducive to the redesign of the collective future, where the sustainability of tourism is a collective goal, arising from the right balance between the competitiveness of destinations and climate action.
Given the prospects for the next decade, health and hygiene are structural factors to be considered in decision-making processes. Thus, so the proposed approach contributes to the awareness, by the various stakeholders, of its importance and the need to implement methods and processes compatible with more inclusive and responsible tourism.
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The purpose of this study is to compare five data-driven-based ML techniques to predict the time series data of Bitcoin returns, namely, alternating model tree, random forest…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to compare five data-driven-based ML techniques to predict the time series data of Bitcoin returns, namely, alternating model tree, random forest (RF), multiple linear regression, multi-layer perceptron regression and M5 Tree algorithms.
Design/methodology/approach
The data used to forecast time series data of Bitcoin returns ranges from 8 July 2010 to 30 Aug 2020. This study used several predictors to predict bitcoin returns including economic policy uncertainty, equity market volatility index, S&P returns, USD/EURO exchange rates, oil and gold prices, volatilities and returns. Five statistical indexes, namely, correlation coefficient, mean absolute error, root mean square error, relative absolute error and root relative squared error are determined. The results of these metrices are used to develop colour intensity ranking.
Findings
Among the machine learning (ML) techniques used in this study, RF models has shown superior predictive ability for estimating the Bitcoin returns.
Originality/value
This study is first of its kind to use and compare ML models in the prediction of Bitcoins. More studies can be carried out by using further cryptocurrencies and other ML data-driven models in future.
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Anil Gurung and M.K. Raja
Privacy and security concerns of consumers have been touted as one of the hindrances to the growth of e-commerce. These concerns increase the risk perception of consumers…
Abstract
Purpose
Privacy and security concerns of consumers have been touted as one of the hindrances to the growth of e-commerce. These concerns increase the risk perception of consumers. Understanding the consequences of privacy and security concerns and their relationship to risk perceptions may provide a solution. The relationship between privacy and security is investigated using the theory of planned behavior. The study aims to examine the relationship of trust, privacy and security concerns to the risk perception adoption of e-commerce. The results from a survey validate the model.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected using survey from undergraduate business students. The respondents were requested to select a specific product that they plan to purchase in the next six months. After selecting a product, the respondents were requested to report an online company that they have recently visited which offers the selected product. The respondents were requested to fill out the survey with regard to their selected online company. Time given was approximately 20 min.
Findings
The results suggest that privacy and security concerns and trust beliefs had effects on risk perception. Among these effects, trust had the largest effect followed by privacy and security concerns. Furthermore, risk perception and trust beliefs had effects on attitude. The effect of trust beliefs on attitude was larger than the effect of risk perception on attitude. Similarly, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control and attitude had a positive and direct effect on intention to be involved in e-commerce.
Research limitations/implications
The first limitation of this study is the use of student subjects. Because this study took place in an educational setting, its generalizability to the general population of consumers lacks to some degree. The second limitation of this study is mono-method bias.
Practical implications
The effect of privacy concerns on risk perception was larger than that of security concerns. Because the consumers get more experienced and sophisticated using the Web, the security concerns that they may have had at the beginning are not reflected in their risk perceptions. It is likely that they have adopted protective measures on their own to defend their privacy online. An example of such a measure would be providing false information to online companies when asked to submit personal information.
Originality/value
The major contributions of this study are developing and validating an integrative framework of e-commerce adoption at the individual level. The model includes privacy and security concerns, risk perception and trust beliefs. This study also highlighted the distinction of constructs of privacy and security concerns and showed their differential effects on other related constructs in the research model.
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To develop a model for financial forecasting using the principles of qualitative reasoning.
Abstract
Purpose
To develop a model for financial forecasting using the principles of qualitative reasoning.
Design/methodology/approach
The model was developed using theories in the accounting, finance, and marketing literature. Quantitative equations were transformed into their equivalent qualitative forms. Qualitative equations, where applicable, were developed and integrated with the quantitative equations.
Findings
The research demonstrated that qualitative reasoning models can be used for financial forecasting, decision making and control.
Research limitations/implications
The model used is experimental and relatively simple. More complex models should be developed for real life applications.
Practical implications
Development of this model demonstrates that more complex models for specific applications in various business domains can be developed and used. Since business decision making requires both qualitative and quantitative inputs, models such as these may be of great practical value.
Originality/value
The paper will be valuable to those who want to develop such models in business domains.
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Hira Rani, Ghulam Ali Arain, Aneel Kumar and Iram Rani Shaikh
This study aims to examine the effect of psychological contract breach on organizational disidentification through the “affect-based” mediating mechanisms of trust and distrust.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the effect of psychological contract breach on organizational disidentification through the “affect-based” mediating mechanisms of trust and distrust.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a convenient sampling technique, cross-sectional data were collected from 281 doctors working in public sector health-care organizations in Pakistan. After initial data screening, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to test the measurement models’ validity and reliability. The hypothesized relationships were tested using structural equation modeling (SEM) with AMOS.
Findings
The results of this study showed that psychological contract breach had significant direct and indirect positive effects through the mediating mechanism of distrust on organizational identification. However, trust was not supported as a mediator in that relationship.
Research limitations/implications
This study uses cross-sectional data. Other researchers should use longitudinal design with two or three time lags. This study uses a sample of doctors from different cities of Pakistan, as this is a global era, so results cannot be generalized; this opens the future avenue for other scholars to select a broad sample from multiple organizations like businesses and NGOs from different countries or to use it in different context. The authors have used single source (questionnaires) and quantitative method to collect data for this study, so there is a probability of self-report bias. As future is of mixed method, so future researchers should use mixed method for deep and thorough understanding of different selected phenomena.
Practical implications
Due to the experiences of breach of psychological contract, the doctors may either lose trust or may experience distrust which may further reduce their level of identification in an organization. Their contribution toward best interest of hospital decreases and their willingness to identify with their working place declines. Practically, the authors have compared that it is either the trust or distrust which can lead to organizational disidentification among doctors.
Social implications
The findings will help employers and hospital authorities to understand that doctors are the most important strategic element of every hospital. Having sound financial, physical and informational capital is incomplete and worthless if there is no “doctor”. Because they have to deal directly with patients, so in this case, they are most important and crucial. A doctor’s identification and their loyalty with high level of trust directly on employer and indirectly on hospital all contributes toward an organization’s long-term success, and ultimately for the success of society.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the existing literature on the consequences of employees’ psychological contract breach by simultaneously testing trust and distrust as the two competing affect-based mediating mechanisms between psychological contract breach and organizational disidentification.
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William D. Barnett and M.K. Raja
Explores the issue of software development process improvement.Total quality management (TQM) tools have been studied as possible meansto improve the quality of the software that…
Abstract
Explores the issue of software development process improvement. Total quality management (TQM) tools have been studied as possible means to improve the quality of the software that is becoming an important part of organizational processes. The TQM philosophy that has been so successfully applied in manufacturing holds that quality must be built into the production process and not inspected into the product. Given the complexity of modern software applications, the ability to move away from using testing and inspection as quality control methods is very attractive. Examines the current literature on software development process improvement. Particular attention is paid to how customer requirements are gathered and translated into system requirements. Finds that current methods for requirements definition do not provide a formal means to deploy the “voice of the customer” into system specifications. Further, finds after a review, that current software quality function deployment (QFD) methods suffer from a number of shortcomings. Proposes a four‐stage model for performing software‐oriented QFD to address these significant problems.
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Irene Tsachouridi and Irene Nikandrou
This study aims to integrate the attribution theory into the traditional social exchange view of the breach-outcome relationship. Perceived disinterested support (PDS), perceived…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to integrate the attribution theory into the traditional social exchange view of the breach-outcome relationship. Perceived disinterested support (PDS), perceived organizational support (POS) and job satisfaction are included as serial mediators of the relationship between breach and willingness to support the organization.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected through a field study in which 579 employees took part.
Findings
The results indicated partial mediation of the examined relationship. More specifically, POS and PDS (through POS) were found to mediate the breach-willingness to support the organization relationship. Job satisfaction contributed weakly to the explanation of the examined relationship.
Research limitations/implications
The cross-sectional nature of the study limits the ability to claim causality.
Practical implications
Managers should be aware of how employees interpret breach in terms of organizational motives. Interpreting breach as a lack of disinterest on the part of the organization can spark social exchange processes leading to lower willingness to support the organization.
Originality/value
The study makes a unique contribution to the literature by being the first to examine PDS as a mediator of the breach-outcome relationship.
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Majid Amin, Fuad A. Awwad, Emad A.A. Ismail, Muhammad Ishaq, Taza Gul and Tahir Saeed Khan
(1) A mathematical model for the Hybrid nanofluids flow is used as carriers for delivering drugs. (2) The flow conditions are controlled to enable drug-loaded nanofluids to flow…
Abstract
Purpose
(1) A mathematical model for the Hybrid nanofluids flow is used as carriers for delivering drugs. (2) The flow conditions are controlled to enable drug-loaded nanofluids to flow through the smaller gap between the two tubes. (3) Hybrid nanofluids (HNFs) made from silver (Ag) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles are analyzed for applications of drug delivery. (Ag) and (TiO2) (NPs) are suitable candidates for cancer treatment due to their excellent biocompatibility, high photoactivity, and low toxicity. (4) The new strategy of artificial neural networks (ANN) is used which is machine-based and more prominent in validation, and comparison with other techniques.
Design/methodology/approach
The two Tubes are settled in such a manner that the gap between them is uniform. The Control Volume Finite Element Method; Rk-4 and Artificial Neural Network (ANN).
Findings
(1) From the obtained results it is observed that the dispersion and distribution of drug-loaded nanoparticles within the body will be improved by the convective motion caused by hybrid nanofluids. The effectiveness and uniformity of drug delivery to target tissues or organs is improved based on the uniform flow and uniform gap. (2) The targeting efficiency of nanofluids is further improved with the addition of the magnetic field. (3) The size of the cylinders, and flow rate, are considered uniform to optimize the drug delivery.
Research limitations/implications
(1)The flow phenomena is considered laminar, one can use the same idea through a turbulent flow case. (2) The gap is considered uniform and will be interesting if someone extends the idea as non-uniform.
Practical implications
(1) To deliver drugs to the targeted area, a suitable mathematical model is required. (2) The analysis of hybrid nanofluids (HNFs) derived from silver (Ag) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles is conducted for the purpose of drug delivery. The biocompatibility, high photoactivity, and low toxicity of (Ag) and (TiO2) (NPs) make them ideal candidates for cancer treatment. (3) Machine-based artificial neural networks (ANN) have a new strategy that is more prominent in validation compared to other techniques.
Social implications
The drug delivery model is a useful strategy for new researchers. (1) They can extend this idea using a non-uniform gap. (2) The flow is considered uniform, the new researchers can extend the idea using a turbulent case. (3) Other hybrid nanofluids flow, in the same model for other industrial usages are possible.
Originality/value
All the obtained results are new. The experimental thermophysical results are used from the existing literature and references are provided.
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Bojan Obrenovic, Jianguo Du, Danijela Godinić and Diana Tsoy
This study aims to examine psychological mechanisms underlying tacit knowledge-sharing behaviours. The personality trait of conscientiousness is tested in relation to knowledge…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine psychological mechanisms underlying tacit knowledge-sharing behaviours. The personality trait of conscientiousness is tested in relation to knowledge sharing, and the effect of eagerness and subjective norm on the intention to share is measured in the context of local and multinational knowledge-intensive enterprises in Croatia.
Design/methodology/approach
The quantitative study was conducted on a sample of 288 employees of small and medium-sized companies working on knowledge-intensive tasks. The purposive sampling technique and a survey strategy were used in the study. Organizational affiliation, as it was presumed that these individuals possess a higher degree of tacit knowledge. The data collection was conducted in October 2019. Respondents worked in science and technology companies in Croatia on assignments involving information technology, electronics, petrochemicals, medicine and biochemistry. Statistical product and service solutions analysis of a moment structures software was used to perform confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling.
Findings
The findings suggest that the personality trait of conscientiousness has a positive impact on tacit knowledge sharing behaviour. An attitude of eagerness and subjective norm were also confirmed as predictors of tacit knowledge sharing behaviour. Furthermore, conscientiousness influences the eagerness to share knowledge. A significant association between subjective norm and conscientiousness was also established. Finally, the mediating effects were identified, indicating that subjective norm and eagerness mediate the relationship between conscientiousness and tacit knowledge sharing.
Practical implications
Explaining the relationship between personality and attitude in the context of knowledge sharing will result in a better understanding of factors that should be nurtured within individuals. Accordingly, distinct management initiatives are to be developed to suit these factors. Furthermore, to intensify the knowledge exchange when working on knowledge-intensive tasks of significant economic value, organizations tailor a more particularistic application to suit the individual in the domain of leadership, staffing decisions, work organization and incentive systems.
Originality/value
This study provides an in-depth analysis and theoretical understanding of factors salient for knowledge-sharing behaviour. The authors provide an overview of how knowledge sharing evolves during social interaction through intensive problem-solving sessions and teamwork. The authors render the explanation on how the personality trait of conscientiousness, conjoint with the attitude of eagerness to share know-how in the expert surrounding, is conducive to the generation of tacit knowledge sharing. Underpinning this study are employees’ psychological motives and internal drives to communicate individual cognitive capital outweighing the potential negative consequences, such as losing the competitive advantage over the colleagues.
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Frank M. Horwitz and Harish C. Jain
Two key developments exert an important influence on the nature of human resource management (HRM) in South Africa (SA). The first is two seemingly conflicting imperatives…
Abstract
Two key developments exert an important influence on the nature of human resource management (HRM) in South Africa (SA). The first is two seemingly conflicting imperatives, sometimes and arguably wrongly juxtaposed: that of developing a high-growth, globally competitive economy with fuller employment and the sociopolitical imperative of redressing past structural inequalities of access to skilled, professional, and managerial positions, as well as ownership opportunities. The first development is the related influences of globalization and multinational corporations (MNCs), information technology, and increased competition, which have become very prominent in postapartheid SA. South Africa has a dual labor market, with a well-developed formal sector employing some 8.5 million workers in standard or typical work and a growing informal labor market. In the case of the formal, knowledge-based economy, the World Wide Web, and increasing communication that the Internet has made possible, has influenced changes at the organizational level. A second development is that these changes and changing patterns of employment are having a dramatic impact on HR policies within organizations. In a knowledge-based economy, organizations rely on knowledge that is embedded deeply in the individual and in the collective subconscious. It is the property of an individual and cannot be taken away from that person (Harrison & Kessels, 2004). He or she would agree to put it in the service of the collective whole, which is known as organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). In technology-driven advanced firms in SA, there are several themes among the various models of citizenship behavior: helping behavior, sportsmanship, organizational loyalty, organizational compliance, initiative, civic virtue, and self-development (Podsakoff, MacKenzie, Paine, & Bachrach, 2000). Many of these themes overlap with the common competencies demanded by advanced MNCs. Thus OCBs rest upon a recognition of mutuality of interest and of responsibility between the organization and the individuals. Increasing globalization and worldwide competition and the knowledge-based economy have their greatest impact on business strategies, process, and practice involving, among others, management of human resources. In this chapter we examine factors influencing the management of human resources in SA and their impact on human resource practices in organizations.