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1 – 10 of 10Minglong Xu, Song Xue, Qionghua Wang, Shaoxiang He, Rui Deng, Zenong Li, Ying Zhang, Qiankun Li and Rongchao Li
This study aims to improve the stability and obstacle surmounting ability of the traditional wall-climbing robot on the surface of the ship, a wheel-track composite magnetic…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to improve the stability and obstacle surmounting ability of the traditional wall-climbing robot on the surface of the ship, a wheel-track composite magnetic adsorption wall-climbing robot is proposed in this paper.
Design/methodology/approach
The robot adopts a front and rear obstacle-crossing mechanism to achieve a smooth crossover. The robot is composed of two passive obstacle-crossing mechanisms and a frame, which is composed of two obstacle-crossing magnetic wheels and a set of tracks. The obstacle-crossing is realized by the telescopic expansion of the obstacle-crossing mechanism. Three static failure models are established to determine the minimum adsorption force for the robot to achieve stable motion. The Halbach array is used to construct the track magnetic circuit, and the influence of gap, contact area and magnet thickness on the adsorption force is analyzed by parameter simulation.
Findings
The prototype was designed and manufactured by the authors for static failure and obstacle crossing tests. The prototype test results show that the robot can cross the obstacle of 10 mm height under the condition of 20 kg load.
Originality/value
A new structure of wall-climbing robot is proposed and verified. According to the test results, the wall-climbing robot can stably climb over the obstacle of 10 mm height under the condition of 20 kg load, which provides a new idea for future robot design.
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Keywords
Qiushi Gu, Minglong Li and Songshan (Sam) Huang
The use of modern technologies in restaurants has become a trend. For food and beverage services, embracing new technologies helps solve the dilemmas of increasing labor costs and…
Abstract
Purpose
The use of modern technologies in restaurants has become a trend. For food and beverage services, embracing new technologies helps solve the dilemmas of increasing labor costs and the high level of staff turnover in the industry. However, knowledge regarding how consumers perceive and evaluate technology-assisted dining experiences (TADEs) is limited. This study aims to conceptualize and operationalize TADEs while considering increasing technological applications in restaurants.
Design/methodology/approach
This study conducted in-depth interviews with 71 restaurant consumers in Nanjing and Wuhan, China. Following the interviews, this study carried out a survey and identified the factor structure of TADEs.
Findings
The in-depth interviews identified 26 attributes of TADEs. An analysis of the survey data identified four important aspects (with 21 items) of TADEs, namely, novelty and fashion, convenience, high efficiency and restrictions and possible risks.
Practical implications
Hospitality managers can implement the suggested measures for dining service design and technology management to improve the experiences of customers.
Originality/value
These findings have theoretical implications for the new phenomenon of technology-integrated dining, the application of technology and consumer management in the catering industry.
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Keywords
Sha Wang, Kam Hung, Minglong Li and Hailian Qiu
Although the number of guest houses in China is increasing rapidly, many of them are not performing well in developing customer loyalty. Self-congruity and functional congruity…
Abstract
Purpose
Although the number of guest houses in China is increasing rapidly, many of them are not performing well in developing customer loyalty. Self-congruity and functional congruity represent two cost-effective but inadequately researched ways for guest houses to maintain customers. In view of the lack of empirical research explaining the post-purchase behavior of guest house customers, the purpose of this study is to develop a congruity-based customer loyalty model for this specialized type of accommodation.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a review of relevant literature, a robust conceptual framework of customer loyalty comprising satisfaction, self-congruity, functional congruity, perceived value and attractiveness of alternates was constructed. By means of an online panel survey, 828 valid questionnaires were obtained from customers who had stayed in a Chinese guest house within the previous year. Structural equation modeling was conducted to test the conceptual model and the hypothesized relationships among the constructs.
Findings
Significant relationships were found between the two congruity constructs in guest houses, which both led to positive customer post-purchase behaviors. The authors found that self-congruity, functional congruity and the attractiveness of alternates did not affect customer loyalty directly; rather, they influenced loyalty indirectly through customer satisfaction.
Originality/value
This study developed a unique, congruity-based model of customer loyalty in the context of guest houses. It enhances the body of knowledge regarding congruity in the field of tourism and hospitality, and it discusses relevant implications of the findings for tourism marketing researchers and for owner-managers of guest houses.
研究目的
虽然民宿增长迅速, 多数民宿在顾客忠诚上表现较差。自我一致性和功能一致性作为民宿维持顾客的有效手段, 在学术上研究较少。鉴于学界缺乏对民宿顾客购后行为的实证研究, 本研究试图构建一个基于一致性的民宿顾客忠诚模型。
研究方法
在文献综述基础上, 我们构建了一个基于一致性的顾客忠诚模型。用在线样本库的方法调查了过去一年有过民宿住宿体验的顾客, 最终收集了828份有效问卷。
研究结果
研究发现, 两个一致性表现对顾客的购后行为存在显著影响。同时, 本研究显示, 自我一致性, 功能一致性和替代者吸引力并不直接影响顾客忠诚, 而是通过影响顾客满意影响忠诚。
研究价值
基于一致性的新视角, 民宿顾客忠诚模型被重塑。本研究可以加深对接待业自我一致性研究的理解, 并为旅游营销研究提供启示。论文最后还讨论了研究结果对民宿研究和管理者的启示。
Propósito
Aunque el número de casas de huéspedes en China está aumentando rápidamente, muchas de ellas no están funcionando bien en el desarrollo de la lealtad del cliente. La autocongruencia y la congruencia funcional representan dos formas rentables pero inadecuadamente investigadas para que las casas de huéspedes mantengan clientes. En vista de la falta de investigación empírica que explique el comportamiento posterior a la compra de los clientes de la casa de huéspedes, el presente estudio busca desarrollar un modelo de lealtad del cliente basado en la congruencia para este tipo especializado de alojamiento.
Diseño/metodología/enfoque
Con base en una revisión de literatura relevante, construimos un marco conceptual robusto de lealtad del cliente que comprende satisfacción, autocongruencia, congruencia funcional, valor percibido y atractivo de alternativas. Mediante una encuesta de panel en línea, obtuvimos 828 cuestionarios válidos de clientes que se habían alojado en una casa de huéspedes china durante el año anterior. Se realizó un modelado de ecuaciones estructurales para probar el modelo conceptual y las relaciones hipotéticas entre los constructos.
Hallazgos
Se encontraron relaciones significativas entre las dos construcciones de congruencia en las casas de huéspedes, lo que condujo a comportamientos positivos posteriores a la compra del cliente. Descubrimos que la autocongruencia, la congruencia funcional y el atractivo de las alternativas no afectaban directamente la lealtad del cliente; más bien, influyeron indirectamente en la lealtad a través de la satisfacción del cliente.
Originalidad/valor
Este estudio desarrolló un modelo único de lealtad del cliente basado en la congruencia en el contexto de las casas de huéspedes. Mejora el conjunto de conocimientos sobre congruencia en el campo del turismo y la hospitalidad, y analiza las implicaciones relevantes de los hallazgos para los investigadores de marketing turístico y para los propietarios-gerentes de casas de huéspedes.
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Keywords
Hailian Qiu, Minglong Li, Billy Bai, Ning Wang and Yingli Li
Hospitableness lies in the center of hospitality services. With the infusion of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the hospitality industry, managers are concerned about…
Abstract
Purpose
Hospitableness lies in the center of hospitality services. With the infusion of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the hospitality industry, managers are concerned about how AI influences service hospitableness. Previous research has examined the consequences of AI technology based on customers’ assessment while ignoring the key players in service hospitableness – frontline employees (FLEs). This study aims to reveal how AI technology empowers FLEs physically, mentally and emotionally, facilitating hospitableness provision.
Design/methodology/approach
As the starting point, the instrument for AI-enabled service attributes was designed based on previous literature, hotel FLE interviews, expert panel and a pilot survey, and then validated using survey data. After that, a paired supervisor-employee sample was recruited in 15 hotels, and 342 valid questionnaires covering the constructs were obtained.
Findings
Factor analyses and measurement model evaluation suggest that the four factors, including anthropomorphic, entertainment, functional and information attributes, explain the construct of AI-enabled service attributes well, with high reliability and validity. Additionally, anthropomorphic, functional and information attributes of AI technology have been found to enable FLEs physically, mentally and emotionally, which further lead to increased service hospitableness. The entertainment attributes do not significantly reduce physical and mental fatigue but lead to positive emotions of FLEs significantly. Additionally, psychological job demand moderates the effects of AI-enabled service attributes on physical fatigue.
Practical implications
Practical implications can be made for AI technology application and hospitableness provision, in terms of AI technology analysis, job design and employee workload management.
Originality/value
This research contributes to understanding AI-enabled service attributes and their consequences, extends the conservation of resources theory to AI application context and promotes the research on service hospitableness.
Details
Keywords
Minglong Peng, Yuankai Zhou and Xue Zuo
The purpose of this paper is to study the dynamic features of friction coefficient during running-in state based on recurrence analysis, so as to recognize the running-in state of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the dynamic features of friction coefficient during running-in state based on recurrence analysis, so as to recognize the running-in state of crankshaft journal bearings.
Design/methodology/approach
The friction coefficient was measured in the friction experiments and the dynamic features are analyzed by recurrence plots (RPs), unthreshold recurrence plots (URPs) and recurrence quantification analysis.
Findings
During the running-in process, RPs have gone through disrupted patterns, drift patterns and homogeneous patterns successively. URP shows that the phase trajectory spirals in the disrupted pattern gradually converge in the drift pattern and remain stable in the homogeneous pattern. Three independent measures, recurrence rate, entropy and laminarity, are chosen to characterize friction coefficient from the perspective of point, diagonal line and vertical line structures of the RPs.
Originality/value
The results provide a feasible way to monitor the running-in process and recognize the running-in state.
Details
Keywords
Zhi Li, Yuemeng Ge, Zegang Su and Xiaohua Huang
This study aims to analyze the basic information of visitors of the Macau Science Center to assess their leisure involvement, satisfaction and behavioral intention, along with the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to analyze the basic information of visitors of the Macau Science Center to assess their leisure involvement, satisfaction and behavioral intention, along with the interaction of these factors. Suggestions are made for museum policy modifications to improve visitor experience quality.
Design/methodology/approach
The analysis methods used in this study included reliability, descriptive statistics, independent-samples t test, ANOVA, correlation analysis and regression analysis.
Findings
The results showed that there was no significant relationship between gender and satisfaction, involvement of leisure or behavioral intention; age and educational level had significant impacts on satisfaction, leisure involvement and behavioral intention; significant differences were found in terms of visitors’ point of geographic origin, namely, local residents, mainland residents and Hong Kong residents; occupation was found to have no significant impact on satisfaction, leisure involvement or behavioral intention; monthly income was found to have no significant impact on leisure involvement and behavioral intention, but did have a significant impact on satisfaction; number of visits had no significant impact; there was no significant difference in leisure involvement and behavioral intention among different types of visitors, but there was a significant difference in terms of satisfaction; and significant correlations were found between leisure involvement and behavioral intentions.
Originality/value
The value of this study is to identify problems and offer potential solutions for the improvement of the Macau Science Center by studying the leisure involvement, satisfaction and behavioral intention of museum visitors. The proposed measures can improve the visibility and quality of the science museum, attract additional visitors and improve Macau’s branding through promoting science education and tourism.
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Shuang Xu, Zulnaidi Yaacob and Donghui Cao
This study aims to explore how transformational leadership influences employees' creativity by considering the role of the environment and psychology. The study aims to provide…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore how transformational leadership influences employees' creativity by considering the role of the environment and psychology. The study aims to provide insights into the impact of transformational leadership on team innovation climate, team reflexivity, psychological capital and employee creativity while also examining the moderating effect of environmental dynamism on these relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
This study employed a multi-source, multi-wave approach, utilizing data from 618 participants in 118 teams. It constructed a multilevel structural equation model and estimated the confidence intervals of the mediated and moderated effects using the Markov chain Monte Carlo method.
Findings
The results of the multilevel analyses indicated that transformational leadership positively influenced the team innovation climate, team reflexivity, psychological capital and employee creativity. Moreover, the study found that environmental dynamism positively moderates the relationships among transformational leadership, team reflexivity, psychological capital and employee creativity.
Originality/value
Drawing on social cognitive theory and the motivated information processing in groups model, this study offers new insights into the interplay between transformational leadership and creativity. It examines the moderating role of cross-level process linkages and environmental dynamism, thereby validating and extending relevant theories.
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Keywords
Yin Shi, Liping Ding, Chenchen He, Fan Zhang, Zumeng Zhang and Qiyao Dai
This study aims to analyze those factors affecting the rural resident’s willingness to adopt solar photovoltaic (PV) which is important for accelerating the popularization of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to analyze those factors affecting the rural resident’s willingness to adopt solar photovoltaic (PV) which is important for accelerating the popularization of clean energy in China.
Design/methodology/approach
This study contained a sample of 653 households in 8 provinces/regions by stratified, and random sampling in rural China. Descriptive analysis, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis techniques have been used for analytical purposes.
Findings
The empirical results indicate that financial incentive and social interaction have positive effects on rural residents’ adoption willingness, while village leaders’ engagement can indirectly influence their adoption willingness through social interaction and residents’ cognition.
Research limitations/implications
This study mainly considers external and internal factors but ignores the effect of technical factors. In addition, the samples are just selected from the residents who have adopted solar PV.
Practical implications
This study is expected to be useful for the government, regulators, village leaders, village leaders and other institutions.
Originality/value
This study conducts a systematic analysis and clarifies the relationship between factors (external and internal) and rural residents’ adoption willingness. The village leaders’ engagement is first added to the conceptual model as an external factor, which is very essential in rural residents’ adoption in China.
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Tayfun Yörük, Nuray Akar and Neslihan Verda Özmen
The purpose of this study is to reveal the research trends in guest experiences of service robots in the hospitality industry.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to reveal the research trends in guest experiences of service robots in the hospitality industry.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, a review was carried out on the Web of Science (WoS) database with the assistance of bibliometric analysis techniques. Cluster analysis was also employed for this to group important data to determine the relationships and to visualize the areas in which the studies are concentrated. The thematic content analysis method was used to reveal on which customer experiences and on which methods the focuses were.
Findings
On the subject of experiences of service robots, the greatest number of publications was in 2021. In terms of country, China has come to the fore in the distribution of publications. As a result of thematic content analysis, it was determined that the leading factor was the main dimension of emotional experience. In terms of sub-dimensions, social interactions attracted more attention. Most of the studies discussed were not based on any theory. Apart from these, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Service Quality Model (SERVQUAL) and Perceived Value Theory (PVT) were featured more prominently among other studies.
Research limitations/implications
In this study, only the WoS database was reviewed. In future studies, it would be possible to make contextual comparisons by scanning other databases. In addition to quantitative research designs, social dimensions may be examined in depth following qualitative research methods. Thus, various comparisons can be made on the subject with mixed-method research designs. Experimental research designs can also be applied to where customers have experienced human-robot interactions (HRIs).
Originality/value
In the hospitality industry, it is critical to uncover every dimension of guests' robot acceptance. This study, which presents the current situation on this basis, guides future projections for the development of guest experiences regarding service robots in the hospitality industry.
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