The paper aims to highlight the importance of nurturing heritage from the perspective of hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs in countries such as India that have a wealth…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to highlight the importance of nurturing heritage from the perspective of hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs in countries such as India that have a wealth of natural and cultural heritage resources. The intent is to bring out intersections of heritage and hospitality and place these in the context of global and local issues and concerns.
Design/methodology/approach
Heritage has been outlined in a broad and inclusive manner, to include not only tangible natural and cultural resources but also intangible oral histories, processes and practices embedded in traditional knowledge. Secondary sources are used to represent trends mapped in other studies though the main narrative is derived from gaps and opportunities observed by the author, both as a heritage expert and consumer of heritage hospitality.
Findings
There are three areas where the hospitality industry intersects with heritage in the current context, namely, awareness of heritage resources and integration of these in curating creative visitor experiences, incorporating traditional sustainable practices in the operating procedures of hospitality services, and in fostering heritage entrepreneurship.
Originality/value
This viewpoint should be of interest to researchers, academics and practitioners with a hospitality background as they seek creative ways of bringing heritage and traditional knowledge into mainstream hospitality education and practice, based on more systematic inquiry and exploration.
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With the growth of number of smart phone users in India, digital interfaces such as android applications are easy to access and operate. While conventional websites have been in…
Abstract
Purpose
With the growth of number of smart phone users in India, digital interfaces such as android applications are easy to access and operate. While conventional websites have been in existence over the past few decades, government schemes as well as non-government entities have emerged over the recent years that create opportunities for connecting digital interfaces with cultural heritage tourism. The purpose of this study is to attempt to cover the various facets of interaction between the two dimensions, in an attempt to identify possibilities in the near future.
Design/methodology/approach
The research process included review of government scheme guidelines and proposal documents, and various digital interfaces as available on the World Wide Web and in the form of mobile applications. The data collection and analysis process included interviews with the founders of two mobile application developing start-ups in India.
Findings
India is positioned to take the leap into the creating unparalleled visitor experiences and opportunities for local communities and other stakeholders through use of technology and digital interfaces that can sustain the cultural heritage resources and create new developmental models that have not been possible otherwise. The need is to create synergies across the various opportunities, not only though time bound schemes and projects but embedding the same into the heritage management and governance model.
Originality/value
This paper provides an insight into the issues and opportunities in developing digital interfaces towards enhancing cultural heritage tourism in India.
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The Gurgaon district in Haryana represents a region that has little-known remains from the past and craft traditions that are under threat because of the rapid pace of urban…
Abstract
Purpose
The Gurgaon district in Haryana represents a region that has little-known remains from the past and craft traditions that are under threat because of the rapid pace of urban development and changing demography. The heritage resources of the towns in the district, such as Farrukhnagar and Sohna, are neither integrated in the development agenda nor acknowledged appropriately in formal hospitality and tourism planning. Local knowledge in the form of traditional crafts, food and building techniques has dwindled over the recent decades. Stories about the heritage resources are embedded in public memory and personal histories, though not necessarily explicit. The purpose of this study is to reveal the possible connections between sustenance of the cultural resources and skill development in the context of these small and medium towns.
Design/methodology/approach
The skills, stories, knowledge and historic built form are examined as a part of this research to establish existing and potential community connections. The research entails identification of areas where capacity building is required, to enhance visitor experience and to develop heritage tourism, drawing from existing skill sets and traditional knowledge systems rather than looking outwards.
Findings
One of the challenges is the discontinuation of use of traditional building techniques for the physical conservation of historic structures/buildings into heritage hotels/bed-and-breakfast locations and tourism visitation spots. Tackling this gap can help development of homestays or heritage hotels, offering a unique experience for visitors who appreciate historic built form. Poor appreciation and interpretation of the heritage resources by the local community is another significant issue, as is the lack of skills that can help increase the appeal of these towns for the visitor interested in heritage tourism. The question is whether these skills are accessible for the residents of these towns and how this gap is being addressed.
Research limitations/implications
These explorations can result in informed approaches to capacity building and community engagement that are the key to establishing heritage-oriented hospitality and tourism in historic small and medium towns.
Originality/value
The paper brings the heritage of small and medium towns into focus and suggests an integrated approach for hospitality and tourism development through skill development, an area that has been neglected and disconnected till now.
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The purpose of this paper is to explore the issues and potential in using the participatory approach to help sustain the fairs and festivals of small and medium towns and tap into…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the issues and potential in using the participatory approach to help sustain the fairs and festivals of small and medium towns and tap into their tourism potential.
Design/methodology/approach
An annual fair held in Sohna, a small town of Haryana, part of the District Gurgaon that has shown an exponential decadal urban growth rate, has been taken as a case to reflect on the context of small towns in India.
Findings
Due to out-migration and weakening of local indigenous population and change in occupation patterns, there is threat to continuity of the fairs and festivals. The processes revolving around the urban fairs and festivals are driven though participation of various local stakeholders and mechanisms; hence, any attempts at strengthening or sustaining these need to stem from understanding of the various participants and their roles.
Practical implications
An understanding of the possibilities and issues in organising the fairs and festivals through stakeholder engagement can help develop solutions to sustain these, enabling cultural continuity and positive economic impact on the various stakeholders.
Originality/value
This paper creates a discussion on sustaining the little known cultural wealth of small and medium towns in Haryana among all local and external stakeholders with focus on fairs and festivals.
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Parul Munjal and Deergha Sharma
Reporting on triple bottom line (TBL) practices has emerged as an essential aspect in banking sector due to evolving social and environmental concerns. Engaging in social and…
Abstract
Purpose
Reporting on triple bottom line (TBL) practices has emerged as an essential aspect in banking sector due to evolving social and environmental concerns. Engaging in social and environmental activities is a strategic means to uphold dynamic alliances with stakeholders and eventually attain sustainable development. Furthermore, perception towards social and environmental practices is strategic to satisfy stakeholders’ interests. This paper aims to examine managers’ perception about reporting on social-environmental performance and its impact on financial performance (FP) in Indian banking sector. Research further assesses moderating effect of gender and experience in influencing the relationship between the constructs and also determines importance and performance of the constructs.
Design/methodology/approach
A well-structured questionnaire was distributed to 400 bank managers across India’s public, private, regional-rural, foreign and cooperative banks. The collected data were analysed through Smart PLS structural equation modelling. The moderating effect of demographics of bank managers in influencing the relationship was assessed using PLS-multi-group analysis (MGA). Besides, importance performance map analysis (IPMA) was used to understand the importance and performance of the constructs.
Findings
Findings indicate that bank managers believe that social and environmental activities strengthen relations between banks and stakeholders, resulting in better FP, thereby endorsing the stakeholder theory. Results of MGA suggest that gender and experience of bank managers are not effectual moderators in determining relationship between the constructs. Using IPMA, findings advocate that managers perceive environmental performance as a relatively high performance and a more important construct in influencing FP than social performance.
Social implications
Research would pave the way for banks to effectively communicate their commitment to sustainable development goals, engage stakeholders and demonstrate their commitment to creating positive social and environmental impacts. Furthermore, managerial perceptions can have a marked effect on customers’ understanding of social and environmental practices. This may influence customer satisfaction, conviction, commitment and constancy. Besides, a better understanding of the performance on social and environmental aspects over and above the FP of banks would facilitate the investors to make more informed and effectual decisions.
Originality/value
Considering the paucity of studies on the managerial perception of social and environmental activities and determining how the perception affects financial success, this study makes significant contribution to the literature. It would facilitate banks to design appropriate strategies and legislations to incorporate reporting on TBL practices for improved performance analysis. This would eventually ensure profitability along with sustainability in the Indian banking sector.
Details
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Parul Munjal and Deergha Sharma
The purpose of this paper is to determine managerial perception on social and environmental performance and its effect on financial performance in the Indian banking industry. In…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to determine managerial perception on social and environmental performance and its effect on financial performance in the Indian banking industry. In addition, the study tests moderating role of gender and experience of bank managers in influencing the association between the constructs.
Design/methodology/approach
The empirical study is conducted using survey methodology. Responses were collected from 182 bank managers covering the private sector, public sector, foreign, regional rural and cooperative banks. Structural equation modelling technique was used to test hypothesized relationships between the constructs using Smart partial least squares software (3.3.2 version).
Findings
Results of the study endorse the stakeholder perspective. Bank managers perceive that involvement in socially responsible practices strengthens the relationship between stakeholders and banks, which eventually improves financial performance. Conversely, results indicate that environmental practices by banks do not influence financial performance, thereby sustaining shareholder perspective. Further, results suggest that gender and experience of bank managers are not effective moderators in determining the relationship between the constructs.
Practical implications
Findings would be valuable for investors to better assimilate social and environmental performance along with its effect on the financial performance of banks. The study would also facilitate policymakers and regulators to outline pertinent policies and rules to uphold financial strength and integrity in the banking industry. Further, bank managers’ perception would have a marked influence on customers’ understanding of social and environmental activities that might shape customer satisfaction, trust, engagement and loyalty.
Originality/value
The study underscores the eminence of endorsing socially responsible practices in the banks. This would facilitate in improving the sustainability in the Indian banking industry.
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Parul Gupta, Kanupriya Misra Bakhru and Amit Shankar
This study aims to understand role employee emotional capital in e-commerce organizations for implementing a sustainability-oriented approach. It explores two research questions…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to understand role employee emotional capital in e-commerce organizations for implementing a sustainability-oriented approach. It explores two research questions: First, what role does emotional capital play in creating a sustainability-oriented functioning in an e-commerce organization? Second, how the emotional capital of employees and leaders can be molded and aligned to the desired behavioral approach toward sustainability.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors’ methodology involves literature review undertaken to appropriately position the understanding of sustainability and its relationship with emotional capital in the e-commerce industry. The paper is based on the review of articles published between the year 1990 and 2020. Academic and peer-reviewed journal articles, which have contributed to enrich the concept of emotional capital and sustainability, were collected from various data sources like SCOPUS, ERIC, Science Direct and Emerald.
Findings
The findings indicate that the organizational emotional capital can help in designing and pursuing sustainability-oriented practices in a more “engaged” manner. This can further stimulate a new approach for determining the dimensions, goals and measurement criteria for organizational performance management in the e-commerce industry.
Originality/value
This is a first of its kind study that connects the dots between sustainable organization performance and emotional capital establishing groundwork for future research pursuits in the direction. This study presents strong futuristic managerial implications and focuses on how e-commerce organizations can achieve long-term sustainability performance by harnessing the resource of emotional capital, which is inherently present with them at individual and collective levels.