Traditional quality management has been championed, led and implemented by quality professionals from within classic quality organizations. If we are to compete in the new…
Abstract
Traditional quality management has been championed, led and implemented by quality professionals from within classic quality organizations. If we are to compete in the new millennium, the practitioners of quality must integrate the tools of quality conformance and process improvement into the mainstream of our value delivery systems. Looks at developments in the field, such as the shift from defect detection to defect prevention. Notes 11 components of quality management that can be held as “sacred”. These include factors such as procurement control and process control. Notes that “virtual quality” suggests that the culture and tools of conformance assurance and continuous improvement that have been developed now need to be integrated into the work processes which they support.
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Lucy Currie, Sibusisiwe Tendai Sibanda and Athenkosi Mtumtum
This chapter reports on a study that examined the impact of COVID-19 within a context of poverty and existing emotional vulnerabilities amongst girls in an informal settlement in…
Abstract
This chapter reports on a study that examined the impact of COVID-19 within a context of poverty and existing emotional vulnerabilities amongst girls in an informal settlement in South Africa. Findings highlight the young people's resilience, hope and determination to stand together and draw upon each other's strengths through extremely difficult experiences. Data were collected through a survey with 19 girls aged between 12 and 17 years and analysed using Maslow's theory of human motivation (1943) and Brammer's crisis theory (1985). Living conditions and socio-economic status influenced the girls' experiences of the COVID-19 lockdowns. Social distancing, in particular, was found to be a challenge in their living conditions. Despite this, the study found the girls to be sophisticated caring agents; they were resourceful, supportive of each other and resolute in their plans for the future, despite the impact of the pandemic. Recommendations are made for further research with female adolescents to inform future strategies and interventions in South Africa's informal settlements.
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This chapter focusses on the importance of using technology in tourism. This chapter also comprehensively highlights technologies that are impacting the tourism industry as well…
Abstract
This chapter focusses on the importance of using technology in tourism. This chapter also comprehensively highlights technologies that are impacting the tourism industry as well as the constraints the industry is facing. Many research studies have been conducted which outline the contributions and importance of technology in tourism in general. In recent years, various research studies, ranging from tourism management to geography, have increasingly explored the opportunities to use cutting-edge information and communication technologies (ICTs), implemented at different scales, in order to improve tourists’ experiences. Among several technology-driven solutions, augmented reality (AR) is usually regarded as a useful tool for tourism. AR has become an area of significant interest and investment in recent times. The present study focusses on case studies where AR-based smart tourism applications have been developed. In tourist destinations, visitors exhibit a great interest in learning while travelling. Curiosity plays a significant role for visitors buying trips for their families and they are willing to pay slightly more for a unique experience. The findings offer several contributions to the literature by providing new theoretical insights into the intersection of AR and tourism in Italian heritage sites, especially in Sicily.
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Xinran Yang and Liaoniao Zhang
This study aims to investigate the perception of smart tourism technologies (STTs) in creating museum tourism experiences and assess visitors’ intentions to test the impact, the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the perception of smart tourism technologies (STTs) in creating museum tourism experiences and assess visitors’ intentions to test the impact, the extent and role that STTs play in museum service.
Design/methodology/approach
The investigation was conducted through an online and on-site survey; data were collected in four different museums with 365 museum tourists in four countries. SmartPLS (version 3.3.3) was used to access the measurement and structural model based on path modelling and bootstrapping.
Findings
STTs have a positive impact on creating a memorable tourism experience for museum visitors and are beneficial to revisit intention and positive recommendations. The impact is stronger than traditional services such as museum setting and staff service. STTs can be considered an independent new service to museums rather than complementing existing services. STTs negatively affect tourism’s experience at the communication stage.
Originality/value
Previous studies have noted the growing attention to the museum visitor experience, but the combined impact of new elements, such as STTs, remains an unexplored area. This study addressed the research gap through an empirical investigation and offers guidelines to test museum visitors’ acceptance and fitness for the services provided by STTs. In addition, this study presents a new point of view on the roles that STTs take in museum service, which can be useful for further investigations.
目的
本研究旨在调查智慧旅游技术 (STT) 在创造博物馆旅游体验和评估游客意图方面的感知。测试智能旅游技术在博物馆服务中的影响、程度和作用。
研究方法
研究调查是通过在线和现场问卷调查进行的; 数据是在四个国家的四个不同博物馆中收集的, 共收集了 365 名博物馆游客的数据。 SmartPLS(版本 3.3.3)用于访问基于路径建模和引导的测量模型和结构模型。
研究结果
智慧旅游技术对为博物馆参观者创造难忘的旅游体验具有积极影响, 并有利于重访意向和积极推荐。这种影响比博物馆的环境设置和员工服务等传统服务更强。智慧旅游技术可以被视为对博物馆的一项独立的新服务, 而不是对现有服务的补充。智慧旅游技术对博物馆游客在传播阶段的体验产生负面影响。
原创性/价值
以前的研究已经注意到学界对博物馆参观体验的关注日益增加, 但 STT 等新元素的综合影响仍然是一个未探索的领域。 本研究通过实证调查补充了研究缺口, 并提供了测试博物馆参观者对 STT 提供的服务的接受度和适应性的指南。此外, 本研究提出了 STT 在博物馆服务中的作用的新观点, 这对进一步的研究很有帮助。
Resumen
Propósito
El objetivo de este estudio es investigar la percepción de las Tecnologías Turísticas Inteligentes (TTIs) en la creación de experiencias turísticas en los museos y evaluar las intenciones de los visitantes para probar el impacto, el alcance y el papel que desempeñan las TTIs en el servicio de los museos.
Diseño/metodología/enfoque
La investigación se llevó a cabo a través de una encuesta online y presencial; los datos se recogieron de 365 turistas en cuatro museos diferentes de cuatro países. Se utilizó SmartPLS (versión 3.3.3) para evaluar el modelo de medida y el modelo estructural basado en la modelización de trayectorias y el bootstrapping.
Resultados
Las TTIs tienen un impacto positivo en la creación de una experiencia turística memorable para los visitantes de los museos y son beneficiosas para la intención de volver a visitarlos y las recomendaciones positivas. El impacto es mayor que el de los servicios tradicionales, como la ambientación del museo y el servicio del personal. Las TTIs pueden considerarse un nuevo servicio independiente para los museos, más que un complemento de los servicios existentes. Las TTIs afectan negativamente a la experiencia del turismo en la fase de comunicación.
Originalidad/valor
En estudios previos se ha observado la creciente atención que se presta a la experiencia de los visitantes de los museos, pero el impacto combinado de nuevos elementos, como las TTIs, sigue siendo un área inexplorada. Este estudio aborda esta laguna de la investigación mediante una investigación empírica y ofrece directrices para comprobar la aceptación y la adecuación de los visitantes de los museos a los servicios prestados por las TTIs. Además, este estudio presenta un nuevo punto de vista sobre las funciones que asumen las TTIs en el servicio de los museos, que puede ser útil para futuras investigaciones.
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Jeffrey R. Cohen, Laurie W. Pant and David J. Sharp
In a world of increasingly global commerce, individual managers frequently migrate permanently to a new place of work. Over time, they acculturate—they learn and acquire the…
Abstract
In a world of increasingly global commerce, individual managers frequently migrate permanently to a new place of work. Over time, they acculturate—they learn and acquire the values of their host culture. The differences between national cultures' norms concerning the morality of questionable (by North American norms) accounting practices, and the ways in which individuals' beliefs about the morality of such action change as they settle into a new culture, are not well understood. This paper presents an exploratory study of the acculturation process with respect to accounting ethics of Chinese managers moving to Canada for an extended period of time. We test for two effects: first, for differences in ethical perceptions and intentions between members of the two cultures resident in their country of birth, and second, the effect of a significant acculturation effect on the Chinese group resulting from their living in Canada and studying in a North American MBA program for approximately one year. We find two acculturation effects. First, Chinese managers perceived a questionable cost accounting allocation to be more ethical than the Chinese in Canada. Although there was no significant difference in an overall measure of morality, investigation of this effect among various moral schema identified some perceptions of utilitarianism, moral Tightness and self‐interest to be significantly different among those Chinese who had spent one year in Canada compared to those in China, and closer to the beliefs of the Canadian‐born managers. We also found an acculturation effect relating to intention to take a questionable action. While there was no significant difference in intention between the Canadian‐born and Chinese in China, the newly‐arrived Chinese in Canada were significantly more willing to take the questionable action. This result was robust to controls for social desirability bias, gender and work experience. We conclude that reasoning processes differ between Chinese and Canadian managers, and are affected by an intense one‐year acculturation process (the first year of a North American MBA program). However, the acculturation process of the Chinese in Canada appeared to result in their greater willingness to undertake a questionable cost allocation than either their Canadian‐born or Chinese in China colleagues.
Studies have found innate vulnerabilities which potentially may increase the risk of an individual with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) finding themselves involved with the…
Abstract
Purpose
Studies have found innate vulnerabilities which potentially may increase the risk of an individual with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) finding themselves involved with the criminal justice system as a result of being charged with a sexual offence. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the literature which has explored sexual offending in individuals with ASD.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic PRISMA review (PRISMA, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) was conducted using internet-based bibliographic databases (PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection and PsycARTICLES) in order to access studies which investigated to any degree the association between ASD and sexual offending.
Findings
Only a small number of case reports (n=7) on sexual offending in individuals with ASD and a small number of prevalence studies (n=7) were identified.
Research limitations/implications
Research is urgently required to identify the specific requirements and needs of sexual offenders with ASD in order to inform an appropriate treatment strategy for successful outcomes.
Originality/value
Relatively few studies and reviews have investigated the area of ASD and sexual offending specifically.
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Robert Detmering, Anna Marie Johnson, Claudene Sproles, Samantha McClellan and Rosalinda Hernandez Linares
– The purpose of this paper is to provide a selected bibliography of recent resources on library instruction and information literacy.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a selected bibliography of recent resources on library instruction and information literacy.
Design/methodology/approach
Introduces and annotates English-language periodical articles, monographs and other materials on library instruction and information literacy published in 2013.
Findings
Provides information about each source, discusses the characteristics of current scholarship and describes sources that contain unique scholarly contributions and quality reproductions.
Originality/value
The information may be used by librarians and interested parties as a quick reference to literature on library instruction and information literacy.
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Serendipity is an interesting phenomenon to study in information science as it plays a fundamental – but perhaps underestimated – role in how we discover, explore, and learn in…
Abstract
Purpose
Serendipity is an interesting phenomenon to study in information science as it plays a fundamental – but perhaps underestimated – role in how we discover, explore, and learn in all fields of life. The purpose of this paper is to operationalize the concept of serendipity by providing terminological “building blocks” for understanding connections between environmental and personal factors in serendipitous encounters. Understanding these connections is essential when designing affordances in physical and digital environments that can facilitate serendipity.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, serendipity is defined as what happens when we, in unplanned ways, encounter resources (information, things, people, etc.) that we find interesting. In the outlined framework, serendipity is understood as an affordance, i.e., a usage potential when environmental and personal factors correspond with each other. The framework introduces three key affordances for facilitating serendipity: diversifiability, traversability, and sensoriability, covering capacities of physical and digital environments to be diversified, traversed, and sensed. The framework is structured around couplings between the three key affordances and three key personal serendipity factors: curiosity, mobility, and sensitivity. Ten sub-affordances for serendipity and ten coupled personal sub-factors are also briefly outlined. Related research is compared with and mapped into the framework aiming at a theoretical validation. The affordance approach to serendipity is discussed, including different degrees and types of serendipity.
Findings
All the terminological “building blocks” in the framework are seen to resonate with the included related research. Serendipity is found to be a commonplace phenomenon in everyday life. It is argued that we cannot “engineer” nor “design” serendipity per se, but can design affordances for serendipity. Serendipity may thus be intended by designers, but must always be unplanned by users. The outlined affordance approach to serendipity points to the importance of our sensory-motor abilities to discover and explore serendipitous affordances.
Research limitations/implications
Implications of the framework for designing physical and digital environments with affordances for serendipity are briefly considered. It is suggested that physical environments may have a primacy regarding affordances of sensoriability for facilitating serendipity, and digital environments a primacy regarding traversability, whereas physical and digital environments may afford similar degrees of diversifiability. In future research, the framework needs further empirical validation in physical and digital environments.
Originality/value
No other research has been found addressing affordances for serendipity and connections between environmental and personal factors in similarly detailed ways. The outlined framework and typology may function as a baseline for further serendipity studies.
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Clare Sarah Allely and Larry Dubin
As recently highlighted by Creaby-Attwood and Allely (2017), it is crucial that the possible innate vulnerabilities that contributed to sexual offending behaviour in an individual…
Abstract
Purpose
As recently highlighted by Creaby-Attwood and Allely (2017), it is crucial that the possible innate vulnerabilities that contributed to sexual offending behaviour in an individual with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are taken into consideration for the application of a diversion programme to avoid the stigma of a criminal conviction or during sentencing for a non-custodial outcome. Specifically, in those defendants with a diagnosis of what used to be referred to as Asperger’s syndrome (AS) and now is recognised as an ASD and who are charged and convicted of a non-contact sexual offense, education and mental health intervention will best serve the interests of justice. The paper aims to discuss this issue.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper focusses on one particular type of sexual offending behaviour, namely, possession of child pornography. A systematic PRISMA review was conducted.
Findings
The authors linked examples of child pornography in the research literature to the ASD symptomology and describe how the symptomology explains such behaviour as not reflecting actual sexual deviance.
Originality/value
Downloading and viewing of child pornography by individuals with ASD has received relatively little research outside the mental health field. This review is of particular importance to those in the criminal justice system who may not have much knowledge and understanding of ASD. It is suggested that diversion programmes and mental health courts should be set up for this particular population charged with this particular crime in mind so that the necessary treatment/intervention/support and care can be given to this particular group.
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The objective of this study is to examine how formal and informal institutional environment influences managers’ fair value opinion shopping behaviour in the largest International…
Abstract
Purpose
The objective of this study is to examine how formal and informal institutional environment influences managers’ fair value opinion shopping behaviour in the largest International Financial Reporting Standards adopter, China.
Design/methodology/approach
To test the hypotheses, I conduct a 2 × 2 between-subject randomised experiment since the inferences about cause and effect are important in this study. The between-subject experimental situations are manipulated on the basis of the financial condition of companies and boards’ oversight.
Findings
I find that managers are likely to seek favourable fair value opinions from external valuation professionals when they are under the weak boards’ oversight and high stress to meet the regulation target of the China Securities Regulatory Commission. These results are more pronounced for managers with higher both rent-seeking and favour-seeking guanxi orientations are more likely to engage in fair value opinion shopping.
Originality/value
Consistent with theoretical analysis of Balfoort et al. (2017), this study provides empirical evidence that guanxi influences the neutrality and faithful representation in fair value measurement in China. In addition, the findings extend Salzsieder’s study (2015) and reflect the context-embeddedness nature of accounting.