Linchi Kwok, Karen L. Xie and Tori Richards
The purposes of this study are to synthesize the current research findings reported in major hospitality and tourism journals and to discuss the knowledge gaps where additional…
Abstract
Purpose
The purposes of this study are to synthesize the current research findings reported in major hospitality and tourism journals and to discuss the knowledge gaps where additional research endeavors are needed.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic review approach was adopted to analyze 67 research articles about online reviews that were published between January 2000 and July 2015 in seven major hospitality and tourism journals.
Findings
This study presents a thematic framework of online review research, which was advanced by integrating the interactions among quantitative evaluation features, verbal evaluation features, reputation features and social features of online reviews with important outcomes of consumer decision-making and business performance. The thematic framework helps researchers identify the areas in extant hospitality literature of online reviews and point out possible directions for future studies.
Research limitations/implications
The systematic review approach has a qualitative nature, where relevant literature was interpreted based on the authors’ domain knowledge and expertise.
Practical implications
Practitioners can gain a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic relationships among the key influential factors in online reviews, as presented in the thematic framework of online review research. Accordingly, managers will be able to develop effective strategies to leverage the positive impacts of online reviews to the business outcomes.
Originality/value
This systematic review synthesizes the findings reported in most recent publications (January 2000-July 2015; also including “Online First” articles) in seven major hospitality and tourism journals and develops an integrated research framework, anchoring on four meta-research questions and showing the dynamic relationships among the key players/factors/themes in online review research. This framework provides a visual diagram to practitioners for a better understanding of the relevant literature and assists researchers in developing new research questions for future studies.
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Nilanjana Sinha, Himadri Roy Chaudhuri, Jie G. Fowler and Sitanath Mazumdar
This paper aims to explore authenticity as a multidimensional construct from both consumer and service provider perspectives in the context of culturally themed restaurants in…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore authenticity as a multidimensional construct from both consumer and service provider perspectives in the context of culturally themed restaurants in Kolkata, India.
Design/methodology/approach
Utilizing a phenomenological design, data have been collected through participant observation, photographs and semi-structured interviews in Bengali-themed restaurants over a two-year period.
Findings
By articulating the processes and dimensions that operate behind the narrative of authenticity, the findings display the interaction between market/cultural forces and the perception of authenticity. These reveal that authenticity embraces four major categories, namely, traditional, staged-form, postmodern and constructivist.
Research limitations/implications
This study provides insights into the collective role of both consumers and service providers in mediating perceptions of authenticity. Theoretically, this study contributes to the literature by articulating four dimensions of authenticity.
Practical implications
Practically, this study assists marketers with insights into the balance of authenticity and the commoditization of culture.
Originality/value
As globalization weakens cultural boundaries and jeopardizes regional identities, there is a need for reassuring cultural continuity that upholds ethnic legacy for local consumers. Thus, this study provides theoretical and practical insights for both researchers and practitioners concerned about maintaining authenticity in a global marketplace.
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Recalls times spent in Gordon Pask’s company and the discussions with the author on a wide range of topics, but focusing especially on foundational issues in science and…
Abstract
Recalls times spent in Gordon Pask’s company and the discussions with the author on a wide range of topics, but focusing especially on foundational issues in science and cybernetics and developments in Pask’s own conversation theory and interaction of actors theory.
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Jens H. Walther and Ivo F. Sbalzarini
The purpose of this paper is to present large‐scale parallel direct numerical simulations of granular flow, using a novel, portable software program for discrete element method…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present large‐scale parallel direct numerical simulations of granular flow, using a novel, portable software program for discrete element method (DEM) simulations.
Design/methodology/approach
Since particle methods provide a unifying framework for both discrete and continuous systems, the program is based on the parallel particle mesh (PPM) library, which has already been demonstrated to provide transparent parallelization and state‐of‐the‐art parallel efficiency using particle methods for continuous systems.
Findings
By adapting PPM to discrete systems, results are reported from three‐dimensional simulations of a sand avalanche down an inclined plane.
Originality/value
The paper demonstrates the parallel performance and scalability of the new simulation program using up to 122 million particles on 192 processors, employing adaptive domain decomposition and load balancing techniques.
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Marc Hurwitz and Samantha Hurwitz
In the first two papers, the authors provided an overview of the research on followship and then presented a new model that extends understanding of it. This paper illustrates how…
Abstract
Purpose
In the first two papers, the authors provided an overview of the research on followship and then presented a new model that extends understanding of it. This paper illustrates how the followship model can be used effectively to enhance organizations through coaching, mentoring, organizational change (enterprise‐wide reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions), high performer development, executive retention, new hire on‐boarding, leader development, and also in designing HR tools for performance management.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a capstone article. As such, it summarizes key points made previously, discusses existing HR practices and how they can be improved, incorporates case studies on followship, and illustrates practical applications.
Findings
Leaders must learn to model followship, and use it to solve staff performance issues. HR departments should include followship training to enrich development planning and, in the case of enterprise‐wide change such as mergers and acquisitions, speed and improve the results. Finally, providing followship training helps prevent executive derailment, improves Gen Y integration, and enhances the opportunities for high performers' career development.
Originality/value
This third and final article shows practical applications of ideas followship brings to organizational development. As such, it will be interesting to senior executives, high performance talent managers, executive coaches, and HR departments.
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Under this heading are given each month the principal articles of aeronautical interest appearing in the current issues of the Journals of the leading Societies and Professional…
Abstract
Under this heading are given each month the principal articles of aeronautical interest appearing in the current issues of the Journals of the leading Societies and Professional Institutions.
Allison M. Ellis, Tori L. Crain and Shalyn C. Stevens
Despite a burgeoning literature on family-supportive supervisor behaviors (FSSB), it is unclear whether supervisors view these behaviors as in-role or discretionary. We proposed a…
Abstract
Purpose
Despite a burgeoning literature on family-supportive supervisor behaviors (FSSB), it is unclear whether supervisors view these behaviors as in-role or discretionary. We proposed a new cognitive motivational construct, FSSB role perceptions (FSSB-RP; that is the extent to which supervisors perceive FSSB as an expected part of their job) and evaluated it as a mediator of the relationship between supervisors' own work–family experiences and FSSB.
Design/methodology/approach
We used an online survey of 245 US based supervisors.
Findings
We find that FSSB role perceptions is a unique but related construct to FSSB, and that approximately half of our sample of 245 supervisors either do not believe that FSSB is a part of their job or are unsure as to whether it is. Path analyses revealed that supervisors' own experiences of work–family conflict and enrichment are related to engaging in FSSB through role perceptions, especially when a reward system is in place that values FSSB.
Practical implications
These results may influence the design, implementation and dissemination of leader family-supportive training programs.
Originality/value
The factors that drive supervisors to engage in FSSB are relatively unknown, yet this study suggests the novel construct of FSSB role perceptions and supervisors' own work–family experiences are important factors.
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Xiangzhi Wei, Xianda Li, Shanshan Wen, Yu Zheng and Yaobin Tian
For any 3D model with chambers to be fabricated in powder-bed additive manufacturing processes such as SLM and SLS, powders are trapped in the chambers of the finished model. This…
Abstract
Purpose
For any 3D model with chambers to be fabricated in powder-bed additive manufacturing processes such as SLM and SLS, powders are trapped in the chambers of the finished model. This paper aims to design a shortest network with the least number of outlets for efficiently leaking the trapped powders.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper proposes a nonlinear objective with linear constraints for solving the channel design problem and a particle swarm optimization algorithm to solve the nonlinear system.
Findings
Structural optimization for the channel network leads to fairly short channels in the interior of the 3D models and very few outlets on the model surface, which achieves the cleaning of the powders while causing almost the least changes to the model.
Originality/value
This paper reveals the NP-harness of computing the shortest channel network with the least number of outlets. The proposed approach helps the design of lightweight models using the powder-bed additive manufacturing techniques.
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Kwame Oduro Amoako, Isaac Oduro Amoako, James Tuffour and Newman Amaning
This study was aimed at examining the motivations, elements and channels of sustainability reporting of a multinational mining company that operates a subsidiary in Ghana…
Abstract
This study was aimed at examining the motivations, elements and channels of sustainability reporting of a multinational mining company that operates a subsidiary in Ghana. Semi-structured interviews were conducted among the company’s key stakeholders. These informants were drawn from the case company, a public regulatory agency, members and the opinion leaders of the company’s host community. In addition to the primary data, secondary documents were relied upon to corroborate the views shared by the interviewees. We discovered that while the sustainability reporting mechanism was necessary for gaining internal legitimacy with the parent company, to a large extent, the host community did not appreciate the importance of that report. In place of that the management of the mining subsidiary employed less-formal channels of communication to engage the community representatives on matters relating to sustainability. Our findings suggest that the sustainability reporting process must be adaptable and not always communicated formally. Therefore, the process needs to be re-organised to meet the expectations of all key stakeholders within the subsidiary companies’ jurisdictions. To meet the expectation of stakeholders and gain legitimacy, those charged with the governance of subsidiary companies need to contextualise their sustainability reporting strategies.
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James Lappeman, Michaela Franco, Victoria Warner and Lara Sierra-Rubia
This study aims to investigate the factors that influence South African customers to potentially switch from one bank to another. Instead of using established models and survey…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the factors that influence South African customers to potentially switch from one bank to another. Instead of using established models and survey techniques, the research measured social media sentiment to measure threats to switch.
Design/methodology/approach
The research involved a 12-month analysis of social media sentiment, specifically customer threats to switch banks (churn). These threats were then analysed for co-occurring themes to provide data on the reasons customers were making these threats. The study used over 1.7 million social media posts and focused on all five major South African retail banks (essentially the entire sector).
Findings
This study concluded that seven factors are most significant in understanding the underlying causes of churn. These are turnaround time, accusations of unethical behaviour, billing or payments, telephonic interactions, branches or stores, fraud or scams and unresponsiveness.
Originality/value
This study is unique in its measurement of unsolicited social media sentiment as opposed to most churn-related research that uses survey- or customer-data-based methods. In addition, this study observed the sentiment of customers from all major retail banks across 12 months. To date, no studies on retail bank churn theory have provided such an extensive perspective. The findings contribute to Susan Keaveney’s churn theory and provide a new measurement of switching threat through social media sentiment analysis.