bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Appointment Reminders to Decrease 30-Day Readmission Rates to Inpatient Psychiatric Hospitals
Authors: Habit Nicole F. , Johnson Emily , Edlund Barbara J.
Published: January 2018

Purpose of Project:

The purpose of this quality improvement project was to reduce 30-day readmission rates to inpatient psychiatric hospitals by standardizing discharge processes by including scheduling outpatient psychiatric appointments for all patients at discharge and also to include the mailing postal reminders to prompt patients to attend their first outpatient mental health appointment following treatment.

Primary Practice Setting:

Inpatient psychiatric hospital.

Methodology and Sample:

The project design was an analysis of readmission data obtained both 3 months before and after implementation of the postal reminder letters. This project took place at a 50-bed inpatient psychiatric hospital in the southeastern United States that accepts male and female adult patients with mental health and substance abuse disorders.

Results:

The implementation of an appointment reminder letter resulted in a slight decrease in 30-day readmission rates. The average readmission rate 3 months prior to implementation was 10%. The average readmission rate 3 months postdischarge was 9%. December 2015 was included in the postimplementation data. December historically has higher rates of 30-day readmissions at this facility. If this month had been excluded, more dramatic decrease in 30-day readmission rates could be observed.

Implications for Case Management Practice:

Future implications for case management practice could include the usage of reminder prompts via telephone communication or text messaging in conjunction with postal reminders. The psychiatric population can be particularly challenging when considering increased risk for readmission within 30 days and also the impending pay-for-performance quality measures, which are soon to be implemented. Measures should be taken now to ensure that readmission rates decrease, not only to promote better patient outcomes, but also as a cost-saving measure. Although many variables may contribute to the risk for 30-day readmission rates including medication noncompliance, lack of proper follow-up, as well as seasonal trends, the postal appointment reminder letters may further decrease 30-day readmission rates. Other care management strategies combined with reminder letters may further address barriers that may exist to not only improve patient outcomes, but also to further reduce readmission rates. It is also important to mention that there are further implications that could be directly contributed to specific social determinants of health specific to the psychiatric population. For example, access to prescribed medications and transportation to appointments should be addressed to further reduce readmission rates for this vulnerable population.
Simulated Interprofessional Education Discharge Planning Meeting to Improve Skills Necessary for Effective Interprofessional Practice
Authors: Smith Leslie M. , Keiser Megan , Turkelson Carman , Yorke Amy M. , Sachs Benjamin , Berg Karen
Published: January 2018

Purpose of Study:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of a simulation-enhanced interprofessional education (Sim-IPE) discharge planning learning experience using simulated patients (SPs), to explore the ability for students to communicate with each other and to a patient/caregiver, and to use clinical thinking to make a safe and appropriate interprofessional discharge recommendation.

Primary Practice Setting(s):

Educational institution; university simulation center.

Methodology and Sample:

A Sim-IPE was performed with students from physical therapy (N = 46), nursing (N = 25), and social work (N = 11). Students were placed into interprofessional teams. Presimulation, each student was expected to complete a survey and review several items including the patient case, a communication strategy, and community resources. The team then interacted with SPs portraying the patient and the family member. Postsimulation, facilitators led a debriefing session and students completed a post-IPE survey. The Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Survey (ICCAS) was completed pre- and postexperience.

Results:

Most students reported that they strongly or somewhat agreed that the experience improved their clinical thinking skills (67%; n = 55), improved awareness of the patient voice in shared decision-making (72.8%; n = 59), improved ability to prioritize patient's list of impairments (75.3%; n = 61), and improved confidence with discharge planning (69.1%; n = 56).

Implications for Case Management Practice:

Discharge planning is inherently an interprofessional process. Utilizing a simulation as a method to practice discharge planning may have a positive impact on future clinical practice. Completing the ICCAS may not be the appropriate assessment when evaluating change before and after an IPE experience based on the high scores noted preexperience. The use of a simulated discharge planning meeting may improve skills necessary for effective interprofessional practice.
Hospital Discharge and Selecting a Skilled Nursing Facility
Authors: Sorkin Dara H. , Amin Alpesh , Weimer David L. , Sharit Joseph , Ladd Heather , Mukamel Dana B.
Published: January 2018

Purpose of Study:

A currently proposed rule by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services would require providers to devote more resources to discharge planning from hospitals to ensure the prioritization of patient preferences and goals in the discharge planning process. Annually, more than 3 million persons enter a nursing home in the United States, with the vast majority of patients coming directly from hospitals. Although early evidence suggests more family involvement than patient involvement in the discharge process, most of this work has relied on retrospective reports of the decision-making process postplacement. This article seeks to examine and compare the experiences and perspectives of patients and others involved in the selection of the nursing home (predominately adult children and spouses).

Primary Practice Setting:

Large academic medical hospital with patients being discharged to a skilled nursing facility.

Methodology and Sample:

A total of 225 patients or their family members and involved others who completed an exit survey assessing their experiences and perspectives in selecting a skilled nursing home and in experiencing the discharge process more generally.

Results:

Patients were the primary decision makers about 23% of the time but were often involved in the decision even when family members/involved others were primarily making decisions in the discharge process. Although patients were involved in the selection of the nursing home to a lesser degree than involved others, their level of satisfaction with the decision to be discharged to a skilled nursing home and their level of satisfaction with their personal level of involvement with the selection of the specific nursing home did not differ from the satisfaction ratings of the involved others. Furthermore, their confidence in the decision and their satisfaction with the decision did not differ from ratings provided by family members/involved others.

Implications for Case Management Practice:

Recommendations for case management practice include (1) encouraging patients and their families to take an active role in the discharge process; (2) incorporating technology into the discharge process that promotes this active level of engagement; and (3) facilitating access to data to promote discharge to the highest quality nursing homes available.
The coming of age of EvoMPMI: evolutionary molecular plant-microbe interactions across multiple timescales
Authors: Upson Jessica L , Zess Erin K , Białas Aleksandra , Wu Chih-hang , Kamoun Sophien
Published: January 2018

Plant-microbe interactions are great model systems to study co-evolutionary dynamics across multiple timescales, ranging from multimillion year macroevolution to extremely rapid evolutionary adaptations. However, mechanistic research on plant-microbe interactions has often been conducted with little consideration of the insights that can be gained from evolutionary concepts and methods. Conversely, evolutionary research has rarely integrated the diverse range of molecular mechanisms and models that continue to emerge from the molecular plant-microbe interactions field. These trends are changing. In recent years, the incipient field of evolutionary molecular plant-microbe interactions (EvoMPMI) has emerged to bridge the gap between mechanistic molecular research and evolutionary approaches. Here, we report on recent advances in EvoMPMI. In particular, we highlight new systems to study microbe interactions with early diverging land plants, and new findings from studies of adaptive evolution in pathogens and plants. By linking mechanistic and evolutionary research, EvoMPMI promises to add a new dimension to our understanding of plant-microbe interactions.
Improving intermolecular contact prediction through protein-protein interaction prediction using coevolutionary analysis with expectation-maximization
Authors: Correa Marrero Miguel , Immink Richard G.H. , de Ridder Dick , van Dijk Aalt D.J
Published: January 2018

Predicting residue-residue contacts between interacting proteins is an important problem in bioinformatics. The growing wealth of sequence data can be used to infer these contacts through correlated mutation analysis on multiple sequence alignments of interacting homologs of the proteins of interest. This requires correct identification of pairs of interacting proteins for many species, in order to avoid introducing noise (i.e. non-interacting sequences) in the analysis that will decrease predictive performance. We have designed Ouroboros, a novel algorithm to reduce such noise in intermolecular contact prediction. Our method iterates between weighting proteins according to how likely they are to interact based on the correlated mutations signal, and predicting correlated mutations based on the weighted sequence alignment. We show that this approach accurately discriminates between protein interaction versus noninteraction and simultaneously improves the prediction of intermolecular contact residues compared to a naive application of correlated mutation analysis. Furthermore, the method relaxes the assumption of one-to-one interaction of previous approaches, allowing for the study of many-to-many interactions. Source code and test data are available atwww.bif.wur.nl/
Valection: Design Optimization for Validation and Verification Studies
Authors: Cooper Christopher I. , Yao Delia , Sendorek Dorota H. , Yamaguchi Takafumi N. , P’ng Christine , Caloian Cristian , Fraser Michael ,   SMC-DNA Challenge Participants, Ellrott Kyle , Margolin Adam A. , Bristow Robert G. , Stuart Joshua M. , Boutros Paul C.
Published: January 2018

Background

Platform-specific error profiles necessitate confirmatory studies where predictions made on data generated using one technology are additionally verified by processing the same samples on an orthogonal technology. In disciplines that rely heavily on high-throughput data generation, such as genomics, reducing the impact of false positive and false negative rates in results is a top priority. However, verifying all predictions can be costly and redundant, and testing a subset of findings is often used to estimate the true error profile. To determine how to create subsets of predictions for validation that maximize inference of global error profiles, we developed Valection, a software program that implements multiple strategies for the selection of verification candidates.

Results

To evaluate these selection strategies, we obtained 261 sets of somatic mutation calls from a single-nucleotide variant caller benchmarking challenge where 21 teams competed on whole-genome sequencing datasets of three computationally-simulated tumours. By using synthetic data, we had complete ground truth of the tumours’ mutations and, therefore, we were able to accurately determine how estimates from the selected subset of verification candidates compared to the complete prediction set. We found that selection strategy performance depends on several verification study characteristics. In particular the verification budget of the experiment (i.e. how many candidates can be selected) is shown to influence estimates.

Conclusions

The Valection framework is flexible, allowing for the implementation of additional selection algorithms in the future. Its applicability extends to any discipline that relies on experimental verification and will benefit from the optimization of verification candidate selection.
Multicolor single particle reconstruction of protein complexes
Authors: Sieben Christian , Banterle Niccolò , Douglass Kyle M. , Gönczy Pierre , Manley Suliana
Published: January 2018

Single-particle reconstruction (SPR) from electron microscopy images is widely used in structural biology, but lacks direct information on protein identity. To address this limitation, we developed a computational and analytical framework that reconstructs and co-aligns multiple proteins from 2D super-resolution fluorescence images. We demonstrate our method by generating multi-color 3D reconstructions of several proteins within the human centriole and procentriole, revealing their relative locations, dimensions and orientations.
Crystal structure of a new mixed-metal coordination polymer consisting of NiII piperidine-dithiocarbamate and pentanuclear CuI—I cluster units
Authors: Himoto Kento , Horii Toshiya , Oda Shoki , Suzuki Shimpei , Sugimoto Kunihisa , Okubo Takashi , Maekawa Masahiko , Kuroda-Sowa Takayoshi
Published: January 2018

A new heterometallic CuI–NiII coordination polymer, poly[[tetra-μ3-iodido-μ2-iodido-bis(μ3-piperidine-1-dithiocarbamato)propionitrilepentacopper(I)nickel(II)] chloroform monosolvate], {[CuI
5NiIII5(C6H10NS2)2(C3H5N)]·CHCl3}
n
, has been synthesized and structurally characterized. This coordination polymer consists of an NiII mononuclear unit of NiII(Pip-dtc)2 (Pip-dtc− is piperidine-1-dithiocarbamate) and a pentanuclear copper(I) cluster unit of Cu5I5(CH3CH2CN). The NiII ion, which lies on an inversion centre, is surrounded by four S atoms in a square-planar coordination geometry while all CuI ions have distorted tetrahedral coordination geometries. In the pentanuclear copper(I) cluster unit, a mirror plane passes through one CuI ion and three I ions. All the S atoms in NiII(Pip-dtc) are also coordinated by the CuI ions, forming an infinite zigzag chain structure along the b-axis direction. The chains are weakly connected by solvent CHCl3 molecules via Cl...I [3.653 (1) Å] and Cl...S [3.4370 (1) Å] short-contact interactions.
Synthesis, crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of tetraaquabis(isonicotinamide-κN
1)cobalt(II) fumarate
Authors: Kansiz Sevgi , Almarhoon Zainab M , Dege Necmi
Published: January 2018

The reaction of cobalt(II) with fumaric acid (H2fum) and isonicotinamide in a basic solution produces the title salt, [Co(C6H6N2O)2(H2O)4](C4H2O4). In the complex cation, the CoII atom, located on an inversion centre, is coordinated by two isonicotinamide and four water molecules in a distorted N2O4 octahedral geometry. The fumarate anion is located on another inversion centre and is linked to neighbouring complex cations via O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds and weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds. In the crystal, the complex cations are further linked by O—H...O, N—H...O and weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional supramolecular architectecture. Hirshfeld surface analyses (d
norm surfaces and two-dimensional fingerprint plots) for the title compound are presented and discussed.
Supramolecular interactions in 2,6-diamino-4-chloropyrimidin-1-ium 5-chlorosalicylate and bis(2,6-diamino-4-chloropyrimidin-1-ium) naphthalene-1,5-disulfonate
Authors: Swinton Darious Robert , Thomas Muthiah Packianathan , Perdih Franc
Published: January 2018

The crystals of two new salts, 2,6-diamino-4-chloropyrimidin-1-ium 5-chlorosalicylate, C4H6ClN4
+·C7H4ClO3
−, (I), and bis(2,6-diamino-4-chloropyrimidin-1-ium) naphthalene-1,5-di-sulfonate, 2C4H6ClN4
+·C10H6O6S2
2−, (II), have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In both compounds, the N atom of the pyrimidine group in between the amino substituents is protonated and the pyrimidinium cation forms a pair of N—H...O hydrogen bonds with the carboxylate/sulfonate ion, leading to a robust R
2
2(8) motif (supramolecular heterosynthon). In compound (I), a self-complementary base pairing involving the other pyrimidinium ring nitrogen atom and one of the amino groups via a pair of N—H...N hydrogen bonds [R
2
2(8) homosynthon] is also present. In compound (II), the crystallographic inversion centre coincides with the inversion centre of the naphthalene-1,5-disulfonate ion and all the sulfonate O atoms are hydrogen-bond acceptors, generating fused-ring motifs and a quadruple DDAA array. A halogen-bond (Cl...Cl) interaction is present in (I) with a distance and angle of 3.3505 (12) Å and 151.37 (10)°, respectively. In addition, a C—Cl...π interaction and a π–π interaction in (I) and a π–π interaction in (II) further stabilize these crystal structures.
Dibenzo[2,3:6,7]thiepino[4,5-d][1,2,3]selenadiazole
Authors: Schollmeyer Dieter , Detert Heiner
Published: January 2018

Four tetracyclic molecules of the title compound, C14H8N2SSe, are present in the asymmetric unit. Their molecular structures are very similar, adopting the shape of a saddle. The selenadiazole moiety of one of the molecules is disordered over two set of sites [occupancy ratio 0.618 (6):0.382 (6)]. In the crystal, layers of molecules with hydrogen surfaces extend parallel to the ab plane and are stacked along the c axis. The crystal studied was refined as an inversion twin.
catena-Poly[[tetrakis(μ-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoato-κ2
O:O′)diruthenium(II,III)(Ru—Ru)]-μ-chlorido] with an unknown solvent
Authors: Delgado-Martínez Patricia , González-Prieto Rodrigo , Jiménez-Aparicio Reyes , Torres M. Rosario , Priego José Luis
Published: January 2018

[Ru2Cl{μ-O2CC6H2-3,4,5-(OMe)3}4]
n
was prepared by the reaction of [Ru2Cl(μ-O2CCH3]
n
with 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid. The complex shows a paddlewheel structure with pairs of Ru atoms bridged by four carboxylate ligands. The axial positions are occupied by shared chloride ions giving zigzag chains. These chains are disposed parallel to each other to give a three-dimensional arrangement packed only by van der Waals forces. The final refinement shows high values of residual non-modelled electronic density. Therefore, the SQUEEZE utility [Spek (2015). Acta Cryst. C71, 9–18] was used to remove its contribution to the overal intensity data. The electron density modelled by SQUEEZE is consistent with around eight water molecules per unit cell.
7-Hydroxyhexacyclo[7.5.1.01,7.06,13.08,12.010,14]pentadecan-15-one-11-spirocyclopentane
Authors: Kotha Sambasivarao , Cheekatla Subba Rao , Gunta Rama
Published: January 2018

The reorganization of the carbon skeleton in a spiro cage dione to an unusual cage system, C19H24O2, using acid-promoted rearrangement with the aid of zinc dust as a reducing agent in the reaction medium is reported. The resulting trishomocubane hydroxyketone derivative includes five-membered rings having an envelope conformation and one seven-membered ring with a twist-chair conformation.
The role of psychological empowerment in climate-protective consumer behaviour
Authors: Hartmann Patrick , Apaolaza Vanessa , D’Souza Clare
Published: January 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to address the role of psychological empowerment in proenvironmental consumer behaviour, focussing on climate protection.

Design/methodology/approach

Study 1 analyses the interaction of the effects of psychological empowerment and personal norms on two environmental behaviours with a sample of 600 individuals drawn form a representative online panel of the Australian population. Study 2 addresses the reinforcing influence of empowerment with a quasi-experimental design comparing 300 consumers of green electricity with 300 conventional electricity clients.

Findings

Psychological empowerment moderates the effects of personal norms on climate-protective consumer behaviour in a value-belief-norm (VBN) framework. Personal norms have a stronger influence for consumers experiencing high psychological empowerment than for disempowered feeling consumers. Furthermore, psychological empowerment experienced as an outcome of actual proenvironmental behaviour mediates the relationship between prior climate protection and future climate-protective intentions.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should focus on the experimental manipulation of psychological empowerment with communicational claims, studying how perceived empowerment can be enhanced.

Practical implications

To promote climate friendly products and behaviours, marketers should use communication claims aimed at enhancing consumer’s subjective experience of empowerment.

Social implications

Public policy aimed at climate protection should focus on consumer education increasing consumers’ awareness of their potential influence.

Originality/value

Psychological empowerment has not been studied previously as either an antecedent or outcome of proenvironmental behaviour. This is the first study to show that psychological empowerment moderates normative influences on climate-protective consumer behaviour. This research further reveals a novel behavioural reinforcement process, in which psychological empowerment intervenes as a behavioural outcome as well as an antecedent of climate-protective consumer behaviour. Findings contribute to the development of the VBN framework as well as to the consumer-empowerment perspective on proenvironmental behaviour.
Motives for (non) practicing demotion
Authors: Verheyen Tanja , Guerry Marie-Anne
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into the practice of demotion. This study aims to do so in two ways: first, by investigating Belgian HR professionals’ key motives for practicing and not practicing demotion and second, by examining the reasons why HR professionals choose for these specific motives.

Design/methodology/approach

The explanatory mixed methods design is used: survey data are analyzed through cluster analysis resulting in insights into the motives for practicing demotion. Follow-up qualitative focus group interviews provide an explanatory understanding of the motives for practicing and not practicing demotion.

Findings

Low employee performance, optimization of the organization, employer branding and career possibilities are motives for practicing demotion. Demotivation, salary issues, a taboo and a lack of vacancies are motives for not practicing demotion. A cultural change, walk the talk, carefully selected vocabulary and transparent communication could possibly counter the motives for not practicing demotion.

Research limitations/implications

The use of terminology such as “downward career twist” instead of “demotion” in some questions of the survey might have influenced the answers of the Belgian HR professionals. In a focus group, no matter how small, participants sometimes tend to give socially desirable answers under group pressure, and this could influence the accuracy. Moreover, the HR professionals often expressed their own opinions, which they clearly dissociate from the views of the organization.

Practical implications

Organizations need to explore alternatives to motivate their employees in general and in particular in case of a demotion. This can be emphasized through a demotion policy. However, these alternative ways to motivate are important as extrinsic motivators such as salary are not the only way to motivate employees.

Originality/value

Motives for practicing and not practicing demotion are to the authors’ best knowledge never studied from a recent, Belgian HR perspective. These motives are contextualized in organizational justice theory. This study contributes to the demotion literature by elaborating the list of motives for practicing and not practicing demotion.
Demographic diversity on boards and employer/employee relationship
Authors: Li Ji , Zhang Ying , Chen Silu , Jiang Wanxing , Wen Shanshan , Hu Yanghong
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between demographic diversity on boards and employer/employee relationship (EER) and to test the moderating effect of contextual factors such as a firm’s financial situation.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analyzes data from over 1,000 publicly listed US firms and uses hierarchical regression.

Findings

Demographic diversity on boards of a given firm, such as ethnic diversity and gender diversity, should have positive effects on EER, which can be considered as an important dimension of overall human resource management performance in a given firm. Contextual factors such as a firm’s financial situation should moderate the relationship between demographic diversity on boards and the EER.

Originality/value

First, this research contributes to the current literature by showing that EER can be influenced by demographic diversity on boards, which further helps to highlight the beneficial effect of demographic diversity in top management team. Second, this study uncovers the moderating role of some contextual factors such as a firm’ financial situation. Third, this study also contributes to the corporate governance literature by studying the link between demographic diversity on boards and EER.
Development and retention of Generation Y employees: a conceptual framework
Authors: Naim Mohammad Faraz , Lenka Usha
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a conceptual framework of development, commitment, and retention of Generation Y employees.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a review of existing literature and using social exchange and social constructivist approach, this study presents a conceptual framework with mentoring, strategic leadership, social media, and knowledge sharing as its key constructs to retain Generation Y employees.

Findings

Mentoring, strategic leadership, social media, and knowledge sharing have a great potential to foster competency development. Competency development is critical to evoke affective commitment of Generation Y employees, which in turn results in intention to stay forth.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed conceptual framework should be empirically validated in the future research.

Practical implications

Organisations should incorporate mentoring, strategic leadership, social media, and knowledge sharing into their talent management strategy for Generation Y employees. Competency development then in turn evokes commitment of Generation Y employees, leading to intention to stay forth. The framework suggests an approach for generation-specific retention strategy.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies to propose a holistic framework to retain Generation Y employees. This paper adds a new dimension to the talent management literature by focusing on young generation employees.
From “manager” to “strategist”
Authors: Dillen Yannick , Laveren Eddy , Martens Rudy , De Vocht Sven , Van Imschoot Eric
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Few high-growth firms (HGFs) are able to maintain high-growth over time. The purpose of this paper is to find out why only a small number of firms become persistent HGFs, explicitly focusing on the role of the founding entrepreneur in this process.

Design/methodology/approach

Initially, 28 semi-structured interviews were performed with high-growth entrepreneurs to discover why so few founders could become persistent high-growth entrepreneurs. In a second phase, four case studies were conducted to uncover the factors that facilitate a swift evolution from the “managerial” role to the “strategic” role.

Findings

High-growth entrepreneurs, who quickly make a transition from a managerial role into a strategic role are more likely to keep their firm on its high-growth trajectory. This transition is made possible by: the early development of strategic skills; the presence of a high quality human capital base; and an organizational structure with characteristics from Mintzberg’s “machine bureaucracy.”

Practical implications

The results are vital for entrepreneurs of “one-shot” HGFs with the ambition to make their firm a “persistent” HGF. If high-growth rates are to be sustained, the three factors that emerged from the authors’ analysis should foster the delegation of managerial tasks, resulting in an easier transition toward a “strategic role.”

Originality/value

Insights are valuable as both founders and governmental institutions can benefit from knowing which factors contribute to a successful phase transition from “manager” to “strategist.”
Investigating teachers’ and school principals’ enactments of national testing policies
Authors: Gunnulfsen Ann Elisabeth , Roe Astrid
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine teachers’ reported experiences, practices, and attitudes on the use of national test results in a low-stakes accountability context. Whether the stakes are high or low, teachers and school leaders have different experiences, knowledge, and beliefs concerning how to use national test results to benefit individual student learning. This paper addresses how teachers experience school leadership and policy requirements for using national test results in local schools.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is part of a larger study conducted in a Norwegian educational context investigating school leaders’ and teachers’ enactments of policy demands via the use of national test results data. The sub-study reported in this paper is based on survey data from all lower secondary teachers (n=176) in one Norwegian municipality. Micro-policy perspectives and the concept of crafting policy coherence served as analytical tools.

Findings

Diversity between the schools was found in how teachers perceive the principals’ role. Practices and attitudes appeared restrained, somewhat conformed by, but still indifferent to the policy intention. However, there was a close relationship between the principals’ facilitation of national tests and the teachers’ practices of utilizing the results.

Originality/value

This study clarified how micro-policy works in local schools in a low-stakes context. A prominent difference was found between the policy intentions and local schools’ practice of using national test results.
The anatomy of the inconspicuous luxury fashion experience
Authors: Makkar Marian , Yap Sheau-Fen
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address the following questions: how do consumers construct meaning around their inconspicuous luxury fashion experiences? What desires do inconspicuous consumers strive to fulfill? What sentiments do they associate with their inconspicuous luxury fashion consumption?

Design/methodology/approach

This exploratory research begins with a netnographic study of 11 online luxury blogs followed by in-depth interviews and home observations of ten luxury consumers with inconspicuous preferences in Dubai.

Findings

Inconspicuous choices are not simply for associative or dissociative motivations but several symbolic consumption schemas come into play. A typology of inconspicuous luxury fashion consumers has emerged: fashion influencers, trendsetters, fashion followers, and luxe conservatives.

Practical implications

The findings have potential to yield important managerial implications for fashion retailers and brand communications. The typology of inconspicuous consumers provides a basis for developing a more targeted relationship marketing program for luxury fashion brands.

Originality/value

This research advances luxury knowledge in fashion and consumer behavior research by unveiling how consumers construct meanings around their inconspicuous consumption. The typology developed in this study marks the starting point for further extensions to explore the complexities of inconspicuous luxury consumers, which are grounded in the roles they take on in society, how they plan their luxury consumption journey and how they eventually use these possessions for self-identification and communication to others.
Accessible luxury fashion brand building via fat discrimination
Authors: Aagerup Ulf
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate if accessible luxury fashion brands discriminate overweight and obese consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

The physical sizes of garments are surveyed in-store and compared to the body sizes of the population. A gap analysis is carried out in order to determine whether the supply of clothes match the demand of each market segment.

Findings

The surveyed accessible luxury garments come in very small sizes compared to the individuals that make up the population.

Research limitations/implications

The survey is limited to London stores but the garment sizes are compared to the British population. It is therefore possible that the discrepancies between assortments and the population are in part attributable to geographic and demographic factors. The study’s results are, however, so strikingly clear that even if some of the effects were due to extraneous variables, it would be hard to disregard the poor match between overweight and obese women and the clothes offered to them.

Practical implications

For symbolic/expressive brands that are conspicuously consumed, that narrowly target distinct and homogenous groups of people in industries where elitist practices are acceptable, companies can build brands via customer rejection.

Social implications

The results highlight ongoing discrimination of overweight and obese fashion consumers.

Originality/value

The study is the first to provide quantitative evidence for brand building via customer rejection, and it delineates under which conditions this may occur. This extends the theory of typical user imagery.
Consumer expenditures on clothing and footwear: a mixed methods study
Authors: Cruz-Cárdenas Jorge , Arévalo-Chávez Patricio , Guadalupe Jorge
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to establish the predictors of consumers’ annual monetary expenditures on clothing and footwear in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, a developing Latin American country.

Design/methodology/approach

The research followed an exploratory, sequential, mixed methods design. The first phase consisted of in-depth interviews with adult individuals. The second phase involved surveying a similar segment of the population.

Findings

The present study supports the importance of demographic and psychological factors as predictors. The study also identifies two new groups of predictors: consumers’ reception of used clothing and physical space at home and its management.

Practical implications

In addition to demographic variables, consumer panels that measure expenditures on clothing and footwear should include psychological measures of participants, particularly clothing involvement. Clothing manufacturers and retailers in developing countries should consider the impact of receiving used clothes by consumers. Because clothing buying and disposal behaviors are positively associated, companies should become more involved in their customers’ disposal behavior.

Originality/value

The contribution of the present study is twofold. First, it contributes to the understanding of clothing and footwear expenditures by considering the individual consumer as a unit of analysis. Furthermore, it provides insights into this behavior from a little-studied context.
The effect of promotional mix on hotel performance during the political crisis in the Middle East
Authors: Masa’deh Ra’ed , Alananzeh Omar , Tarhini Ali , Algudah Oroub
Published: January 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the effects of promotional mix in terms of advertisement, website and direct sale on job performance during the political crisis in the Middle East.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 121 Jordanian employees working in hotels in Aqaba city, using a self-administrated questionnaire including 35 items. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to test the research hypotheses.

Findings

The results of the current study revealed that there is a significant impact of hotels’ advertisement and hotels’ direct sale on hotel performance, whereas hotels’ website has no significant impact.

Originality/value

This is the first study that examines the effect of promotional mix on hotel performance during the political and economical crises in the Middle East and clarifies the most important elements that affect the countries’ economy, especially those involved in political conflicts.
eVisa’s impacts on travel and tourism: the case of Turkey
Authors: Çakar Kadir , Kalbaska Nadzeya , Inanir Ali , Şahin Ören Tuba
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate eVisa applications. eVisa is a service that falls under eTourism, whose growing use can be attributed to its ability to simplify the process of obtaining a visa. The objectives of this study were twofold: to explore the eVisa experience of tourists who have previously visited Turkey by using the service and to analyse the perceptions of stakeholders who have contributed to eVisa.

Design/methodology/approach

The present research has utilised two methodologies within the context of qualitative research methods. Data were gathered from tourists by using reviews (n = 1690) and in-depth interviews key actors (n = 4), which represent consumers and contributors’ perspectives on the eVisa system, respectively. While consumers dictate the demand of the service, contributors control its supply. The contributors referenced herein are relevant eVisa stakeholders in Antalya.

Findings

The research findings revealed eVisa facilitation’s positive effects on a destination’s image and tourists’ intentions to revisit destinations compared to when they use traditional visa-obtaining processes. The research findings then present suitable data for destination managers and policymakers regarding eVisa facilitation, followed by this study’s conclusions and implications.

Research limitations/implications

eVisa facilitation can foster demand for travel and tourism while maintaining bureaucratic elements of the traditional visa procedure. From a psychological perspective, eVisa facilitation can positively affect travel motivation to certain destinations where eVisas are applicable, as well as positively influence intentions to revisit tourist destinations.

Originality/value

The originality and uniqueness of the present study lies in its contribution to the increasing recognition of the significance and positive impacts of eVisa facilitation on travel and tourism demand.
Intelligent agent technology
Authors: Alsetoohy Omar , Ayoun Baker
Published: January 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to empirically investigate the influence of the intelligent agent technology (IAT) on hotels’ food procurement practices (FPPRs) and food procurement performance (FPP). The study also explores the influence of FPPR on FPP in hotels.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from a survey of managers at luxury hotels in Florida, which yielded an effective sample of 78, were subjected to partial least squares structural equation modeling analysis.

Findings

IAT usage has statistically significant positive effect on both FPPR and FPP. Additionally, the results indicated that PPR has a positive influence on FPP.

Research limitations/implications

The study provided academia with a comprehensive review of the prior research on IAT benefits in food supply chain management (FSCM) and a comprehensive explanation of how the hotel FPPR are being performed by IAT. It also offers industry and technology specific insights.

Practical implications

Hotel managers should pay more attention to IAT application regarding the FPPR, specifically gathering information, supplier contract, contacting, requisitioning and intelligence and analysis. Moreover, hotel managers should enhance their employees’ abilities to be technology-oriented to maximize IAT benefits in FPP.

Originality/value

The results represent an extension to the technological innovation literature of the hospitality industry to bridge the gap of IAT in hotel FP. The framework used in the study serves as a foundation for future research studies in the hospitality industry, in FSCM in particular.
A qualitative attraction ranking model for personalized recommendations
Authors: Angskun Thara , Angskun Jitimon
Published: January 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to find a way to personalize attraction recommendations for travelers. The research objective is to find a more accurate way to suggest new attractions to each traveler based on the opinions of other like-minded travelers and the traveler’s preferences.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the goal, developers have created a personalized system to generate attraction recommendations. The system considers an individual traveler’s preferences to construct a qualitative attraction ranking model. The new ranking model is the result of blending two processes: K-means clustering and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP).

Findings

The performance of the developed recommendation system has been assessed by measuring the accuracy and scalability of the ranking model of the system. The experimental results indicate that the ranking model always returns accurate results independent of the number of attractions and the number of travelers in each cluster. The ranking model has also proved to be scalable because the processing time is independent of the numbers of travelers. Additionally, the results reveal that the overall system usability is at a very satisfactory level.

Research limitations/implications

The main theoretical implication is that integrating the processes of K-means and AHP techniques enables a new qualitative ranking model for personalized recommendations that deliver only high-quality attractions. However, the designed recommendation system has some limitations. First, it is necessary to manually update information about the new tourist attractions. Second, the overall response time depends on the internet bandwidth and latency.

Practical implications

This research contributes to the tourism business and individual travelers by introducing an accurate and scalable way to suggest new attractions to each traveler. The potential benefit includes possible increased revenue for travel agencies that offer personalized package tours and support individual travelers to make the final travel decisions. The designed system could also integrate with itinerary planning systems to plot out a journey that pinpoints what travelers will most enjoy.

Originality/value

This research proposes a design and implementation of a personalized recommendation system based on the qualitative attraction ranking model introduced in this article. The novel ranking model is designed and developed by integrating K-means and AHP techniques, which has proved to be accurate and scalable.
Marketing effectiveness of hotel Twitter accounts: the case of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alansari Mansour Talal , Velikova Natalia , Jai Tun-Min (Catherine)
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to investigate the relationship between consumers’ attitudes toward hotel Twitter accounts and attitudes toward hotel brands, booking intentions and electronic word-of-mouth. The study focuses on Saudi Arabia owing to the widespread use of Twitter in that market.

Design/methodology/approach

Modifying a previously developed theoretical model on marketing effectiveness of social media, this study empirically tests consumers’ attitudes toward hotel Twitter accounts. Data have been collected via a structured online survey. A confirmatory factor analysis and a structural equation model fit have been used to test the model.

Findings

When consumers have positive attitudes toward hotel tweets, they have positive attitudes toward the hotel’s Twitter account, which, in turn, improves their attitudes toward the hotel’s brand and results in intent to book and spread electronic word of mouth.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the body of knowledge about social media marketing effectiveness in the hospitality industry.
Creating strategic relationships with online travel agents to drive hotel room revenue
Authors: Raab Carola , Berezan Orie , Christodoulidou Natasa , Jiang Lan , Shoemaker Stowe
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Hoteliers are often frustrated by the significant fees charged for bookings by Online Travel Agents (OTAs), and they try to encourage more direct bookings that circumvent the OTA system. However, there are billions of dollars of room revenues generated by OTAs every year; and many companies in other industries sell their products through multiple channels. The purpose of this study is to investigate how hotel revenue managers can collaborate successfully with OTAs.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative methods are applied in this study, specifically focus groups and in-person interviews with market managers of a leading OTA. Content analysis is performed, using ATLASti 5, to discover emerging themes and categories from the transcripts.

Findings

This study highlights several OTA value propositions and how hotels can benefit from them. Additionally, the findings of this study reveal that effective two-way communication between OTAs and revenue managers is the key to success. An “optimization loop” is established, which specifies that partnership and collaboration between OTAs and hotels must occur in a circular sequence of communication, engagement, collaboration and strategy.

Research limitations/implications

A major limitation for this study is that interviews were conducted only with market managers, limiting the perspective to that of OTAs.

Originality/value

There is a paucity of research and dialogue discussing productive relationships between OTAs and hotel firms. Through in-depth in-person interviews with a diverse set of market managers from a leading OTA, this study brings to light an array of perspectives of what is required to optimize the OTA/hotelier relationship.
EWOM towards homestays lodging: extending the information system success model
Authors: Rizal Hamid , Yussof Soffri , Amin Hanudin , Chen-Jung Ku
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Drawing from DeLone and McLean’s Theory of Information System Success, this study aims to develop a theoretical model of electronic word of mouth (eWOM) for the homestay lodging.

Design/methodology/approach

The study examines the relationship between information quality, system quality and electronic service quality towards user’s satisfaction and eWOM intentions. Data were collected from homestay lodgers in Malaysia.

Findings

Results indicate that the effects of information quality and e-service quality on satisfaction are of significance, in turn affects eWOM intention. System quality, however, is not a driver of satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

This study contains three limitations that provide direction for future studies. The details are provided.

Practical implications

The results provide a direction to the service providers at improving their services for customers’ satisfaction and loyalty.

Originality/value

The study offers fresh new insights on eWOM intentions from a homestay lodging perspective in Malaysia.