bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Knowledge Transfer through Appropriate Location Selection: An Empirical Investigation in China
Authors: Liang Fan , Nicholas Stephen
Published: June 2010

This paper investigates the location determinants of foreign investors and how the location decision‐making impacts on their knowledge transfer strategies. Survey data were collected in Yunnan, a southwest province of China. By examining two different sets of location factors at both the national and provincial levels, the research found that location factors at the provincial level, rather than at the national level, directly influenced foreign investors’ knowledge transfer strategies. The research also found that the support of Yunnan’s local government compensated for the underdeveloped endowment conditions of the province, significantly increasing knowledge transfer of foreign investors. The research suggests that foreign investors need to make appropriate location selection to efficiently exploit their ownership advantages. A well‐structured policy regime is required of host countries in order to encourage knowledge transfer by foreign investors.
Greening of the Supply Chain: An Empirical Study for SMES in the Philippine Context
Authors: Rao Purba
Published: June 2010

The greening of the supply chain initiative, as implemented by world‐class ISO 14001 certified companies, has already demonstrated how much it contributes towards greening the industry of the region they operate in. The SMEs have been involved in such a green supply chain only to the extent of their participation as suppliers, distributors and in other capacities as business partners complementing the world‐class companies. All the same, in many regions, the environmental initiatives taken by the SMEs do conform to the different phases of the green supply chain. This study investigates if in the Philippine context this postulate is indeed true, and with the help of an empirical survey, establishes that the SME population in the Philippines do indeed carry out different phases of the green supply chain, though in a heterogeneous manner. This would be indeed expected given the heterogeneity in size and nature of business for SMEs in this region.
Experience and Perceptions of ISO 9000 and HACCP by Hong Kong Food and Beverage Organizations
Authors: Pun Maria , Wilcock Anne , Aung May
Published: June 2010

The purpose of this research is to explore the views of individuals responsible for quality assurance in Hong Kong (HK) food and beverage companies with regards to their acceptance or rejection of the ISO 9000 quality management system or HACCP food safety system standards, along with the reasoning underlying such views. Thirty Hong Kong food or beverage manufacturing companies were approached and in‐depth interviews in the form of surveys were conducted with 11 companies. Participating companies included companies that had implemented both the ISO 9000 and HACCP standards, companies that had implemented only ISO 9000 or HACCP, and a company that had implemented neither. Half of the companies that participated in this study were large companies with 500 or more employees. The use of ISO 9000 was reported to improve the maturity of other quality systems. The use of HACCP was reported to improve the maturity of other food safety systems. While more companies used HACCP than the ISO 9000 standard to comply with customers’ requirements, the difficulties in the training of staff and added costs for documentation/data storage were reported as common to both standards.
A Synthesis of Interviews with Executives of Samsung Electronics
Authors: Chen Roger , Li Zhan
Published: June 2010

Samsung Electronics is a great success story in Asia and many parts of the world. To understand the company’s history, its development, and its success secrets, we wrote this report based on interviews with the managers and former executives of Samsung Electronics.
Strategic Relationship Between Advertising Clutter and Polychronic Time Use: A Study of Indian Youth
Authors: Kansal Purva , Aggarwal Divya
Published: June 2010

As globalization becomes ever more prominent, the role of media and advertising is increasing. Ideally for large multinationals that have the resources to take advantage of globalization there exists a larger “market” to which products can be sold. To create and sustain their market, these multinationals companies use aggressive advertising strategies. Television is a aggressive advertising media for these companies. In India television advertising has been expanding throughout the 1990s. Close on the heels of multinationals, domestic companies are also using television as a media to reach the Indian masses. As a result, the number of television commercials is increasing. With this the frequency and time of advertising pods, in a program, are also increasing. This competition between the program content and advertising pods is known as “clutter”. This advertising clutter and has led to companies questioning the efficiency of the medium of communication, in terms of reducing the competitive rivalry and creating a brand impression. This paper aims at understanding this relationship between advertising clutter and multiple activities a viewer might be involved in i.e. polychronic use of time: as proposed by Kaufman and Lane (1994). The study concludes that Indian youth exhibit mental nomadship rather than channel or physical nomadship, at current levels of advertising. Furthermore, channel nomadship has a significant relationship with the person who has control over the remote and the time for which the television is being watched. Physical nomadship has a significant relationship with age, gender and education level. Finally, mental nomadship was related to gender and education level. The study also has important implications for managers.
A Conversation with John “Jack” Wadsworth, Jr., Honorary Chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia
Authors: Li Zhan , Chen Roger , Tay Nicholas , Duffy Mike
Published: June 2010

A Conversation with John “Jack” Wadsworth, Jr., Honorary Chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia. Wadsworth talks about Morgan Stanley’s experiences in doing business in Asia, both historically and currently, and talks about the different approaches in different regions of Asia.
Home Country Institutions As Predictors Of FDI In India
Authors: Collins Jamie D. , Li Dan , Kansal Purva
Published: June 2010

This study focuses on home country institutions as sources of variation in the level of foreign investment into India. Our findings support the idea that institutional voids found in India are less of a deterrent to investments from home countries with high levels of institutional development than from home countries with similar institutional voids. Overall, foreign investments in India are found to be significantly related to the strength of institutions within home countries. The levels of both approved and realized foreign direct investment (FDI) are strongly influenced by economic factors and home country regulative institutions, and weakly influenced by home country cognitive institutions. When considered separately, the cognitive institutions and regulative institutions within a given home country each significantly influence the level of approved/realized FDI into India. However, when considered jointly, only the strength of regulative institutions is predictive of FDI inflows.
Internationalization and Network Strategies: Taiwanese Firms’ Foreign Direct Investment in China and the USA
Authors: Tseng Chi‐Hsing , Kuo Hsin‐Chih
Published: June 2010

By applying a network theory, this study explores the relationships between internationalization models and the adoption of network strategies. Based on the time period between a firm’s inception and its first year of investing abroad, this study compares firms with two different types of internationalization process: “Born Global” and “Incremental”. This study also proposes two kinds of network strategies: business and social. After investigating 138 foreign direct investment (FDI) cases of Taiwanese firms in China or the USA, we find that compared to Incrementals, Born Globals are more likely to adopt social network strategies with the local community. This research also finds there is a strong relationship between the foreign investment country and network strategies. Compared to firms with FDI in the USA, firms investing in China rely more on co‐operative production systems and are more likely to utilize social relationships with the local community and government authorities.
The Role Of Interaction And General Adjustment In Expatriate Attitudes: Evidence From A Field Study Of Global Executives On Assignment In South Korea, Japan And The Netherlands
Authors: Palthe Jennifer
Published: June 2010

Using an international field study of 196 US executive expatriates from multiple industries on assignment in South Korea, Japan and the Netherlands, this study aimed to explore the relationship between three facets of cross‐cultural adjustment (work, interaction, and general) and expatriate attitudes (job satisfaction and non‐work satisfaction), and to examine the role of cross‐cultural adjustment in mediating the relationship between family adjustment and expatriate attitudes. The results demonstrate the influence of each facet of adjustment on expatriate attitudes, and provide evidence that the relationship between family adjustment and non‐work satisfaction is mediated by general adjustment. Future research directions and implications for practice are offered.
Does Consumer Ethnocentrism Affect Purchase Intentions Of Chinese Consumers? Mediating Effect Of Brand Sensitivity And Moderating Effect Of Product Cues
Authors: Wei Yujie
Published: June 2010

This paper studies how Chinese consumers respond to foreign goods in the post‐WTO era. Specifically, it examines brand sensitivity as a mediator and product cues as moderator of purchase intention. Additionally, it examines consumer preferences for different products and consumption plans for the subsequent five years. The survey sample is drawn from a population of foreign product users from 34 cities in 18 provinces in China. Results provide evidence that brand sensitivity mediates the relationship between consumer ethnocentrism and purchase intention; product cues moderate the effect of ethnocentrism on purchase intention. As the first study to link consumer ethnocentrism directly to brand sensitivity and purchase intention, this research provides some managerial implications. Global marketers can offset the negative effect of ethnocentrism by emphasizing brand image of its products, taking advantage of specific product cues, or by providing more comprehensive after‐sale service to reduce the perceived risk of purchasing imports. Also, price is still a hurdle that prevents Chinese consumers from mass consumption of foreign products. Global firms should not overestimate the purchasing power of Chinese consumers. This study represents a “snapshot” of Chinese consumers’ decision making at a time when their economic system is undergoing rapid change.
Measuring Performance Of Sino‐Japanese Joint Ventures In China: The Relationship Among Methods, Parties, Approaches, And Impact Of National Culture
Authors: Lu Lung‐Tan
Published: June 2010

This study aims to explore the performance measurement of Sino‐Japanese joint ventures (JVs) by linking the relationship among subjective and objective methods, measure approaches, perspectives of parent firms and IJV general managers, and the impact of national culture. Using a sample of 76 Sino‐Japanese JVs, the findings are as follows: (1) foreign parents and JV general managers evaluate JV performance using four approaches (i.e., economic, strategic, behavioral, and learningV; (2) There are significant correlations among the four approaches; (3)Learning approach is found significantly different between the Japanese parent firms and JV general managers; (4) National culture has influence on JV performance.
An Interview with Min Zhu, Webex Founder and Active Venture Investor in China
Authors: Fu Shenzhao
Published: June 2010

An Interview with Min Zhu, Webex Founder and Active Venture Investor in China. In a public speech on April 21, 2007, Bill Gates acknowledged, “There was a survey done in the US that asked where the next Bill Gates will come from. Sixty per cent of the United States said that the next stunning success would come from Asia. I think it’s true and amazing that it’s so well organized that the investment and change here are leading to very innovative work”. To learn more about the current status of venture investment in China, we interviewed Mr. Min Zhu, who co‐founded Webex in Silicon Valley, and recently moved to China to focus on venture capital investment. He answered JABS questions on May 12, 2007 in Hangzhou, China.
Materialism among Adolescents in China: A Historical Generation Perspective
Authors: Gu Flora F. , Hung Kineta
Published: June 2010

This study examines the development of materialistic values from a historical generation perspective. On a macro level, we examine critical societal events such as the Cultural Revolution and the globalization that may affect the materialistic values embraced by parents and adolescents in China. On a micro level, we delineate the impacts of financial resources and media exposure on individuals’ materialism. Based on the historical generation theory, we hypothesize differing levels of materialism, and differential mechanisms of materialistic development for the two generations. The hypotheses are tested on the survey data of 2,860 adolescents (age 15‐19) and 11,920 adults (age 40‐49, the parent generation). The results show that adolescents are more materialistic than the parent generation in terms of acquisition centrality, novelty‐seeking, and susceptibility to social influence. The results also show that media exposure exerts a strong influence on adolescents’ materialism while income does not register any significant effects. The effects are sharply reversed for the parent generation, with income as the key determinant and media exposure having no impact. The article closes with managerial and research implications.
The Roadmap For Global Expansion Of Evergreen Marine Corp
Authors: Liu Sandra S.
Published: June 2010

Evergreen Marine Corp (EMC) started as a privately‐owned single vessel company and became a global ocean carrier giant with 240 service locations; its shipping network now covers 80 countries. The success of the company’s global expansion has been well recognized. This article will explore the journey of Evergreen’s globalization through an interview with one of the senior managers who has been involved in every stage of the company’s globalization process.
A Panel Data Analysis of Locational Determinants of Chinese and Indian Outward Foreign Direct Investment
Authors: Duanmu Jing‐Lin , Guney Yilmaz
Published: June 2010

The upsurge of Chinese and Indian outward foreign direct investment (FDI) raises an unanswered question about locational determinants of direct investment from the two countries. Using an unbalanced bilateral FDI database, we find that Chinese and Indian FDI are attracted to countries with large market size, low GDP growth, high volumes of imports from China or India, and low corporate tax rates. We also find important differences between China and India. While Chinese FDI is drawn to countries with open economic regimes, depreciated host currencies, better institutional environments, and English speaking status, none of these factors are important for Indian FDI. Chinese FDI is also deterred by geographic distance and OCED membership. However, neither of these has any impact on Indian FDI.
FDI Technology Spillovers Within And Across Industries: Evidence From China
Authors: Tian Xiaowen , Lin Shuanglin
Published: June 2010

Using panel data of 11324 firms in China from 1996 to 1999, the study finds that FDI tends to generate positive technology spillovers to domestic firms within the same industry, but adversely affect productivity of domestic firms in other industries. It is also found that both the positive and the adverse effects are more significant at the local than the national level. Evidence from China thus suggests that FDI technology spillovers are in favor of domestic firms within the same industry rather than domestic firms in other industries, and are most likely to affect domestic firms within the same locality. The finding has significant implications for the study of the interaction between MNEs and local firms in emerging markets.
Anglo vs. Asian Family Business: A Cultural Comparison and Analysis
Authors: Gupta Vipin , Levenburg Nancy , Moore Lynda , Motwani Jaideep , Schwarz Thomas
Published: June 2010

This paper compares the family characteristics and work cultures of family businesses in Anglo, Southern Asia, and Confucian Asia cultures. Using the GLO BE classification and findings, the Anglo cluster of nations is distinguished by its strong performance orientation but weak family orientation. The Confucian Asian cluster is characterized by a strong performance and family orientation, and strong institutional collectivism. The Southern Asia cluster is distinguished by a strong family and humane orientation – a hallmark of its deep community orientation. Results indicate differing patterns in terms of the involvement of the family in the family business and other key organizational dimensions, although all three cultures share contextual embeddedness. The two Asian regions are similar only in terms of their high operational resiliency and business longevity, in contrast with the Anglo region, which is more moderate. For academicians, results suggest opportunities for examination of the impact of cultural and contextual differences on the relevance of prevailing theories of family business; for practitioners, results provide insights for global family business practice.
Corporate Restructuring and Governance Implications: A Case Study of the Guoco Group
Authors: Kusnadi Yuanto
Published: June 2010

I study a series of restructuring activities undertaken by Guoco Group Limited in recent years and the implications on minority shareholders. The divestment of Dao Heng Bank Group to DBS Group reaped substantial benefits for Guoco, including an enormous cash reserves to fund future investments. However, the cash hoard was not implemented to the best use by Guoco’s managers. Subsequently, Guoco was involved in a number of share buybacks schemes. The share‐buybacks met strong resistance from the minority shareholders and eventually forced out the second largest shareholders. Guoco was also engaged in related party transaction involving its subsidiaries in the property development business. Overall, I find evidences suggesting that corporate restructuring activities enhance the controlling owner’s grip on the group at the expense of the minority shareholders.
The Causal Relationship on Quality‐centered Organizational Culture and Its Impact on Service Failure and Service Recovery
Authors: Bae Suk Jong , Hwan Chung Soong , Choi Kanghwa , Park Jiyoung
Published: June 2010

The purpose of TQM (Total Quality Management)‐centered organizational culture is to enhance the efficiency of business through the proper allocation and concentration of restricted resources. In order to maximize the corporate profitability through customer satisfaction, what kind of, when and how many resources should be allocated and managed to the preventive TQM activities and corrective TQM activities have become a very important decision making factors at the point of high management. This study aims to identify the causal relationships of quality‐centered organizational culture on service quality and customer satisfaction relating to service failure in food service industry. And this study is intended to discover the factors of quality‐centered organizational culture which impacts on service recovery justice after service failure happens, and it can be helpful for the top managers to make a decision to how to form corporate structural culture.
Research on the Influences of New Product Design and New Product Development Process Management on New Product Development Performance in Taiwan’s Industries
Authors: Liu Pang‐Lo , Tsai Chih‐Hung
Published: June 2010

This study aims to probe into the influence of new product design and new product development process management on development performance. The research finding demonstrates that product design reveals positive and significant influence on new product development performance. Through statistical analysis, this study finds that companies in Taiwan value new product design. When companies value it more, they tend to have better new product development performance. With regard to the relation between new product development process management and new product development performance, the empirical results demonstrate that companies would pay more attention on new product development process management. With regard to new product idea and assessment, concept design and development, product function test and mass production in the market, through statistical analysis, this study finds that companies that value process management of new product development tend to have better new product development performance. As to the influence of new product design and new product process management on new product development performance, statistical analysis result demonstrates that the integration between new product design valued by companies in Taiwan and development process management would lead to significantly positive influence on new product development performance of the companies.
A Framework for Systematic Management of Operational Risks
Authors: Akpolat Hasan , Pitinanondha Thitima
Published: June 2010

This paper presents a theoretical research framework that was used to analyse operational risk management (ORM) system practices in Australia. It provides a new perspective on how to use national and international operational management system standards as a basis for systematic management of operational risks. Based on the extensive literature review and the analysis of operational risk management system practices that are common in Australian organisations, this paper identifies the critical factors for effective use of an ORM system. The proposed framework could also be used as a model to research ORM system applications in other countries.
Models for Scheduling Individual Jet Aircraft
Authors: Yang Hongsuk
Published: June 2010

This paper considers the short term fleet scheduling problem as described by Keskinocak and Tayur (1998). Fleet scheduling may directly affect the service quality of fractional jet aircraft business. The contributions of this paper are two: (i) we show how their model is easily implemented in a standard modeling language, LINGO, and (ii) an alternate formulation is given which is expected to perform better on large, difficult problems.
Research on the Throughput Impact of the Strategic Stabilizing Capacity Constraint Resources by Prolonging Planning Period
Authors: Wu Horng‐Huei , Chen Ching‐Piao , Tsai Chih‐Hung , Huang Kuo‐Wei
Published: June 2010

The issue of capacity constraint resources (CCR) or bottlenecks wandering in product mix decision by applying Theory of Constraints (TOC) management philosophy has been mentioned and demonstrated in several papers. In this study, the effect for prolonging the planning period (PPP) so as to stabilize the CCR is investigated. The results show that the effect for PPP alternative will be positive or negative which is depending on the environment condition. However, a majority cases which have positive effect for PPP alternative can be recognized prior knowing the marketing demand, which is significant in the real application.
Analysis about Korean Enterprise through China Excellence Performance Model and Comparison with China Enterprise
Authors: Ree Sangbok , Ma Yizhong
Published: June 2010

Industry competition environment is not being meaning of internal and external distinction. This may be phenomenon of globalization progress. In this time, we wish to examine present level in our enterprise and also analyze cause relation between 7 category of China Excellence Performance model which is modified Malcolm Baldridge Model and compare with China enterprise by using the same questionnaire with China. It is right opportunity to obtain information by comparing China enterprise with the Korea. This questionnaire composition and contents used as it is questionnaire contents that enforce in 2007 in China CAQ. The survey on Korea enterprises’ is 509 by KSA in 2008, China is surveyed 1679 by CAQ in 2007. In Korea “leadership”, “strategy planning”, “customer and market”, “measurement, analysis and improvement”, “resources management” and “process management” stronger than China, but in China “performance results” is stronger than Korea.
Development of a Quality Measure for the Child Care Service in Regional Level
Authors: Song
Published: June 2010

This paper is to develop a quality measure to evaluate the quality level of child care service in the regional level. By utilizing the biannual intensive child care statistical reports, ten variables are integrated and summarized as a quality measure for child care service in regional level by employing Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Conclusively, it is possible to get a comprehensive measure and the measure obtained from data between 2003 and 2008 illustrates the difference in child care service quality among regions over years. With the measure developed by this research, each region can also get very good insight into what kinds of factors of child care service should be paid more attention to in order to improve the quality of its child care service. Moreover, the measure obtained in this paper is proven reliable and robust in that it reflects the quality of child care service in each region and gives us statistically uniform quality scores with a different data set.
Atypical working hours and their impacts on leisure – an unofficial Swiss time use study
Authors: Müller Hansruedi , Wyss Ursula
Published: June 2010

The study questions how spreading working hours through the day (night) and week might affect how people use their time and participate in leisure and social activities. We make use of closed two‐daystime‐use‐diaries and questionnaires asked employees of the Swiss railway (sample size of 1,400 diarydays), to access the implications of atypical forms of working hours on the workers’ leisure time as well as the time arrangements of the employees’ partners and children. The empirical investigation revealed that people who work shifts are less likely to live in households made up of several persons (an average of 13.6 per cent compared, with 18.8 per cent among people who do not work shifts). Shift workers who live together with others in a household are more likely to share a household with a partner who also works shifts: 30.6 per cent of partners/spouses also work shifts, compared with 14.4 per cent of partners/spouses of non‐shift workers. Subdividing households according to single‐ or multiple‐person households shows that shift workers achieve a slightly longer period of social time than non‐shift workers. On the one hand, this points to a social environment which adapts to the irregular and asynchronous working hours of the person concerned. On the other hand, comparison with sociological theory literature and other time‐budget studies brings out that the social framework conditions and the extent to which working hours can be planned exert a definite influence on a functioning social environment. The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) tries – and manages – to take this into account, as the survey results clearly show. Thus, it is not possible to draw the conclusion that shift workers are in principle at greater risk from social isolation. In fact, it should be pointed out that the negative consequences of asynchronous working hours can be compensated for by individual adjustments. However, in this regard, certain operational and social framework conditions are a prerequisite for the success of these individual efforts.
An analysis of managerial competency needs in the tourism sector: the case of Turkey
Authors: Çizel Beykan , Anafarta Nilgün , Sarvan Fulya
Published: June 2010

One of the ways of improving organizational performance is to focus on individual performance and to analyze the knowledge and skills needs for effective job performance. Relevant literature suggests that needs should be studied as gaps in competencies. This study reports findings from data relating to the perceptions of middle‐level managers about the importance and current state of managerial competencies in the tourism sector. Data was collected through a questionnaire survey conducted in the hospitality facilities in Antalya, the so‐called capital city of tourism on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Respondents were asked about the importance and also present level of managerial competencies (technical and generic) required for effective job performance. Gaps were measured by subtracting the importance value ascribed to the competency from the value ascribed to the present competency level. The objective of this replication exercise was to adhere as closely as possible to the methodology and instruments used by Agut and Grau to facilitate direct comparison.
Assessment of factors influencing destination image using a multiple regression model
Authors: Tasci Asli D.A.
Published: June 2010

Destination image researchers have investigated and found that several factors have influences on destination image. Some of these factors are related to perceivers (e.g. sociodemographics and behavior); some are related to the destination of concern (e.g. promotional materials); some are independent of both perceivers and the destination (e.g. news coverage and movies); and some are methodological choices made by researchers while measuring destination image (e.g. qualitative methods vs. quantitative methods). However, there has been a lack of studies measuring the relative magnitude of the influence posed by different factors. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relative impact of factors influencing destination image, by analyzing the large scale and longitudinal dataset of the Michigan Regional Travel Market Survey, applying multiple regression analysis. The nature of this secondary dataset allowed the inclusion of a set of sociodemographic and travel behavior variables as well as one variable related to the survey methodology. Only few of those selected variables (i.e. age, race and visitation) were found to be robust. Implications and future research suggestions are provided.
Evaluating tourism resource areas in Nigeria for development
Authors: Awaritefe Onome Daniel
Published: June 2010

The study examines the spatial pattern of 101 destinations considered important in Nigeria by tourists, and categorised them into various grades, employing a questionnaire survey of 634 tourists randomly selected from seven centres in Nigeria. A standard stanine rating scheme was used to evaluate the value of the 101 destinations in Nigeria for attracting tourists. The study revealed eight tourism regions in Nigeria, with two regions, Lagos and Yankari/Jos/Abuja emerging as primary attractive tourism regions, and four regions, the Western, Northeastern, Edo/Delta and North Central tourism regions emerging as secondary tourism regions. Destinations considered most important were mostly short distance or nearby, and associated with both cultural and natural resources, especially wildlife/games and beaches/water areas. The study concludes with implications for destination planning, development and marketing.
Exploring overseas snowsport participation by Australian skiers and snowboarders
Authors: Dickson Tracey J. , Faulks Pam
Published: June 2010

Purpose

While Australian snowsport participation may represent a small part of the overall international snowsport market, the fact that Australians are renowned for their willingness to travel makes the travel motives and behaviours of Australian skiers and snowboarders a worthwhile area of research. This paper aims to address this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

This exploratory research was conducted via online survey using both convenience and snowball sampling to investigate overseas snowsport travel intentions, in the next seven months, of Australian skiers and snowboarders, many of whom were advanced participants.

Findings

People who indicated that they intended to travel overseas for snowsport were mostly males, experienced snowsport participants, under 35 years of age, well‐educated, and in higher income levels. The results indicate that the key motivations of those intending to travel overseas relate to the core of on‐snow experience: reliability of snow, quality of snow, variety of terrain and off‐piste areas. Of less importance were the off‐snow and alternative on‐snow activities.

Practical implications

With the major sources of information for planning an overseas snowsport trip being the internet and families and friends, the availability of current information such as resort maps and current snow conditions via web cams, and the quality of experience of every customer visiting the resort, are key marketing strategies for this niche market.

Originality/value

This paper concentrates on those Australian holiday‐makers whose prime interest is snowsports to the exclusion of off‐piste activities/pleasures. It also highlights the significant role of both the internet and word‐of‐mouth recommendation in holiday planning, and consequently the need to ensure that every visitor experiences a high quality vacation.
Senior and non‐senior traveller behaviour: some exploratory evidence from the holiday rental sector in Switzerland
Authors: Sund Kristian J. , Boksberger Philipp
Published: June 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test a number of hypotheses concerning the differences between senior and non‐senior travelers in the particular context of holiday rentals. A further aim is to provide exploratory evidence for these differences.

Design/methodology/approach

A brief review of the extant literature leads into the formulation of some hypotheses. The hypotheses are tested using survey data. Data from the same survey are used to explore further data.

Findings

It was possible not only to find some evidence to support the hypotheses, but also to find significant differences between the preferences of seniors and non‐seniors, as well as between pre‐seniors and seniors. Thus, pre‐seniors exhibit a higher willingness to pay for holiday rentals than seniors, whereas seniors have a higher preference for domestic travel. Seniors are less interested in technology than other age groups. Originality/value –This paper reports on survey findings for a segment of the tourism market that has received practically no attention in the literature – the holiday rental market. The results pave the way for further investigations within this segment.
There is a market for destination information brochures – but is there a future?
Authors: Laesser Christian
Published: June 2010

Purpose

This paper seeks to broach the issue of interdependence in the travellers’ use of online and printed destination information, thus giving insight into a key issue when it comes to the sourcing of channels of promotion as well as information dissemination. The case study used is Switzerland, which stands for a very mature travel market.

Design/methodology/approach

Different groups of travellers to a destination are profiled according to their information‐sourcing behaviour. The data used in the study stem from a 2004 survey of a representative consumer panel.

Findings

The results show that destination information brochures would be preferred to online information in the following contexts: not very well educated, older and aged non‐office professionals and pensioners, travelling to a destination with which they are not likely to be familiar, having their (rather long) trips organised by means of an intermediary (travel agent/tour operator).

Practical implications

From a destination point of view, the potential purpose of both channels needs to be positioned as follows: static basic and general printed information for the non‐familiar visitor vs dynamic, additional and specific online information for the familiar visitor. Originality/value –The paper contributes to improvement in approaching different target groups regarding a destination.
Destination goods as travel motives – the case of the Tirol
Authors: Zehrer Anita , Siller Hubert
Published: June 2010

Purpose

Travel motivation has received considerable attention in the tourism literature. Although motivation is only one variable explaining tourist behaviour, it is regarded as one of the most important. Hence, nature‐based tourism resources as non‐market goods or destination goods have their own economic value, which is frequently neglected. This paper seeks to examine this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The Delphi study among tourism experts attempts to quantify the value and significance of nature and landscape for tourists’ travel motivation for vacations in the Tirol at present and in the future.

Findings

The survey shows that particularly in the summer season Nature/Landscape is the most important theme for summer vacation in the Tirol today and will be even more in 2020. Therefore, it clearly is one of the most essential travel motives in the eyes of the experts. Nature‐based vacation has a strong significance and value for the Tirol, with Nature ranging among the top three strengths in the Delphi survey.

Practical limitations/implications

The Tirol provides very good prerequisites with regard to nature and experts see high importance in natural resources in 2020 in winter and summer alike. This indicates that tourist providers have to continue producing nature‐based products, offers and attractions in order to meet the challenges of the market.

Originality/value

The current findings add to a growing body of literature on travel motivation and the findings will enhance the understanding of the significance and value of non‐market goods for travel decisions.
Constructing urban green spaces: an application of Kelly’s repertory grid
Authors: Home Robert , Bauer Nicole , Hunziker Marcel
Published: June 2010

Purpose

Urban green spaces are valuable to residents for a variety of reasons and some degree of management is needed to ensure at least their preservation, if not enhancement, in a rapidly urbanising society. Intensification of the urban environment brings pressure upon the undeveloped spaces within a city and an understanding of the needs of residents is needed if green spaces are to be managed in alignment with their wishes, so that changes will be accepted. However, gaining such an understanding of the complex relationships between people and their environment is difficult. Constructs may exist that researcher, respondent, or both have not yet articulated. This paper sets out to address this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The repertory grid method is described as an approach that addresses this problem by researcher and respondent collectively, creating a survey instrument, which the
respondent then completes.

Findings

The repertory grid technique was applied in Zurich and revealed a surprisingly dominant anthropocentric attitude towards urban green spaces.

Practical/implications

The universal anthropocentric perspective allows the interpretation that residents see Zurich essentially as a place for people and furthermore see green spaces as places for themselves to pursue their own interests.

Originality/value

Application of this technique, in the context of an exploratory study, simultaneously provides direction for further research and demonstrates its utility as a tool for planners and managers of urban green spaces.
Mini‐languages for non‐computer science majors: what are the benefits?
Authors: Brusilovsky Peter , Shcherbinina Olena , Sosnovsky Sergey
Published: June 2010

Mini‐languages for teaching principles of programming ‐ such as Karel the Robot ‐ were once used in top computer science departments to provide a “gentle introduction” to programming for computer science majors. The paper builds a case for the use of mini‐languages in the context of introductory programming courses for non‐computer science major. We present a study that explored the use of Karel to teach introductory programming for information science majors.
Employing an experimental approach to evaluate the impact of an intelligent agent
Authors: Garrett Bernard Mark
Published: June 2010

This paper explores a different approach to evaluating the merits of specific technical components of computer based learning applications. A traditional double blind experimental study was implemented in a new context. A computer based Clinical Decision Simulator (CDS) system was designed and implemented incorporating an intelligent agent. This was compared to an otherwise identical system with no agent, and a group of students not using CBL systems. The results suggested that although no improvement in measurable learning outcomes could be conclusively demonstrated there was some evidence that those students using the intelligent agent system demonstrated more positive learning experiences and a deeper conceptualisation of the issues. This would suggest that a comparative multimethod experimental evaluation strategy, although complex (and not without its shortcomings) may help provide a more comprehensive analysis of students learning experience, and provide a useful picture of the student’s perceptions of CBL tools. This novel approach may be of particular relevance where the justification of a specific technological aspect of an e‐learning application is required. The value of developing and using an experimental strategy to evaluate a specific technological aspect of a computer based learning (CBL) application is discussed.
An evaluation of the learner model in WISDeM
Authors: Janvier W A , Ghaoui Claude
Published: June 2010

This paper discusses an evaluation study of WISDeM, an interactive Distance Learning Tool. It covers the evaluation rational, details of usability evaluation, designing the evaluation, the objectives and respondents, the study, the raison d’être for the questions asked and basic assumptions, what needed to be evaluated, the execution of the evaluation, its results and conclusions. The evaluation results indicated that Communication Preference and Learning Styles matching between a computer interface and the student user is likely to enhance his/her ability for memory rehearsal, learning and knowledge recall more effectively than without it.
Developing interoperable taxonomy systems for sharing resources within multidisciplinary communities of practice
Authors: Richardson Steven , Childs Mark , Dempster Jacqueline A
Published: June 2010

There is a wide range of issues involved in how users can exchange and integrate information and resources between databases given that each may have its own structure or taxonomy. This paper clarifies the issues concerning interoperability of data systems and user‐defined taxonomies and provides suggestions for new technical approaches. It is based on experiences in developing a web‐based portal for learning technology, a multidisciplinary field of research and practice. It outlines the nature of the problem in the context of current knowledge of the systems, protocols and implementation issues concerned with interoperability and introduces a possible solution.
Evaluation and multimedia learning objects: towards a human‐centred approach
Authors: McEwan Tom , Cairncross Sandra
Published: June 2010

If initial attempts to incorporate reusable multimedia into university teaching were characterised by the efforts of enthusiasts, the growth of the “Learning Object” economy in recent years requires a more strategic and systems‐based approach. While all reusable learning materials have a value, both financial and educational, multimedia in particular is expensive to produce. Systematic production (based on ISO 14915 standards (2002a, 2002b, 2003) and evaluation of fitness for purpose, are paramount. Human‐centred design (HCD) methodologies, based on the ISO 13407 standard (1999), are now well‐established for ensuring that investments in technology result in benefits, and in particular lay
heavy emphasis on the frequent use of evaluation. This paper reviews literature in educational multimedia production, interaction design, HCD, and pedagogy, and summarises ongoing attempts to standardise a definition of reusable learning objects (RLOs), with multimedia learning objects (MLOs) as a specific example. We conclude that evaluation must be central to the production and deployment of MLOs. We report on experiences applying an existing framework for effective production of multimedia learning resources, and propose revisions to this framework to add effective evaluation
mechanisms.
A simulated student agent for improving collaborative learning
Authors: Vizcaíno Aurora
Published: June 2010

The implementation of collaborative systems in learning situations frequently suffers from an emphasis on technical issues, which often leads to a neglect of the problems encountered when learners have to solve tasks jointly. This paper describes how a Simulated Student may be used in synchronous collaborative applications with the goal of monitoring students’ actions in order to detect and correct specific types of disfunctioning in collaboration. Several experiments were carried out with the intention of testing whether the Simulated Student was useful. Data showed that in the majority of the cases the Simulated Student detected and avoided “negative situations” and, what is more, it also improved students’ learning.
The mental workload of a ship’s navigator using heart rate variability
Authors: Murai Koji , Hayashi Yuji , Nagata Noriko , Inokuchi Seiji
Published: June 2010

A human navigator attempts to handle the ship for safe navigation by judging navigational information on own ship’s condition, targets and current‐wind effects. He/she has the responsibility of human lives and the economic values to judge. The human navigator maintains high mental workload during the navigational watch keeping. Therefore, we need to develop a support system to reduce the mental workload with human‐system cooperation based on the navigator’s KANSEI, and we must research an index to assess the mental workload for the first step, as the research on the KANSEI of ship’s navigator is not yet available in the world. In addition we depend on the professional’s experience for the assessment. The purpose of this paper is to find characteristics of the mental workload using heart rate variability. The experiment is carried out in six types of sea area on the west side of Japan. The subject is the chief officer of a training ship at Kobe University.
From conceptual modelling to knowledge representation in intelligent instructional environments
Authors: Pecheanu Emilia
Published: June 2010

This paper presents a new solution for conceptually modeling the training‐domain knowledge of intelligent computerassisted instructional (ICAI) systems. Various cognitive demands from learners impose various modalities of presenting and structuring the knowledge to be taught. This paper is presenting a theoretical framework allowing to develop coherent, flexible models for the training‐domain knowledge of an ICAI system. A case study and an authoring‐system are also presented, in order to describe the main features of the modeling methods. This new approach in ICAI systems’ domain‐knowledge structuring and representation can offer a solution to the problem of adapting the instructional system interaction to users with different learning styles and needs.