bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Monitoring performance indicators in the Portuguese hospitality sector
Authors: Ribeiro Maria Luísa , Vasconcelos Maria Luísa , Rocha Fátima 
Published: February 2019

PurposeThis article aims to analyze performance evaluation in the Portuguese hospitality sector. It assesses the frequency with which performance indicators are monitored, the relevance assigned to them and how the two are related. It further evaluates whether performance evaluation practices in the Portuguese hospitality sector are based on the balanced scorecard (BSC) philosophy.Design/methodology/approachThe study builds upon a doctoral research addressing the hospitality sector in Portugal. Theoretically, it resorts to a literature review on performance indicators and the Portuguese hospitality sector. Empirically, it looks at a sample of four- and five-star hotels operating in Portugal in 2012. A questionnaire addressing the four perspectives of BSC was applied, and a descriptive analysis was developed.FindingsPerformance indicators cover the four perspectives of BSC in a balanced way, which confirms its relevance as a strategic management tool. However, there is no coincidence between the performance indicators most frequently monitored and those considered to be most relevant.Practical implicationsThe study reviews/identifies performance indicators suitable for the hospitality sector and highlights ways to improve their use in the Portuguese hospitality sector.Social implicationsRedirecting the use of performance indicators to long-term objectives will benefit the financial results of the hospitality industry, with positive impacts on employment. This is particularly relevant as the hospitality industry is an activity strongly characterized by seasonality.Originality/valueThis is a descriptive study related to the use of indicators in the Portuguese hotel sector, to this date inexistent/innovative. It highlights the need for changes in the choice of performance indicators in the Portuguese hospitality sector and offers suggestions for future performance evaluation frameworks.
Determinants of consumers’ participation in the sharing economy
Authors: Boateng Henry , Kosiba John Paul Basewe , Okoe Abednego Feehi 
Published: February 2019

Purpose
Consumers’ intentions to participate in the sharing economy have received much attention from researchers in recent times. However, little attention has been paid to consumers’ actual participation in the sharing economy. The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that drive customers in Ghana to use Uber.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors used surveys as the research design. There were 500 participants who were users of Uber. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires.

Findings
The findings of this study show that trust, customer return on investment and search convenience are the key factors that contribute to riders’ usage of Uber service. Furthermore, this study shows that consumers’ need for prestige and social connection do not play a significant role in consumers’ (riders’) usage of Uber services.

Originality/value
Studies investigating consumers’ participation in the sharing economy from an emerging economy context using the social exchange theory is limited. This study identifies elements of the economic and socio-emotional dimensions of the social exchange theory and the strength of their impact on people’s participation in the sharing economy.
The celebrity chef phenomenon: a (reflective) commentary
Authors: Zopiatis Anastasios , Melanthiou Yioula 
Published: February 2019

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the nature of the celebrity chef phenomenon and its impact on the contemporary hospitality industry, to both enrich current knowledge on the topic, as well as inform future research endeavors.Design/methodology/approachThe study was based on a narrative literature review of secondary data sources, namely, academic literature and industry-related articles, and video data collected from popular video-hosting websites.FindingsDespite the vast popularity of celebrity chefs, the phenomenon remains underexplored, with limited coverage given to it by hospitality-related literature. Prior investigations primarily focused on celebrity chefs’ commercial influence and power of advocacy, with little reference to their impact on the next generation of culinary professionals and on the sustainability of the profession.Research limitations/implicationsThis commentary has numerous theoretical and practical implications for industry stakeholders who wish to explore this phenomenon beyond the limited confinements of its commercial impact. In particular, the study explores the nature of the phenomenon, where television, social media and the celebrity status of chefs influence both the values and norms surrounding the profession, and individuals’ vocational choices. That said, findings suggest that additional research is required on this topic.Originality/valueThe exploration of celebrity chefs as a topic has so far been limited and has leaned toward one dimension in hospitality literature, despite its interesting scope. This critical overview provides conceptual clarity on issues such as the phenomenon’s commercial and vocational impact and highlights areas of concern and opportunity. Moreover, the study sets a clear pathway for further research.
Practicing lesson study in a Turkish education context
Authors: Karabuğa Ferhan , Ilin Gülden 
Published: February 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to touch upon the unaddressed points regarding the practice of lesson study (LS) in the field of language teacher development in a Turkish education context by considering the challenges faced and observed by the EFL teachers, their suggestions to design a process like LS practice and benefits that LS practice could provide them in terms of teaching and professional development.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis is based on the data from five EFL teachers’ collaborative work in an arrangement of lesson and learning study and from the researcher’s observations during meetings and discussions throughout the process. The data consist of interviews with participant teachers (pre and post), video recordings of the teacher workshops, field notes of the researcher and video recordings of the research lessons. The analysis was carried out through content analysis beginning with listing the responses of participants, identifying the frequency of citations, collecting similar responses under a common category to determine the categories and at last placing codes into the related categories.FindingsThe results show that the teachers had some concerns about LS practice both before and after practicing the model in the study context. They stated their concerns mostly about time, increasing responsibility and effort, being a demanding process. However, the practice seemed to meet their expectations, lead to improvements in knowledge, teaching practices and perspectives, contribute to the personal and professional development of teachers and triggered enthusiasm and a desire for students to participate actively in learning process.Originality/valueThis paper serves as an explicit example of LS practice with its plus and minuses in a Turkish education context as teachers’ views and the researcher’s personal reflections in the current study can guide the process of change and provide evidence and practical suggestions on the feasibility of the program for the ones attempting to experience it. Besides, the teachers’ perceptions and suggestions regarding LS practice in the present study can enable other teachers, organizers of professional development programs and the researchers an opportunity to lead future practices.
Lean and Six Sigma practices in the public sector: a review
Authors: Rodgers Bryan , Antony Jiju 
Published: February 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical analysis of publications relating to the use of continuous improvement (CI) methodologies, such as Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma over a 17-year period, to identify the themes and gaps, while informing the development of a future research agenda.

Design/methodology/approach
The systematic literature review identified 121 papers published between 2000 and 2017 from searches of over 1,400 peer-reviewed academic journals and also identified the application of Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma across the public sector.

Findings
This research compares the scale and breadth of the public sector with the application of CI methodologies and finds that such application is unstructured and, in some areas, sporadic. The research identifies common themes and research gaps including areas such as lack of shared understanding of Lean, gaps in strategy development and leadership and an overfocus on tools alone.

Research limitations/implications
The methodology is focussed on the journals rated in the ABS Journal Guide 2015, which allowed manual searches for accuracy and relevance to the area of investigation. It is recognised that this may exclude some articles which have been published in other journals but allowed for a structured and detailed investigation. The research identifies some very clear gaps which can inform future research agendas.

Practical implications
The paper details the implications and challenges to the public sector, generally, and to executive leadership, specifically, and, in particular, covers the common issues and concerns, which in turn will assist public sector organisations in implementing, reviewing or refreshing their CI initiatives.

Originality/value
No similar work has been conducted and while some individual areas such as health and education have been the subject of more focus, this research explores the public sector as a whole and considers the patterns of research in that context.
Lean Six Sigma for small- and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises: a systematic review
Authors: Alexander Paul , Antony Jiju , Rodgers Bryan 
Published: February 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the most common themes within Lean Six Sigma (LSS) relating to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within manufacturing organisations and to identify the research gaps in the existing literature.

Design/methodology/approach
Tranfield et al.’s (2003) systematic review methodology was utilised encompassing three stages: planning, conducting and reporting/dissemination.

Findings
The literature revealed that there are many areas in which LSS has been utilised with varying successes. In total, 52 journals have been reviewed and it has been concluded that although LSS is a powerful methodology, there are many gaps that exist in the literature and further research is needed to address these in the field of LSS.

Research limitations/implications
The papers included in the systematic review were peer-reviewed papers available in English. Due to these limitations, relevant papers may have been excluded. Moreover, the authors have excluded all conference and white papers for their inclusion in this study.

Practical implications
It is vital that LSS practitioners are fully aware of the benefits, limitations and impeding factors when implementing a LSS initiative. Therefore, this paper could provide valuable insights to ensuring maximum value, is obtained from LSS implementation in SMEs.

Originality/value
This systematic review identifies research gaps in the current literature and highlighting areas of future research which will be beneficial to many SMEs in their pursuit of value optimisation.
Factors affecting employee performance: a systematic literature review
Authors: Atatsi Eli Ayawo , Stoffers Jol , Kil Ad 
Published: February 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to synthesize the fragmented literature on organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), leader–member exchange (LMX), learning, innovative work behavior (IWB) and employee performance across different countries, disciplines and organizations, thereby broadening the literature breath and making gap identification comprehensive. Second, it provides information on how much studies have been concentrated on Africa with the goal of provoking scholarly work in a unique cultural setting on the interrelatedness of these concepts.Design/methodology/approachRelevant literature search was undertaken using key search terms, “employee performance,” “OCB,” “LMX,” “IWB,” “individual learning” and “team learning.”FindingsThe findings show positive relationships between the behaviors and employee performance. They also reveal an interesting diversity in the study across multidisciplinary fields holding both cultural and contextual significance for academia and practitioners.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitation of literature to peer-reviewed journals from the authors’ university library might have missed important information not in this domain. Further studies must make use of additional search terms and engines excluded from this study to provide a more comprehensive analysis.Practical implicationsThe paper has important managerial implications for practitioners. The analysis can support the understanding of employee performance from a broader and more diverse view points; and help in providing insight into real-life opportunities, constraints and solutions in enhancing performance management.Originality/valueThis systematic literature review highlights important knowledge gaps which need to be explored especially in the African and Ghanaian contexts.
What makes a glamping experience great?
Authors: Brochado Ana , Brochado Fernando 
Published: February 2019

PurposeThe concept of camping has changed over time, with new niche markets appealing to sustainable tourists. Glamping – short for “glamorous camping” – offers a way to experience the positive aspects of camping while minimising the negatives. This paper aims to present the empirical findings of an exploratory study that examined tourists’ Web-reviews to identify the expressive dimensions that describe these travellers’ experience.Design/methodology/approachA content analysis of Web reviews provided by tourists on glamping booking websites produced a battery of concepts used to assess glamping experiences from the guests’ perspective. Both quantitative and qualitative methods are used.FindingsThe analysis identified 11 themes: experience, hotel, learn, host, camping, nature, food, ingredients, different, eco and yoga. The results reveal that, when quality of experience is evaluated through user-generated content, two attributes appear to be involved – functional elements offered by service providers and consumers’ emotional elements.Originality/valueWeb-reviews clearly offer important information to managers in the glamping sector. The present study’s analysis revealed that different market segments (i.e. couples, visitors with families or friends and those travelling alone) share certain aspects of glamping experiences.
Reduction clause in an advance payment guarantee (AP-bond) under an overseas construction contract
Authors: Kim Sang Man 
Published: February 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review characteristics and functions of an advance payment guarantee (AP-Bond), and to analyse some legal and practical issues concerning a “reduction clause” in an AP-Bond under an overseas construction contract.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper compares relevant provisions of the URDG 758, the UN Convention, the ISP 98, and the FIDIC Silver Book, and also cites relevant case laws of the USA, UK and Korea. This paper also refers many Korean scholars’ views on characteristics of an independent guarantee including an AP-Bond.

Findings
A demand for payment under an AP-Bond shall not be honoured in the event that an employer wrongfully refuses to issue documents required for reduction of an AP-Bond. A beneficiary shall not be favoured by independence nature of an AP-Bond in case of fraud or abuse of right.

Originality/value
This paper originally analyzes a “reduction clause” in an AP-Bond. This paper provides logics that a demand for payment shall not be honoured in the event that a beneficiary wrongfully refuses to issue documents required for reduction of an AP-Bond.
The market discount of property developers’ shares and accounting policies
Authors: Lau Chee Kwong , Wong Li Li 
Published: February 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to answer the fundamental question about why the shares of property developers are traded at market discounts by focusing on property developers from Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore.Design/methodology/approachIt measures market discount using market-to-book ratio (MTB) and specifies the relations between MTB and the hypothetical determining factors (revenue recognition policy, investment property measurement policy, related party (RP) transaction disclosures and economic rent) in the presence of relevant control variables.FindingsThis study finds that aggressive revenue recognition and investment property measurement policies increase market discounts, but that RP transactions generally contribute positively to reduce the market discounts of property developer shares. Specifically, RP transactions are value-enhancing only if property developers adopt a conservative revenue recognition policy, because markets sensibly see RP transactions that are part of an aggressive revenue recognition policy as earnings management for tunnelling by controlling shareholders, and hence react with discounts. It is also observed that when property developers generate insufficient profit to cover their cost of equity, this generally leads to their shares being traded at market discounts. However, an aggressive revenue recognition policy can reduce market discount if early recognition contributes positively to economic rent.Practical implicationsThis study provides valuable evidence of the economic consequences (market discounts) of accounting choices on recognition and measurement, and the disclosure of accounting information. This is crucial to managers of property developers in managing their firm values when exercising accounting discretion.Originality/valueThis study provides empirical evidence on market discounts as they relate to property developers, which has been limited (past studies focus on property investment companies and real estate investment trusts).
The emergence of data centres as an innovative alternative property sector
Authors: Marzuki Muhammad Jufri , Newell Graeme 
Published: February 2019

Purpose
As one of the increasingly important alternative property sectors, data centres are a technology-focused property sector that is taking advantage of the growing investment intensity in technology-related infrastructure, against the backdrop of constant innovation and advancement in technology. The purpose of this paper is to assess the preliminary risk-adjusted performance and portfolio diversification benefits of data centre Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) in the USA, Australia and Singapore. The strategic implications going forward for data centres as an innovative property sector in the property investment space are also highlighted.

Design/methodology/approach
Using monthly total returns, the average annual return, annual risk, risk-adjusted performance and portfolio diversification benefits of data centre REITs in the USA, Australia and Singapore over 2016–2018 are assessed. Optimal asset allocation analysis is performed to investigate the value-added role of data centre REITs in a mixed-asset portfolio.

Findings
Data centre REITs delivered strong average annual return performance, outperforming the composite REITs in all three markets. This also sees data centre REITs being riskier than the overall REIT sector due to the non-traditional and maturing status of the data centre property sector. On a risk-adjusted basis, competitive performance was recorded for data centre REITs, with data centre REITs in the USA and Singapore outperforming their respective composite REITs. This performance is also delivered with significant portfolio diversification benefits with the stock market, resulting in data centre REITs contributing to the US mixed-asset portfolios across a diverse risk spectrum.

Practical implications
Institutional investors are now giving increased emphasis to alternative property sectors with better risk-return trade-offs. Improved performance and diversification benefits are achieved by supplementing existing property portfolios with non-traditional property sectors with counter-cyclical risk-return profiles, one of which is the data centre property sector. This sees data centres as an important alternative property sector, having technology-based drivers and being recognised as having a clear path towards institutionalisation with the major investors in the near future.

Originality/value
This paper is the first published empirical research analysis that specifically assessed the preliminary performance and diversification benefits of data centre REITs in the USA, Australia and Singapore. This research enables empirically validated, more informed and practical property investment decision making by institutional investors regarding the future strategic role of the data centre property sector as an innovative sector in the institutional property investment space.