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1 – 10 of over 3000Hung-Che Wu, Ching-Chan Cheng, Yi-Chang Chen and Wien Hong
This paper aims to test the relationships among the experiential quality dimensions, the green relationship quality dimensions, environmental friendliness, green support, green…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to test the relationships among the experiential quality dimensions, the green relationship quality dimensions, environmental friendliness, green support, green desire and green experiential loyalty in a green bed & breakfast (B&B) context.
Design/methodology/approach
The data used in this study are based on a sample of 517 customers staying at one green B&B in Yilan County of Taiwan. The predicted relationship is tested using structural equation modeling.
Findings
The empirical findings reveal the following: five dimensions (peer-to-peer quality, physical environment quality, outcome quality, venue quality and administration quality) constitute a multidimensional model to conceptualize and measure perceived experiential quality that can achieve green experiential satisfaction in addition to environmental friendliness; environmental friendliness has a direct influence on green trust and green experiential satisfaction, which has a positive significant influence on green support and green desire; and green trust, green experiential satisfaction and green support contribute to green experiential loyalty.
Practical implications
To increase the perceptions of experiential quality dimensions, green relationship quality dimensions, environmental friendliness, green support, green desire and green experiential loyalty, the findings of this study will help green B&B management develop and implement market-orientated service strategies.
Originality/value
This paper provides data that result in a better understanding of the relationships among experiential quality dimensions, green relationship quality dimensions, environmental friendliness, green support, green desire and green experiential loyalty in a green B&B setting.
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The purpose of this study is to provide insights into mechanism by which environmentally friendly initiatives positively affect a service firm's revenue stream. First, it explores…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to provide insights into mechanism by which environmentally friendly initiatives positively affect a service firm's revenue stream. First, it explores attributes consumers associate with green services. Second, it affirms the mediating role of warm emotions in connecting green services to satisfaction and customer loyalty. Third, it investigates a set of amplifiers of warm emotions. These are the green tendencies of the consumer and perceived motives for adopting environmentally friendly practices.
Design/methodology/approach
This research involved two studies. A critical incident study was used to tap into the consumer's perspective on green services. A total of 262 attributes of green services were categorized into overarching themes. A quantitative study addressed the mediating relationships and amplifiers of warm emotions. Pooled across three services, a total of 846 observations were analyzed.
Findings
The findings reveal that a consumer views a service as environmentally friendly if it exhibits green attributes in either the core service, service delivery process, service environment or peripheral service activities. The results of Study II affirm that warm emotions mediate the relationship between perceptions of the environmental friendliness of a service and customer satisfaction as well as customer loyalty. The study findings suggest that positive emotions are further strengthened by the level of greenness of the consumer and by a firm's money saving motives as well as environmental preservation motives the consumer attributes to the adoption of green practices.
Originality/value
This study advances the authors' understanding of what attributes consumers associate with service greenness. This research expands on the service greenness and positive emotions connection by including an initial set of amplifiers of positive emotions to include the greenness of the consumer and motives for adopting green practices.
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Environmental sustainability (ES) is an increasing tendency in the healthcare industry as it seeks to enhance the environmental friendliness and reduces waste in operations to…
Abstract
Purpose
Environmental sustainability (ES) is an increasing tendency in the healthcare industry as it seeks to enhance the environmental friendliness and reduces waste in operations to save money. The objective of research article is to identify the factors that contribute to improving the performance of ES in hospitals. Understanding the factors that contribute to the improvement of healthcare services may be helpful for practitioners, who need to address and implement an effective framework to enable an environment-friendly practice in hospitals.
Design/methodology/approach
The current study utilised the technique called total interpretive structural modelling (TISM) to identify the factors and understand the interconnection between the identified factors. A literature review revealed 12 factors, which were then refined with the input of hospital experts. Based on a questionnaire survey, a planned interview is conducted in chosen Indian hospitals. The matrix impact cross multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC) study employs dependency and driving power to identify the hierarchical relationship between the detected factors.
Findings
Green building initiatives, water consumption, resource usage, and renewable energy were identified as key factors in the study. Other factors such as staff behaviour, procurement of goods and management of hazardous substance would be influenced by these fundamental components. With the implementation of green initiatives in the hospital, ES is primarily used to reduce the excessive use of scarce resources.
Practical implications
The ES programme begins at the hospital grounds, with awareness and specific training provided to all personnel, including doctors, nurses, and managers at all levels. The training programme is intended to raise awareness; sessions are divided into targeted groups; a new organisational structure is created; and a consultant agent is hired to commence ES.
Originality/value
Existing literature has focussed mostly on ES factors such as carbon emissions, water conservation, and effective waste disposal, while ignoring organisational viewpoints and their interrelationships. As a result, the current study used TISM to show the relationship between various organisational and environmental perspective components in order to comprehend the reasoning behind improving performance.
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This study aims to build on a contextualised approach for revealing the particularities of social sustainability indicators on the building scale within the particular context of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to build on a contextualised approach for revealing the particularities of social sustainability indicators on the building scale within the particular context of Jordan, focusing on the buildings of the Dahiyat Al Hussein suburb.
Design/methodology/approach
This study relied on a review of the relevant previous research as well as global, regional and local rating tools, followed by working with a diversified participant base comprising experts as well as users through Delphi rounds and analytic hierarchy process-based assessments.
Findings
This study resulted in several key indicators that were classified into three main categories: environmental friendliness, comfort and convenience and social blend. It resembled a step on the path towards the standardisation of context-specific social sustainability indicators, an effort that would be further supported by future research addressing other development within Jordan.
Originality/value
The sustainability debate has, for long, acquired the undivided attention of its key stakeholders. With the continuous rise of global attention, the conceptualisation of sustainability has grown more specialised in both function and scale, and sustainable measures have been developed at the macro and micro levels. With the further spread of the concept, recognition of its contextual differences between various countries became more vivid, where the social dimension attains particular importance.
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The purpose of this research is to understand the attitudes of individuals towards corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Kazakhstan and identify the benefits that CSR…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to understand the attitudes of individuals towards corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Kazakhstan and identify the benefits that CSR activities may bring to business and its stakeholders.
Design/methodology/approach
Theoretical underpinnings for the research are drawn from existent literature on CSR. A total of 120 questionnaires were collected, 68 percent of which were filled in online, the rest were answered manually by the respondents.
Findings
The results suggest that environmental friendliness, legal responsibility and stewardship principle are considered to be very important in Kazakhstan. The attitudes towards economic responsibility are significantly affected by age and working experience. The application of Carroll's Pyramid of CSR identified that the hierarchy of responsibilities in Kazakhstan exists in the following order: legal, ethical, economic, and philanthropic. The primary payback of CSR is improved company image and reputation.
Research limitations/implications
As the concept of CSR is relatively new in Kazakhstan misunderstanding of CSR principles might have led to wrong perceptions and attitudes and distortion of the research results. The sample is not representative of the population as a whole and cannot be generalized.
Practical implications
The paper is a valuable contribution to the development and promotion of CSR principles in Kazakhstan which provides an insight into the current situation in the country. Managers and policy makers may revise their strategies and policies with the expectations of the general public.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to the limited scope of literature on the attitudes towards CSR in Kazakhstan.
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Hatice Camgöz-Akdağ, H. Pınar İmer and K. Nazlı Ergin
The purpose of this paper is to employ quality function deployment (QFD) method for translating internal customer needs and expectations into appropriate service specifications to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to employ quality function deployment (QFD) method for translating internal customer needs and expectations into appropriate service specifications to perform existing process assessments in relation to quality characteristics for increasing internal customer satisfaction.
Design/methodology/approach
The integration of SERVQUAL into QFD has been used to set the success factors to improve quality in the textile industry. One of the largest textile companies in Turkey provided the sample. A SERVQUAL-type of questionnaire was used and a total of 32,938 questionnaires were distributed both manually and online, 24,551 usable were received, comprising a response rate of 77.31 percent.
Findings
Findings of the QFD application suggest internal customer focus as having the highest weight score of almost 12 percent improvement. In addition, improvements in technical requirements of politeness and process communication have a 9 percent impact each on internal customer satisfaction criteria.
Research limitations/implications
QFD technique is able to provide companies with a better understanding of internal customer expectations and translate these into appropriate service specifications and perform existing process assessment.
Originality/value
This paper is a first attempt that applies this integrative approach to a different type of industry, thus offering practical and applied information for professionals engaged in academia and as practitioners.
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Huajun Cao, Yanbin Du and Yongpeng Chen
China has become the low‐cost manufacturing center of the world. The purpose of this paper is to provide an in‐depth analysis of a new manufacturing strategy for China's future…
Abstract
Purpose
China has become the low‐cost manufacturing center of the world. The purpose of this paper is to provide an in‐depth analysis of a new manufacturing strategy for China's future manufacturing sector which is trying to transform into a new low‐carbon development paradigm. It also aims to discuss the empirical implications and policy suggestions.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on the broad reviewing of the relative government documents and press reports in China, the USA, and Japan. The authors also conducted case research of China's remanufacturing practices.
Findings
The high energy consumption and emissions of China's manufacturing sector results from the widespread use of obsolete production equipment, which can produce low‐cost products with a severely negative environmental effect. The remanufacturing strategy can upgrade existing production equipment to improve production efficiency, which will be a more practical paradigm for China's future manufacturing sector.
Originality/value
The previous relative low‐carbon policies in China are mainly associated with the administrative measures, such as direct “command‐control”, which have paid little attention to the practical development paradigm. This paper first provides a framework for understanding and practical evidence for the remanufacturing strategy as a new low‐carbon paradigm for the giant manufacturing sector of the world's largest developing country.
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Xin Hu, Bo Xia, Martin Skitmore and Laurie Buys
As a viable housing option for older people, retirement villages need to provide a sustainable living environment that satisfies their residents’ needs in terms of affordability…
Abstract
Purpose
As a viable housing option for older people, retirement villages need to provide a sustainable living environment that satisfies their residents’ needs in terms of affordability, lifestyle and environmental friendliness. This is, however, a significant challenge for not-for-profit developers because of the high upfront costs involved in using sustainable practices. The purpose of this paper is to identify the sustainable features and practices adopted in not-for-profit retirement villages.
Design/methodology/approach
Because of the lack of quantitative historical data, a case study approach was adopted to identify the sustainable features and practices used in a not-for-profit retirement village in Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. Data were collected based on interviews, direct observation and documentation, and collected data were analysed by using content analysis.
Findings
The research findings indicate that similar to private developers, not-for-profit developers also have the capability to make their village environment sustainable. In this case, the sustainable practices cover various aspects including the selection of village location, site planning, provision of facilities and services, social life and living costs. Although the associated costs of adopting sustainable features is a concern for both developers and residents, some of the identified sustainable practices in this case do not result in significant cost increase but can improve the residents’ quality of life substantially.
Practical implications
The research findings provide a number of practical implications on how to deliver sustainable retirement villages in a not-for-profit village setting.
Originality/value
This paper provides a first look at sustainable features and practices adopted in both the development and operation stages of a not-for-profit retirement village.
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Vincent Onyango and Michael Schmidt
This paper sets out to assess and analyses the key pillars of the SEA framework in Kenya, highlighting aspects that should be considered for further scrutiny and review, aiming at…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper sets out to assess and analyses the key pillars of the SEA framework in Kenya, highlighting aspects that should be considered for further scrutiny and review, aiming at evolving a suitable context‐specific Kenyan SEA.
Design/methodology/approach
Content analysis of the SEA framework was done through desktop research. This was supplemented by a two‐month internship at the National Environmental Management Authority in Kenya. The key documents prescribing and describing SEA in Kenya (legal documents, guidelines) formed a basis for interpretative analysis. International literature on SEA frameworks also formed a basis for analysis.
Findings
Although the SEA framework is relatively complete, there are certain elements that are incomplete, e.g. environmental and sustainability standards have not been formally established. Some provisions are unclear or reveal internal incoherency within the framework. For example, the definitions of policies, plans, programmes and projects are not clearly differentiated for the purpose of the SEA framework. The framework is premised on “an early SEA” yet the key exercises of public participation and the triggering of the SEA exercise are both carried out late. There is need for SEA‐EIA tiering and SEA definitions and purposes to be harmonized within the various documents of the framework. Sector‐level SEA guidelines offer the most appropriate opportunity to address most of the substantive shortcomings of the framework.
Practical implications
The results provide a baseline for departure towards further scrutiny and research in order to evolve a more homegrown SEA, as opposed to merely copyng what other countries have done. The highlighted areas are expounded on, with some suggestions given; in some instances no clear remedy is immediately obvious.
Originality/value
The paper is a seminal instigator of interest into the Kenyan SEA framework, which is still very young and devoid of experience and tradition. It brings to light and questions some key issues that seem to have the potential to reduce the benefits and instrumentality of the SEA tool in meeting Kenya's interest.
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Marija Cerjak, Rainer Haas, Florian Brunner and Marina Tomić
The purpose of this paper is to explore the differences between consumer motives regarding purchase of traditional food in two European countries (Croatia and Austria) with a…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the differences between consumer motives regarding purchase of traditional food in two European countries (Croatia and Austria) with a different history and development in regards to traditional and/or regional food.
Design/methodology/approach
A word association test and soft laddering interviews were used to elicit consumers’ perception and purchasing motives for traditional food. Additionally, the questionnaire contained socio-demographics and questions about shopping habits concerning traditional food. Semi-structured, individual, face-to-face interviews were performed with 31 Croatian and 28 Austrian respondents.
Findings
The most frequent associations/definition in both countries refers to heritage (food of generations) and elaboration (traditional receipt). The meaning of traditional food is for both samples positive. Hierarchical value maps for both countries contain ladders standing for health or support of local farmers. Additionally, the Austrians connect traditional food with environmental friendly production while for the Croatians sentimental hedonism ladder starts with perception of traditional food as a mean to connect with the childhood.
Practical implications
The findings can be used by traditional food producers in order to better understand consumers’ motives and accordingly adapt their marketing strategies.
Originality/value
This is the first work which uses free association test and laddering interviews to reveal consumers perception and motives for purchase of traditional food both in Croatia as well as in Austria.
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