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1 – 10 of 113Nick Johns, Alison Green, Rachel Swann and Luke Sloan
The purpose of this paper, which follows an earlier paper published in this journal, is to explore the shape and nature of plural policing through the lens of New Right ideology…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper, which follows an earlier paper published in this journal, is to explore the shape and nature of plural policing through the lens of New Right ideology. It aims to reinforce the understanding that policy is driven by both neoliberalism and neoconservatism, not simply the former. In policy terms, it uses the vehicle of a faith-based initiative – the Street Pastors – to consider how the strategic line of plural policing may be shifting.
Design/methodology/approach
The research that informs this paper spans 2012 to the present day incorporating a multi-method evaluation, an ongoing observation with informal interviews, and two e-mail surveys directed at university students in Plymouth and Cardiff. In addition, the authors carried out a critical analysis of a research report produced by van Steden and a documentary analysis of national newspaper reports of Street Pastor activities.
Findings
In a previous paper, the authors provided evidence to support the contention of Jones and Lister (2015) that there has been a shift in the landscape of plural policing. The Street Pastors initiative is a movement from “policing by the state” towards “policing from below”. The authors suggest here that there may be evidence to speculate that another shift might occur from “policing from below” to “policing through the state”. Ultimately, the authors contend, such shifts reflect and serve the dominance of New Right ideology in social and public policy.
Research limitations/implications
The research limitations of this paper are twofold. First, the surveys had very small sample sizes and so the results should be treated with caution. The authors have underlined this in detail where necessary. Second, it is informed by a series of related though discrete research activities. However, the authors regard this as a strength also, as the findings are consistent across the range. The implications relate to the way in which policy designed to encourage partnership might lead to off-loading public responsibilities on the one hand, while allowing co-option on the other hand.
Social implications
The practical implications are indivisible from the social implications in the authors’ view. The neoliberal and neoconservative dimensions of the current dominant ideology are using local initiatives to save public money and reify disciplinary features of social and public policy.
Originality/value
The originality of this research relates to the way it was conducted, drawing together the products of discrete but related activities. It adds to the growing research landscape involving the Street Pastors, an important faith-based, publicly backed initiative. But more importantly, it underlines how the two dimensions of New Right ideology come together in practice. The example of the Street Pastors indicates, through the lens of plural policing, how voluntary and local initiatives are being used to refocus the priorities of social and public policy.
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Reviews the development of systems and techniques in thehospitality industry. Describes the transfer of quality managementapplications from the manufacturing sector to hospitality…
Abstract
Reviews the development of systems and techniques in the hospitality industry. Describes the transfer of quality management applications from the manufacturing sector to hospitality and discusses their further development to cope with the diverse, tangible/intangible product mix. Also deals with the repertoire of techniques which have grown up within the industry.
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Although there is much in print dealing with hotel design and hoteloperation, there are no publications in which the relationship betweenthe two is discussed. Describes the…
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Although there is much in print dealing with hotel design and hotel operation, there are no publications in which the relationship between the two is discussed. Describes the Marriott Courtyard concept of Scotts Hotels Ltd, in which the construction, services and operational style of the hotels has been expressly designed to maximize productivity. Aspects discussed include Tunnelform Room Construction, the provision of services and fittings in accommodation units and the economical staffing of low cost four star hotel services. Features of the latter are flat organization charts, multiskilling and employee empowerment.
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This third and final article in a review series covers theliterature relating to modern developments in quality measurement andmanagement. It carries on the themes developed in…
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This third and final article in a review series covers the literature relating to modern developments in quality measurement and management. It carries on the themes developed in the previous two articles and to some extent explores the way these aspects are interrelated. This review ends with an overview of the series and likely future implications for research and practice in hospitality management.
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Nick Johns, Judy Henwood and Claire Seaman
The purpose of the paper is to investigate the impact of ethnic/national culture on service predisposition, using Lee‐Ross's Service Predisposition (SP) Survey, plus items from…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the paper is to investigate the impact of ethnic/national culture on service predisposition, using Lee‐Ross's Service Predisposition (SP) Survey, plus items from Hofstede's IBM attitudes survey and from the Chinese Values Survey.
Design/methodology/approach
The sample consisted of international students studying hospitality management at two hotel schools in Switzerland and one in Scotland. The questionnaire was administered to all who had recently completed an internship as part of their programme of study. The two Swiss schools produced 179 usable questionnaires and the Scottish school, 98. Thus data were obtained from students from many different nationalities, and effects due to differences in organisational culture or teaching methods were controlled.
Findings
Significant relationships were found between the SP components and the Chinese value dimensions. The Hofstede cultural dimensions showed anomalous results. The biggest differences within the sample were those between the Scottish and Swiss sites, and most of these were concerned with SP components rather than value dimensions. European, rather than Asian respondents were responsible for most of these differences, but there were some significant cultural differences between individuals of different nationalities.
Research limitations/implications
Students were used as subjects, and this may have influenced the results. Observed differences in service predisposition seemed more dependent on personal values, although there was some cultural element. The locations and nature of the internships may also have influenced the results.
Practical implications
This study has increased understanding of how culture affects service attitudes, how training affects service predisposition, and hence how staff teams could be managed and recruited.
Originality/value
Effects of culture on customers' service perceptions have been widely studied, but there has been little research into the impact of culture on service delivery or front‐line staff. This study helps to fill this gap.
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First of three review articles seeking to organize and summarizework on the definition and specification of quality in the hospitalityindustry – this one covers early work on…
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First of three review articles seeking to organize and summarize work on the definition and specification of quality in the hospitality industry – this one covers early work on quality definition and specification.
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Nick Johns, Sara MacBride-Stewart, Martin Powell and Alison Green
The purpose of this paper is to explore the claim that the tie-break criterion introduced under the Equality Act 2010 is not really positive action as is claimed by its government…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the claim that the tie-break criterion introduced under the Equality Act 2010 is not really positive action as is claimed by its government sponsors. It evaluates this claim by locating the tie-break into equal opportunities theory, taking into account merit considerations, and reviews its potential implications.
Design/methodology/approach
A conceptual discussion of the tie-break.
Findings
The paper concludes that the tie-break is not positive action, nor is it positive discrimination. It employs the framework established by Forbes (1991) and attempts to locate it in theoretical discussions of the need to refine merit to take identity characteristics into account. While it could serve to make a more sophisticated approach to merit possible it fails to achieve its implicit potential in this regard.
Research limitations/implications
The paper is conceptual and will benefit from empirical support in the future.
Practical implications
Practically, the tie-break promises to add some greater clarity to the muddled understanding of equal opportunities and diversity that underpins much policy and legislation. As a result it will arguably prove hard to implement and will carry other associated problems.
Social implications
Socially, the tie-break, mis-represented as it currently is, promises to create greater uncertainty around the nature and purposes of equality of opportunity. Consequently, it could exacerbate tensions and hostilities and promote significant resistance to “equality” measures.
Originality/value
This paper is an original conceptual piece that will shine a light on an important legal innovation. The tie-break is not what it is described to be and carries both potential and threat for advocates of equality of opportunity. In pursuing socially significant outcomes of this type, conceptual accuracy and transparency are vital, and this paper contributes to this endeavour.
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Examines the impact of trends and fashions on international leisureresort design. Two types of trend are identified: the changing behaviourand attitudes of “tourists” and the…
Abstract
Examines the impact of trends and fashions on international leisure resort design. Two types of trend are identified: the changing behaviour and attitudes of “tourists” and the forces of fashion, which also influence architectural design. Discusses various travel and leisure trends and examines their impact on leisure resorts through international examples. The pattern of present and future developments may be resolved into a relatively small number of emerging resort styles which are expected to gain increasing importance through the 1990s.
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Nick Johns, Alison Green and Martin Powell
The purpose of this paper is to examine the business case for ethnic diversity in the British National Health Service (NHS). It seeks to contextualise issues around diversity…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the business case for ethnic diversity in the British National Health Service (NHS). It seeks to contextualise issues around diversity within the current political environment, and identify the barriers to diversity in the NHS. The business case has been very strongly argued as justification for introducing both managing diversity and equal opportunity initiatives – here the paper examines the inconsistencies of using that argument, and maintains that the only justification worth presenting is that based on (deontological) moral arguments.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is conceptual in nature exploring the respective cases for diversity using a broad range of the available literature brought together as part of a rapid evidence assessment. It does so in order to make some far‐reaching claims about the future justifications for active diversification of senior management in key public sector institutions.
Findings
The distinctions between the business and moral cases are false, in that both have ethical reference points. However, the business case is not only difficult to translate to public sector institutions; there are also evidential problems with its adoption. In light of this the conclusion here is that the moral (deontological) case is the only one that has any long term value for proponents of diversity.
Originality/value
The value of this paper is that it examines the confusion that surrounds different cases for advancing diversity as a policy aim and presents a clear delineation of them. It also draws out some of the – perhaps deliberate – blurring of the cases and underlines the huge problems with this all too common approach. Ultimately, it suggests that morality (deontological) arguments have most purchase in public sector organisations.
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This study examines qualitative and quantitative differences between service expectations and perceived performance in the foodservice industry, using the profile accumulation…
Abstract
This study examines qualitative and quantitative differences between service expectations and perceived performance in the foodservice industry, using the profile accumulation technique. Parallel series of data were obtained for service performance perceptions from actual customers at two pizza restaurants. The three sets of data were compared qualitatively and quantitatively. Results showed that customers structured their perceptions of the service into a common set of elements (termed aspects) and attached quality attributes to each of these elements. The three data series exhibited very similar dimensionalities in terms of both aspects and attributes of the service. Attributes were identified as satisfiers or dissatisfiers. In order to gain insight about their structure they were separately recoded using four different authors’ lists of quality dimensions. The significance of their quantitative differences for positive and negative disconfirmation was also examined. Aspects and attributes were used to calculate matrices of quality metrics referring to both the “aspects” dimensions provided by respondents and the dimension lists of the four authors. The work demonstrates that it is possible to obtain and analyse customers’ expectations and perceptions without making pre‐assumptions about them, and will therefore be of interest to managers and marketers of restaurants and other services.
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