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1 – 10 of 32Eric Beyne, Rita Van Hoof, Tomas Webers, Steven Brebels, Stéphanie Rossi, François Lechleiter, Marianna Di Ianni and Andreas Ostmann
A novel interconnect technology, introducing thin film on a laminate substrate base, is presented. A specially constructed laminate board is used as a substrate for the thin film…
Abstract
A novel interconnect technology, introducing thin film on a laminate substrate base, is presented. A specially constructed laminate board is used as a substrate for the thin film build‐up process. The main characteristics of the laminate core substrate are the z‐axis electrical connections, the absence of holes in the substrate and the very flat nature of the top surface. As a result, the base substrate can be processed further in a thin film processing line. The manufacturing and properties of these substrates are discussed.
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Rasoul Mehdikhani and Changiz Valmohammadi
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of strategic collaboration (SC) on sustainable supply chain management (SSCM), considering the mediating role of internal…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of strategic collaboration (SC) on sustainable supply chain management (SSCM), considering the mediating role of internal knowledge sharing (IKS) and external knowledge sharing (EKS).
Design/methodology/approach
The study population consisted of experts associated with the supply chain in the automotive, food, clothing, pharmaceuticals and chemicals industries. After reviewing the literature, a conceptual framework was developed and applied using a structural equation modeling approach. In this study, samples with 271 observations were collected from manufacturing and servicing companies in Iran.
Findings
The results showed that SC in the supply chain has a positive impact on the IKS and EKS and SSCM. IKS and EKS have a positive impact on SSCM. Also, the results showed that IKS and EKS fully mediate in the relationship between SC and SSCM.
Research limitations/implications
This study has been done in the context of Iran, so caution should be taken to generalize the results.
Originality/value
The findings of the study contribute to the knowledge of the managers and policy makers in achieving SSCM. The results provide the important environmental and social concepts regarding the sustainability of supply chain using SC and IKS and EKS.
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Ana Brochado, Paulo Rita and Ana Margarido
This paper presents an analysis of the impact of current technologies on customer experiences in upscale hotels and assesses the potential of the latest technologies for enhancing…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper presents an analysis of the impact of current technologies on customer experiences in upscale hotels and assesses the potential of the latest technologies for enhancing customers’ stay.
Design/methodology/approach
A two-step approach was applied in this study. The qualitative phase included an examination of upscale hotel websites, interviews with hotel managers and an internet search regarding the latest technological innovations in hotels. In the quantitative stage, a questionnaire was developed for hotel guests, generating a sample of 310 valid completed questionnaires.
Findings
The results reveal that hotel guests value digital involvement in their hotel experience. Moreover, business travellers and younger generations give greater importance to latest technologies.
Originality/value
This study analyses the most innovative technologies, providing guidance for hoteliers wishing to upgrade or implement new technologies. Based on the findings, hoteliers can achieve greater differentiation by offering the most important and latest technology to guests, enhancing their experience and attracting new customers, which can potentially lead to increased revenues. The study’s results are also important because they include the perceptions of both managers and customers.
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Ana Brochado, Paulo Rita and Carlos Gameiro
The aim of this paper is to contribute to the understanding of backpackers’s evaluation of service quality provided by hostels by developing a battery of items to assess…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to contribute to the understanding of backpackers’s evaluation of service quality provided by hostels by developing a battery of items to assess perceptions of the overall hostel experience.
Design/methodology/approach
Scale development took a mixed approach that combines qualitative and quantitative research. First, the authors performed a content analysis of reviews provided by guests in hostel booking web sites, in-depth interviews with hostel managers and focus groups with guests, to develop a battery of items to assess the hostel experience from the guests’ perspective. Then, a quantitative survey (n = 222) was conducted, to explore the dimensionality of service quality in this sector. Lisbon hostels are the target of this study, as they received several awards based on the online reviews of backpackers.
Findings
The results revealed that service quality is a multidimensional concept and includes six dimensions, namely, social atmosphere, location and city connection, staff, cleanliness, security and facilities. Regression results revealed that the social atmosphere appears to be a core service dimension crucial to create a sense of hostel guest’s overall quality.
Originality/value
The findings suggest that service quality scales should incorporate the specific characteristics of the hotel industry. The quality of the staff and the social atmosphere are of utmost importance to enhance the hostel backpacker experience.
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Rita Adjei, Michael Addaney and Leslie Danquah
This study aims to determine the impact of resource use behaviours of students of a public university in Ghana on ecological sustainability. It examines the land area required to…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to determine the impact of resource use behaviours of students of a public university in Ghana on ecological sustainability. It examines the land area required to provide the resources used and also to assimilate the wastes produced. It also suggests an effective way to initiate participative discussions on environmental sustainability and consequences of resource use in a university setting.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopts a mixed methods approach to gather and analyse data on students’ lifestyles concerning ecological footprint. The data was analysed using the Predictive Analytics Software and a modified version of the ecological footprint analysis (EFA).
Findings
The current ecological footprint of students in the university is not environmentally sustainable. The sample population had high average ecological footprint of 3.62 hectares, representing an ecological impact score of 135.85. The findings provide lessons on how universities and analogous institutions interested in sustainable practices could foster ecologically sustainable development.
Research limitations/implications
Additional data collection methods such as a longitudinal study would provide a more comprehensive assessment of the impact of resource use behaviour of students in a public university in Ghana on ecological sustainability.
Social implications
EFA and findings can support universities to effectively integrate sustainability practices into their policies and practices to help students contribute to making society more sustainable.
Originality/value
This is an original research and makes a contribution to EFA and sustainable practices of public universities in Ghana.
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Cristina Oliveira, Ana Brochado, Sérgio Moro and Paulo Rita
Overall, there is a lack of research using online reviews as a proxy of customer experience when addressing the study of tourism in island destinations.
Abstract
Purpose
Overall, there is a lack of research using online reviews as a proxy of customer experience when addressing the study of tourism in island destinations.
Design/methodology/approach
The current investigation aims to fill this gap by focussing on an African small island developing states, i.e. Cape Verde. This paper reports of tourist reviews extracted from TripAdvisor from “two islands of the senses” as coined by this archipelago’s national tourism organization, specifically Santo Antão and Fogo islands. The data analysis was performed through Leximancer software to generate concepts out of words, followed by themes.
Findings
The present research focussed on experiences in island tourism to identify their main dimensions based on visitors’ narratives in online reviews. The obtained results are of potential value to the literature by contributing to a better understanding of tourist experience in the context of tourism in islands in an understudied country, Cape Verde.
Originality/value
Results are presented and object of discussion vis-à-vis scientific literature and conclusions put forward in this journal paper.
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Raffaele Fiorentino, Francesco Grimaldi, Rita Lamboglia and Alessandro Merendino
Although research on smart technologies explains their critical importance in sustainable business models (SBMs) (Mikalef et al., 2017), it remains unclear how organisations can…
Abstract
Purpose
Although research on smart technologies explains their critical importance in sustainable business models (SBMs) (Mikalef et al., 2017), it remains unclear how organisations can embrace smart technologies to create and/or improve their sustainable business models. The purpose of this paper is to unravel and address the challenges of smart technologies to build and maintain a sustainable business model for organisations.
Design/methodology/approach
The research develops an empirical analysis through a case study approach. We have investigated the case of ENAV – an Italian air navigation service provider – and how this firm uses smart technologies in the creation of its successful SBM. After constructing a basic theory, the authors moved to evidence collection. The data analysis has adopted a qualitative approach based on a thematic analysis of the transcripts and related documents.
Findings
The findings from the case study support the idea that the business value and the strategic relevance of smart technologies still remain largely underestimated in SBM adoption (Mikalef et al., 2017). Case study findings suggest that until today smart technologies have played a minimal role in SBM adoption. However, the smart technologies show the potential to inform the SBM adoption process by contributing to corporate communication for external stakeholders and to the main dimensions of SBMs such as safety and security or the respect for social and environmental criteria in the supply chain.
Practical implications
This study seeks to support organisations and their directors to build and improve sustainable business models through smart technologies to maintain their competitive advantages. Specifically, our findings suggest that smart technologies can help organisations bridge the design–implementation gap of sustainable business models.
Originality/value
This research advances our understanding of the role of smart technologies by explaining how they can enhance sustainable business model adoption. Indeed, we offer a comprehensive view of the integration of insights from three different but related literature streams such as sustainability strategies, smart technologies and change management studies.
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This paper aims to present an automated literature analysis to unveil the drivers for incorporating social media in tourism and hospitality brand strategies.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present an automated literature analysis to unveil the drivers for incorporating social media in tourism and hospitality brand strategies.
Design/methodology/approach
To gather relevant literature, Google Scholar was queried with “brand”/“branding” and “social media” for articles in ten top-ranked tourism and hospitality journals, resulting in a total of 479 collected articles. The methodology adopted for the analysis is based on text mining and topic modeling procedures. The topics discovered are characterized by terms belonging to a dictionary previously compiled and provide a segmentation of the articles in coherent sets of the literature.
Findings
Most of the 213 articles that encompass a strong relation between social media and branding are mentioning mainly brand building stages. A large research gap was found in hospitality and tourism considering that, besides advertising, no topic was discovered related to known brand strategies such as co-branding or franchising.
Practical implications
The present analysis concludes that specialized tourism and hospitality literature needs to keep pace with research that is being conducted on a wide range of industries to assess the influence of social media.
Originality/value
The automated analysis approach used has no precedent in tourism and hospitality research. By including an innovative topical concept map, it led to identifying and summarizing the topics, providing a clear picture on the findings. This study calls for research by specialized tourism and hospitality publications, eventually leading to special issues on this vibrant subject.
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