Authentic dining experiences in ethnic theme restaurants

The literature on ethnic theme restaurants has already shown that patrons of such restaurants often wish to experience authentic ethnic culture, and customer satisfaction correlates with authenticity. This study examines the relationship between importance and performance of perceptions of authentic dining experiences in ethnic theme restaurants, and attempts to verify the influence of authentic dining experiences on repurchase intention in ethnic theme restaurants. After designing questionnaire content and sampling, this study obtained 538 samples. The analytical results show that authentic dining experiences effectively indicate customer repurchase intention. This study thus concludes that to attract more customers, ethnic theme restaurants should improve their service, settings, and food to provide customers a more authentic dining experience.     

A Thirst for the Real Thing in Themed Retail Environments

ABSTRACT

The restaurant industry is experiencing a trend toward “authentic” ethnic restaurants that promise not only authentic food from a specific culture, but also an authentic dining experience and decor. For many consumers, these ethnic dining experiences constitute their sole contact with foreign cultures. This paper explores the importance of authenticity in ethnicthemed restaurants. It considers the methods employed and the frames of reference used to create these themed environments, consumers' abilities to delineate the real from the fake and the importance of authenticity as a component of the consumption experience. This exploratory study used qualitative research methods to report emerging themes derived from one type of ethnic restaurant, Irish pubs in Savannah, Georgia during St. Patrick's Day festivities. Managerial and research implications are offered.     

Managing Diversity In the Trinidad and Tobago Public Service

Representativeness and diversity in the composition of public institutions is an explicit goal of Public sector reform programmes. But the principle of diversity poses many challenges for the practice of human resource management, not least of which is maintaining confidence in the system and, by extension, morale among public officers. High morale and motivation contribute to performance and output, which are vital If the public sector Is to be results-oriented. Thls article takes the view that managing diversity is the equivalent of managing unproductive tensions that threaten to diminish performance and output. Trinidad and Tobago is a small multiethnic state In which ‘the public sector has become the theatre of inter-ethnic drama, as the two main groups compete for scarce resources and employment opportunities. The article considers the human resource management function within the Trinidad and Tobago public service and specifically the role of the pubtic service commission, and examines the key areas of recruitment, ptomotions and avenues available for resolving conflicts and grievances stemming from subjective perceptions of discrimination.     

Loïc Wacquant's ‘Ghetto’ and Ethnic Minority Segregation in the UK: The Neglected Case of Gypsy‐Travellers

This article utilizes Loïc Wacquant's concept of the ghetto as an analytical tool in understanding the marginal and ambivalent position of Gypsy‐Traveller populations resident on sites (or camps) in Britain. The article argues that the fruitful work of quantitative urban scholars on ethnic segregation in the UK has neglected Gypsy‐Travellers. It suggests that the theoretical concept of the ghetto can elucidate the ways in which the spatial marginality of sites serves as a weapon of ‘confinement and control’ for the dominant, and an ‘integrative and protective device’ for the stigmatized Gypsy‐Traveller population. Drawing on qualitative empirical data, key characteristics in Wacquant's definition of the ghetto are shown to hold true for Gypsy‐Traveller sites; these include ethnic homogeneity, spatial confinement, shared cultural identity, mutual distancing and a retreat into the private sphere of the family. This comparison also reveals key differences in terms of economic function, parallel institutionalism and the relationship with the state. The article points to the potential offered by Wacquant's theory and suggests that the dismissal of the ghetto concept within the UK ignores its power as a tool of comparison. The article suggests that qualitative and theoretical approaches should seek to complement the work of quantitative social scientists through focusing on everyday social relations and encounters between ethnic minority groups and ‘host’ populations — both within and outwith residential boundaries. It also questions the urban‐centred focus of debates on ethnic segregation.     

Diaspora entrepreneurs as institutional change agents: The case of Thamel.com

Diasporans are migrants and their descendants who maintain a relationship to their country of origin (Safran, 1991). Diasporans who establish new ventures in their countries of origin comprise a special case of international ethnic entrepreneurship.In countries of settlement, diasporans confront institutional environments that often are quite different than those that exist in their countries of origin. We refer to the exposure to and adoption of institutional roles and relationships associated with a new cultural setting as “institutional acculturation.”Most extant work in management and marketing focuses on how a migrant's acculturation affects his/her behavior in the new country of residence. We shift the analytical lens to the country of origin. Utilizing a case study from Nepal, we demonstrate how institutional acculturation can inspire a diaspora entrepreneur to transform institutional arrangements in his/her country of origin and generate dramatic change in society's role expectations of the government, suppliers, and buyers.     

1+1＞2:海峡两岸在东南亚的合作

在相当长一个时期内,两岸为争夺在东南亚的存在与影响力,明争暗斗,结果是两败俱伤,最终受到伤害的是中华民族。国民党重新执政以后,推行新的大陆政策和对外政策,两岸关系转缓,从而为两岸在东南亚的合作奠定了基础。两岸在东南亚都有重要的存在与影响力,在东南亚都有共同的利益,在一个中国的前提下,两岸完全可以在东南亚携手合作,实现共赢。     

The dynamics of limited breaking out: the case of the Arab manufacturing businesses in Israel

This paper investigates the dynamics of breaking out in the Arab manufacturing business sector in Israel. Based on an ethnographic study and in-depth interviews, this paper develops a three-tier model delineating those characteristics that shape the entrepreneurs' response to structural constraints and their respective mode of operation in the context of resource disadvantage. The model demonstrates that the limited break out of ethnic entrepreneurs signifies selective access to the majority market. Through the model, the paper develops a comprehensive conceptual framework that incorporates two different sets of constraints stemming from the nature of the larger market and institutional setting and community characteristics. The limited breaking out can be explained largely by the dynamics of the interrelations among the institutional environment, the local resources, and the entrepreneurs' characteristics. This implies a Janus-face perspective of breaking out, in which the Arab entrepreneurs tend to use their resources both for the maintenance of their local market and for catering to special segments in the majority market that seek relatively cheap prices or specialized products. The paper concludes that the limited breaking out reflects institutional processes that militate against the minority's ability to fully integrate into the majority market.     

Study on the ecotourism model of the ethnic region in western Sichuan Province under the comprehensive tourism strategy: a case of Zoige County

The ethnic areas of western Sichuan Province are characterized by complicated topography, seismic active zone, serious soil erosion, fragile eco-environment, low level of economy, and so on. Periphery regions and central regions appear in western Sichuan Province. The socioconomic development in the central regions is at high level, whereas the ethnic areas are generally at lower level. Moreover. the deterioration of the eco-environment has seriously restricted the development of traditional industries in the ethnic areas, and it is necessary to develop environment-friendly and resource-saving industries. The ethnic areas of western Sichuan Province are rich in tourism resources, and have the potentiality of developing ecotourism. Advantages＇ of tourism resources in the ethnic areas should be made full use of and ＂comprehensive tourism ＂ is the requirement of the characteristics and the status quo of the ethnic areas. The ＂comprehensive tourism development model ＂ has the functions of ecotourism on the key industry. Based on the demands and the interaction among different industries, the model cart accelerate the development of related-industries, such as eco-agrieulture, eco-industry, eco-tertiary industry, and so on. Through implementing the comprehensive tourism model, we can fully utilize the advantages of ethnic areas, and promote the rapid and sustainable growth of regional economy, and also the harmonious development of economy, environment and society.     

东南亚华人企业集团与"彭罗斯效应":基于委托-代理的解释

本文以委托—代理理论为依据,分析东南亚华人企业集团中的"彭罗斯效应"问题。结果表明,东南亚华人企业集团特殊的家族式治理模式与人情至上的文化理念,使得这些企业在获得管理资源时能够一定程度地缓解"彭罗斯效应"所谓的管理约束,给企业带来稳定和成长;但也正是这些特征,使得东南亚华人企业集团的管理能力受到一定限制,并使企业成长面临瓶颈问题。