Comparing guests’ key attributes of peer-to-peer accommodations and hotels: mixed-methods approach

As peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodations have grown exponentially, it is critical to understand motivations for guests to choose a P2P accommodation instead of a hotel. The current study seeks to understand these motivations by using mixed-methods approach to compare online reviews for P2P accommodations and hotels. Through quantitative analysis, thematic analysis, and text mining, this study provides analysis of 800 reviews from New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Houston. The results consistently show that guests in P2P emphasize relationships with hosts, whilst hotel guests place more values on room attributes.     

The influence of the environment on adventure tourism: from motivations to experiences

Inherent in most definitions of adventure tourism is the fact that it takes place in natural outdoor settings. Yet, the influence of this setting on the behaviour of adventure tourism consumers has yet to be adequately addressed. This study, therefore, investigates the relative strength and nature of environmental influences on adventure tourists in both motivations for participation and in the context of the experience. The results are based on questionnaires collected from 459 participants in adventure tourism activities along the southern coast of South Africa. They show that, although the majority of research on adventure tourism focuses on the ‘thrill’ involved, the environment is increasingly recognized as influential. The assessment of motivations, using a push and pull factor approach, demonstrates that the environment not only plays an important role in attracting adventure tourists towards specific destinations, but that they also seek out interactions with nature. In addition, participants suggested that the environment is an especially significant component of their experiences. The fact that the findings demonstrate the importance of the environment in both the motivations and experiences of adventure tourism participants, means that such an approach would make a definite contribution to discussions, planning, and policy linked to the adventure tourism industry.     

The impact of a U.S.–U.K. free trade agreement on workers: a CGE model with worker displacement

Business Economics - On May 5, 2020, the U.S. Trade Representative announced plans to negotiate a free trade agreement with the United Kingdom (USUKFTA). We use GTAP to model the economic...     

Modelling the impact of non-tariff measures on supply chains in ASEAN

This paper explores the impact of reducing non-tariff measures (NTMs) in major ASEAN countries. New econometric estimates of the impact of different types of NTMs are used in a global supply chain model to separately model the effects on intermediate products and those sold to final consumers. We also distinguish between whether the NTM cost burden is directed at exporters or importers. This paper makes important advances in modelling the heterogeneity of NTMs, offering much richer policy analysis of the impact of NTMs on supply chains in the Asia-Pacific region than has previously been possible. We illustrate the benefits, both to the major ASEAN countries and to their trading partners, from the partial liberalisation by ASEAN countries of their most trade distorting types of NTMs. Such liberalisation increases the GDP and welfare of all countries, with the effect particularly pronounced for the major ASEAN countries themselves, especially Vietnam and the Philippines. As trade in plant products and animal products is particularly affected by NTMs, these sectors show the largest expansion of trade.     

Emotional and Motivational Correlates of Leadership Styles: A Comprehensive Framework for Understanding Effective Leaders

It is widely believed that contemporary leaders must possess highly developed interpersonal, motivational, social, and emotional skills. However, empirical evidence documenting the specific role emotional intelligence (EI) and motivational constructs play in leadership is equivocal to date (e.g., Harms & Crede, 2010; Lindebaum & Cartwright, 2010; Walter, Cole, & Humphrey, 2011). The current study examined a proposed working leadership model based on four distinct leadership styles LSs; i.e., servant, transformational, transactional, and passive/avoidant) that could be viewed on an autonomy‐sophistication continuum based on readiness and strengths of both leaders and followers. Participants included 535 male and female junior college and high school students at a military academy. Cluster analysis (CA) results revealed four unique LS profiles that capture different combinations of the four LS styles. LS profiles were compared on a range of motivational and EI dimensions. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) results revealed support for hypothesized profile differences, including: (a) all three social motivation subscales, (b) both learning and capacity ability beliefs, (c) task but not ego motivational orientation, and (d) three revised EI subscales created when exploratory factor analysis failed to confirm the hypothesized Emotional and Social Competence Inventory factor structure for this cadet sample.     

Weekly Fluctuations in College Student Leisure Activities and Well-Being

College students’ well-being is declining. Differences in students’ leisure activity participation have been linked to their psychological well-being. This study examined how weekly fluctuations in leisure allocation (i.e., frequency of volunteer, cognitive, social, club, religious, and physical activities) related to well-being in college students. Students completed weekly leisure time allocation assessments. Generalized linear multilevel analyses showed that time allocation and well-being varied within-people. Fluctuations in leisure time allocation were related to fluctuations in well-being. Findings extend understanding of leisure and well-being by highlighting the unique contributions of within-person fluctuations beyond between-person differences.     

Employee behaviour and relationship quality: impact on customers

This paper examines relationship quality as a multidimensional metaconstruct comprising three dimensions; satisfaction, trust and commitment. The role of relationship quality in its nomological network with service orientation as an antecedent construct and consumers' positive behavioural intentions, perceived switching costs and activism as the consequences is explored. Survey data from 728 travellers are used, employing structural equations modelling to test this conceptualisation. It is found that service orientation affects relationship satisfaction and trust, and that the latter influences satisfaction and commitment. In turn, satisfaction, trust and commitment have a positive impact on positive behavioural intentions, trust has a negative impact on activism, and commitment a positive one on perceived switching costs. The implications of this conceptual and empirical understanding of relationship quality are discussed and directions for future research presented.     

Measuring the Costs of Custom Products through Better Technology Utilization

This case study details the process of determining the economic feasibility of implementing lean manufacturing in a small mass customization manufacturing company in the medical industry. The case study investigates the information required for a lean implementation and proposes a number of changes to the work procedures (including instrumentation) to obtain the data. A large number of enterprise resource planning systems were evaluated for their suitability to track data in the mass customization environment and the top candidates are compared in the article. The current labor and materials costs are estimated to determine the magnitude of potential savings to support the changes. Based on the analysis the recommended solution has a payback period of approximately two years.