Internet Adoption by Travel Agents: a Case of Egypt

Current collaborative and rapid developments in tourism and information and communication technologies (ICTs) make it difficult to imagine that tourism existed before ICTs. Communication technology is one main reason for the existence of the Internet. Travel agents (TAs) are among service providers whom their Internet adoption could be the best marketing device for their business and a tool for their competitive advantages. The study explores the Internet adoption of the Egyptian TAs, patterns of usage and perceived benefits and barriers of e‐commerce adoption. It is found that the majority of TAs use the Internet to provide TA's information, find out about customers and competitors. Sales and revenue growth, increasing competitive advantages and marketing activities are the agents’ perceived benefits of adopting e‐commerce. Limited resources, unskilled labour, lack of readiness of public infrastructure and customers are among the main obstacles for not adopting the Internet technologies. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Comparative Analysis of Global Halal Certification Requirements

The aim of this study is to compare the various Halal certification bodies around the world based on the criteria for Halal certification. As the process of awarding Halal certificates varies among the certification bodies, it is pertinent to identify the differences between these selected certification bodies to gauge the gap existing among them. This study will also identify the position of JAKIM, which is the main Halal certification body in Malaysia, among the other main certification bodies around the world. Nine categories were identified in awarding Halal certification to companies. Comparative analysis was then used to see the differences that exist between these certification bodies. The results of the analysis indicate that, based on the nine categories identified, JAKIM is the strictest body in awarding Halal certification to companies.     

Intensive Board Monitoring,Investor Protection and Segment Disclosure Quality: Evidence from EU

Abstract

This study examined the association between intensive board monitoring (IBM) and segment disclosure quality (SDQ). It also investigated whether this association can be moderated by firm's home country investor protection (IP) level. Based on a panel of 271 non-financial European Union (EU) listed corporations covering the 2007–2012 period, this study estimated two multiple regression models including industry and year fixed effects. We found evidence that the segment disclosure quality is higher when a majority of outside directors serve on monitoring committees. We, also, found that the positive association between IBM and SDQ is more pronounced for firms in a weak IP environment and less pronounced for firms in a strong IP environment. Thus, we provided evidence in favor of a substitutive relationship between IBM and IP level with respect to their association with SDQ. Our findings are evidenced by several robustness tests.     

Applying the Institutional Theory at the Level of Halal Consumers: The Case of Cape Town in South Africa

The institutional theory, especially at an individual level, has not been conducted on halal consumers in South Africa. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the degree to which halal consumers who have higher institutional pressures are more expected to purchase halal food products. This study draws upon institutional theory to present empirical evidence that institutional factors may show a significant effect on halal consumer’s purchase intention and buying behavior toward purchasing halal food products. A sample of 298 halal consumers in South Africa was selected. Data samples were collected via self-administrated questionnaires. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test study hypotheses. The study showed that all institutional factors have a direct effect on halal consumer’s intention and indirect effect on buying behavior. Based on the results, normative pressures had a high significant effect among institutional pressures, followed by other factors such as mimetic and coercive pressures, respectively. This study is first of the uncommon studies examining halal consumers’ purchase intention and buying behavior in a non-Muslim country, employing the institutional theory in the context of halal food consumption.     

A General Problem Solving Approach for Wicked Problems: Theory and Application to Chemical Weapons Verification and Biological Terrorism

Wicked ill-defined problems such as violent crime, illegal drugs and terrorism may contain technical, economic, and political elements operating together as systems. Practical resolution requires simple solutions that are technically feasible, economically sustainable and politically implementable. Here we show an approach to achieve simple solutions to these problems. The approach was derived and tested in two experiments: first to develop verification measures for the Chemical Weapons Convention and subsequently to develop response concepts for biological terrorism. The approach's validity derives from its close relationship to the scientific method in objectively testing results, and its power is achieved by focusing a team of people directly on the problem of interest in the setting of a learning organization. The approach appears to provide access at will of the full human potential to resolve wicked problems and, thereby, yields a general problem solving tool of substantial power.