Competitor identification,perceived environmental uncertainty,and firm performance

To create a competitive advantage and generate superior performance, firms must first identify rivals. However, there is little understanding of how perceived environmental uncertainty affects competitor identification, why some firms are better at identifying domestic versus foreign rivals, or how competitor identification is related to firm performance. In this paper we theorize that perceived environmental uncertainty is an important antecedent of competitor identification; it influences how many competitors a firm identifies. Our theory also suggests that different firm characteristics influence domestic/foreign competitor identification and that there is an inverted‐U shaped relationship between under/overidentification of competitors and firm performance. Based on a large sample of Taiwanese firms, we find support for each of these ideas. Our study helps reinforce the importance of competitor identification for firm success. Copyright © 2015 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Social planning for tourism in the developing countries

The usual perspectives on tourism planning have been economic. This paper argues for the need to take much more explicit account of non-economic costs (and benefits) in this field, and links the discussion to questions that have preoccupied those concerned with general issues of development in recent years. It emphasises that planners act in specific socio-politocal contexts, and that it is especially the dynamics of class structures and theis expression in the power relations at local and national levels which influence outcomes in this field. Practical issues of social planning for tourism are discussed, and the dangers of development which is too massive and too fast are stressed. Some attention is also paid to the role of transnational enterprises in the tourism field, and to the question of bargaining at the international level.     

Organizational socialization and positive organizational behaviour: implications for theory,research, and practice

The purpose of this paper is to advocate a shift in research and practice on organizational socialization towards one based on positive organizational behaviour (POB). First, we demonstrate how the prevailing perspectives of organizational socialization are based on a cognitive‐learning process that emphasizes information and knowledge acquisition. We then review the literature on POB and psychological capital (PsyCap) and argue that socialization processes should be designed to develop the PsyCap of newcomers. We offer a new approach to organizational socialization called socialization resources theory (SRT) and describe four broad socialization resources that can be used to develop newcomers' self‐efficacy, hope, optimism, and resilience. Finally, we discuss the implications of this approach for research and practice on organizational socialization. Copyright © 2010 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Media effects on image: The Case of Tibet

Using media effects research as a theoretical framework, this paper examines empirically the impact of media representations—such as movies, guidebooks, and magazines—on destination image. Past research has focused on either representations or image, but rarely on both. Based on a systematic comparison of the former with the latter, it is argued that the impact of media representations on image falls between a strong and negotiated influence. The analysis is based on data collected from tourists in Lhasa, Tibet. The paper documents tourism issues in a renowned but little studied destination.     

中世纪欧洲大学“学者社团”之法理解析

大学起源于中世纪欧洲。起源时,其法律名称是"学者社团"。中世纪大学是学者的自治组织,具有法人资格和自治权。与其他社团如教会、城市和行会等相比较,中世纪大学具有成员是学者、目的是探索高深学问、内部构造是"联邦制"等特征。中世纪大学的法律地位与我国大学的法律地位不具有可比性。我国现行法律上与其最近似的是"社会团体法人"。     

Cognitive maps of nature-based tourists

To investigate tourists' spatial conceptions of large-scale natural environments, this study explored sketch-maps drawn by a sample of 403 nature-based tourists visiting the Daintree and Cape Tribulation area, Australia. Multivariate comparisons of the style and content of sketch-maps revealed that visitors possessed a relatively limited spatial knowledge of the area, and that this knowledge varied according to the mode of travel, previous visitation, length of stay in the area, and the origin, age and gender of visitors. While the factors influencing environmental learning were identified, questions were raised concerning the salience of spatial knowledge in the overall experience of unfamiliar natural settings.     

Issues of tourism and socioeconomic development

Tourism development in Asia and Pacific can be studied from four perspectives: the political economy of underdevelopment; the way poor people respond to the opportunities provided by tourism; the effects of tourism on the communal and ethnic conflicts which may exist in the host society; and the effects of the moral and religious attitudes towards tourism. An introduction to these themes are related to the several articles in this special issue.     

U.S. tourism in Mexico: An empirical analysis

This study estimated demand functions for tourism by U.S. residents in Mexico border areas, the Mexican interior, and overseas. There was no evidence that U.S. tourists substitute Mexico for more distant destinations as transportation costs rise. Border tourism is income elastic when the share of U.S. income of the border states is held fixed. Tourism in the Mexican interior is also income elastic. Tourism along the border is price elastic, while tourism in the interior is elastic with respect to U.S. and overseas prices but inelastic with respect to Mexican prices. The rise in the share of the Mexican interior in U.S. overseas tourism is not related to price factors. Recent devaluations of the Mexican peso are unlikely to provide benefits to the Mexican tourism industry.     

痛风胶囊的薄层色谱鉴别研究

目的研究痛风胶囊的质量控制方法。方法采用薄层色谱法对痛风胶囊中黄芪、虎杖、红花进行定性鉴别。结果薄层色谱斑点清晰,阴性无干扰。结论该方法简便可行,可用于痛风胶囊的质量控制。     

A Methodology for Farm-Level Economic Analysis of Soil Erosion Effects Under Alternative Crop Rotational Systems in Ontario

Multiperiod linear programming techniques are used to evaluate comparative profitabilities and soil erosion rates for corn grown monoculturally and in rotation with a) soybeans, b) soybeans and oats, c) barley, and d) alfalfa on moderately sloping land with medium loam soils in southern Ontario. Attention is focussed on the case of a highly leveraged recent entrant to farming with heavy debt servicing needs and potential cash flow constraints. Monocultural corn was found to be more profitable than any of the rotational systems, with corn-soybeans rotations the next most profitable and corn-barley rotations the least profitable. Corn-soybeans caused the highest soil erosion, followed by continuous corn, with corn-alfalfa rotations causing the least. Les techniques de programmation linéaire multipériode sont utilisées pour évaluer et comparer les niveaux de profit et les taux d' érosion de sols agricoles moyennement argileux pour des systèmes de production de grandees cultyres localiées dans le sud de l' ontario et produisant, soit du mais en régime de monoculture, soit du mais en rotation avec: a) du soja, b) soja et avoine, c) orge. et d) de la luzerne plantée sur des terrains à pentes modérées. L' analyse developpée dans cet article met l' accent sur des agriculteurs récemment installés, disposant de beaucoup d' actifs, mais également, ayant des besoins énormes d' emprunts et, par conséquent, soumis à des contraintes potentielles sur leurs cash-flows. Les résultats obtenus montrent que le système de production, mais-monoculture, est le plus viable de tous les systèmes etudies. Parmi les systemes de production reposant sur une rotation culturale, il s' avère que celui combinant maïs et soja vienne en seconde position, tandis que un régime cultural fondé sur une rotation maïs et orge donne les pires resultats. Pour ce qui concerne des taux d' erosion des sols, la rotation maïs-soja cause les plus gros dommages. ensuite suivie par le système de production, maïs-monoculture. Finalement, les taux d' erosion les plus faibles ont été obtenus pour la rotation culturale, maïs-luzerne.