Significance of attitudes,passion and cultural factors in driver’s speeding behavior in Oman: application of theory of planned behavior

Abstract

Traffic accidents and related fatalities have become a major public health problem in the world. This study aims to identify the significant factors that play an important role in the speeding behavior of drivers. A comprehensive questionnaire was designed and conducted with the students and employees of the University of Nizwa. The questionnaire items were designed considering the theoretical background of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and local socio-cultural aspects of the driving environment. A total of 303 usable samples were obtained. The collected data were analyzed using factor analysis and structural equation modelling technique. The extracted factors of speeding passion and culture, speeding attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control are significant determinants of drivers speeding behavior in Oman. The driver’s speeding attitudes, speeding culture, and passion have positive association with the drivers’ speeding intentions and behavior, and driver’s perceived behavioral control forms negative relationship with the speeding behavior. This study confirms the application of the TPB in predicting the drivers’ speeding behavior in the context of Oman.     

The green B&B promotion strategies for tourist loyalty: surveying the restart of Chinese national holiday travel after COVID-19

This paper attempts to empirically analyze green/healthy B&B promotion strategies for tourism recovery after the first wave of COVID-19. The survey will be meaningful in the real world of B&B tourism recovery, and it was conducted during the first Chinese national holiday without travel restrictions. China was the first country to resume travel after COVID-19. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used for testing. The relationships observed among the green/healthy physical environment, well-being perception (WBP), tourist satisfaction (TS), and tourist loyalty (TL) provide a better understanding of how to support sustainable tourism recovery. Green/healthy B&B promotion strategies that focus on a green/healthy physical environment after the health crisis can also be employed in other countries and regions experiencing the same situation.     

The effect of aviation responses to the control of imported COVID-19 cases

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has a lasting and unprecedented negative impact on the global aviation industry. While countries such as China have successfully curbed the domestic outbreak of the virus with various restrictive and preventive measures, the challenge of avoiding imported cases remains. More importantly, it is still unclear to what extent these implemented aviation emergency responses have effectively mitigated the transmission risk of the virus. This paper provides an empirical assessment of aviation responses to the control of imported COVID-19 cases, with a focus on the following three strategies: the “circuit breaker” policy, the “negative Nucleic Acid testing (NAT)”, and the “double negative tests” requirement. Non-recursive structural equation models (SEM) with latent variables were applied to detailed international flight data and individual epidemic survey data of Guangzhou, China, between May 1 and November 30, 2020. The results show that the “double negative tests” measure has a positive effect on eliminating the number of SARS-CoV-2 carriers, while the effects of single “circuit breaker” and its co-intervention with “negative NAT” are conterproductive. This study provides important implications to civil aviation agencies in regard to medium and long-term risk control of imported cases. Specifically, although the circuit breaker mechanism was designed to target on the risk control of imported COVID-19 cases, it may be more effective to carefully maintain a timely and reliable pre-boarding screening and testing to curb the number of imported cases.     

Linking technology innovation strategy,intellectual capital and technology innovation performance in manufacturing SMEs

The research interest on Intellectual Capital (IC) has been increasing, adopting different definitions and developing diverse measurement tools. Nonetheless, little research focuses on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the relation between IC and innovation management. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of technology innovation strategy on the IC development and then on innovation performance in manufacturing SMEs. After conducting a survey, measures of IC for SMEs have been performed and an integrated structural equation model has been created. Results demonstrate that technology innovation strategy affects all IC components, the internal structural capital supports the relational and human capital, and the latter two influence firm technology innovation performance. This study contributes to developing an IC measurement system in SMEs and to emphasise the importance of single IC components in improving technology innovation performance.     

产业集群内中小企业技术创新与政府行为

技术创新是企业保持持续竞争力的关键因素。产业集群内的中小企业与孤立于集群外的中小企业相比,由于集群效应获得提高自身创新能力和拓宽创新途径的机会,但仍处于技术创新滞后的状况。基于此,本文分析了集群内中小企业技术创新的障碍,并通过政府在促进集群内中小企业技术创新活动中行为定位的探讨,提出了政府应从财税激励、政府采购、共享机制、融资支持、中介服务机构等方面对中小企业技术创新活动进行有效支持。     

Investigating the Structural Relationships Between Food Image,Food Satisfaction,Culinary Quality,and Behavioral Intentions: The Case of Malaysia

This study was designed to test a theoretical model determining the relationships among tourists' perceived food image, food satisfaction, culinary quality, and behavioral intentions. The structural relationships between the variables were examined by adopting a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach, and the empirical data was collected in Malaysia. Analysis of findings revealed that (a) tourists' perceived food image played a role in directly influencing food satisfaction and quality of culinary experience (culinary quality); (b) food image influenced tourists' behavioral intentions through culinary quality; (c) tourist satisfaction with their food experience directly affected perceived quality of their culinary experience and behavioral intentions; and (d) tourists' behavioral intentions were directly affected by their evaluation of culinary quality. This study concluded that food was an imperative contributor in destination tourism due to its capability in influencing tourists' perceived image, food satisfaction, culinary quality, and consequently impacting tourists' behaviors in the selection of a travel destination.     

Successfully selling accommodation packages at online auctions – The case of eBay Austria

In this era of e-commerce online auctions have emerged as a valuable distribution channel (36 and 52). Displaying low entry and exit barriers but also vast coverage rates, online auctions may effectively augment the distribution potential of hotel businesses. This paper identifies those factors that positively affect the final price level obtained in online auctions for hotel room vouchers. Based on data gathered at eBay comprising 53,406 auctions, linear structural equation modelling (SEM) was conducted to identify significant relationships between auction characteristics and the obtained final price for hotel room vouchers. By drawing on these results and through an example of the Austrian eBay platform, selling strategies for successfully listing accommodation packages at online auctions are proposed.     

自我监控人格对销售绩效的影响研究

销售人员绩效高低直接影响公司的生存与发展。现有自我监控与个体绩效的关系研究结果存在不一致。本文以保险销售员为研究对象，采用结构方程和层次回归方法，研究自我监控人格与个体销售绩效之间的关系，研究提出并验证了销售员自我监控人格与销售绩效呈倒“U”型关系的假设，期望能为提高企业绩效和销售管理有所贡献。