38,839 research outputs found
Customer empowerment in tourism through Consumer Centric Marketing (CCM)
We explain Consumer Centric Marketing (CCM) and adopt this new technique to travel context. Benefits and disadvantages of the CCM are outlined together with warnings of typical caveats
Value: CCM will be expected as the norm in the travel industry by customers of the future, yet it is only the innovators who gain real tangible benefits from this development. We outline current and future opportunities to truly place your customer at the centre and provide the organisation with some real savings/gains through the use of ICT
Practical Implications: We offer tangible examples for travel industry on how to utilise this new technology. The technology is already available and the ICT companies are keen to establish ways how consumers can utilise it, i.e. by providing âcontentâ for these ICT products the travel industry can fully gain from these developments and also enhance consumersâ gains from it. This can result in more satisfied customers for the travel (as well as ICT) companies thus truly adopting the basic philosophy of marketin
Median problems in networks
The P-median problem is a classical location model âpar excellenceâ. In this paper we, first examine the early origins of the problem, formulated independently by Louis Hakimi and Charles ReVelle, two of the fathers of the burgeoning multidisciplinary field of research known today as Facility Location Theory and Modelling. We then examine some of the traditional heuristic and exact methods developed to solve the problem. In the third section we analyze the impact of the model in the field. We end the paper by proposing new lines of research related to such a classical problem.P-median, location modelling
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Consumer decision making in mobile-banking service selection
This paper reports on the findings of a study of 267 consumers on the first order selection criteria within a decision making model that utilizes the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to evaluate mobile banking service selection. The AHP analysis of the first order selection criteria for the full data sample identified âTime Savingâ as the highest ranked factor followed by âControlâ then âAny Placeâ and lastly âCostâ. The survey also reports on consumer usage patterns for internet and mobile services as well as exploring their experiences with mobile banking services
On the use of biased-randomized algorithms for solving non-smooth optimization problems
Soft constraints are quite common in real-life applications. For example, in freight transportation, the fleet size can be enlarged by outsourcing part of the distribution service and some deliveries to customers can be postponed as well; in inventory management, it is possible to consider stock-outs generated by unexpected demands; and in manufacturing processes and project management, it is frequent that some deadlines cannot be met due to delays in critical steps of the supply chain. However, capacity-, size-, and time-related limitations are included in many optimization problems as hard constraints, while it would be usually more realistic to consider them as soft ones, i.e., they can be violated to some extent by incurring a penalty cost. Most of the times, this penalty cost will be nonlinear and even noncontinuous, which might transform the objective function into a non-smooth one. Despite its many practical applications, non-smooth optimization problems are quite challenging, especially when the underlying optimization problem is NP-hard in nature. In this paper, we propose the use of biased-randomized algorithms as an effective methodology to cope with NP-hard and non-smooth optimization problems in many practical applications. Biased-randomized algorithms extend constructive heuristics by introducing a nonuniform randomization pattern into them. Hence, they can be used to explore promising areas of the solution space without the limitations of gradient-based approaches, which assume the existence of smooth objective functions. Moreover, biased-randomized algorithms can be easily parallelized, thus employing short computing times while exploring a large number of promising regions. This paper discusses these concepts in detail, reviews existing work in different application areas, and highlights current trends and open research lines
Theory of financial risk
This paper examines relationships between theory of financial risk and size. Based on the work of Makridakis / Taleb [2009] and Taleb / Tapiero [2009], presents the problems of excessive risk and imbalances caused by the size of firms. Markets mixed on firm growth traps externalities can influence risk, high-cost for the commons. A policy of regulation and control in markets, while necessary, are still insufficient in economies with little institutional support. Externalities of risk and firm size categories are fundamental to understanding the present financial crisis since the economies of scale.Finance, financial engineering, risk assesment.
Toward Universal Broadband in Rural Alaska
The TERRA-Southwest project is extending broadband service to 65 communities in the
Bristol Bay, Bethel and Yukon-Kuskokwim regions. A stimulus project funded by a combination
of grants and loans from the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), TERRA-Southwest has installed a
middle-mile network using optical fiber and terrestrial microwave. Last-mile service will be
through fixed wireless or interconnection with local telephone networks.
The State of Alaska, through its designee Connect Alaska, also received federal stimulus
funding from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for tasks
that include support for an Alaska Broadband Task Force âto both formalize a strategic broadband
plan for the state of Alaska and coordinate broadband activities across relevant agencies and
organizations.â
Thus, a study of the impact of the TERRA project in southwest Alaska is both relevant and
timely. This first phase provides baseline data on current access to and use of ICTs and Internet
connectivity in rural Alaska, and some insights about perceived benefits and potential barriers to
adoption of broadband. It is also intended to provide guidance to the State Broadband Task Force
in determining how the extension of broadband throughout the state could contribute to education,
social services, and economic activities that would enhance Alaskaâs future. Results of the
research could also be used proactively to develop strategies to encourage broadband adoption,
and to identify applications and support needed by users with limited ICT skills.Connect Alaska.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
General Communications Incorporated.Part 1: An Analysis of Internet Use in Southwest Alaska / Introduction / Previous Studies / Current Connectivity / Analytical Framework and Research Methodology / Demographics / Mobile Phones: Access and Use / Access to the Internet / Internet Useage / Considerations about Internet Service / Interest in Broadband / Sources of News / Comparison with National Data / Internet Use by Businesses and Organizations / What Difference may Broadband make in the Region? / Conclusiongs / Part 2 Literature Review / Reference
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