Linking Ontology, Epistemology And Research Methodology

The purpose of this paper is to offer insights that can help researchers to link ontology, epistemology and research methodology. This paper outlines the links among ontology, epistemology and research methodology by exploring ontological, epistemological and methodological perspectives in the research. It discusses how ontological and epistemological issues influence research methodology by providing a clear understanding for different research methodologies based on ontology and epistemology. Furthermore, attention is given to research aspects such as the elements of research process, research philosophy, research approach, research strategy, the choice of method, and research design

Employees’ Service Innovation Behavior and New Service Development in Four- and Five-Star Hotels

This study aims to explore the impact of Employee Service Innovation Behavior (ESIB) on New Service Development (NSD) among hotels’ employees. A research model was proposed in which one hypothesis was developed. The empirical data were collected from employees who are working in four- and five-star hotels in Jordan. A total of 332 questionnaires were returned and the data were analyzed using a single regression to determine the relationship between ESIB and NSD. The results supported the proposed model that there is a significant relationship between ESIB and NSD, and it also found that service innovation performance is exited in the hotel industry. The theoretical and managerial implications were drawn based on the study findings, and recommendations for future researchers were made, and limitations and conclusions are discussed

Employees’ perspectives of service quality in hotels

Although the importance of service quality has been recognised, few studies have addressed service quality in hotels from the perspective of employees. Therefore, this study aims to measure the service quality of four and five-star hotels in Jordan from the employees’ perspective based on the SERVQUAL model. The current study was carried out by measuring the data gathered according to a five-point Likert scale. A quantitative survey method was applied, and therefore the SERVQUAL instrument was used to measure service quality. Data obtained from a sample of 238 respondents drawn from ten four- and five-star hotels in Jordan were analysed with the SPSS software based on descriptive statistics. The study’s findings indicated that service quality of five-star hotels in Jordan was higher than that of four-star hotels.Keywords: service quality, SERVQUAL, work environment, competitive advantage, hotel industr

The Impact of Total Quality Management Implementation on Employees’ Service Recovery Performance in Five-Star Hotels in Jordan

The aim of this paper is to examine the impact of total quality management (TQM) implementations on employees’ service recovery performance in five-star hotels in Jordan. TQM implementations and service recovery performance have received significant attention in previous research. However, the impact of TQM on service recovery performance has remained unexplored research area. A 67-item questionnaire, measuring TQM implementations and service recovery, was distributed to 400 employees in 12 five-star hotels in Jordan with a 63.5 response rate. Principle Component Analysis was utilized to determine the factor structure for both TQM and service recovery and Regression Analysis to determine the impact of TQM implementations on service recovery performance. The result revealed that the TQM implementations in five-star hotels in Jordan was  implemented effectively and thus, have a positive impact on employees’ service recovery performance. This result is attributed to be unique and this is due to the fact that previous studies have focused on manufacturing sector not on hotel sector in measuring either TQM implementations or service recovery performance. This paper suggests replicating the study in additional settings to determine if similar results will be obtained outside five-star-hotels in Jordan. Many of the previous studies on TQM and service recovery performance have been conducted in the context of western economies and very little research has been done in the Middle East in general and Jordan in particular. As such, there is a need to examine, from the employees’ perspective, the levels of implementing TQM that are being encouraged in the hospitality industry and it is effect on service recovery performance among employees towards their both employers and customers. The present paper contributes to filling the gap in the literature by measuring the TQM implementations and service recovery as a whole in a new context. Keywords: Total Quality Management (TQM), Service Failure, Service Recovery Performance, Hotels, Jordan

The impact of internal service quality on job satisfaction in the hotel industry

Service quality is a key factor for success in any hotel. Many researchers have conducted studies on service quality, but only a few studies have been conducted on internal service quality (ISQ) in general, and in the hotel industry in particular. Since there is no general agreement among researchers on the measurement of ISQ, many studies have used SERVQUAL instrument to measure the employees’ perceptions of ISQ. The purpose of this study is to explore the influence of ISQ on employee’s job satisfaction in five-star hotels in Jordan. The current study was carried out by measuring the data gathered through a seven-point Likert scale. The quantitative survey method was applied, and therefore the SERVQUAL instrument was used to measure ISQ, and the Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS) was used to measure job satisfaction. Data obtained from a sample of 238 respondents drawn from 14 five-star hotels in Jordan were analysed with the SPSS software based on descriptive statistics. The study’s findings indicated that the ISQ of five-star hotels in Jordan has a significantly positive influence on an employee’s job satisfaction. These findings support the hypothesis that there is a positive relationship between ISQ in the hotel industry and industry employees’ job satisfaction.Keywords: hotels, internal service quality, job satisfactio

Understanding the Impact of Empowerment on Employees Innovation Performance: Evidence from the Jordanian Hotel Industry

This research aimed to measure the impact of empowerment on employees’ innovation performance at five-star hotels in Jordan. The research applied the two main perspectives of empowerment (i.e., structural empowerment and psychological empowerment). A 35-item questionnaire, measuring empowerment and innovation performance, was distributed to 400 employees working in 12 five-star hotels in Jordan with a 63.5 response rate. Principle component analysis was utilized to determine the factor structure for both empowerment and innovation performance and regression analysis to determine the impact of empowerment on innovation performance. The results reveal that both forms of empowerment have a positive and significant impact on innovation performance. However, structural empowerment has a stronger impact on innovation performance than psychological empowerment. The results also show that integrating the two perspectives of empowerment together has clearly a higher level of impact on innovation performance than structural and psychological empowerment does when both taken separately. This research provides new insights into the existing literature, implications and directions for future research. Keywords: employee empowerment, structural / psychological empowerment, innovation performance, hotels, and Jordan DOI: 10.7176/JTHS/44-02 Publication date:October 31st 201

Seroprevalence and risk factors for bovine brucellosis in Jordan

We investigated the seroprevalence and risk factors for Brucella seropositivity in cattle in Jordan. The sera from 671 cows were randomly collected from 62 herds. The antibodies against Brucella were detected using a Rose Bengal plate test and indirect ELISA. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on the cattle herds' health and management. A multiple logistic regression model was constructed to identify the risk factors for Brucella seropositivity. The true prevalence of antibodies against Brucella in individual cows and cattle herds was 6.5% and 23%, respectively. The seroprevalence of brucellosis in cows older than 4 years of age was significantly higher than that in the younger cows. The seroprevalence of brucellosis in cows located in the Mafraq, Zarqa and Ma'an governorates was significantly higher than that of the other studied governorates. The multiple logistic regression model revealed that a larger herd size (odd ratio <OR> = 1.3; 95% CI: 1.1, 2.6) and mixed farming (OR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.7, 3.7) were risk factors for cattle seropositivity to Brucella antigens. On the other hand, the use of disinfectants (OR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.1, 2.1) and the presence of adequate veterinary services (OR = 1.6; 95% CI: 1.2, 3.2) were identified as protective factors

MEDIATING ROLE OF EMPOWERMENT BETWEEN TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT (TQM) AND SERVICE RECOVERY PERFORMANCE IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY

The purpose of this research was to examine the mediating effect of empowerment on the linkage between Total Quality Management (TQM) and service recovery performance in the hotel industry. Although much has been written about TQM, empowerment and service recovery performance, but the role of empowerment as a mediator in the relationship between TQM and service recovery performance has remained a relatively unexplored research area. A 93-item questionnaire is designed to measure TQM, empowerment and service recovery amongst employees in five-star hotels in Jordan, and 254 usable questionnaires were used in this study. Principal components analysis determined the factor structure and regression analysis determined the relationships between the study’s variables. The results revealed that the TQM implementations have positive effects on empowerment and service recovery performance. Moreover, the study found the full mediating effect of empowerment in the relationship between TQM and service recovery performance. Implications, limitations and future research are discussed at the end. This study proposes model of influence of TQM in service recovery performance, whereby empowerment fully mediates this relationship

Factors affecting intention to breastfeed among Syrian and Jordanian mothers: a comparative cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Breastfeeding is considered the ideal method of infant feeding for at least the first six months of life. This study aimed to compare breastfeeding intention between Syrian and Jordanian women and determine factors associated with breastfeeding intention among pregnant women in these two countries.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional design was used to collect data from1200 pregnant women aged 18 years and above (600 participants from each country). A self- administered questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics and breastfeeding intention.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Intention to breastfeed was reported by 77.2% of Syrian and 76.2% of Jordanian pregnant women. There was no significant difference in intention to breastfeed between Syrian women and Jordanian women. In both countries, women with a more positive attitude to breastfeeding, women with previous breastfeeding experience and women with supportive partners were more likely to intend to breastfeed. Syrian women with a monthly family income of more than US$200, younger than 25 and primiparous or having one child were more likely to report an intention to breastfeed their infants. Jordanian women with an education level of less than high school and not living with their family-in-law were more likely to intend to breastfeed.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In Syria and Jordan, a more positive attitude to breastfeeding, previous breastfeeding experience and presence of supportive husbands are associated with intention to breastfeed. These factors should be considered when planning programs designed to promote breastfeeding in these two countries.</p

Measurement and ab initio Investigation of Structural, Electronic, Optical, and Mechanical Properties of Sputtered Aluminum Nitride Thin Films

We report our results on highly textured aluminum nitride (AlN) thin films deposited on glass substrates, oriented along the c-axis, using DC-magnetron sputtering technique for different values of back pressure. The structural, electronic, optical, piezoelectric, dielectric, and elastic properties of sputtered AlN thin films are measured and characterized. In particular, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) technique shows that AlN thin films exhibit a hexagonal structure. Moreover, we employed ab initio simulations of AlN using the Vienna Ab Initio Simulation Package (VASP) to investigate the structural and the electronic properties of hexagonal AlN structures. The experimental lattice parameters of the as-prepared thin films agree well with those calculated using the total energy minimization approach. The optical parameters of AlN thin films, such as transmittance and refractive index, were measured using UV–vis measurements. Our measurements of refractive index, n, of AlN thin films yield a value of 2.2. Furthermore, the elastic, piezoelectric, and dielectric tensors of AlN crystal are calculated using VASP. The dynamical Born effective charge tensor is reported for all atoms in the unit cell of AlN. Interestingly, ab initio simulations indicate that AlN has a static dielectric constant approximately equal to 4.68, which is in good agreement with the reported experimental value. In addition, the clamped-ion piezoelectric tensor is calculated. The diagonal components of the piezoelectric tensor are found to be e33=1.79 C/m2 and e31=−0.80 C/m2. The large values of the piezoelectric coefficients show that a polar AlN crystal exhibits a strong microwave piezoelectric effect. Additionally, the components of the elastic moduli tensor are calculated. The extraordinary electronic, optical, piezoelectric, and elastic properties make AlN thin films potential candidates for several optoelectronic, elastic, dielectric, and piezoelectric applications