Algunas propiedades topológicas Sc-preservadas y Sc-reversibles

Tesis de Maestría que consta de un artículo de investigación que actualmente se encuentra en revisión para su publicación.El hiperespacio de las sucesiones convergentes de un espacio tipológico Hausdorff X se denota por Sc(X). Este hiperespacio es dotado de la topología de Vietoris. En este trabajo se consideran varias propiedades métrico generalizadas y se estudia la relación entre un espacio X tiene tal propiedad y su hiperespacio Sc(X) tiene la misma propiedad.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologí

The effect of print media publicity on the performance of the Zimbabwe tourism destination brand.

Doctoral degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.The aim of the study is to examine the effect of print media publicity on the performance of Zimbabwean tourism brand. The study sought to analyse the role of print media in destination branding and assess its effect on brand equity with particular focus on how information can be managed to project a positive image of the destination. The main objective was to establish the extent to which the print media can either build or destroy a destination. Furthermore, the study sought to identify the strategies that can be used by Destination Marketing Organisations to minimise the negative impact of the media whilst improving the image and brand equity of the destination. A mixed method approach was used for the study, where both qualitative and quantitative research designs were implemented. A total of 544 survey questionnaires were distributed to various stakeholders with a response rate of 83.9% from tourism and print media organisations and 80.7% tourists. The participants were selected from the tourism sector namely, the accommodation, travel and resorts, print media, tourists and government. Four (4) interviews were conducted with key informants. The results showed that the print media has a direct impact on destination brand awareness, perceived brand quality and brand association. The study also revealed other types of media, besides print, which proved to have a direct influence on brand image and brand loyalty. They were other factors that were found to have a positive effect on destination brand performance, including hospitable people, attractions and local culture. For the destination brand to remain competitive, the study recommends a continuous improvement on stakeholder consultation, development of partnerships and resource mobilisation

Revisiting nation branding: An infrastructure financing perspective in Zimbabwe

Purpose: This study aimed to reconfigure nation branding theories and concepts through infrastructure financing intervention. Research methodology: Data were collected using a QUAL to QUAN sequential mixed methods. Results: Qualitative research informed that the infrastructure that is required for nation branding to be road networks; airports; Information Communication Technologies (ICTs); reliable power supply; industrial facilities; tourism facilities; healthcare facilities; educational facilities; educational facilities; and residential accommodation. These were then classified into two, namely, economic and social infrastructure. Results from quantitative research showed that there is a positive relationship between nation branding and infrastructure financing. Also, it showed that road infrastructure and airports were the most related to nation branding with public-private partnerships and bilateral/multilateral loans to finance their development, respectively. Limitations: As a result of the COVID-19, the research did not manage to have some focus groups for a depth understanding and comprehensive response of the participants. Contribution: The results will help the Zimbabwean government consider developing the road networks and airports to enhance the nation’s brand

Zimbabwe tourism destination brand positioning and identity through media: A tourist's perspective

Purpose: The study was based on understanding how media can be used to select Zimbabwe tourism destination brands against other brands by the tourists. Further, it examined the role of media in improving Zimbabwe tourism brand identity. Factors to use in positioning the Zimbabwe tourism brand were also established. Research Methodology: A quantitative to the qualitative sequential mixed method was used to get research data. The respondents and participants to the study were tourism operators, media organizations and tourists (n=452).  Results: The study's findings informed that tourism and media organizations in Zimbabwe are failing to understand the best ways to use media to attract tourists. There was a significant disagreement in the views of tourists and organizations, especially based on choosing a tourism destination brand using media. Even on improving Zimbabwe tourism destination brand identity and positioning, both parties agreed that media could help improve brand identity.  Limitations: Getting opinions and views of tourists is difficult considering the divergence in their perceptions. A mixed-methods could help in improving objectivity. Contribution: The study, therefore, recommended an intensive tourism media audit, considering media as a strategic brand identity tool and a nationwide survey to come up with brand positioning elements specifically for Zimbabwe tourism destinations

Leveraging academic-industry partnerships for inclusive virtual learning:

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused serious disruptions to higher education institutions across the globe, prompting even the ill-prepared ones to embrace virtual teaching and learning approaches. Academic-industry partnerships remain an underutilised and under-researched mutually beneficial way of strengthening organisational performance. This study used the case of Zimbabwe to fill the gap in the literature by exploring the types and extent of cooperation between academic institutions and industry towards inclusive virtual learning in public and private universities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study used electronic questionnaires and virtual interviews to collect data from a sample of 100 university staff and executives in industry. The findings revealed major challenges concerning infrastructure, facilities, high cost of data and intermittent power cuts. At present, particularly in public universities, academic-industry synergies were focused on internet and data provision. However, no support was made available for infrastructure and related facilities. The study recommended the need for strong academic-industry partnerships towards funding infrastructure and facilities to enhance virtual teaching and learning

The Impact of the Print Media on Building a Destination Brand Equity in Zimbabwe

This study was based on understanding the supremacy of print media in relation to other new types of media in improving performance of the Zimbabwe tourism destination brand. This helped in establishing a print and other media framework for destination branding. The main types of print media that were investigated were newspapers, travel journals, magazines, flyers and directories. These were assessed in comparison to the available contemporary media which are social media, broadcast media, direct media, electronic media and outdoor media. A measurement of the Zimbabwe tourism brand performance was done focusing on the brand equity variables namely, brand awareness, brand image, perceived brand quality, brand loyalty and brand association. The study applied a quantitative to qualitative sequential mixed methods. A survey questionnaire and in-depth interview guide were used as instruments for data collection. The total sample size for the research was n=421. The findings of the study revealed that newspapers and travel journals are the two main types of print media that have an effect on the Zimbabwe tourism destination brand equity variables. It revealed that newspapers influence brand awareness and perceived brand quality. Travel journals were found to have an influence on brand association. For the other types of media, the study concluded that broadcast media, social media and direct media also have an effect on the destination brand equity variables. Broadcast media was found to have an influence on brand awareness with social media influencing brand loyalty and direct media influencing brand image. The study therefore recommended that there is need for destination marketers to jointly use print and new media in marketing the Zimbabwe tourism destination brand. Also it recommended for political stability as it has been discovered as the main cause for negative media publicity

Places to cities: Comprehending brands as personalities for Zimbabwean urban tourism vibrancy.

This study upon which this article is based was grounded on understanding the personalities existing within the urban residential areas in Zimbabwe. The aim was to establish personalities that would be used to brand places and cities as residential areas in Zimbabwe. This was a qualitative study conducted among eight participants who were selected purposefully. These participants included: a council employee, secondary school teacher, district officer, senior police officer, resident, medical practitioner, Church leader and shop owner. In-depth interviews were conducted and recorded and thematic analysis was done. The themes that were obtained from the in-depth interviews were: Ruggedness, Sincerity, Hospitable Nature, Friendly, Stubborn, Gentle, Aggressive and Welcoming. The study recommended that there should be effective consultation of local communities in crafting and formulating vibrant personalities to sell place, city and destination brands. The study also recommends a further more in depth study to find the most dominating personalities in the branding of cities in Zimbabwe

From fantasy to reality: identifying the destination brand constructs that influence the brand performance in Zimbabwe.

The study was conducted with an aim to establish the main sources of identity for Zimbabwe tourism destination brand. Two perspectives were used for the analysis looking at real attributes of tourism and perceptions as the likely sources for improved Zimbabwe tourism destination brand identity. The study applied a QUAL to QUANT sequential mixed method through first establishing themes using a qualitative research and then use the themes to construct a survey questionnaire which was used for a quantitative research. Therefore, both in-depth interviews and questionnaires were used to gather data for this study. The results from the in-depth interviews showed that perceived brand identity can be achieved from discussions with friends and relatives, pictures in magazines, international music, local music, newspapers, church discussions, social media discussions and public discussions. For projected brand identity the respondents informed the common sources as being the national media, local tourism magazines, regional tourism magazines, national tourism websites, carnivals, exhibitions and expos. These responses were further investigated using a research survey in order to assess their relationship to the already established brand equity variables which are: brand image, brand awareness, perceived brand quality, brand loyalty and brand association. The survey revealed that projected identity mechanisms help in improving brand awareness and perceived brand quality. Brand awareness is improved using national media, national tourism websites, carnivals, exhibitions and expos, and yet, perceived brand quality can be achieved through local tourism magazines and regional tourism magazines. From a perceived brand identity perspective, the study informed that it affects all the brand equity variables such that brand awareness is enhanced by local music and church discussions, perceived brand quality by pictures in magazines, brand image by international media and newspapers, brand loyalty by public discussions and brand association through social media discussions and discussions with friends and relatives. The study therefore recommended a fusion of perceived and real attributes in order to improve Zimbabwe tourism destination brand identity. It also recommended that a further study should be done towards establishing core strategic brand identity prism for tourism destinations

Branding in the Post-truth News era: A Social Media Hegemony in Zimbabwe Tourism Brand Equity Modelling.

The study was premised on understanding the basis of Zimbabwe tourism brand ascendancy particularly looking at the role of social media in improving positive publicity in a world dominated by post news falsification. This was achieved through comparing social media and other types of media namely traditional and digital on the effect to Brand Equity Variables. The brand equity variables comprised of brand awareness, brand image, perceived brand quality, brand loyalty and brand association. The study applied a sequential mixed methods by starting with a qualitative research design followed by a quantitative. Indepth interviews were used to obtain qualitative data and a survey questionnaire for quantitative data. The results from a qualitative research helped in coming up with the most used types of media in a tourism destination as: Magazine, Electronic, WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn, Newspaper, Radio, Television, Facebook, Website, Blogs, Instagram, Google and Portal. A survey was further done in order to group them under three main categories which are Social Media, Traditional Media and Digital Media. The results showed that Social Media comprise of WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn: Traditional Media was discovered to have Magazine, Television, Radio and Newspaper. Digital Media was comprised of Electronic Boards, Website, Google, Blogs and Portal. A further survey was done in order to understand the relationship between each group of media and the brand equity variables. This then aided in producing a model for destination branding linking Social Media and Brand Equity Variables; Traditional Media and Brand Equity Variables; and Digital Media and Brand Equity Variables. The study therefore recommended that destination marketers should work in partnership with various media providers throughout the whole process of destination brand development since it might influence the crafting and framing news so as to attract potential tourists