Runners’ Engagement and Social Support Practices: Exploring the Uses and Role of Online Activities

Tracking technologies that monitor exercise and health have grown in popularity, while online communities have emerged to encourage healthier lifestyles. Runners display high engagement levels with these technologies, however, studies are inconclusive about the effectiveness of these tools, and half of tracking device owners stop use within three months. This exploratory study analyses the engagement practices of UK based long distance runners with tracking technologies and online communities in order to explore how these provide social support for runners. Data were derived from nine interviews. Findings identify distinct use practices associated with social networking sites, running club online communities and tracking applications. Social support is not as prominent as social comparison, identity formation, motivation and information gathering for runners. The nature of the community, co-present connections between individuals and running experience have implications for engagement and support practices, while emotional attachment to data represents an opportunity for development

Customer-to-customer co-creation practices in tourism: Lessons from Customer-Dominant logic

This study aims to explore specific customer-to-customer (C2C) co-creation practices and related value outcomes in tourism. The importance of C2C co-creation is first discussed in the context of the Service-Dominant logic, then a new approach to the study of tourists' social practices and related value-outcomes is proposed, drawing on the recently emerged Customer-Dominant logic in marketing. A pragmatic philosophy is adopted to best address the research questions in a purposively selected sample of five UK-based festivals. Qualitative interview- and observation-based methods are adopted to identify 18 C2C co-creation practices, placing these on a continuum of autotelicinstrumental and private-public practices. Four value-outcome categories are discussed: affective, social, functional and network value. The conclusions highlight the importance of value formed when tourists cocreate with each other in tourism settings and the authors identify specific opportunities for facilitating this process. Possible applications for future research are discussed, highlighting the merits of pragmatism

Festival Participation, Inclusion and Poverty: An Exploratory Study

Music festivals (in the UK) have the potential to enhance the quality of life of attendees and participants, and therefore it might be argued they should be accessible to all. However, the barriers to participation that some may face when seeking to access and engage with festival experiences can often be attributed to the issue of marginalisation due to poverty. Utilising the three discourses of social inclusion put forward by Levitas as a framework, the study explores what UK music festival organisations are doing and could do to make their events more accessible to people living in poverty. Through an analysis of a series of festival websites and semi-structured interviews with festival organisers, some of the financial considerations that can influence participation and act as a barrier to making festivals an inclusive aspect of our cultural life were identified, and solutions were explored. The paper found that despite the social benefits of attending, those living in poverty have become an increasingly marginalised group of festival goers as a result of the disproportional rise in costs associated with attendance, which often goes beyond only the ticket price to include hidden extras. Whilst several festivals undertake outreach work and donate to charitable organisations, only a handful have specific initiatives that improve access for those living in poverty beyond spreading out the price of the ticket via instalments and volunteering opportunities. Findings suggest whilst many music festivals are starting to recognise the importance of the issue, few have specific initiatives but are willing to consider what they can do moving forward. Keywords: festivals; inclusivity; poverty; access; practice

Practice-based segmentation: taxonomy of C2C co-creation practice segments

Purpose: This paper explores and evaluates practice-based segmentation as an alternative conceptual segmentation perspective that acknowledges the active role of consumers as value co-creators.Design/methodology/approach: Data comprising various aspects of customer-to-customer co-creation practices of festival visitors were collected across five UK-based festivals, using participant observation and semi-structured interviews with naturally occurring social units (individuals, couples and groups). Data were analysed using a qualitative thematic analysis procedure within QSR NVivo 10.Findings: Private, Sociable, Tribal and Communing practice segments are identified and profiled, using the interplay of specific subject- and situation-specific practice elements to highlight the ‘minimum’ conditions for each C2C co-creation practice. Unlike traditional segments, practice segment membership is shown to be fluid and overlapping, with fragmented consumers moving across different practice segments throughout their festival experience according to what makes most sense at a given time.Research limitations/implications: Although practice-based segmentation is studied in the relatively limited context of C2C co-creation practices at festivals, the paper illustrates how this approach could be operationalised in the initial qualitative stages of segmentation research. By identifying how the interplay of subject- and situation-specific practice elements affects performance of practices, managers can facilitate relevant practice-based segments, leading to more sustainable business.Originality/value: The paper contributes to segmentation literature by empirically demonstrating the feasibility of practice-based segments and by evaluating the use of practice-based segmentation on a strategic, procedural and operational level. Possible methodological solutions for future research are offered

Consuming heritage, expereince identity: finding meaning through interpretations of industrial heritage tourism

This is an ethnographic study that explores notions of identity and meaning at two museums of industrial heritage in Canada (Cape Breton Miners' Museum) and South Wales (the Big Pit National Mining Museum of Wales). This thesis seeks to unpack how identity is constructed and meaning is made from representations of the industrial past.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Festival Participation, Inclusion and Poverty: An Exploratory Study

Music festivals (in the UK) have the potential to enhance the quality of life of attendees and participants, and therefore it might be argued they should be accessible to all. However, the barriers to participation that some may face when seeking to access and engage with festival experiences can often be attributed to the issue of marginalisation due to poverty. Utilising the three discourses of social inclusion put forward by Levitas as a framework, the study explores what UK music festival organisations are doing and could do to make their events more accessible to people living in poverty. Through an analysis of a series of festival websites and semi-structured interviews with festival organisers, some of the financial considerations that can influence participation and act as a barrier to making festivals an inclusive aspect of our cultural life were identified, and solutions were explored. The paper found that despite the social benefits of attending, those living in poverty have become an increasingly marginalised group of festival goers as a result of the disproportional rise in costs associated with attendance, which often goes beyond only the ticket price to include hidden extras. Whilst several festivals undertake outreach work and donate to charitable organisations, only a handful have specific initiatives that improve access for those living in poverty beyond spreading out the price of the ticket via instalments and volunteering opportunities. Findings suggest whilst many music festivals are starting to recognise the importance of the issue, few have specific initiatives but are willing to consider what they can do moving forward

Social layers of customer-to-customer value co-creation

Purpose – Approached from the customer-dominant (C-D) logic perspective, this paper aims to extend current value co-creation discussions by providing conceptual insights into co-creation within customers' social sphere. Focusing on socially dense contexts in which customers consume together in dyads or collectives, the paper seeks to provide recommendations of how service managers can facilitate customer-to-customer (C2C) co-creation. Design/methodology/approach – The paper bridges current thinking on value within the C-D logic with service management perspectives on C2C interactions and social science concepts on consumer communities. Examples from literature and practice are drawn on in the discussion. Findings – The proposed framework reveals C2C co-creation as a dynamic, multi-layered process that is embedded in customers' social contexts. Value emerges in four distinctive social layers: “detached customers”, “social bubble”, “temporary communitas” and “ongoing neo-tribes”. Research limitations/implications – This paper is conceptual. Further validation of the framework in a variety of socially dense consumption settings is needed, using field-based qualitative methods such as participant observation and interviews. Practical implications – Awareness of the multi-layered nature of C2C co-creation and specific practices in which value is formed provides service managers with opportunities to create value propositions that help facilitate such co-creation. Service managers across various sectors benefit from understanding how customers can be “nudged” into more socially immersive co-creation layers. Originality/value – The paper contributes by introducing a C2C co-creation perspective, conceptualizing the social layers within which value is formed, and providing specific propositions to service managers with regard to servicescape structuring and other strategies that facilitate C2C co-creation