Conceptualizing and measuring strategy implementation – a multi-dimensional view

Through quantitative methodological approaches for studying the strategic management and planning process, analysis of data from 208 senior managers involved in strategy processes within ten UK industrial sectors provides evidence on the measurement properties of a multi-dimensional instrument that assesses ten dimensions of strategy implementation. Using exploratory factor analysis, results indicate the sub-constructs (the ten dimensions) are uni-dimensional factors with acceptable reliability and validity; whilst using three additional measures, and correlation and hierarchical regression analysis, the nomological validity for the multi-dimensional strategy implementation construct was established. Relative importance of ten strategy implementation dimensions (activities) for practicing managers is highlighted, with the mutually and combinative effects drawing conclusion that senior management involvement leads the way among the ten key identified activities vital for successful strategy implementation

Sustainable Tourism: Ethical Alternative or Marketing Ploy?

While tourism is often seen as a welcome source of economic development, conventional mass tourism is associated with numerous negative effects, such as the destruction of ecological systems and loss of cultural heritage. In response to these concerns, a term that has surfaced recently is, sustainable tourism. This article attempts to define sustainable tourism and asks the question of whether this new term is an acceptable criteria or is merely a marketing ploy to attract the morally conscious tourist. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 2007ethical marketing, false advertising, global tourism, governance instrument, sustainable tourism,

Outmigration, Human Development and Trade: A Central American Case Study

Abstract Controversy surrounds the large increase in international immigration, but little is known about the many drivers of this mobility. While most migration studies have focused on economic motivations, a small literature addresses the impact of human development and, indirectly, capability deprivation. This case study of southern Honduras examines migration patterns between 1988 and 1997 to assess the impacts of human development, non‐traditional agricultural exports (NTAX), and other factors. We develop a time‐based census analysis replicable in other countries lacking specialized household surveys. Our review of the region’s population census data between 1988 and 1997 suggests net outmigration in 75% of the villages. Econometric treatment of village‐level net migration rates before Hurricane Mitch is undertaken. Improved living standards reduced mobility and melons, rather than shrimp mariculture, played a more positive role in labor attraction. Comparisons of census data after and before the mobility pattern suggest improvements in education, yet greater gender divisions, in some areas that by implication undertook international migration.Migration, Human development, Non‐traditional exports, Land use, Employment,

BioAssay Research Database (BARD): chemical biology and probe-development enabled by structured metadata and result types

BARD, the BioAssay Research Database (https://bard.nih.gov/) is a public database and suite of tools developed to provide access to bioassay data produced by the NIH Molecular Libraries Program (MLP). Data from 631 MLP projects were migrated to a new structured vocabulary designed to capture bioassay data in a formalized manner, with particular emphasis placed on the description of assay protocols. New data can be submitted to BARD with a user-friendly set of tools that assist in the creation of appropriately formatted datasets and assay definitions. Data published through the BARD application program interface (API) can be accessed by researchers using web-based query tools or a desktop client. Third-party developers wishing to create new tools can use the API to produce stand-alone tools or new plug-ins that can be integrated into BARD. The entire BARD suite of tools therefore supports three classes of researcher: those who wish to publish data, those who wish to mine data for testable hypotheses, and those in the developer community who wish to build tools that leverage this carefully curated chemical biology resource