The effect of ambient scent on affiliation behaviors and social interactions

The intent of the study was to explore if the focus group and the meetings industries can provide meeting environments that would be more conducive to communication and more productive. The concepts tested in this study are based in environmental psychology, or the study of how the physical environment affects individual and group behavior within the environment. Past studies have examined various ambient conditions and other aspects of the physical environment and their effects on retail environments. However, the characteristics that set services businesses apart from product marketing and retail businesses require new techniques to evaluate the effect of the physical environment on the people within the environment. This study proposed a new methodology for examining the effect of one of the ambient conditions, scent, in a services environment; The study was quasi-experimental, using a 2 x 2 factorial design. The two independent variables under study were the presence or absence of a pleasant ambient scent and the type of participant group, defined as either Tryer-Acceptors or Tryer-Rejecters of a particular slot machine game, as defined by the sponsor of the study, a gaming machine manufacturer. The experiment involved focus group participants spending fifteen minutes in the experimental environment. The time spent in the experimental environment was videotaped for content analysis of behaviors exhibited while in the treated/untreated room; Scent had a statistically significant effect on the social interaction behaviors exhibited by the participants. Specifically, the addition of the scent to the waiting room resulted in more social interaction behaviors than were exhibited in the unscented room; In contrast, the participant group type had a statistically significant effect on the Social Interaction and Affiliative Interactions behaviors exhibited and on the focus group output. The study offers evidence that a pleasant ambient scent can have a positive effect on the effectiveness of a meeting environment

Session 3-1-E: Segmenting Slot Machine Players: A Factor-Cluster Analysis

Overall objectives of the study: Understand the following aspects of slot players: – Demographic profile – Motivations to play – Behavioral characteristics while playing – Factors important in choosing a game to play – Attitudes toward progressives – Desire for themed game

ACTIVITY-BASED COSTING IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY: WHAT’S PAST IS PROLOGUE

Restaurant managers often do not have a comprehensive understanding of all of the costs involved in operating a successful restaurant, leading to inaccurate, and potentially unprofitable, menu item pricing. One trend in cost analysis is to explore techniques used in other industries, including activity-based costing. A body of work exploring the application of activity-based costing in the foodservice industry has gradually evolved. A review of previous research on activity-based costing in various restaurant segments validates it as a consequential approach that is capable of reducing waste, preserving employment, and producing maintainable profitability in the restaurant industry

Improving Airline Bankruptcy Prediction

The airline industry plays an important role in the global economy but faces financial challenges. Numerous firms have filed for bankruptcy protection or have liquidated completely, each instance having a devastating effect on the company’s stakeholders. The objective of this study is to compare a traditional bankruptcy prediction model with a proposed alternative model, with the goal of identifying a means of predicting the combinations of characteristics that are present when an airline is likely to fail. The alternate model proved to be more accurate than the traditional model in predicting bankruptcy, providing improved forecasting up to four years prior to the bankruptcy filing date. Airlines can use this model to deploy corrective measures to alter the firm’s underlying problems, redefine strategies, and avoid bankruptcy, while investors can use this model to avoid or reduce investments in questionable firms that cannot be salvaged

Restaurant Customers’ Perceptions of Noise and Their Satisfaction and Loyalty Behaviors

This exploratory study expands the current literature on servicescapes by examining the total noise environment in restaurants and the impact of ambient noise levels and general restaurant attributes on customer satisfaction and loyalty behavior, defined as the customer\u27s willingness to return to a restaurant and motivation to recommend it. The researchers surveyed guests at one casual dining restaurant in the Southwestern United States. The results showed that services, physical attributes, and quality of food and beverage had significant impact on overall satisfaction, overall atmosphere, and loyalty behaviors. Noise level factors such as effects of noise and appropriateness of noise levels, influenced overall satisfaction, but not loyalty behaviors

A Little More Noise and a Little Less Conversation? Ambient Noise in Restaurants

The purpose of this exploratory study is to expand the current literature on servicescapes by examining the total noise environment in restaurants. Its goal is to gain an understanding of restaurant customers\u27 expectations and preferences for background noise and to determine whether demographic variables, especially age, affect these preferences. The researchers surveyed guests at one casual restaurant in the southwestern United States. The results showed that guests were satisfied with the overall noise and music levels, which, as measured by decibel level, were in the acceptable range. There were significant differences in guests\u27 perceptions of noise in both typical restaurants and this specific restaurant based on both age and education levels. Restaurant managers can use these findings to determine the noise levels most appropriate for their target markets