The design and management of diverse affiliations : an exploration of international hotel chains

The simultaneous use of different market entry methods by international service firms is creating complex and compound organisations that operate within and across organisational boundaries. These organisations face variable risks related to control, resource commitment, flexibility and dissemination across their diversely affiliated portfolios. This research seeks to explore how these risks are managed within these diverse affiliations through an investigation of organisational and inter-organisational design. This study draws on three fields of literature; international market entry, alliance and networks, and organisation design. A number of gaps have been identified in this literature relating to 'how' international service firms, inter-organisational alliances, diverse affiliations and international hotel chains are designed and managed. Using international hotel chains for the primary investigation, a qualitative case study approach was adopted for this study. The research was conducted in three phases; the first served to verify the extent of the phenomenon under study, the second provided insight into organisation design within firm boundaries and the third revealed a detailed picture of inter-organisational design. A major contribution of this study is the identification of communities of design within diversely affiliated organisations. These communities are created through the different structures and processes employed across portfolios and reinforced by the perceptions of organisation members. Barriers can develop between the communities that limit the degrees of control and flexibility achieved and inhibit organisational potential. A further contribution of this study is the development of a relational-process framework that can be used to build bridges across these communities, break down barriers and enhance relational ties, but only if supported by appropriate control procedures. Managers are recommended to consider the impact of formal mechanistic structures within and across organisational boundaries and the impact of inter-organisational processes on relational ties in designs that cross organisational boundaries in order to enhance the potential of diverse affiliations

Nurturing small and medium sized enterprises in Europe

Tourism is one of the world’s major industries responsible for economic growth, foreign exchange earnings, employment opportunities and regional balances in individual countries and across regions. This industry generates over 5% of the European Union (EU) gross domestic product and has strong linkages with other economic sectors. In fact, tourism triggers infrastructural developments that are related to the industry such as airports, seaports, parks, roads and rails. Within the EU alone, the tourism sector consists of about 1.8 million businesses. Most of these tourism businesses are small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) that employ 5.2% of the total European workforce that translates to approximately 9.7 million jobs, with a significant proportion of young people (EU, 2010). This chapter considers relevant academic literature that differentiates SMEs from their larger counterparts. It maintains that small businesses are often constrained by their size and limited resources. Arguably, the accessibility to finance is one of the most critical factors for the SMEs’ inception and growth. These entities are often viewed by financial institutions as relatively risky when compared to enterprises from other industries. Therefore, this chapter contends that tourism SMEs may easily find themselves in an ‘equity gap’ where it may prove very difficult to raise capital for further investment. Consequently, national governments and other regulatory stakeholders are increasingly stepping in to support micro and small enterprises in many contexts. In this light, the European Union (EU) has reaffirmed its commitment for SMEs. As a matter of fact, the EU has drafted the ‘Small Business Act’ in 2008 and refined it again in 2011. The EU’s commitment is quite evident from their frequent calls for research and training schemes in the subject areas of “SMEs” and “tourism”; where grants are frequently issued under ‘Marie Curie’ and ‘Cordis FP7’ programmes. Therefore, this chapter identifies specific policies and initiatives that are aimed at fostering a climate for job creation and competitiveness for SMEs in Europe. By the end of the chapter you should be able to: • Define small and medium sized enterprises in the European Union context; • Distinguish the differences between small and medium sized enterprises and large firms; • Learn about the European Union measures that are currently supporting the financing needs of small and medium sized enterprises; • Be knowledgeable of crowd-funding as an alternative form of financing.peer-reviewe

Comparative historical analysis of four UK hotel companies, 1979 - 2004

Original article can be found at : http://www.emeraldinsight.com/ Copyright Emerald Group Publishing LimitedPurpose – This paper seeks to examine why and how M&A activity has been used by UK hotel companies over a 26-year period and aims to provide a preliminary exploration of its relative success, given that the M&A literature suggests high failure rates or M&A transactions which do not achieve their objectives. Design/methodology/approach – This research is based on a combination of a multiple-case study and comparative historical analysis to bring out the different levels of analysis embedded in past M&A literature and to identify changes of motives for undertaking M&A activities based on companies and their external environment. Findings – The paper finds that value maximizing motives are prevalent whilst non-value maximizing motives are not supported. The acquisition of brand names and rights is a major motive for the UK hotel industry, particularly in the light of global competition and the brand power that enables companies to expedite growth while at the same time reducing financial risks. Practical implications – This longitudinal study serves to reinforce the type of target companies, particularly those that share similar resources or end products, for acquiring companies to select from in order to expect a higher M&A success rate. Originality/value – This paper provides the first empirical study to integrate the comparative historical analysis approach with strategic management M&A theory to trace and understand how and why UK hotel companies became leading international companies. Through this interdisciplinary approach, the importance of acquiring a brand name is illustrated and identified as an essential motive, specific to the hotel industry.Peer reviewe

Nodes, guardians and signs: Raising barriers to human trafficking in the tourism industry

Trafficking in human beings (THB) is a growing criminal activity involving the movement of victims by force or coercion for sexual or labour exploitation. THB is often facilitated unwittingly by tourism businesses. This study sought ways to disrupt the opportunities for THB in the hotel sector through the application of criminology theories. A qualitative study was conducted in three European countries (UK, Finland and Romania), employing semi-structured key stakeholder interviews, a survey of hotel managers and focus groups. Using concepts primarily from crime pattern theory, hotels were confirmed as THB activity spaces and 'crime journeys' were mapped with the nodes where offenders and their victims converge with different 'guardians' (hotel employees and managers). Warning signs and critical intervention points where THB opportunities can be disrupted were also identified. The resulting framework of the trafficked victim's journey can be used by any tourism business wishing to help prevent this crime

The Promise of Healthcare Reform in Transforming Services for Jail Detainees

Chronic behavioral health conditions, such as psychiatric and substance use disorders, affect at least half of all arrestees, with two-thirds suffering from at least one chronic medical disorder. These conditions contribute to their criminal behaviors and propensities to recycle through the criminal justice system (Binswanger et al. Journal of Urban Health 89:183-190, 2012). Despite their limited resources, jails have nonetheless become de facto settings for the delivery of healthcare services. With the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010, jail releasees will become eligible for government-subsidized healthcare coverage in 2014. The widespread availability of integrated healthcare services for the released jail population is likely to reduce criminal behavior, which is often associated with psychiatric and substance use disorders and their co-occurrence. This article provides an overview of behavioral healthcare services available to jail releasees. We discuss the evolving landscape of substance use and mental health interventions under healthcare reform, including anticipated changes in funding infrastructures and streams for treatment services. We examine the financial and practical implications of these changes for the criminal justice system, particularly for the nation’s jails

Opportunity identification and evaluation in franchisee business start-ups

Purpose - This paper examines franchisees’ business start-ups from an entrepreneurial perspective, adopting a process representative of entrepreneurship to examine opportunity identification and evaluation by franchisees and to analyse factors that influence this process. Design/methodology/approach - A qualitative study was employed and data collected using semi-structured interviews with a sample of service industry franchisees in Macau. Findings - The study identifies that social networks play a key role in opportunity identification and that franchisees’ goals influence the criteria used and information search activities undertaken while evaluating franchise opportunities. Research limitations/implications - The study makes two contributions to franchise literature. It identifies that social networks can serve as substitutes for lack of prior knowledge in franchise opportunity identification. It also identifies the interrelated nature of franchisees’ goals based on the activities and criteria used to evaluate franchise opportunities, and the importance of relational criteria when franchisees lack prior industry knowledge. It therefore also contributes to franchise/entrepreneurship literature by identifying the interrelated nature of the factors contributing to the dynamics of franchise chain growth. Practical implications - Franchisors should explore how to better use franchisees’ social networks and identify the longer-term goals of prospective franchisees to support market penetration and franchise chain growth. Franchisees are advised to use independent information sources to evaluate franchise opportunities using goal-informed objectives and demand and relational criteria. Originality/value - The study presents a more comprehensive understanding of franchisees’ decision-making process when joining franchise chains by identifying the activities undertaken and criteria used to identify and evaluate franchise opportunities

Human trafficking in hotels: an "invisible" threat for a vulnerable industry

Purpose: To identify and analyse the hotel sector’s vulnerabilities that human traffickers exploit in order to use hotels as conduits for trafficking in human beings (THB). Design/methodology/approach: Using the MAVUS framework of sector vulnerability analysis, the study adopted a qualitative approach employing environmental scanning and semi-structured key stakeholder interviews in three European countries: UK, Finland and Romania. Findings: The study identifies the types of THB occurring within the industry and the specific macro-, meso- and micro-level factors that increase hotel vulnerability to trafficking for sexual exploitation, labour exploitation or both. Research limitations/implications: Given the sensitivity of the topic the number of interviewees is limited as is the generalisability of the findings. Practical implications: The framework developed serves as a practical tool for independent or chain-affiliated hotels to use to assess their vulnerability to human trafficking for both sexual and labour exploitation. Social implications: The framework will assist hotel professionals to assess their vulnerability to human trafficking and identify specific and proactive measures to combat this crime within their business. Originality/value: This is the first study to empirically explore human trafficking in the hotel sector and to apply an integrated theoretical lens to examine macro-, meso- and microlevel sector vulnerabilities to a crime. It contributes to our understanding of why hotels are vulnerable to human trafficking for both sexual and labour exploitation

Knowledge transfer and isomorphism in franchise networks

This study draws on institutional and organisational learning theories to evaluate how knowledge transfer (KT) practices contribute to the development of isomorphism in franchise networks. It also analyses how the characteristics of franchise partners influence this process. Research conducted across a sample of hospitality and retail franchisees in Turkey reveals how the transfer of explicit knowledge aids in the realisation of coercive isomorphism and the transfer of tacit knowledge supports mimetic isomorphism. Additionally, the study identifies the factors that influence the extent to which these types of isomorphism are achieved. In doing so, it identifies the importance of franchisor institutionalisation, or the degree to which a strong and supportive infrastructure is developed, to isomorphism within franchise networks. Institutionalisation impacts on the antecedents to KT. Differences between the KT practices of hospitality and retail franchise networks are also identified

The hospitality franchise purchase decision making process

Purpose - This study explores the hospitality franchise purchase decision-making process undertaken by franchisees in Macau as an emerging tourism destination, and the role of national culture on purchasing a franchise brand and selecting a potential franchisor. Design/methodology/approach - Semi-structured in-depth interviews with 18 franchisees in Macau, who purchased international and domestic hospitality franchise brands, were conducted to understand the feelings, attitudes and motivation of franchisees towards purchasing a hospitality franchise. Findings – The study reveals that national culture can play an important role in franchisees’ decision-making process. Personal networks of friends and family (guanxi) are very influential in introducing and steering aspiring entrepreneurs towards franchising as an option to realize their ambitions, although there may be some limitations to franchisees with this approach. Guanxi, was also found to be particularly relevant during negotiations and franchisees’ postpurchase reviews. Practical implications – International franchisors should understand the importance of guanxi at different stages of franchisees’ decision-making process. Franchisees should realize how a reliance on guanxi might negatively impact on their efforts to undertake sufficient research to thoroughly evaluate the franchisor offer prior to contract signature. Originality/value - A comprehensive hospitality franchisee decision-making purchase framework is developed which includes the cultural context and cultural values. Guanxi in particular, impacts upon the franchisee decision-making process

Guided, internet based, cognitive behavioural therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder: pragmatic, multicentre, randomised controlled non-inferiority trial (RAPID)

Objective To determine if guided internet based cognitive behavioural therapy with a trauma focus (CBT-TF) is non-inferior to individual face-to-face CBT-TF for mild to moderate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to one traumatic event. Design Pragmatic, multicentre, randomised controlled non-inferiority trial (RAPID). Setting Primary and secondary mental health settings across the UK’s NHS. Participants 196 adults with a primary diagnosis of mild to moderate PTSD were randomised in a 1:1 ratio to one of two interventions, with 82% retention at 16 weeks and 71% retention at 52 weeks. 19 participants and 10 therapists were purposively sampled and interviewed for evaluation of the process. Interventions Up to 12 face-to-face, manual based, individual CBT-TF sessions, each lasting 60-90 minutes; or guided internet based CBT-TF with an eight step online programme, with up to three hours of contact with a therapist and four brief telephone calls or email contacts between sessions. Main outcome measures Primary outcome was the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) at 16 weeks after randomisation (diagnosis of PTSD based on the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, DSM-5). Secondary outcomes included severity of PTSD symptoms at 52 weeks, and functioning, symptoms of depression and anxiety, use of alcohol, and perceived social support at 16 and 52 weeks after randomisation. Results Non-inferiority was found at the primary endpoint of 16 weeks on the CAPS-5 (mean difference 1.01, one sided 95% confidence interval −∞ to 3.90, non-inferiority P=0.012). Improvements in CAPS-5 score of more than 60% in the two groups were maintained at 52 weeks, but the non-inferiority results were inconclusive in favour of face-to-face CBT-TF at this time point (3.20, −∞ to 6.00, P=0.15). Guided internet based CBT-TF was significantly (P<0.001) cheaper than face-to-face CBT-TF and seemed to be acceptable and well tolerated by participants. The main themes of the qualitative analysis were facilitators and barriers to engagement with guided internet based CBT-TF, treatment outcomes, and considerations for its future implementation. Conclusions Guided internet based CBT-TF for mild to moderate PTSD to one traumatic event was non-inferior to individual face-to-face CBT-TF and should be considered a first line treatment for people with this condition