Business Modelling of a Dementia Friendly Hotel

The dementia challenge has been recognised as one of the future trends for the hotel business in the Dementia Project by Okada, Igarashi, Nomura & Tokuda (2013) who refer to the need for travel and stay in hotels as a significant factor for wellbeing. The paper describes the Business Model generation process of a hotel business that is offering short term hospitality to customers suffering from Dementia and to their caregivers. The standard canvas of Osterwalder & Pigneux (2009) is being adopted for business model analysis. The model is analysed and evaluated according to possible alternative market scenarios. Conclusions provide some initial insights provided by international developments in the area, after discussions with 17 groups of business administration students who went through two dementia awareness lectures as part of groupwork on quality management requirements by businesses with dementia customers and interviews and group discussions with twelve caregivers that took place at the Entrepreneurship Living Lab of the TEI of Thessaly, Greece. Possible strategic decisions in the hotel business that relate to the selections and evaluations being analysed are identified

Challenges for hospitality management: the case of dementia patients and caregivers as customers

The rapidly increasing numbers of people suffering from dementia along with the significant changes in the relevant care business models open new opportunities for the hospitality industry. It is understood that dementia patients and their families and caregivers should not be isolated and they deserve to live a better life in better caring environments that will cater for their needs. The freedom to be able to travel and enjoy life is very important for all people and is top priority for dementia patients and caregivers. The current paper looks into some new challenges for the tourism and hospitality market because of the advanced requirements and processes needed for the dementia friendly business model to succeed. The research methodology is qualitative based on the selection and evaluation of secondary metadata content from webpages, open in depth interviews with caregivers along with focus group discussions of selected themes. Innovative solutions to the most important hospitality management challenges, ie customer relationship and channels in the business model canvas as described by Osterwalder & Pigneux (2009) are presented and documented along with conclusions for further research on the quality management improvements necessary for the successful adoption and operation of the expanded business model

Acceptability of HIV self-sampling kits (TINY vial) among people of black African ethnicity in the UK: a qualitative study

Background: Increasing routine HIV testing among key populations is a public health imperative, so improving access to acceptable testing options for those in need is a priority. Despite increasing targeted distribution and uptake of HIV self-sampling kits (SSKs) among men who have sex with men in the UK, little is known about why targeted SSK interventions for black African users are not as wide-spread or well-used. This paper addresses this key gap, offering insight into why some groups may be less likely than others to adopt certain types of SSK interventions in particular contexts. These data were collected during the development phase of a larger study to explore the feasibility and acceptability of targeted distribution of SSKs to black African people. Methods: We undertook 6 focus groups with members of the public who self-identified as black African (n = 48), 6 groups with specialists providing HIV and social services to black African people (n = 53), and interviews with HIV specialist consultants and policy-makers (n = 9). Framework analysis was undertaken, using inductive and deductive analysis to develop and check themes. Results: We found three valuable components of targeted SSK interventions for this population: the use of settings and technologies that increase choice and autonomy; targeted offers of HIV testing that preserve privacy and do not exacerbate HIV stigma; and ensuring that the specific kit being used (in this case, the TINY vial) is perceived as simple and reliable. Conclusions: This unique and rigorous research offers insights into participants’ views on SSK interventions, offering key considerations when targeting this population.. Given the plethora of HIV testing options, our work demonstrates that those commissioning and delivering SSK interventions will need to clarify (for users and providers) how each kit type and intervention design adds value. Most significantly, these findings demonstrate that without a strong locus of control over their own circumstances and personal information, black African people are less likely to feel that they can pursue an HIV test that is safe and secure. Thus, where profound social inequalities persist, so will inequalities in HIV testing uptake – by any means

Project oriented organizational competences: The case of large construction companies listed in the Athens Stock Exchange

The organizational analysis is based on case studies that include all the large Greek construction companies currently listed in the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE). The case studies are built on information collected from the ASE web site and the companies' web sites. The competences of contemporary project oriented organizations are reviewed from the relevant literature. The project orientation characteristics like organizational strategy, application of temporary organizations, differentiation of project portfolio, integrative organizational structures, quality management approaches, human resource management, project oriented methodologies, and organizational learning and maturity are analyzed for each company. Tables of economic indices of economic performance and effectiveness related to turnover, profits, performance, capital, debts and liquidity are constructed for all companies. A correlation of project management (PM) competences to the economic effectiveness of the above companies is applied

An empirical assessment of the financial attributes of firms listed on the athens stock exchange

This paper studies the financial characteristics of firms that are listed on the Athens Stock Exchange. The primary focus of the study is to capture the financial attributes of firms that display positive and negative stock returns, and firms that display low and high standard deviation in their stock returns. The study also examines the behaviour of firms that belong to ATHEX as well as other market indices, such as FTSE 20, FTSE International, etc. The study categorises listed firms based on size, growth, profitability, liquidity and leverage, and assesses their financial behaviour and performance. Firms with high profitability and growth, liquidity and dividend payout tend to attract investors' interest and display positive stock returns. Firms with unfavourable financial figures and uncertainty appear to exhibit significant volatility in their stock returns. Firms that are politically and financially visible, either due to size or because they belong to a market index, tend to carefully organise their actions and meet financial analysts' forecasts. Firms distribute high dividends and pay their creditors timely in order to attract investors, satisfy creditors and favourably affect stock market participants. Overall, firms structure their decision-making so as to improve their financial profile and performance, and influence the picture that the stock market has about their managerial abilities and future prospects