Investigation of the Exraction Processes and Performance Properties of Kudzu Fibers

While kudzu was introduced into the Southeastern United states for soil erosion and increase of land fertility, the plant has become unmanageable and is rapidly spreading to Canada. Japanese traditional craftsmen extract long, white fibers by labor intensive practices not feasible for 21st century commercial fiber production. This research investigated extraction by boiling, retting or fermentation, enzymatic combinations, and mild chemical processes. Two types of fibers were resultant- soft fibers and compact woody fibers. These fibers types were assessed for microscopic visual appearance, elemental analysis using EDAX SEM, and tensile strengths for the four extraction processes. In all extraction cases, the resultant amount of woody kudzu fibers was 2-5 times that of soft fibers. Breaking elongation of both soft and woody fibers was very high as compared to that of cotton fibers. Chemical processes improved the strength of soft fibers to a very high degree, averaging 19.89kg/tex

We’re teaching IT all wrong: A Need for Premortem Analysis in Hotel Strategy Education (and Practice)

Coherent privaatrech

Introducing Flow Theory to Explain the Interactive Online Shopping Experience in a Travel Context

Online travel commerce has evolved significantly from the initial sales of less-complex products such as airline tickets, accommodations, and car rentals, to include more complex products like vacation packages and cruises. Many online travel portals, however, have fallen behind in terms of creating a compelling online environment for customers. Online shopping behavior is becoming increasingly complex with the evolution of experiential and utilitarian shopping practices. These two types of practices have a significant effect on the formation of a customer\u27s attitude towards a Web site and eventual purchase intention. The proposed model delineates the customer\u27s preference towards a Web site within experiential and utilitarian purchase contexts when flow variables control, cognitive enjoyment, and focus are involved. This article may help online travel businesses identify unique Web features that satisfy the needs of both the experiential and utilitarian customer. Moreover, this model shows that a successful travel site could entice a utilitarian customer to engage in experiential site features that might result in positive attitude formation and consequent future revisits

Introducing Flow Theory to Explain the Interactive Online Shopping Experience in a Travel Context

Online travel commerce has evolved significantly from the initial sales of less-complex products such as airline tickets, accommodations, and car rentals, to include more complex products like vacation packages and cruises. Many online travel portals, however, have fallen behind in terms of creating a compelling online environment for customers. Online shopping behavior is becoming increasingly complex with the evolution of experiential and utilitarian shopping practices. These two types of practices have a significant effect on the formation of a customer\u27s attitude towards a Web site and eventual purchase intention. The proposed model delineates the customer\u27s preference towards a Web site within experiential and utilitarian purchase contexts when flow variables control, cognitive enjoyment, and focus are involved. This article may help online travel businesses identify unique Web features that satisfy the needs of both the experiential and utilitarian customer. Moreover, this model shows that a successful travel site could entice a utilitarian customer to engage in experiential site features that might result in positive attitude formation and consequent future revisits

Kano\u27s Model: An Integrative Review of Theory and Applications to the Field of Hospitality and Tourism

This research provides a comprehensive review of literature related to the Kano model of satisfaction measurement. Based upon the declaration that performance on certain product attributes produces greater consumer satisfaction than others,Kano Seraku, Takahashi, and Tsuji (1984) proposed that the relationship between product attributes and customer satisfaction is not always linear. Further, Kano et al. disputed conventional satisfaction models that propose that higher satisfaction occurs irrespective of the inherent nature of attributes. This research investigates the evolution of the Kano model across research contexts and its application in different industries. This article also presents an extensive review of literature on the Kano model, synthesis of competing concepts, criticism of the model, methodological implications, applications to the hospitality and tourism industry, discussion of limitations, and suggestions for future research

Role of Intangible Assets in Foreign-Market Entry-Mode Decisions: A Longitudinal Study of American Lodging Firms

With the traditional research-based view approach to entry mode that examines the firm\u27s strategies from its resource endowment and deployment (i.e., an inside-out view of the firm), which is different from the earlier paradigms (i.e., an outside-in view of the firm), this article investigates intangibles at the firm level and their impact on the choice of foreign-market entry mode to understand how to create value overseas. From the multinomial logistic regression analyses with data collected from the lodging industry between 1995 and 2005, the results of this study suggest that as marketing capital increases, entry mode seems to move from acquisition to joint venture to greenfield to contractual modes. In the case of employee efficiency, as human capital increases entry mode tends to move from joint venture to acquisition to greenfield to contractual modes, whereas in the case of top managers\u27 efficiency, entry mode tends to move from joint venture to acquisition to contractual mode to greenfield, respectively

Self-Monitoring, Dining Companions and the Usage of Alternative Currencies

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to understand the effects of self-monitoring, dining companions and industry segments on the usage of alternate currencies while dining out. Design/methodology/approach – An experimental design using frequent consumers of restaurant services is being used with a scenario approach with a sample size of 471. Findings – Results indicate that self-monitoring has significant impact on consumers’ choice for alternate currencies. In addition, the type of dining companion (boss vs friend vs alone) has significant affect on usage of alternate currencies. Industry segments were not found be a significant factor in making usage of alternate currencies. For high self-monitoring individuals, the preferences for currency usages are more likely influenced by the image delivered by the currency than for low self-monitors. Consumers who dine with a friend or alone are more likely to prefer to pay with frequent usage points-only (as opposed to dollars-only) than consumers who dine with the boss. This result indicates that the dining companion is an important determinant in preferring the alternative currency, frequent usage points. Since frequent usage points are a signal of price discount, consumers do not want to make an impression of “being cheap” on the higher-status dining companion (e.g. boss) by using frequent usage points for their dining experiences. On the other hand, if consumers dine with a friend or alone, they are more likely to reap the financial rewards of paying with frequent usage points without regard to the impression it creates. Research limitations/implications – These findings have significant implications for the restaurants marketers and managers. Implementation of frequent diners program may be affected significantly by self-monitoring characteristics and nature of dining companions. Originality/value – This study extends the understanding of individual differences associated with currency preference by examining the effects of self-monitoring and impression management on consumer preferences for currency usage. Identifying the characteristics of consumers using the different currency options is critical for the foodservice industry

Corporate Social Responsibility and Financial Performance: A Typology for Service Industries.

This paper presents a model that encapsulates a firm’s financial performance and its performance relative to CSR initiatives. The model was developed to fill a gap by providing stakeholders with a quick way to ascertain both a firm’s CSR initiatives and its financial viability simultaneously. The proposed model was developed based on a review of financial and corporate social responsibility related literature and incorporates widely used and empirically tested CSR and financial performance assessment measures. The Corporate Socially Responsible and Financial Performance (CSRFINP) model proposes that a firm can be assessed and assigned a score based on its performance on predetermined CSR dimensions as well as it financial performance on predetermined financial criteria. Firms can fall into one of the model’s four quadrants based on their CSR and financial performance scores. If a company is pursuing purely financial initiatives and performs well on those initiatives, it will find itself in the black or the “Aggressive” quadrant. Conversely, if a company is a nonprofit entity and pursues purely social responsibility initiatives, then this company will be a truly “Green” company and be placed in the “Green” quadrant. Companies that perform well on both social responsibility and financial initiatives will fall into the “Blue” or progressive quadrant. Companies that underperform on both financial and socially responsible initiatives fall into the yellow or “Repressive” quadrant

Self-Monitoring, Dining Companions and the Usage of Alternative Currencies

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to understand the effects of self-monitoring, dining companions and industry segments on the usage of alternate currencies while dining out. Design/methodology/approach – An experimental design using frequent consumers of restaurant services is being used with a scenario approach with a sample size of 471. Findings – Results indicate that self-monitoring has significant impact on consumers’ choice for alternate currencies. In addition, the type of dining companion (boss vs friend vs alone) has significant affect on usage of alternate currencies. Industry segments were not found be a significant factor in making usage of alternate currencies. For high self-monitoring individuals, the preferences for currency usages are more likely influenced by the image delivered by the currency than for low self-monitors. Consumers who dine with a friend or alone are more likely to prefer to pay with frequent usage points-only (as opposed to dollars-only) than consumers who dine with the boss. This result indicates that the dining companion is an important determinant in preferring the alternative currency, frequent usage points. Since frequent usage points are a signal of price discount, consumers do not want to make an impression of “being cheap” on the higher-status dining companion (e.g. boss) by using frequent usage points for their dining experiences. On the other hand, if consumers dine with a friend or alone, they are more likely to reap the financial rewards of paying with frequent usage points without regard to the impression it creates. Research limitations/implications – These findings have significant implications for the restaurants marketers and managers. Implementation of frequent diners program may be affected significantly by self-monitoring characteristics and nature of dining companions. Originality/value – This study extends the understanding of individual differences associated with currency preference by examining the effects of self-monitoring and impression management on consumer preferences for currency usage. Identifying the characteristics of consumers using the different currency options is critical for the foodservice industry

Corporate Social Responsibility and Financial Performance: A Typology for Service Industries.

This paper presents a model that encapsulates a firm’s financial performance and its performance relative to CSR initiatives. The model was developed to fill a gap by providing stakeholders with a quick way to ascertain both a firm’s CSR initiatives and its financial viability simultaneously. The proposed model was developed based on a review of financial and corporate social responsibility related literature and incorporates widely used and empirically tested CSR and financial performance assessment measures. The Corporate Socially Responsible and Financial Performance (CSRFINP) model proposes that a firm can be assessed and assigned a score based on its performance on predetermined CSR dimensions as well as it financial performance on predetermined financial criteria. Firms can fall into one of the model’s four quadrants based on their CSR and financial performance scores. If a company is pursuing purely financial initiatives and performs well on those initiatives, it will find itself in the black or the “Aggressive” quadrant. Conversely, if a company is a nonprofit entity and pursues purely social responsibility initiatives, then this company will be a truly “Green” company and be placed in the “Green” quadrant. Companies that perform well on both social responsibility and financial initiatives will fall into the “Blue” or progressive quadrant. Companies that underperform on both financial and socially responsible initiatives fall into the yellow or “Repressive” quadrant