Business, Enterprise & Management

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23 The Impact of Entrepreneurial Capital on Preferences for External Financing: An Empirical Study of Ethnic Minority Business Owners in the UK
(De Gruyter, 2023-11-06) Bhusal, Ramchandra; Dabić, Marina; Kraus, Sascha
This chapter examines the impact of entrepreneurial capital (a pool of social, cultural and human capital) on preferences for external financing among ethnic minority business owners in the UK. The findings show that entrepreneurial capital has an impact on ethnic entrepreneurs’ finance seeking behaviours. More specifically, entrepreneurs who choose to embrace extended social networks prefer bank financing and ethnic entrepreneurs who embrace multiculturalism and have a propensity for acculturation prefer alternative sources of financing. Similarly, business owners with postgraduate education have aa positive preference for alternative financing and a high level of education has a positive impact on shaping preferences for asset financing. The empirical study is based on 114 responses obtained through three different survey approaches. Multiple regression models are used to analyze data. This study provides a number of recommendations for policymakers, finance providers and practitioners. © 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
A benchmarking framework for eTourism capability of destinations' industries
(2014-08) Reino, Sofia; Frew, Andrew J.; Mitsche, Nicole
Purpose - This paper aims to provide a framework for benchmarking the eTourism capability of a destination's tourism industry, understanding the eTourism capability of a destination's industry as the contribution that the information and communication technologies (ICT) uptake of that industry makes to its own performance. The impact of ICT in tourism has been suggested through extensive research. Previous work has urged the development of wide-angle studies to enable benchmarking of destinations and their industries. However, relevant research is limited. Macro-level studies in the area tend to focus on a single aspect of technology to evaluate adoption, are not sector-specific nor take into consideration the different levels of contribution that systems may bring to performance. Design/methodology/approach - A review of the literature on tourism, eTourism, benchmarking and technology adoption provided the baseline for developing this benchmarking tool. Findings - The literature supported the selection of key tourism industry sectors, i.e. accommodation establishments, visitor attractions and food and beverage; the most suitable methodology, i.e. intermediary performance measures; and the business characteristics that need being taken into consideration when assessing ICT adoption by tourism businesses, e.g. size, type of establishment and area of location. Research limitations/implications - The framework has not been tested yet. It is based on a review of the literature and needs to be validated through primary research. The framework was developed based on the context of Scotland. Further work should be done to adjust the framework to other destinations worldwide. Practical implications - The framework enables destinations to benchmark the eTourism capability of their industries. Originality/value - It provides a comprehensive framework for benchmarking tourism destinations' industries, which takes into consideration elements of technology adoption, the characteristics of the tourism industry and the particularities of the different ICT elements. Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
A Case Study in Developing a Introductory Course in Meeting and Event Technology for Undergraduate Students
(2012) Goldblatt, Joe J.; Penny, Vasilii; Lin, Kuan-Wen
There has been little evidence of a concentrated effort to transform the emergence of integrated communications technology (ICT) in the meetings and events industry research into a curriculum suitable for undergraduate students studying meeting and event planning. This case study documents the development of a new undergraduate curriculum in meeting and event technology. It includes the appointment of an expert panel and several rounds of consultation to establish norms in best practice. The study demonstrates how a industry partner may be helpful to academics in developing a broader curricular program and how students can enjoy and benefit from this curricular focus.
A Comparative Analysis of the Perceived Effects of Two Economic Recessions on Event Organizations
(Cognizant Communication Corporation, 2012) Lee, Seungwon Shawn; Goldblatt, Joe J.; Daniels, Margaret J
Events have emerged as a growing and vibrant segment of tourism economies and there is significant evidence of associated economic, socio-cultural and political impacts on local host communities. While there are numerous studies that have determined the economic impact of individual events, there are few that focus on the influence of a changing economic climate on event organizations. This study compared feedback generated by two studies where event management professionals indicated the perceived effects of the economic recessions that spanned from 2000-2001 and 2007-2010. The results indicated a significant difference in the perceived effects of these two recessionary periods. Event professionals were found to have a more conservative view regarding future organizational performance after the 2007-2010 recession in comparison to forecasts accompanying the 2000-2001 recession. Specific recession impacts and methods event professionals employed to reduce financial exposure are identified.
A critical analysis of tourism information technology research
(Springer, 2000) Frew, Andrew J.
A deep learning pipeline for age prediction from vocalisations of the domestic feline
(Nature Research, 2025-10-03) van Toor, Astrid; Qazi, Nadeem; Paladini, Stefania
Accurate age estimation is essential for advancing interspecies communication but remains a challenge across non-human species. This study presents the first dataset of domestic feline vocalisations specifically designed for age prediction and introduces a novel deep learning pipeline for this purpose. By applying transfer learning with models like VGGish, YAMNet, and Perch, we demonstrate the potential for automated age classification, with VGGish achieving the best results. Our findings hold significant potential for applications in veterinary care and wildlife conservation, building on existing research and pushing forward the boundaries of automated age classification within digital bioacoustics. Future work could explore improving model generalisability and robustness, potentially expanding its application across species.
A Dispute System Design Perspective on the Future Development of Consumer Dispute Resolution
(Oxford University Press, 2016-12-01) Williams, Jane; Gill, Chris; Cortes, Pablo
This chapter explores the concept of dispute system design in the context of consumer dispute resolution (CDR). While there is a growing literature on dispute system design (DSD) in North America, practitioners and scholars in the UK and Europe have failed to give significant attention to DSD as a discrete activity. As the role of CDR within civil justice systems across Europe continues to grow, the activity of ‘designing justice’ in this area should increasingly be seen as a matter of constitutional as well as practical significance. A failure to address this issue risks undermining the continued legitimacy of state-sanctioned dispute resolution for consumer-to-business disputes. In this chapter, we present a new dispute design model for CDR mechanisms and, drawing on several case studies, demonstrate how it may be applied in practice.
A Multi-dimensional Analysis of Managers' Power - Functional, Socio-political, Interpretive-discursive, and Socio-cultural Approaches
(Rainer Hampp Verlag, 2009) Diefenbach, Thomas; By, Rune T.; Klarner, Patricia
Managers' power within organisations has been analysed by several approaches: Orthodox management and organisation studies ('functional approach'), Critical Management Studies ('socio-political approaches'), interpretive, discourse-oriented and constructivist concepts ('interpretive-discursive approaches'), and anthropological, socio-psychological and sociological approaches ('socio-cultural approaches'). In organisational reality functional, socio-political, interpretive-discursive, and socio-cultural aspects are closely related and intertwined. However, because of division of intellectual labour, probably more because of different worldviews, researchers often make use of these approaches quite selectively. Such focussing has its advantages but also weaknesses. This paper therefore argues that it often helps to investigate complex phenomena such as managers' power in multi-dimensional ways.
A Post-humanistic Insight into Human-Equine Interactions and Wellbeing within Leisure and Tourism
(Routledge, 2018-01-29) Danby, Paula; Carr, Neil; Young, Janette
A review of the 'consumer interest' in organic meat
(2003-10) Brennan, Carol; Gallagher, Kelly; McEachern, M. G.
The study aims to provide a critical review of the literature on the consumer interest in the UK in organic food, with a particular focus on organic meat. Given that people are more likely to purchase products if they have faith in them, the regulation of organic food standards is reviewed to explore issues affecting consumers. This is followed by a review of the organic meat sector. Aspects of the consumer interest considered in this paper include consumer information, consumer access, consumer safety, consumer choice and consumer representation. As the literature on organic food/meat in the UK is extensive, it was therefore necessary to be selective with regard to the publications suitable for this review. Most of the literature selected for this paper has been drawn from UK publications, although several European and international sources have also been used. The review found that there is a considerable level of interest in the UK organic meat sector. As the regulation of organic food produced is set at varying standards across the European Union, this could lead to consumers being misled regarding the quality of products offered. It was also found that, although consumers perceive organic foods as healthier, more nutritious and tasting better than non-organic products, the literature shows that this may have only a limited basis on fact. Contamination of organic products with pesticides and even genetically modified ingredients is always possible. Organic farmers are permitted to use other ingredients in organic meat products that may be harmful to health. Escherichia coli and Salmonella risks associated with conventional meat also appear to affect organic meat. Consumers need clear, accurate and reliable information about organic meat. They also need to be provided with safe products, a choice of organic products, access to organic products and to be represented effectively.
A review of the constraints,limitations and success of Homecoming Scotland 2009
(UIniversity of Strathclyde Business School, 2010-06) Morrison, A.; Hay, Brian
The aim of this review is to provide insight and analysis of a government tourism initiative within the geographic context of Scotland. It highlights the centrality of public-private partnership and the catalytic role of key government agencies in channelling investment, energies, events and marketing effort for a nationally focused tourism theme of Homecoming Scotland 2009 (HS09). The review also delves below the public relations veneer of many such activities to uncover the political debates and controversies, and the wider issues that may have detracted from the degree of success achieved by the initiative. Given that, the initiative was concluded only within the last few months and has still to be fully evaluated; it is only possible to draw tentative conclusions on the projects outcomes for tourism destination marketing and management in general. The longer-term impacts of HS09 such as repeat visitation and changes in the perception of Scotland will take a number of years to monitor, and only then will we be able to assess the legacy benefits of HS09.
A review of the positive impact of a Self Administered Motivational Instrument (SAMI) on Deep and Strategic approaches to study and on academic attainment
(Institute of Education, University of London, 2009) Duffy, Tim; Rimmer, Russell
This research concerns the wider context of behaviour change and approaches to study among students in higher education. Drawing on the counselling approach known as motivational interviewing, a Self Administered Motivational Instrument (SAMI) has been designed in which students take decisions about changing their approaches to study. Motivational interviewing has been demonstrated to positively influence a range of behaviours, including alcohol- and drug misuse and weight loss. The SAMI is paper-based and as the name suggests is self-administered. Within the SAMI, students are asked to rate their academic performances if they continue to study as they are and if they change their study approaches. These questions were designed to stimulate ambivalence, if warranted, over current study approach. This is also engendered by asking students to complete the reliable, valid and relatively brief deep and strategic components of a shortened version of the RASI learning-style instrument (Duff, 1997). This shortened RASI is known as the DRASI. The SAMI has been tested in a controlled study with 328 first, second and third year university students in Scotland, UK. In this paper the design of the SAMI and the controlled study are reported. The main conclusions are: - When the SAMI is applied, approaches to study change. In particular, there was an on-average increase in strategic approaches to learning. Further, greater strategic scores among those who completed the SAMI, were associated with a greater likelihood of attaining the top two grades of A or B1. Thus, in line with applications of brief motivational interventions in other areas, there is evidence of effectiveness. - A small to moderate effect size of 0.32 was noted for strategic scores within the intervention group. Teachers, students and policy makers might regard this as a reasonable return for a low cost, easily administered intervention. Further research is required to assess if similar outcomes occur when the SAMI is applied in different academic environments, with or without support from academic staff, over longer periods and using different media, such as electronic delivery.
A Sequential Mixed Method Study of Employee Job Satisfaction in Upscale Restaurants, Malaysia
(Informa UK Limited, 2023-09-06) Chaichi, Kamelia; Stephenson, Marcus L; Fouad Salem, Suha; Leong, Mei Kei
The study determines the main factors affecting job satisfaction in upscale restaurants and their degree of comparative influence. The research initially involves qualitative data analysis of 20 interviews with restaurant employees representing five upscale restaurants in Kuala Lumpur (KL), followed by structural equation modeling of data retrieved from 368 questionnaires from 16 KL restaurants. The impact variance of four main determinants of job satisfaction are revealed, where the “working environment” has the highest impact, followed by “payment and compensation,” “promotion”, and finally, “workplace fairness”. Crucially, “workplace relationships” have a moderating effect on the relationship between the “work environment” and job satisfaction, implicating industry-applied recommendations to strengthen job satisfaction levels.
A strategic approach to UK consumer education.
(Which?, 2008) Coppack, Martin; Brennan, Carol; Wadams, Melissa
Above all, garnish and presentation: An evaluation of Fanny Cradock's contribution to home cooking in Britain
(Wiley, 2017-08-02) Geddes, Kevin
The development of cooking on television, and the associated rise in ‘celebrity chefs’ is often seen as a modern phenomenon involving cooks like Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson in Britain. Fanny Cradock (1909–1994) is from time to time credited as a pioneer in television cooking and Britain's ‘first celebrity chef’. However little detail of her career has been documented, despite working as a journalist, radio and television presenter, food demonstrator, writer of fiction, children's books and cookbooks spanning from 1942 until 1986. Cradock was prominent on television between 1955 and 1975, with her final appearance in 1985. Cradock is as often remembered for her colourful character as for the colourful food she presented and her name remains synonymous with elaborate cooking in ball gowns, using copious amounts of food colouring and aspic, and for berating her husband who assisted her on stage, on television, and in print. However, from Cradock's personal archive a far more substantive contribution to home cooking through the development of television cooking and cookbooks, looking at her undocumented ideas and innovations. Additional archive materials and collections of newspaper clippings collected between 1942 and 1982 by Cradock herself shed light on how she was perceived at the time, her role as an entrepreneur and her own ‘brand’ identity. From this documentary evidence, it is argued that Cradock deserves to be much better remembered for her contribution to British food culture.
Accessibility, diversity and inclusion in events
(Routledge, 2020-05-26) Finkel, Rebecca; Dashper, Katherine; Page, Stephen J.; Connell, Joanne
This chapter explores the importance of issues concerning accessibility, diversity and inclusion in events discourses and praxis. These are broad terms encompassing a multitude of facets related to social, cultural, economic and political approaches and interactions. We recognise that individual events have distinct issues to explore; however, we intend to provide a general discussion about these three interlacing topics in order to provide a platform for further debates and improved applications in events landscapes.
Accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the UK meetings industry
(Taylor & Francis, 2020-09-04) Dashper, Katherine; Finkel, Rebecca
Issues of accessibility, diversity, and inclusion are becoming increasingly important for MICE managers around the globe and need to be considered in terms of both event attendees and employees/meetings professionals. The UK MICE sector is facing an unprecedented period of disruption in relation to the recent COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty of Brexit, the impacts of which may have far-reaching consequences in terms of equality and diversity. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 13 stakeholders - meeting planners, venue managers, entrepreneurs and member organization leaders - this paper considers how issues of accessibility, diversity, and inclusion are playing out in the changing landscape of the UK meetings industry. Findings suggest that although the MICE sector is paying increasing attention to the importance of accessibility, there is evidence of persistent inequality and marginalization on the grounds of gender, age, ‘race’ and (dis)ability. We question if a focus on diversity remains a priority in economically, politically, and socially unsettled times, and what this may mean for an inclusive future for the UK meetings industry.
Accessibility, Inclusion, and Diversity in Critical Event Studies
(Routledge, 2018-09-14) Finkel, Rebecca; Sharp, Briony; Sweeney, Majella
Most early social research into planned events had the effect of broadcasting narratives of dominant cultures and privileged groups. More recently, however, convergences of gender, sexualities, ethnicities, age, class, religion, and intersectional analyses and events studies have started to drive new critical understanding of the impacts of events on non-mainstream, non-majority communities around the globe. This timely book addresses current gaps in the literature surrounding issues of accessibility, inclusion, and diversity in various event landscapes. Structured into four parts covering the main types of events, the chapters present original topics using innovative methodological approaches. Each chapter employs a case study to illustrate the key intertwining issues in these various experiential realms. Further, the chapters are all cross- or interdisciplinary, drawing on gender, sexualities, cultural, race/ethnicity studies as well as multiple literatures that feed into critical events studies and exploring a variety of global examples. This significant book opens the path to further research on the role and importance of accessibility, inclusion, and diversity in events environments worldwide. It will be of interest to academics and researchers of critical event studies as well as a number of related social science disciplines.
Accessing and affording sustainability: The experience of fashion consumption within young families
(Blackwell Publishing, 2012-03) Ritch, Elaine; Schröder, Monika
Despite the ever increasing levels of fashion consumption, neither retailers nor consumers have as yet implemented sustainability principles to a significant degree. This is despite the fact that sustainability principles are increasingly understood and will be applied by consumers, as long as affordable alternatives in mainstream fashions are available. In a highly competitive fashion retail sector, there exists an opportunity for UK high street fashion retailers to differentiate their brand image through aligning products with consumers' moral frameworks. Using phenomenological interviews, this research explores the fashion consumption experiences of professional women with young children and living in or near Edinburgh, with particular focus on their expression of their own sustainability concerns in their day-to-day practices. The findings reveal that in the absence of suitable products, information and labelling, consumers apply heuristics to their choices, especially price. They refer to the more familiar ethical food market which serves as a metaphor for fashion-related practices. They talk about trustworthy retailers and about how they deal with and rationalize their own practices where they reveal an obvious attitude-behaviour gap. The women's role of providing for the family adds further complexity in a sector which provides affordable alternative options. 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
“Accompanying the series”: Early British television cookbooks 1946-1976
(Taylor and Francis Group, 2023-06-22) Geddes, Kevin
This paper provides a historical analysis to demonstrate the connections and developmental links which emerged between cookbooks and television in Britain after World War II, focused on television broadcasts in the period 1946 and 1976. In this paper, I discuss how early presenters of British television cookery programmes, and their publishers, had vision and marketing skills which enabled links between visual and printed media, and established a pattern of connected cookbook and television production which is taken for granted today. I examine the connected television and publishing careers of three early British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) television cooking pioneers: Marguerite Patten, Philip Harben and Fanny Cradock, who collectively dominated on-screen cooking programmes from the late 1940s until the mid-1970s. By analyzing their cookbooks, particularly their jackets and promotional materials, and interpreting archival research conducted in the BBC Written Archives and other documentary archives, their contributions will be discussed alongside the development of the television-connected cookbook in Britain. I conclude that these television cooks and presenters made a significant contribution on and off our screens during that period which established the connection between television cooking programmes and cookbooks in Britain.