The effects of materialism on consumer evaluation of sustainable synthetic (lab-grown) products

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 579-590
Author(s):  
Jessica Keech ◽  
Maureen Morrin ◽  
Jeffrey Steven Podoshen
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Consumer Evaluation ◽  
Positioning Strategy ◽  
Consumer Markets ◽  
The Future ◽  
Promotion Strategies ◽  
Alternative Sources ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The increasing desire of consumers for socially responsible luxury products combined with fluctuating supplies in consumer markets are leading various industries to seek alternative sources to be able to meet the needs of its customers. One possible solution that may meet the demands of the future is lab-grown products. Because these products confer multiple benefits, this study aims to investigate the most effective ways to appeal to consumers by aligning the benefits of the products with their values as marketers seek to find effective promotion for these items. Design/methodology/approach We examine the effectiveness of an ethical positioning strategy for two types of luxury lab-grown (synthetic) products among high versus low materialism consumers in three experiments. Findings Findings suggest that a positioning strategy stressing product ethicality is more effective for low materialism consumers, whereas the strategy is less effective, and may even backfire, for high materialism consumers. The impact on social status consumers perceive from a lab-grown product explains why this effect occurs among low materialism consumers. Therefore, marketers should take caution and use specific appeals for different segments based on values such as consumers’ materialism levels. Originality/value If lab-grown products represent the wave of the future, it is important to understand how consumers will respond to this emerging technology and how promotion strategies may enhance their evaluation.

Shaping the future of hospitality and travel: trends in energy, environmental, and labor force and work

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-152
Author(s):  
Marvin J. Cetron ◽  
Owen Davies ◽  
Fred DeMicco ◽  
Mohan Song
Keyword(s):  
Labor Force ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Hospitality Industry ◽  
Future Trends ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Future ◽  
Travel Industry ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to continue to forecast trends in the hospitality and travel industry with practical implications.Design/methodology/approachThis study is the updated version of our previous list of trends. The new edition updates the previous report on the implications for the hospitality industry of major trends now shaping the future. We focus mainly on energy, environmental and labor force and work trends and discuss sub-trends under each trend. We then implicate how the trends affect the Hospitality and Travel industry.FindingsWe shared implications under each sub-trends.Originality/valueThe value of this article is to analyze the impact of the environment on the Hospitality and Travel industry from a macro perspective. For each trend, we implicate an estimate for future trends. We hope this article sheds light on the prediction of the Hospitality and Travel industry.

Impact of new forms of learning in interest-driven communities to future pathways for youth

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Crystle Martin
Keyword(s):  
Online Communities ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Career Trajectory ◽  
Professional Wrestling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Future ◽  
New Forms Of Learning ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper demonstrates the impact of recognition and valuation of youth interest on potential career trajectory and future pathway choices. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents data from two ethnographies. The first ethnography is of an online professional wrestling fan community, which took place between October 2012 and May 2013. The second ethnography is of the online Scratch community, Scratch is a free online coding program. Observations of the community took place between October 2014 and October 2015, with interviews ongoing as of the writing of this paper. Findings This paper details the importance of valuing youth learning and the impact that receiving recognition and valuation can have on youths’ future choices. Research limitations/implications This research focuses on two online communities and presents four examples of the phenomena of valuation and recognition described in the paper. To draw broad conclusions, a wider sample would be required. Practical implications This paper can offer examples to practitioners and researcher alike as to what the impacts of valuing youth learning in interest-driven contexts can be for youth long-term learning and career trajectory and forms that the valuation of interest to support growth and interest can take. Originality/value The paper demonstrates the importance of valuing learning in all parts of youths’ lives and the impact that the valuation can have on the future pathways and career trajectory of youth.

Graduate employability post-COVID-19: the case of a Malaysian public university

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Iqmal Hisham Kamaruddin ◽  
Azuan Ahmad ◽  
Mohd Asri Husain ◽  
Saffa Nasuha Abd Hamid
Keyword(s):  
Questionnaire Survey ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Public University ◽  
Academic Background ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work From Home ◽  
Graduate Employability ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis study presents an effort to identify and understand the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the graduate employability (GE) of Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) final year students. It examines the readiness of USIM's final year students to the internship during the lockdown period, the readiness to join GE programs and also employment prospects in the future.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire survey was employed, and 1,445 USIM final year students participated in this study.FindingsThe findings reveal that USIM final year students are ready to perform their internship even during the lockdown period. Besides, the students are also ready to join GE programs conducted by USIM, even while COVID-19 pandemic still currently occurs. Meanwhile, for the employment prospects in the future, results show that they believed that the employment prospects in the future after COVID-19 is low. In addition, academic background and internship areas exacerbate COVID-19's impact on the perceptions of USIM final year students on the employment prospects in the future.Originality/valueThis study is believed to be a pioneering study in identifying the impact of COVID-19 on the GE. It also contributes by identifying students' readiness to perform their internship during lockdown period via work from home (WFH) approach as well as their perceptions on the employment prospects in the future.

Does implementing social supplier development practices pay off?

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 389-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Sancha ◽  
Cristina Gimenez ◽  
Vicenta Sierra ◽  
Ali Kazeminia
Keyword(s):  
Economic Performance ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Social Performance ◽  
Operational Performance ◽  
Supplier Development ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is twofold. First is to investigate the impact of social supplier development practices on the suppliers’ social performance. Second is to analyze if the implementation of supplier development practices by Western buying firms pays off in terms of operational and economic results. Design/methodology/approach – Hypotheses are tested in a sample of 120 Spanish manufacturing firms using Path Analysis. Findings – The results suggest that while supplier development practices help to improve the suppliers’ social performance and the buying firm’s operational performance, they do not pay off in terms of economic performance. Research limitations/implications – The paper shows that supplier development practices help to improve the suppliers’ social performance while improving the operational performance of the buying firm. The study has two main limitations. First, because cross-sectional data are used, possible recursive relationships could not be accounted for. Second, the study is limited to the Spanish scope and, as such, results need to be interpreted in that context. Practical implications – The results of this study provide insights to managers with respect to the implementation of supplier development practices to make their suppliers more socially responsible. Furthermore, managers are shown the implications of implementing such practices in terms of operational and economic outcomes. Originality/value – This paper contributes to the existing literature on the effectiveness of sustainable supplier development practices by including the suppliers’ performance, which has been generally neglected. Objective measures for economic performance are also included.

Interlending and document supply: a review of the recent literature: No 88

2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-58
Author(s):  
Mike McGrath
Keyword(s):  
Open Access ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Resource Sharing ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Considerable Debate ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Impact ◽  
To Receive

Purpose – This paper aims to review the current LIS literature for document supply, resource sharing and other issues such as open access (OA) that have an impact upon the service. Design/methodology/approach – The approach is based on the scanning of about 150 journals, reports, websites and blogs. Findings – Lorcan Dempsey from OCLC looks into the future. Patron-driven acquisition and pay per view continue to receive much attention. There is considerable debate on the development of OA as the pace increases; of particular interest is Schöpfel on the impact of OA on document supply. Originality/value – This is the only regular literature review that focuses on interlending and document supply and related issues.

scholarly journals The future of hotel rating

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wouter Hensens
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Online Reviews ◽  
Future Trends ◽  
Media Technology ◽  
Rating Systems ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Way

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide an insight in the future of hotel rating. It reviews the impact of social media, technology that provides integration of data for the consumer and the hotels, and the way that rating bodies may respond to the changing environment on how hotels are selected and reviewed. Design/methodology/approach By reviewing current trends, practices and technological possibilities, the impact of online reviews on conventional hotel rating systems is projected into the future. Findings The paper predicts a full integration of conventional rating systems with online guest reviews from the different guest review platforms leading to greater transparency for the consumer and better positioning opportunities for innovative hotels. It is further predicted that those conventional rating systems that do not seek integration and alignment will see a continued drop in hotel participation and will cease to exist. Originality/value Little research has been done on the relation between online guest reviews and conventional hotel rating systems. The paper presents new insights into how current and future trends influence the way in which consumers select hotels and how this influences the way that hotels are rated.

scholarly journals Transforming education to prepare students to invent the future

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-91
Author(s):  
Fernando M. Reimers
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Student Empowerment ◽  
World Economic Forum ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The World ◽  
The Future ◽  
Learn By Doing ◽  
World Economic ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Human talent is rapidly becoming the most important asset for individuals, communities and nations. As the world changes rapidly due to globalization and technological innovation new opportunities and challenges arise for individuals, communities and nations. This paper aims to explore transforming education to prepare students to invent the future. Design/methodology/approach This essay draws on an evaluation of the impact of an entrepreneurship education program on a sample of youth in Saudi Arabia and integrates the core findings and ideas of literature relevant to the topic of education for the 21st century, including several books by the author. Findings This paper highlights five principles guide a series of curriculum resources to advance dispositions and skills for student empowerment and civic participation: start with the end in mind to design curriculum; leverage improvement networks to design curriculum; learn by doing; the power of problem-based education; and the power of collaboration in diverse teams. Originality/value Klaus Schwab, the founder of the World Economic Forum, predicts that the Fourth Industrial Revolution, resulting from increased and ubiquitous automation and the development of artificial intelligence, will eliminate many of the jobs currently available. Together with neurotechnological and genetic developments, these changes will create new opportunities and serious challenges, which require a heightened commitment to putting humans at the center, and empowerment as a goal (Schwab, 2017). These developments create a new urgency to examine whether children and youth are being prepared to be effective and productive citizens and workers, and to not just understand the future but to invent it. There is an emerging consensus that the skills students will need to invent the future must include cognitive, interpersonal and intrapersonal skills (Pellegrino and Hilton, 2012). The growing awareness that the adequate development of these requires deliberate efforts to cultivate them is also stimulating questions and innovations about the kind of educational experiences which can cultivate those skills.

The influence of design factors on the financing results of crowdfunding projects

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 587-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cong Zhu ◽  
Xingchen Li
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Design Factors ◽  
Success Index

Purpose The money raised for projects on crowdfunding platforms is determined not only by the merit of the projects themselves but also, to a large extent, by the design of the project introduction on the platforms. The purpose of this study is to identify the clear relationships between the financing result and the design factors to give preferable design suggestions to the fund initiators. Design/methodology/approach The data for this study were abstracted with Python from the Jingdong crowdfunding platform on a certain day. In all, 11 hypotheses are put forward in the study with the two main purposes of exploring the function of the quality signaling and level setting. Findings All design factors can impact the money raised for a project. However, the impact differs in certain situations. The level setting can significantly impact the amount of money raised. The quality of signals has a complex impact on the two dimensions. Originality/value Three major contributions are made by this paper. First, the level setting is explored after overcoming the difficulty of scrawling data. Second, the authors create the Success Index and Weighted Gap Index to measure the level of success from comprehensive dimensions and quantify the dispersion of the levels. Third, this study shows a comprehensive theoretical framework which can function as a reference for research in the future.

scholarly journals The independence referendum in Scotland: a tourism perspective on different political options

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Hay
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Policy Issues ◽  
Fiscal Autonomy ◽  
Political Debates ◽  
The Future ◽  
Full Independence ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Discussion Note

Purpose During the 2014 independence referendum in Scotland, there was much debate about the future broader political direction of the country but little discussion about its impact on Scottish tourism. The purpose of this paper is to explore and discuss the impact of the different future political options from a tourism perspective. Design/methodology/approach From the literature, four main political drivers were identified, and using Scotland as a reference, they were used in discussions with six experts to explore how tourism could develop under different political options. The outcomes from these discussions were combined by the researcher to develop in conjunction with the experts an agreed discussion note. This discussion note formed the basis for the exploration of the impact on tourism under four different future political options. Findings Of the four political options (devolution limited, devolution plus, devolution max/fiscal autonomy/federation and full independence), it is clear that all options had different positive and negative impacts for tourism. The devolution max option, however, was perceived as most damaging to tourism, because tourism would not be considered a priority, relative to other policy issues. The study concludes with six key lessons that destination management organisations (DMOs) should contemplate when considering the impacts of different political futures. Research limitations/implications Being focussed on one country with a strong political party whose raison d'être is independence makes it difficult to extrapolate the results. Nevertheless, given the strong commonality of agreement of the impacts within the experts consulted, this study suggests that DMOs can and should engage in political debates about the future of tourism in their destination. Originality/value The 2014 independence referendum in Scotland failed to achieve its primary aim of independence for Scotland, but it did provide space for other political options to be explored. This paper provides a perspective on how tourism could develop under different political options, and so help raise its profile in any future debates, both in Scotland and other destinations.

Who to find to endorse? Evaluation of online influencers among young consumers and its implications for effective influencer marketing

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wai Sing Tsen ◽  
Benjamin Ka Lun Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Product Categories ◽  
Consumer Markets ◽  
Young Consumers ◽  
Production Techniques ◽  
Convenience Sampling ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Gender Specific ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This study aims to identify the dimensions used by young consumers to evaluate effective online influencers; determine the impact of demographic segmentation – that is, gender, behavioral segmentation and whether young consumers often follow the advice of online influencers to make a purchase – on the evaluative dimensions. The results will inform advertisers regarding the types of online influencers that they should feature to endorse their products to create desirable promotion effects. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a multistage method. This study first conducted eight focus groups with 48 participants between 18 and 24 years of age to explore their evaluation of online influencers. This study then conducted a survey with a questionnaire developed from the focus group results. This study used convenience sampling and administered the questionnaire to 475 participants (mean age, 19.5 years). Findings The results of factor analysis revealed seven dimensions used by young consumers to evaluate online influencers. The most salient dimensions were credibility, appearance and content production techniques. The results of t-testing also show that gender and behavioral segmentation variables had an impact on these evaluative dimensions in the four tested product categories. Practical implications This study provides advertisers with a set of criteria to select appropriate online influencers in various advertising settings, such as the promotion of gender-specific products, and in various product categories that target young consumer markets. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine the dimensions used by young consumers to evaluative online influencers in relation to product endorsement.

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