The influence of symbolic and instrumental attributes of employer image on perceived industry attractiveness: differences between business owners and employees

PurposeThis study determines the influence of employer image on industry attractiveness in small and medium-sized hospitality firms by using the instrumental-symbolic framework adapted from marketing literature.Design/methodology/approachA total of 405 employees and 429 family firm owners in Bavaria were surveyed using a quantitative research design. The authors used linear and hierarchical multiple regression analyses for hypothesis testing using the variables included in the instrumental-symbolic employer image framework.FindingsThe study revealed differences in perception between employees and owners. Data showed that employees' ratings for instrumental attributes, such as job security and income options, and symbolic attributes, such as industry attractiveness, significantly differ from those of owners. Consistent with the instrumental-symbolic framework, owners' perceptions of symbolic attributes predicted their perceived industry attractiveness.Practical implicationsOwners may examine how their industry's image needs to be changed to gain positive perception by current and potential employees. Policymakers may benefit from the study’s results that may help them find the right focal points for strategies in promoting Bavaria's hospitality sector. As a result, an adequate and positive image is created that attracts workers for this sector.Originality/valueThe study addresses the rather under-researched stakeholder group of existing hospitality employees, particularly with respect to employer image. Furthermore, owners and employees are compared, regardless of their individually different relationships to the business. Employer image is connected with overall perceived industry attractiveness, stating that the industry comprises individual employing businesses and thus depends on employer image.

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Developing organizations: a system of enquiry, action and learning

Development in Learning Organizations An International Journal ◽

10.1108/dlo-03-2016-0023 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 12-14

Author(s):

Wayne Graham

Keyword(s):

Health Services ◽

Small Business ◽

Organizational Development ◽

Design Methodology ◽

Action Learning ◽

Organizational Outcomes ◽

Business Owners ◽

Content Type ◽

Business Practitioners ◽

Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to demonstrate the applicability of an action learning model to improve organizational outcomes. Design/methodology/approach This paper extends previous work by applying the system of enquiry, action and learning (SEAL) model using an action research methodology to a small business operating in the health services industry. Findings The SEAL model is a useful approach to introduce small business practitioners to the principles of organizational development (OD). Research limitations/implications The application is limited to one small business, and subsequent studies could apply the model to more organizations that operate in industries other than health services. Practical implications Business owners from this study and previous studies have found the model to be useful in the improvement of organizational outcomes. Originality/value The SEAL model is a simplified model that introduces principles of OD and has provided value to the business owners of this study.

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In quest of goldilocks ranges in searching for information on the web

Journal of Documentation ◽

10.1108/jd-01-2021-0019 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Anna Matysek ◽

Jacek Tomaszczyk

Keyword(s):

Information Search ◽

Design Methodology ◽

Search Task ◽

Web Searching ◽

Content Type ◽

Scientific Disciplines ◽

Preliminary Study ◽

The Right ◽

User Experiment ◽

Practical Implications

PurposeThe quest to discover optimal conditions or amounts has been carried out in many scientific disciplines and practical fields. In astrophysics, biology, medicine, psychology and education, the quest has resulted in finding the right amount of something, a desirable middle between extremes, a balance between conditions or the optimal state of a system. The results are referred to as the Goldilocks principle, which is based on the idea of being “just right”. The aim of our study was to find out if there are any measures in information search that could be identified as Goldilocks ranges.Design/methodology/approachWe conducted a user experiment in which 68 participants carried out a time-unlimited, topical search task involving finding relevant websites on the basis of which the participants were supposed to prepare a presentation on a given topic. We examined aspects of their search behavior.FindingsWe found that information search Goldilocks ranges can be identified for a length of a search session, number of relevant results, number of queries submitted and number of search engine results pages (SERPs) visited. This preliminary study has resulted in indicating the following dominant ranges: Number of relevant documents found: 5–8; Time spent searching: 21–35 min; Number of queries submitted: 3–7; Number of SERPs viewed: 1–3.Originality/valueTill now, no one has studied Goldilocks ranges in information retrieval. The Goldilocks ranges have some practical implications for improving the effectiveness of web searching.

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Sending all the right signals: can locally sensitive employer branding address the global integration-local responsiveness problem?

Human Resource Management International Digest ◽

10.1108/hrmid-04-2021-0096 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Keyword(s):

Case Studies ◽

Design Methodology ◽

Reading Time ◽

Employee Voice ◽

Global Integration ◽

Employer Branding ◽

Content Type ◽

Pertinent Information ◽

The Right ◽

Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings The study uses two case studies to explore the integration-responsiveness problem in multi-national enterprises and finds that locally sensitive employer branding and facilitating employee voice can help mitigate global-local tensions in religiously sensitive environments. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

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The importance of user-generated photos in restaurant selection

Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology ◽

10.1108/jhtt-11-2017-0130 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 2-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Bruno Oliveira ◽

Beatriz Casais

Keyword(s):

Design Methodology ◽

Online Reviews ◽

User Generated Content ◽

Content Type ◽

Online Platforms ◽

Photo Sharing ◽

Restaurant Managers ◽

Marketing Activities ◽

Hospitality Sector ◽

Practical Implications

Purpose User-generated content and online reviews are highly relevant in purchase decision in the hospitality sector, including restaurants, but there is a lack of knowledge about the effect of sharing pictures in this context. This study aims to focus on the relevance of user-generated photos in online platforms for restaurants’ selection. Design/methodology/approach A research was conducted with a sample of 319 residents of Porto region, who had at least one meal in a restaurant over the 30 days before the answer of the survey and had searched online to select the restaurant. Findings The results show that while doing online research about restaurants, it is important for potential consumers to find pictures of food and physical evidences of restaurants generated by other users. Findings also show that consumers find user-generated photos especially at websites of reviews, although the importance of restaurant owned platforms, such as official social media pages and websites. Practical implications The research results appeal restaurant managers to understand the importance of user-generated photos in online platforms by promoting photo sharing in their restaurants with appropriate marketing activities for that purpose. Originality/value This paper expands the state-of-the-art about the importance of user-generated content, focusing on the importance of photos from restaurants shared by consumers in online platforms.

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Valarie Zeithaml: autobiographical reflections

Journal of Historical Research in Marketing ◽

10.1108/jhrm-05-2017-0017 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 264-276 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Valarie A. Zeithaml

Keyword(s):

Personal Development ◽

Design Methodology ◽

Chronological Order ◽

Career Trajectory ◽

Content Type ◽

Look Back ◽

The Subject ◽

Research Philosophy ◽

The Right ◽

Practical Implications

Purpose By examining my personal development and career trajectory, I hope to share some insights into life as an academic. My particular path has contained, as most paths do, twists and turns. As I look back, they all seem somehow related to each other, but they were not all planned. Design/methodology/approach I will discuss my life and career in chronological order, then reflect on my career and research philosophy. I will also discuss several of my most cited articles and how they emerged. Findings I emphasize research that is both academically rigorous and relevant to business. I also show that passion for a subject, even one that is risky and not encouraged by others, has resulted in lifelong interest and inspiration for me. While not appropriate for all because of the risk, I found it worth taking a chance, largely because I was highly inspired by the subject. Practical implications Research that is programmatic has benefits because it allows a scholar to own an area. Also, working with the right co-author teams – sometimes ones where different talents are distributed across the team is effective. Originality/value The story and opinions are mine alone.

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To risk or not to risk

Strategic Direction ◽

10.1108/sd-05-2016-0075 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 32 (8) ◽

pp. 12-14

Keyword(s):

Case Studies ◽

Design Methodology ◽

Reading Time ◽

Cutting Edge ◽

Stressful Event ◽

Content Type ◽

Private Lives ◽

Pertinent Information ◽

The Right ◽

Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings It is said that the most stressful event in our lives is moving house. The risk of the whole project falling through; the sheer scale of planning and coordination required; the emotional highs and lows of the success or failure in finding the right home to move to. Certainly, there are few activities that adults go through that guarantee such a levels of anxiety. And if this is the case for our private lives, then what is the equivalent of our business lives? Implications The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

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Creating the right climate: how servant leadership can drive employee creativity

Human Resource Management International Digest ◽

10.1108/hrmid-10-2021-0223 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Keyword(s):

Servant Leadership ◽

Case Studies ◽

Design Methodology ◽

Reading Time ◽

Employee Creativity ◽

Content Type ◽

Study Find ◽

Pertinent Information ◽

The Right ◽

Practical Implications

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International equity REITs: five major future directions

Journal of Property Investment and Finance ◽

10.1108/jpif-09-2019-0122 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 71-81

Author(s):

David Parker

Keyword(s):

Quantitative Research ◽

Design Methodology ◽

Academic Research ◽

Future Directions ◽

Content Type ◽

Risk Return ◽

Cognitive Risk ◽

International Equity ◽

Equity Reits ◽

Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze chapters from the recently published Routledge REITs Research Handbook to identify five major future directions for international equity REITs. Design/methodology/approach Literature review and critical analysis of chapters from the recently published Routledge REITs Research Handbook. Findings The five major future directions for international equity REITs are proposed to comprise an increasing focus on people and on cash flow rather than on property (with the cognitive risk attaching thereto), the changing nature of REITs as they respond to changes in society globally, the evolution of the global flagship REIT and the emergence of global regulation of REITs (particularly in the spheres of debt and leverage). Research limitations/implications While five major future directions for international equity REITs are identified which may have an impact on the risk/return profile, further research is required to determine which directions may be significant and which trivial and which may be independent and which interactive. Practical implications Identification of five major future directions for international equity REITs provides managers and promoters with guidance concerning potential areas of focus for future product development in the REIT sector. Originality/value While quantitative research concerning international equity REITS abounds, qualitative research is limited with little academic research undertaken into possible future directions for the sector.

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Model behavior

Strategic Direction ◽

10.1108/sd-12-2018-0242 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 4-6

Keyword(s):

Competitive Advantage ◽

Case Studies ◽

Design Methodology ◽

Reading Time ◽

Strategic Plan ◽

Content Type ◽

Pertinent Information ◽

To Come ◽

The Right ◽

Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings One of the essential aspects of strategy that many executives struggle to come to terms with is the ethereal nature of it as a pursuit. Unlike logistics or finance, it has a wispy, intangible nature that refuses to be nailed down for a minute. Just as one executive thinks they have the right strategic plan, then the market will change, the environment will change, or any of the thousands of things that the strategy depended on will shift, leaving the firm high and dry, still looking for that killer app that will lead to competitive advantage. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

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