scholarly journals Collaborative Strategies and Tourist Competitiveness in Medium Mountain Destinations: Study on the Positioning of Tourist Actors in the Natural Park of Serra da Estrela

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-134
Author(s):  
Gonçalo Fernandes ◽  
Ana Daniel ◽  
Helder Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Business Networks ◽  
Operational Flexibility ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
Collaborative Relationships ◽  
Natural Park ◽  
Tourism Sector ◽  
Communications Technologies ◽  
Collaborative Strategies ◽  
Serra Da Estrela ◽  
Productivity And Competitiveness

Abstract The tourism sector, due to its specificities, is one area of economic activity where collaborative strategies can most contribute to increasing productivity and competitiveness. The need for immediate responses to customer interests and requirements has led companies to become more proactive, which in turn leads to the pursuit of external collaboration to develop business networks that increase business dynamism and the operational flexibility of partners. Encouraging collaboration lies in the pressures brought on by globalization and increased competitiveness, supported by the development of information and communications technologies. Collaboration promoting strategic and organizational alignments in the field of tourism is revealed to be decisive for the qualification and sustainability of destinations, promoting new markets, and facilitating synergies of larger dynamism between companies. Serra da Estrela corresponds to a medium mountain destination, classified as a UNESCO World Geopark, where the development of collaborative relationships is valued as a resource for businesses and as expanding the offer of tourist products, as well as a source of competitive advantage.

scholarly journals Complexity in the Adoption of Technology in Tourism Services

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 7-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilia Violeta Cázares-Garrido
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
The Other ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
Adoption Of Technology ◽  
Financial Investment ◽  
Tourism Sector ◽  
Communications Technologies ◽  
Travel Agencies ◽  
Tourism Services

Abstract The paper focuses on the analysis of the organizations in the tourism sector, in particular, the travel agencies in the state of Queretaro, México, through a modern and flexible perspective that comes from the Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and it reviews how these agencies have expanded as organizations and what have been the effects on their processes. The investigation is based on a qualitative study that allows to realize the lack of awareness of the owners and companies’ managers on the influence of technology in their businesses. They are aware of the two main advantages that they have in order to compete with online businesses: first, the information they provide first hand to their customers and secondly, the safety it gives to their clients by purchasing at an established agency. On the other hand, they are not aware of the low financial investment (such as in the use of social networking) and the high acceptance of technology by consumers. As a result it is of extreme importance to provide training that allows the opportunity for change, which is increasingly necessary due to the overwhelming competition from online agencies.

scholarly journals Challenges in Creating Transformative Growth for Companies In Digital Economy

ECONOMICS ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 37-48
Author(s):  
Branislav Mašić ◽  
Ljubiša Vladušić ◽  
Sandra Nešić
Keyword(s):  
Digital Economy ◽  
Digital Transformation ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
Collaborative Relationships ◽  
Product Cycles ◽  
Communications Technologies ◽  
Transformational Growth ◽  
Short Product ◽  
Operational Excellence

Summary Digital economy creates waves and waves of disruptions. To survive and thrive in digital economy, where technology is disrupting industries from education to even manufacturing, companies are looking for new approaches to stay relevant. As the world becomes more digitalized, customer-centric approach to product development, short product cycles and rapid decision-making is needed. At the same time, while optimizing the existing core business, companies must grow more entrepreneurial culture and transformational growth engines inside the companies. Following this path, the major challenge for companies is how to implement strategic growth innovation along with executing traditional business model and operational excellence. This paper aims to explore and present the importance of digital transformation and innovations. Companies should strive to build collaborative relationships as a means to creating transformational growth. It is suggested that information and communications technologies are significant in the process of strategic planning. The Paper also emphasizes the importance of organizational structure and culture required for implementing strategies that are aligned with digital transformation.

ROLE OF LIBRARIANS IN TEACHING INFORMATION LITERACY IN ZIMBABWEAN AND SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITIES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Mousaion ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tinashe Mugwisi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
University Libraries ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
Communications Technologies ◽  
Information Skills ◽  
The University

Information and communications technologies (ICTs) and the Internet have to a large extent influenced the way information is made available, published and accessed. More information is being produced too frequently and information users now require certain skills to sift through this multitude in order to identify what is appropriate for their purposes. Computer and information skills have become a necessity for all academic programmes. As libraries subscribe to databases and other peer-reviewed content (print and electronic), it is important that users are also made aware of such sources and their importance. The purpose of this study was to examine the teaching of information literacy (IL) in universities in Zimbabwe and South Africa, and the role played by librarians in creating information literate graduates. This was done by examining whether such IL programmes were prioritised, their content and how frequently they were reviewed. An electronic questionnaire was distributed to 12 university libraries in Zimbabwe and 21 in South Africa. A total of 25 questionnaires were returned. The findings revealed that IL was being taught in universities library and non-library staff, was compulsory and contributed to the term mark in some institutions. The study also revealed that 44 per cent of the total respondents indicated that the libraries were collaborating with departments and faculty in implementing IL programmes in universities. The study recommends that IL should be an integral part of the university programmes in order to promote the use of databases and to guide students on ethical issues of information use.

Cyber Peacekeeping: Critical Evaluation of Digital Blue Helmets Program

2020 ◽  
pp. 17-27
Author(s):  
Fahad Nabeel
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Critical Evaluation ◽  
Threat Detection ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
The Past ◽  
Research Article ◽  
Un Peacekeeping ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Communications Technologies ◽  
Future Potential

In 2016, the United Nations (UN) launched the Digital Blue Helmets (DBH) program under its Office of Information and Communications Technologies (OICT). The launching of DBH was a continuation of a series of steps that the UN and its related agencies and departments have undertaken over the past decade to incorporate cyberspace within their working methodologies. At the time of inception, DBH was envisioned as a team capacitated to act as a replica of a physical peacekeeping force but for the sole purpose of overseeing cyberspace(s). Several research studies have been published in the past few years, which have conceptualized cyber peacekeeping in various ways. Some scholars have mentioned DBH as a starting point of cyber peacekeeping while some have proposed models for integration of cyber peacekeeping within the current UN peacekeeping architecture. However, no significant study has attempted to look at how DBH has evolved since its inception. This research article aims to examine the progress of DBH since its formation. It argues that despite four years since its formation, DBH is still far away from materializing its declared objectives. The article also discusses the future potential roles of DBH, including its collaboration with UN Global Pulse for cyber threat detection and prevention, and embedding the team along with physical peacekeepers.

scholarly journals International Schools for Young Astronomers (ISYA): a programme of the International Astronomical Union

2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (SPS5) ◽  
pp. 221-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michèle Gerbaldi
Keyword(s):  
International Schools ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Data Access ◽  
International Astronomical Union ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
The Past ◽  
Data Archives ◽  
International Astronomical ◽  
Communications Technologies

AbstractThis paper outlines the main features of the International Schools for Young Astronomers (ISYA), a programme developed by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1967. The main goal of this programme is to support astronomy in developing countries by organizing a school lasting 3 weeks for students with typically a M.Sc. degree. The context in which the ISYA were developed has changed drastically over the past 10 years. We have moved from a time when access to any large telescope was difficult and mainly organized on a national basis, to the situation nowadays where data archives are established at the same time that any major telescope, ground-based or in space, is built, and these archives are accessible from everywhere. The concept of the virtual observatory reinforces this access. However, the rapid development of information and communications technologies and the increasing penetration of internet have not yet removed all barriers to data access. The role of the ISYA is addressed in this context.

Children's and Families' Use of Computers in Australian Homes

2002 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toni Downes
Keyword(s):  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Approaches To Learning ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
Patterns Of Use ◽  
Communications Technologies ◽  
Instructional Environments ◽  
Computing Environments ◽  
Computer Resources ◽  
Home Computing ◽  
Modern Technologies

Children's approaches to learning may be changing as a result of their interactions with modern technologies. In Australian society there have been quantum leaps in the use of and reliance upon computers and information and communications technologies. An understanding of the lived experiences and interactions of children of various ages with computer technologies in their homes is the focus of this article. Such an understanding informs the work of educators who wish to provide effective instructional environments that draw on children's starting points and the positive aspects of their home computing environments. The research found that children's family computer resources, patterns of use and sociocultural contexts combined to affect children's computing experiences. Several discourses exist surrounding the use of computers by families. These discourses are the importance of computers for education, for the future and as productivity tools. From children's discussions emerged a comfortable co-existence of ‘toy use’ (for playing games) and ‘tool use’ (for purposeful work and leisure tasks) when using the computer and a preference for an exploratory mode of learning. A number of key elements present in domestic computing environments were identified as contributing significantly to children's learning. Implications for teachers are discussed.

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