Innovative Certifications in Adventure Tourism

2022 ◽  
pp. 161-175
Author(s):  
Dorthe Eide ◽  
Anne-Mette Hjalager ◽  
Marcus Hansen
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Diffusion Of Innovation ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Diffusion Theory ◽  
Relative Advantage ◽  
Quality Systems ◽  
Adventure Tourism

Certifications, quality systems and standardization carriers systemic innovativeness, since they usually are established after a lengthy period of research, evidence-finding and testing. Ideally, they incorporate the most decisive best practices that will benefit firms, customers, and wider groups of stakeholders in communities. Such systems can be seen as driving forces for innovation, and memberships in them is likely to enhance prospective changes in the any industry. This chapter addresses the prospects of diffusion of innovation through certification and quality systems, using Rogers (1995) diffusion theory explaining adoption based on the five attributes. Findings from a qualitative multi-case study of the national tourism quality certifications of VisitScotland (Quality Assurance), New Zealand (Qualmark) and Iceland (Vakinn) is used to illustrate and explain diffusion. The study shows that relative advantage and compatibility seem most critical for adoption. Complexity and observability are important too, while trialability seems less obtainable in this particular context.

Empirical Study on Adoption of Islamic Banking System Using Quantitative Method:A Case Study of Afghanistan

10.26414/a169 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khatera Naseri ◽  
Ashurov Sharofiddin
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Of Innovation ◽  
Banking System ◽  
Relative Advantage ◽  
Islamic Banking ◽  
Product Knowledge ◽  
Diffusion Of Innovation Theory ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

Although the background of the banking system goes back as far as 1933, Islamic finance isstill new in Afghanistan. The history of the firstfull-fledged Islamic bank began asrecently as 2018 with the conversion ofBakhtarBank, a conventional bank, to the IslamicBank of Afghanistan (IBA). There have been numerousstudies done worldwide, but no empiricalstudy has examined the subject of Islamic banking adoption in the specific context of Afghanistan. Therefore, this presentstudy investigatesthe adoption ofIslamic banking in Afghanistan, using a case study of Herat province, based on Rogers’ (1983) Diffusion of Innovation Theory, to determine the impact of awareness,productknowledge,religiosity,relativeadvantage,compatibility, and complexity on the adoption of Islamic banking. A quantitative approach to the stratified convenience sampling method was used in this study. Questionnaires were distributed to 334 bank customers and the responses analyzed using SPSS v22. The multiple regression analysis finding indicated that product knowledge, relative advantage, and religiosity significantly and positively influenced the adoption of Islamic banking. It is suggested that the government and financial institutions should support Islamic banking with beneficial policies and initiatives to enhance the knowledge of the public about the significance of Islamic banking activities.

scholarly journals Innovation attributes and their linkages to behavioral drivers of farmers’ intention to adopt True Shallot Seed

2021 ◽  
Vol 316 ◽  
pp. 02003
Author(s):  
Witono Adiyoga
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Control ◽  
Diffusion Theory ◽  
Detailed Examination ◽  
Relative Advantage ◽  
Adoption Studies ◽  
Innovation Diffusion Theory ◽  
Intention To Adopt ◽  
Behavioral Preferences ◽  
Innovation Attributes

True Shallot Seed (TSS) has been promoted as an alternative solution to overcome shallot yield problems in Indonesia. A case study method was employed to assess perceptions of innovation attributes and their linkages to behavioral drivers of farmers’ intention to adopt TSS. Respondents were shallot farmers in Cirebon and Brebes involved in participatory on-farm trials. All innovation attributes, i.e. relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, triability and observability are perceived as positive by farmers. Farmers’ attitudes toward TSS suggest a favorable evaluation of TSS innovation. Concerning subjective norms, farmers believe that researchers/extension workers encourage their behavior to adopt TSS. In terms of behavioral control, farmers perceive the ease of performing TSS adoption. Meanwhile, farmers also indicate a high intention to perform the behavior of adopting TSS. This pre-adoption case study has generated some hypotheses for further detailed examination and test. Those hypotheses address important research needs, such as understanding TSS innovation attributes as perceived by farmers, the antecedents of farmers’ attitudes toward TSS, and the role of farmers’ behavioral preferences toward intentions to adopt TSS. It is recommended to integrate the innovation diffusion theory with the theory of planned behavior as the framework for future adoption studies using survey research method.

scholarly journals An Investigation on the Adoption of Electronic Commerce Systems for the Operators of Construction Companies

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Nafisa Bello Issa ◽  
Angela Siew Hoong Lee
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Diffusion Of Innovation ◽  
Technological Factor ◽  
Construction Workers ◽  
Relative Advantage ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
The World ◽  
Innovation Model ◽  
Internal And External Factors

E-commerce is emerging and growing in all kinds of businesses and industries over the world especially in the construction industry. This research focuses on the adoption of business-to- business kind of e-commerce in construction industry. This research aims to identify the motivational and barrier factors of the construction workers in influencing the adoption of e- commerce specifically in the construction industry world. As part of the research, a multinational company, which produces tools for the construction industry, will be used as a case study to look into how the customers of this company are adopting e-commerce. This research uses the Diffusion of Innovation model as the based research framework to understand the factors that explain the rate of adoption and how these factors are influencing the adoption in the construction industry. Other internal and external factors of companies such as the organizational factor, technological factor digital readiness will also be looked into to understand their influence as well when it comes to adoption of e-commerce. Data collection is done by distributing questionnaires to the related participants in the construction industry. Findings from this study provides insights on the factors of adoption by applying the diffusion of innovation model and recommendation of strategies for this industry to address the problem of low adoption of e-commerce among construction workers in the construction industry. This research showed that relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, Trialability, organizational readiness and trust are significant factors leading to the adoption of e-commerce systems. Culture as well as technological and digital readiness were found to be insignificant. Overall, the study’s findings enrich the discourse related to the adoption of e-commerce systems by construction companies in Asia and other parts of the world. The findings will be relevant for construction companies around the world planning to introduce or improve the e-commerce adoption of the customers. The study’s findings could also be relevant for future analysis of e-commerce adoption.

Best Practices Adopted by Universities in The Development of Mediation in The Czech Republic

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 203-229
Author(s):  
Pavlína Krausová ◽  
Hana Láníková
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Dispute Resolution ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Communist Country ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
The University

This article provides a comprehensive overview of key practices that may be adopted by the universities in order to advance mediation as a dispute resolution method among young professionals and key stakeholders of dispute resolution. The findings are based on the case study of the Charles University, Faculty of Law, which has been chosen due to its sharp rise in the number and variety of theoretical and practical university offerings related to mediation. It, therefore, represents a sustainable model of a progressive university program. The authors describe and analyse a full range of its university classes, summer schools, workshops, student societies, competitions, and conferences, many of which are self-organized by the students and university alumni themselves. They report how the various mediation activities developed over time, what contributed to their success, or posed a challenge, and offer an insight into the specific curriculums and practical methodologies. While they may be context and location-specific, the authors believe they are transferable and have the potential to serve as valuable inspiration for other developing ADR programs. To put those educational efforts into a broader context, the authors consider the state of the legal development of mediation in the Czech Republic. e Mediation has been introduced into its respective legal system only after the establishment of the democratic government in 1989, due to it being a communist country. Yet it took more than twenty years to adopt a legal framework that would regulate the basic principles of mediation and its exercise. Furthermore, the authors briefly draw attention to some of the challenges mediation is facing in the Czech Republic after the adoption of the Mediation Act in 2012. They consider in more detail how the specific obstacles may be mitigated by the proactive approach of the universities, especially law faculties, which have a direct relationship with the future driving forces of dispute resolution, such as future legislators, judges, and other professionals. The authors express a notion that the university activities are likely to have a positive impact on the (herein referred to as “ADR”) culture in the Czech Republic, especially in the following years, which is supported by the latest programs developed by government institutions and private parties which are emerging continuously, some of which have direct or indirect relationships, and contact with the university environment. Finally, they provide concrete recommendations as a list of best practices, which were gathered from the analysis of the case study of Charles University.

scholarly journals Applying the sterile insect technique for biosecurity benefits and constraints

2003 ◽  
Vol 56 ◽  
pp. 21-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.M. Suckling
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Exotic Species ◽  
Sterile Insect Technique ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Mass Rearing ◽  
Competitive Fitness ◽  
Spatial Targeting ◽  
Adequate Understanding

Sterile insect releases to manage or eradicate pests have been deployed increasingly in many countries against diverse targets but have not previously been seriously considered in New Zealand The increasing cost of incursions of exotic species warrants a reconsideration of the potential for any approach that can help to defend New Zealand The success of the sterile insect technique is dependent on adequate understanding of pest biology techniques for mass rearing of sufficient numbers to overcome the target population mass sterility (with excellent quality assurance) competitive fitness of released insects and release systems that ensure effective spatial targeting Legislative hurdles such as the HSNO Act (1996) may need attention to enable this approach for insects that have arrived after 1998 The first use of the sterile insect technique in New Zealand is against the painted apple moth and is a useful case study to demonstrate the potential of the approach in biosecurity

scholarly journals Care work an diffusion of innovation in Danish elder care

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luise Li Langergaard
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Diffusion Of Innovation ◽  
Elder Care ◽  
Care Work ◽  
Contextual Knowledge ◽  
Types Of Knowledge ◽  
Innovation Project ◽  
Care Situation ◽  
Innovation Processes

This article explores the interplay between different types of knowledge and rationality in care work through a case study of a nursing home innovation project in a Danish municipality. The aim is to understand the implications for innovation processes and dissemination within the context of elder care. Care work, in some sense, relies on relational and contextual knowledge which may lead to challenges when innovation and best practices are to be diffused across organizations. This is especially true since diffusion often relies on codification of practices and knowledge. Caring rationality is essential to how technologies and methods are practiced in the care situation, and thus also essential for best practices and how they are disseminated. However, other types of codified and explicit rationality are equally important. The article concludes that there are several types of knowledge in play in care work practices and innovation, and it indicates that communities of practice could be key to understanding how to share and learn from best practices across organizations. 

scholarly journals Evaluation of health care providers’ use of the ‘Exercise and Depression Toolkit’: a case study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Krista Glowacki ◽  
Daniah Zumrawi ◽  
Erin Michalak ◽  
Guy Faulkner
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Diffusion Of Innovation ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Treatment Guidelines ◽  
Primary Treatment ◽  
Relative Advantage ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Post Intervention

Abstract Background Exercise is now recommended as a primary treatment for mild-moderate depression in Canada. The ‘Exercise and Depression Toolkit’ was developed to help health care providers (HCP) integrate these treatment guidelines into practice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate acceptability and perceived effectiveness of the toolkit in practice by HCPs working with individuals with depression. Methods A case study design was utilized. The toolkit was given to 6 HCPs to use in practice for 4 weeks. Pre- and post-intervention phone interviews were conducted, and weekly logs were provided to track use and satisfaction of interactions with individuals with depression when using the toolkit. The study was conceptually guided by a hybrid theoretical approach using the Diffusion of Innovation Theory and the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability. Results All HCPs used the toolkit at least once. Participants viewed their interactions when using the toolkit to be successful (considering individuals’ receptiveness, its usefulness and general satisfaction.) The average success score for all participants was 5.5/7. HCPs found the toolkit to be acceptable. All participants (n = 6) viewed the toolkit as having relative advantage in helping them to discuss exercise with individuals with depression, and as relatively simple and easy to use (not complex) and adaptable to their practice needs (having trialability). Participants liked the toolkit and had mostly positive things to say about it. Participants had mixed feelings about whether changes in the people they worked with (such as mood and activity levels) could be observed (observability) and whether the toolkit changed their belief in their ability to recommend or discuss exercise (self-efficacy). Recommended dissemination strategies were adopted in promoting the toolkit. Conclusions Future work should address observability and the ability for health care providers to see other providers using it, as well as effectiveness considering outcomes for people with depression such as mood and activity changes. The results of this initial evaluation seem promising for uptake and future adoption of the toolkit by health care providers working with adults with depression in Canada.

scholarly journals Quality Assurance and Audit in New Zealand Universities: A Review and Case Study

1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Codd ◽  
Keith Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Critical Review ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Policies And Procedures ◽  
And Control ◽  
Quality Assurance And Control

Along with other institutions of higher education, the New Zealand universities are responding to pressures for increased accountability by developing policies and procedures for the maintenance of quality assurance and control. This paper reviews these developments, with a particular focus on the role of the New Zealand Universities Academic Audit Unit (AAU). In the period February to August 1996, the first full academic audit was undertaken by the AAU at Victoria University of Wellington (VUW). Taking this as a case study, the paper examines some of the issues surrounding quality assurance and audit in higher education and presents a critical review of current directions.

scholarly journals A Life Cycle Assessment of Medium Density Houses in New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Sanjeev Ganda
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Environmental Indicators ◽  
Medium Density ◽  
Design Decisions

<p>This study develops an analysis method that designers can use to undertake a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) on multiple building designs to inform design decisions and trials this on Medium Density Housing (MDH).  Measuring the environmental impact of a building is a time and resource-intensive process requiring multiple analysis tools, numerous inputs and quality assurance steps. Together with a lack of knowledge from designers, this makes it an unattractive task. Therefore, a method was needed to remove these barriers so that an LCA could be integrated into a designer’s workflow to inform design decisions. To simulate issues designers would face in the early design stages when undertaking an LCA, an LCA was performed on three MDH houses using selected designers’ Building Information Modelling (BIM) models in a warm and cool climate (Auckland and Christchurch). The LCA impact of changes to the insulation levels above the New Zealand Building Code minimum was examined to test the utility of the process.  Unique in the literature, this study includes multiple LCA indices: material impacts, resultant operational energy use, change in materials, multiple environmental indicators, the rationale behind the selected buildings, quality assurance of the results, presentation of model inputs and all results in sufficient detail for the methodology to be tested and replicated.  The case study research methodology developed three MDH houses that were representative of a broad range of MDH houses currently for sale in New Zealand. The goal was to evaluate whether the research method can identify differences between buildings that might inform design choices.  In theory, a single BIM model eliminates the need to have three building models: the designer’s construction model; the LCA analysis model; and the energy performance model saving time and complexity for the designer. This methodology identified that it was not possible to have a single BIM model in Revit and use this for both an energy simulation and LCA using LCAQuick. Each house was recreated in OpenStudio for simulation in EnergyPlus to generate the energy performance of each house.  A database of inputs for the energy models was created, which was quality assured for use by designers. A visual assessment diagram was created to allow designers to interpret the output to help inform design decisions.  The case study analysis determined that the design of the houses had a more significant effect on reducing environmental impact compared to increasing insulation levels above the minimum required by the building code. Changes to the buildings’ insulation levels resulted in an average change in environmental impact across the seven environmental indicators ranging from -1 to 7% in Auckland and -2 to 2% in Christchurch, whereas differences in the design resulted in a change in environmental impact of 21 to 22% in Auckland and 22 to 23% in Christchurch.   The research has demonstrated that LCA can be integrated into a designer’s workflow. Designers can assess the environmental impact of multiple houses and construction changes in different climates and with multiple construction changes to each. However, the process requires further refinement. There is still a need to develop the Computer-Aided Design (CAD) modelling methods and their integration with the analytical tools.</p>

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document