Ways to Measure Loyalty of Service Users

The focus of this study was set on the empirical determination of the differences between the methods of measuring the loyalty of users of services. The research reviewed approaches to evaluating the loyalty of taxi service users in Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam), Moscow (Russia), and Novosibirsk (Russia). The goal implied the segmentation of service users depending on the patterns of conduct and giving advice on the development of loyalty programs. The novelty lies in grouping respondents by age and gender and determining the ways to measure their loyalty. The research findings imply that people under 30 tend to make a choice based on reviews of others. The study developed possible customer behavior models and options for actions depending on their satisfaction and loyalty. This matrix can be used for building a comprehensive strategy to increase the loyalty of their clients. Practical value of the study lies in the possibility of using the data obtained to model the behavior of consumers of different service types based on the proposed loyalty matrix.

Carving New Dimensions for Entrepreneurial Management

The purpose of this study is to identify the strategies, enabling the current and potential businesses to achieve their commercial and operational objectives. In-depth semi-structured interviews were used as data collection tools. The data were analyzed through thematic content analysis to gauge themes from the interviews. The explored strategies were mentor-mentee relationship, effective team building, research and development to sustain in the long run, continuous innovation to keep ahead of the competition, efficient customer management to retain the customer base and product proposition. Besides that, academia would be benefited in terms of inculcating such strategic frameworks in the course curriculum of entrepreneurship. The study's originality revolves around a comprehensive strategy from an Asian subcontinent to build and manage the entrepreneurial setup. The literature of entrepreneurship also highlights the importance of such strategies, enabling the practice and academia to learn and harness their business ideas.

Integrated Tick Management in Guilford, CT: Fipronil-Based Rodent-Targeted Bait Box Deployment Configuration and Peromyscus leucopus (Rodentia: Cricetidae) Abundance Drive Reduction in Tick Burdens

Integrated tick management (ITM) is a comprehensive strategy used to reduce presence of ticks and their associated pathogens. Such strategies typically employ a combination of host and non-host targeted treatments which often include fipronil-based, rodent-targeted bait boxes. Bait boxes target small-bodied rodents, specifically white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus Rafinesque) that not only play a crucial role in the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis Say (Ixodida: Ixodidae)) life cycle, but also in the transmission of numerous pathogens, primarily Borrelia burgdorferi Johnson, Schmid, Hyde, Steigerwalt & Brenner (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae), the causal agent of Lyme disease. This study aimed to determine the effect of bait box deployment configuration on tick burden reduction while also further exploring bait consumption and P. leucopus abundances as measures of bait box usage and effectiveness. Boxes were deployed on nine properties within each of six neighborhoods (n = 54) in two different configurations: grid and perimeter. Multiple factors were analyzed as potential predictors for reduction in tick burdens using a backward stepwise selection procedure. Results confirmed the perimeter configuration was a more effective deployment strategy. In addition, overall P. leucopus abundance was a significant predictor of tick burden reduction while bait consumption was not. These findings not only further support the recommended perimeter deployment configuration but provide insight into effective utilization in areas of high P. leucopus abundance. The identification of this significant relationship, in addition to configuration, can be utilized by vector control professionals and homeowners to make informed decisions on bait box placement to make sustained impacts on the I. scapularis vector and associated pathogens within an ITM framework.

Analysis of the socioeconomic barriers in implementing public health measures to contain COVID-19 transmission in Pakistan: a DELPHI–DEMATEL-based approach

PurposeThe present study aims to identify and evaluate the socioeconomic barriers to effective COVID-19 pandemic transmission control in Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachThe study identifies multiple socio-economic barriers through an extensive literature review. The preliminary analysis unveiled 15 socio-economic barriers. Nine experts were contacted to collect data and finalize the most prominent barriers to COVID-19 transmission control using the DELPHI method. The Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method was used to process and interpret the data collected and a cause–effect relationship was established among the barriers.FindingsThe finalized barriers to effective COVID-19 pandemic transmission control were evaluated using DEMATEL which grouped criteria into two grouped criteria – cause and effect. The DEMATEL analysis shows that poor safety culture, lack of strategy and goal setting, lack of resources, late realization and recognition of the pandemic problem and lack of expertise and capacity in disaster and risk management fall into the cause group. These factors are critical as they directly affect the remaining barriers identified in the study.Originality/valueDespite the collective global efforts, the national economies have been struggling to completely control COVID-19 transmission control. Pakistan’s economy has been facing the third wave of the pandemic. It is mandatory to identify the barriers and evaluate them to develop a comprehensive strategy ensuring that there would be no fourth wave. The study identifies and evaluates the barriers to COVID-19 transmission control in Pakistan using the integrated DELPHI-DEMATEL framework. The findings would help the government, experts and strategists to develop a comprehensive disaster and risk management strategy.

Comprehensive Enhancement of Mechanical, Water-Repellent and Antimicrobial Properties of Regenerated Seaweed and Plant-Based Paper with Chitosan Coating

Regenerated papers made from discarded natural sources, such as seaweeds or non-wood plants, are viewed as promising eco-friendly alternatives relative to conventional wood-based paper. However, due to its limited mechanical strength and higher water absorption than compared to traditional wood paper, it often results in premature structural disintegration. In order to overcome this limitation, this research introduces an efficient and comprehensive strategy of coating seaweed and plant papers with varying concentrations and molecular weights of chitosan. Increased concentration and molecular weight resulted in a greater amount of chitosan deposition, while the highest molecular weight also shows increased dissolution of soluble components of the paper. Since plants and seaweeds contain high anionic polysaccharide contents, the cationic chitosan shows high binding affinity towards paper. The resulting chitosan-coated papers demonstrate significant enhancements in water repellency and mechanical properties. In addition, the chitosan-coated papers also show significant bacterial inhibition effects due to the natural anti-microbial activity of chitosan.

Database Security in a Dynamic IT world

Databases are vulnerable. Public statements by Target, Home Depot, and Anthem following their extremely advertised data breaches are each uniform and succinct on how their breaches unfolded: unauthorized access to those systems that ultimately led to the extraction of sensitive information. A comprehensive strategy to secure a database is over data security. Usually, security events will be related to the later action: illegitimate access to data confidentiality damage, injury to the integrity of knowledge, loss of data accessibility (Discover). Loss of privacy of data, creating them accessible to others without a right of access is not visible within the database and does not need changes deductible database. This paper addresses these events to confirm database security.

Empirical examination of societal, financial and technology-related challenges amid COVID-19 in service supply chains: evidence from emerging market

PurposeThis paper reports an empirical examination of the societal, financial and technology-related challenges amid the ongoing pandemic (COVID-19) in the service supply chain network.Design/methodology/approachA combination of qualitative approach (for items generation pertinent to the constructs involved) and quantitative approach (self-administered questionnaires from the top and middle management of the sampled companies) was used for data collection. In total, 272 complete responses were received and analyzed through structural equation modeling.FindingsThe results provided empirical evidence that social and physical distancing, travel restrictions, work from home and lockdown practices have two conflicting effects: On one hand, these practices have contributed to the reduction of economic activities, including the low economic outlook, low productivity, high unemployment, poverty, fall in customer demands, dissatisfaction and mental health, that ultimately impacts rise financial and societal issues. On the other hand, the results revealed an insignificant influence of COVID-19 on creating technology-related challenges in the service sector. It shows that the organizations are doing well in combating the technology-related challenges amidst the current pandemic.Research limitations/implicationsFindings of the inquiry recommend implications for the services industry to harmonize a comprehensive strategy and revisit the global norms in sustainable supply chain management activities that have been the backdrop in their operations for a long time.Practical implicationsFindings of the inquiry recommend implications for the services industry to harmonize a comprehensive strategy and revisit the global norms in supply chain management activities that have been the backdrop in their operations for a long time.Originality/valuePrior studies in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak and its implications have given more attention to the exploratory and theoretical discussion than to empirical evidence. This paper contributes to filling this knowledge gap by empirically exploring the societal, financial and technology-related challenges created by COVID-19. The analysis in this paper covers three dimensions of the PEST model, namely economic, societal and technological factors. This study also helps in laying out a platform for investigating the PEST (political, economic, social and technological) model for guiding the services industry in strategic decision-making in a new era due to COVID-19.

Agritourism Development in the USA: The Strategy of the State of Michigan

Agritourism has been widely promoted by governments at many levels, especially in the developed regions of Europe and North America, as a tool to revitalize rural economies and as a sustainable path. Research on agritourism has mainly focused on defining and categorizing agritourism, farmers’ perceptions, tourists’ attitudes, tourism benefits, and marketing. However, little attention has been paid to characterizing the processes and strategies of agritourism development in a relatively large region, for instance, in a state or a province. This article uses the state of Michigan in the Midwest of the USA as a case study, systematically collecting academic publications from several literature databases on agritourism, the state’s regulation and policies on agritourism, the development of agritourism associations, the participation of universities in agritourism related to academic and outreach activities, identifying key and critical developmental events, and reconstructing the historical phases of the agritourism development process. It summarizes the significant characteristics of agritourism’s development in the state of Michigan, the state government’s comprehensive strategy and leadership, the universities’ strong intellectual support, and the consistent involvement of the industrial associations, as well as the interactions of these three parties at the different developmental stages of agritourism. The discussion is set in the wider context of agritourism’s development in the USA. We conclude by presenting the implications and recommendations derived from the agritourism development experience in the state of Michigan. We specifically discuss the relevance of the Michigan experience for agritourism stakeholders in other regions worldwide, especially those that are still in the early stages of agritourism development, such as China.