Disintermediation

This chapter will review the relevant literature in the area of disintermediation with focus on e-commerce. It begins with a general introduction about the origins of the term disintermediation and the traditional role of intermediaries. This is followed by an examination and assessment of the influencing factors on the disintermediation decision of a company as well as particular elaborations of the impacts of disintermediation on manufacturers and end-consumers.

Trends and Issues in Strategic Human Resources Management

The key function of human resources will continue to play a key role in the process of firms' future planning. The chapter has highlighted, discussed, and explored key activities at the strategic levels of human resource management and planning including introductory comments and definitions of current understanding of HRM, the flexible firm, HRM planning and its benefits, HRM planning at the strategic levels, the role of individuals within their wider teams and organisations, and the development of technological advancement and its reflection in the planning process for HRM leading to further embedding of virtual aspects and activities. Furthermore, the chapter also included current practices of outsourcing and different key stages of workforce planning. The chapter aimed to enhance application by providing several practical discussions and case studies reflecting current trends in HRM at a strategic level.

Cultural Norms and Expectations Within the Hospitality Industry

The business environment differs across nations and throughout industries. The hospitality industry is no different; one managerial approach that functions well in one nation might not be necessarily applicable in another. This suggests that to successfully manage across different countries it is vital that managers acquire the necessary skills to effectively manage employees and guests with different backgrounds and expectations. Hence, the objectives of this chapter are to define and discuss culture and cross-culture management, explain the importance of understanding multicultural perspectives, and discuss the managerial approaches of managing workforce diversity and cultural diversity.

The Impact of the Uncertainty Production Process Under Operations Management in the Shipping Industry

It is important to note that producing products and services is the responsibilities of an organisation to build sufficient goods and services for customers and consumers. Operations are the most importance for organisations to manage the production process to produce and deliver final products to customers through the input-transformation-output model that all firms have used. Operations is the procedure of production that uses input resources to produce a output resource through transformation process. This chapter has introduced the concept of operations management (OM) and the uncertainty of OM.

Trends and Issues in International Planning for Businesses

Revolutionary changes in technological advancements have culminated in a hyper integration as well as stiff competitions in various facets of human endeavours. Technology has amalgamated a wide, disconnected, and diverse world with a massive land mass and water into a mere village. The space created is now bigger than the lands, seas, and oceans put together – it is called the cyber space. Trade, a hitherto localized form of exchange of goods and services, and a source of livelihood for human existence, has also metamorphosed into high levels of stiff competitions which have driven business managers to look beyond their domestic local markets for new opportunities even beyond their shores. Communities, on which trade and technologies thrive, have also had their own share of changes in all facets brought about by technological changes. Ages-long cultural practices are now giving way to changes never experienced before. While some cultures have incorporated these changes, others have been swallowed up and therefore gone into extinction.

Identifying Key Important Factors Affecting Consumer Purchase Behaviour On Luxury Brand Through the Use of Instagram

Purchasing via the internet is one of the most rapidly growing forms of shopping, which has overcome traditional retailing since late 1998. In this chapter, factors related to online and social media shopping and the benefits of using social media will be discussed. Instagram application, tendency of using brand name, online consumer behaviour, and Thai consumer behaviour towards the use of social media will also be illustrated to review what the key factors important in online shopping mentioned in previous research are.

Approaches and Practices in Strategic Human Resources Management

This chapter is planned and designed to explore strategic human resources (SHR), key terms, activities, and requirements in organisations. Using various activities and case studies to support the lines of discussion throughout, the chapter is developed for students, professionals, managers, researchers that already have prior knowledge and experience in the field of HR or other associated fields and positions such as being a line manager for a small or large team, or even running own small firm where the aspects of HRM are highly essential and vital for the development and growth of the firm. The chapter is providing identification, exploration, and in-depth discussion of key strategic aspects of HRM such as the following: forecasting external supply, job analysis and workforce profiling, job descriptions and person specifications, competencies, job families (market groups), and redundancy. Furthermore, the chapter is supported by key case studies and identification of current trends to enhance the understanding of key changes and developments in the field.