Although previous studies have considered the factors affecting other certification exam outcomes, they have not examined those that are related to performance on the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) exam. In response to that need, this study specifically investigates technology and training factors that affect self-efficacy and self-set goals, and through them, influence PHR certification exam results. The target population for the study consisted of recent examinees who had taken a formal PHR examination preparation class or used another form of exam preparation training. The survey results were analyzed using partial least squares modeling techniques, and mediation effects were then tested. The results demonstrated that PHR training self-efficacy affected PHR exam self-efficacy and self-set goals. These factors then had an impact on PHR exam scores. Also, the results of task-technology fit were indirectly related to PHR training self-efficacy through a multiple mediation model that included the instructional factor of time on task and the technology factor of perceived usefulness. Surprisingly, time spent on practice exam questions was found to be negatively related to PHR certification exam scores. Finally, instructional feedback indirectly affected outcomes through its positive relationship to self-set goals. The results of the research should help training professionals and examinees in structuring PHR exam training and preparation activities. They also suggest avenues for improving outcomes in other similar types of training.

Cette recherche a pour objet d’examiner l'importance des facteurs technologiques dans la spécialisation internationale touristique. Le test consiste, à partir des données liées au tourisme et à la technologie, à synthétiser la corrélation existante entre tourisme et facteurs technologiques dans les dépenses du tourisme domestique et international, l’investissement touristique et les dépenses en recherche et développement (R&D), à partir d’une analyse comparative de données de 2000 à 2010, en fonction d’une classifications des pays par groupes (Pays avancés, pays en voie de développement, et pays moins avancés). Les résultats ont montré que l’investissement touristique et la dépense de R&D sont des facteurs significatifs en terme d'augmentation des recettes touristiques d'un pays. Cette interprétation, mise en évidence par la théorie de « cycle de vie du produit » de Vernon, s'est avérée être un outil fortement démonstratif quant aux avantages du niveau technologique dans la valeur ajoutée dans la qualité et le développement d’un produit. Par ailleurs, la théorie de la demande de Linder est également concernée, notamment pour déterminer la spécialisation du tourisme domestique et international. On a constaté que la plupart des pays avancés ont un secteur technologique performant et une économie d'innovation qui soutient un fort développement du tourisme. Il est évident que si les données de dépenses de R&D sont principalement présentes dans les groupes de pays avancés; cet élément influence également la qualité du développement de tourisme à long terme. Dans les pays en voie de développement, caractérisés par des populations importantes, les dépenses du tourisme domestique sont plus fortes que des dépenses du tourisme international, la population reflétant par ailleurs la taille de son marché intérieur. En revanche, la proportion des dépenses touristiques internationales est plus importante que celle des dépenses touristiques domestiques dans les pays considérés comme destination touristique à part entière. Par conséquent, ces groupes de pays attirent les touristes internationaux. Le potentiel de dépenses par les populations locales dans les pays moins avancés est également faible. En conséquence, il affecte la proportion du ratio entre dépenses domestiques et internationales. Cependant, les théories des avantages comparatifs d’Hechscher & Ohlin, et/ou des avantages absolus peuvent être ici considérées pour les pays moins avancés. Ils sont en effet un avantage pour ces destinations touristiques, qui pourraient permettre, en appliquant les technologies concernées, de maintenir la compétitivité de la destination touristique. Ceci concernerait non seulement les capitaux physiques mais il leur permettrait également d'investir dans les ressources humaines (éducation, formation, savoir-faire, et connaissance). / This research examines the importance of technological factors in international tourism specialisation. The test application consists in finding tourism data related to technology, as well as in synthesising the correlation between tourism and technological factors which appear in domestic tourism expenditures, visitor exports, tourism investment, and expenditures on research and development (R&D) in order to compare their proportions between 2000 and 2010 and analysed the information by country group classification (Advanced countries, Developing countries, and Least Developed countries). The results show that tourism investment and R&D are significant factors in enhancing the tourism receipts of a country. This interpretation relates more precisely to Vernon's “Product Life Cycle” theory which has proven to be a highly demonstrative tool as to the advantages of level technology in terms of added value in product quality and product development. The theory of Demand of Linder is also concerned in order to enhance each other between domestic and international tourism specialisation. It was found that most countries in the advanced group display a solid technological sector and an innovating economy as well as the data on R&D expenditures are mainly allocated in advanced country groups; this fact also influences the quality of tourism development in the long term. In developing countries, the domestic expenditures have shown stronger than visitor exports in countries with large population. The high population in the country reflects the size of its domestic market. In contrast, the proportion of visitor export is higher than domestic expenditures in the tourism destination countries; these country groups attract international tourists. The potential of expenditures by local populations in LDC countries is also weak, it obviously affects to the ratio of both domestic and international expenditures. The theories of Heckscher&Ohlin, Comparative advantage, and/or Absolute Advantage can be considered for LDC countries, they should take advantage of being tourist destination countries by applying the technology concerned to maintain the destination. Not only would this allocate physical capital but it would also enable them to invest in human resources (education, training, knowhow, and knowledge).

The growing consensus among scientists and governments on the need for immediate action to avoid the dangerous impacts of climate change has resulted in many industries starting to prepare for a carbon-constrained world, in order to analyse the effectiveness of industry response, this research has developed a theoretical framework to categorise corporate strategies on climate change in developing and industrialized countries. The framework classifies the corporate response into four sets of strategies based on their operational and management activities. The empirical data was collected from 180 companies trough a questionnaire survey in Pakistan and the UK. Twenty-four interviews with representatives from industries and other stakeholder groups were also conducted to triangulate and complement the survey results. An analysis of the empirical data indicates that corporate responses towards climate change can be characterized in four categories: indifferent, beginner, emerging and active which validates the theoretical framework. The research found that business responses to this international challenge depend on national policies, economic, social, and technological related factors. However, the strength and content of these factors varies between industrialized and developing countries, where corporate environmentalism is a relatively new phenomenon. For Pakistan, the findings suggest that, in the absence of regulatory and societal pressure, the only effective incentive for organizations is cost-savings tlirough energy efficiency projects. However, their response is shaped by the prevalence of obstacles and a lack of external pressure that prevent a different picture to emerge. The situation is different for the UK. Due to regulatory pressure, UK firms are actively involved in GHG management activities. However, climate policies concerning industries for instance, EU ETS, do not provide sufficient incentives to companies to change from 'business as usual' because of its short-term outlook, uncertainty, complexity and the generous allocation of allowances, hence very low carbon price.

The purpose of this research is to provide companies with how they can affect customer’s trust through tools found within the three technological factors on mobile applications or websites. A research gap was discovered by the researchers due to the lack of in-depth exploration regarding this topic and took the opportunity to do research within this field. This research undertook a qualitative research approach with a deductive nature, this was done by using a theoretical sample technique with theories on what factors affect customers' trust on mobile applications and websites. When collecting information for this research, 14 unstructured in-depth interviews were conducted online. With the help of the interviews the researchers could gather rich in-depth information to explore the research question. The main theoretical findings of this research are the three personas, Branded Betty, Aesthetical Alexia and Recommended Rob. Each persona is representative of a customer and they are each stimulated by the technological tools differently to trust a mobile application or website.

Business Value of the CRM Approach - the Case of 5 Stars Hotels in Lebanon Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is an organizational-wide ongoing process. It provides a systemic approach to aligning business processes, technologies, and the customer. The application of the CRM approach in the hospitality sector accompanies the guest cycle in all its stages. It is an ongoing process defined by two main activities: the analysis and the action which are repeated as long as the relationship exists between the hotel and its customer. The success of this ongoing approach in increasing customer loyalty and fostering customer retention has yielded into the development of hotels' concentrations towards the CRM. Despite the extensive investments in CRM, numerous CRM projects fail to meet the expected business goals. Nevertheless, a handful of successful CRM projects give both a proof-of-concept and a guideline for a successful CRM approach. This research is intended to illuminate the business value of CRM approach in hotels. It brings together the concept of identifying the critical success factors of the CRM approach, and the impact of the CRM approach on the organizational performance in a single research model. This study was completed by examining the CRM approach in 5 stars hotels in Lebanon. The final sample represents 87.5% of the 5 stars hotels in Lebanon.

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is one of the most advanced processes of producing high quality parts. In dentistry, AM has a wide range of applications, some of the most common applications are dentures, crowns, clear and hard tooth aligner, and anatomical and training models. Irrespective of its advantages, AM technology have not been used to its fullest potential. Research shows that there is very little knowledge on the organizational characteristics, environmental characteristics, and the technological factors that affects the organizational adoption of AM technology. The aim of the research is to understand the characteristics and the factors affecting the adoption decision among adopters and non-adopters of AM technology in dental technology companies. To answer the research questions, qualitative research method is used in this study. The data was collected by conducting semi-structured interviews with both the adopters and non-adopters of AM technology within the dental technological companies. The data collected was compared between the adopters and non-adopters. The main findings show that the adopters have a positive experience on AM technology and there is willingness to adopt AM technology in both adopters and non-adopters. Regarding the environmental characteristics, the practice of dentists was a major characteristic that impacted AM adoption. The technological factors related to the AM technology were identified to be the main drivers of technology adoption and the cost of AM machining was identified to be the main barrier of AM technology. The final findings from this research were that the technological factors, environmental factors, and the organizational factors are crucial for the successful organizational adoption of the technology.

Business Value of the CRM Approach – the Case of 5 Stars Hotels in Lebanon (Business Value de l'approche CRM – le cas des hôtels 5 étoiles au Liban) Le Customer Relationship Management (CRM) est un processus continu à l'échelle organisationnelle. Il permet une approche systémique pour aligner les différents processus, les technologies, et le client. L'application de l'approche CRM dans l'hôtel accompagne le cycle-client pendant toutes ses étapes. C'est une approche continue qui est définie par deux activités principales : l'analyse et l'action. Ces deux actions forment une boucle qui gère la relation client, tant que cette relation existe entre le client et l'hôtel. Le succès de cette approche à accroître la fidélisation des clients et à favoriser la rétention de clients a incité les hôtels à se concentrer sur le CRM. Malgré les importants investissements dans le CRM, nombreux sont les projets CRM qui ne parviennent pas à atteindre les objectifs attendus. Néanmoins, une poignée de projets CRM réussis démontre à la fois une preuve du concept et des lignes directrices pour une approche réussite. Notre recherche vise à éclaircir la « business value » de l'approche CRM dans les hôtels. Elle réunie le concept de l'identification des facteurs clés de succès et le concept de l'impact du CRM sur la performance organisationnelle en un seul modèle de recherche. Cette étude a été achevée en examinant l'approche CRM des hôtels 5 étoiles au Liban. L'échantillon final représente 87,5% de ces hôtels. / Business Value of the CRM Approach – the Case of 5 Stars Hotels in Lebanon Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is an organizational-wide ongoing process. It provides a systemic approach to aligning business processes, technologies, and the customer. The application of the CRM approach in the hospitality sector accompanies the guest cycle in all its stages. It is an ongoing process defined by two main activities: the analysis and the action which are repeated as long as the relationship exists between the hotel and its customer. The success of this ongoing approach in increasing customer loyalty and fostering customer retention has yielded into the development of hotels' concentrations towards the CRM. Despite the extensive investments in CRM, numerous CRM projects fail to meet the expected business goals. Nevertheless, a handful of successful CRM projects give both a proof-of-concept and a guideline for a successful CRM approach. This research is intended to illuminate the business value of CRM approach in hotels. It brings together the concept of identifying the critical success factors of the CRM approach, and the impact of the CRM approach on the organizational performance in a single research model. This study was completed by examining the CRM approach in 5 stars hotels in Lebanon. The final sample represents 87.5% of the 5 stars hotels in Lebanon.