Thesis (Ph.D.) - James Cook University, 2002. / Typescript (photocopy). Appendices: leaves [1-34] Bibliography: leaves 338-360.

Thesis, PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references.

This study came about in response to the interest in, and concern about, domestic cooking and cooking skills that has arisen in recent years. It critically reviews the current state of thinking about cooking and cooking skills, provides a critique of both popular and academic discourse and proposes new opportunities for policy and future research. With little existing empirically acquired knowledge and no theoretical convention for the study of cooking and cooking skills, the primary research was designed to be exploratory and to provide systematically researched insights and understanding. It took a qualitative approach in order to provide intricate detail about people's domestic cooking practices, the skills they use, and their beliefs and opinions about cooking in the home and a systematically researched understanding of these aspects of cooking. The findings revealed that "cooking skills" could be seen specifically as the skills of domestic cooking (as opposed to those of professional cooking) and as either "task centred" (the skills involved in a particular task) or as "person centred" (the skills of an individual carrying out a task in a particular context). They also revealed that the informant's (domestic) "cooking skills" consisted of many different types of perceptual and conceptual skills as well as mechanical skills and academic knowledge. The findings revealed that the informants had very individual approaches towards domestic cooking but that there were many beliefs and opinions that they shared. The research also found that there was a complex "interrelationship" between the informants' domestic cooking skills, their approaches towards domestic cooking and their domestic cooking practices and food choice. The findings of this study provide an additional and different perspective of the relationship between domestic food provision, cooking and cooking skills allowing the development of relevant debates and concerns. They clarify that cooking skills are an influence on food choice but show that this influence is complex. They challenge current theoretical explanations of the impact of technology on domestic cooking and food provision, for example, and the deskilling of the domestic cook.

The papers submitted for this PhD by publication represent research centered on event experiences and their design, management and impact. They are the result of research projects that have produced seven published peer-reviewed papers and one book. The body of work has made an original, significant and sustained contribution towards the development of an emerging field of study in events. The work has made a major contribution towards furthering understanding of the human experience that results from the management of events, their design and their impact. At the heart of this submission is a consideration for how events are experienced and what factors and components contribute to the depth of that experience. The majority of papers analyses and reflects upon the construction of experience settings (their design) and essentially seeks knowledge to identify the variables that shape any experience of events (Ryan, 2012). In doing so the research undertaken has embraced a less restrictive set of methodologies usually afforded by statistical exercises in favour of a more embodied, immersive and participative approach. This has included not only observation and autoethnography, but also reflection on that which has been observed. In turn this reflection and analysis has drawn upon a range of theories and models to advance understanding of the social occasions that we call events where human interactions with the designed programme and environment illicit a range of responses that may culminate in a memorable and unique moment in time. The research therefore touches upon the emotional response to event experiences, the study and interpretation of the meaning of events, and notably their signification to an intended audience. In the course of this research I have evaluated and reflected upon the study and practice of event management across a range of event types and genres. Seeking to initially clarify the role of design in creating event experience led me to questioning the paradigmatic model for event management and resulted in the development of an alternative consideration for event planning and management - Event Experience Design Framework (EEDF). Unlike existing models this places design as the central and pivotal driving force that inhabits all areas of the event management process and upon which all events should then be based. The contribution of this body of work can therefore be summarised as follows: 1. Development of a paradigmatic concept that places design as the central and essential practice that underpins the planned event experience. 2. Theoretical positioning of how designing event experiences impacts on stakeholders 3. Recognition and application of theoretical models and tools relevant to event design and creativity, and further use of conceptual models to analyse experiential outcomes 4. Identification and awareness of the broader socio-cultural impact of planned events This submission provides evidentiary material that I have made a positive and meaningful contribution to raising the profile of events through research, teaching and learning by an acknowledged excellence in events management education and as a recognised (and first) National Teaching Fellow in Events. Furthermore, the submission provides a reflection on this research and development that has enabled me to make such a pivotal contribution to the field. It concludes with an outline of plans for the future.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston University / The purpose of this study was to develop a competency model that incorporates the necessary knowledge, skills and attributes for an outstanding hotel manager based on actual experiences of successful hotel managers. The general managers and director of human resources from each hotel selected three outstanding and three average-performing managers from their respective properties (a total of 18 managers). Over a two-month period, using the behavior event interview process, both superior and average managers were interviewed and asked to describe, in great detail, situations when he or she was particularly effective and situations when he or she was ineffective. The interviews were transcribed and coded using a combination of a validated competency dictionary and thematic analysis. Competencies observed in outstanding managers but not in average performing managers were identified and a competency model was created. An expert panel of senior industry executives validated the findings. In brief, the model includes the following competencies: achievement orientation, information seeking, customer service orientation, organizational awareness, professional expertise, honesty, interpersonal understanding, teamwork, team leadership, analytical thinking, initiative, self-control, self-confidence, self-learning, face- to-face communication, relationship building, optimism and passion.

Thesis (D. Ed.)--Victoria University (Melbourne, Vic.), 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

Traffic growth, capacity constraints, climate change and the necessity to develop a more cost efficient system led to an ambitious initiative to reform the architecture of airspace management. This initiative, launched by the European Commission (EC), is called Single European Sky (SES). The four Key Performance Areas (KPAs) of SES are environment; cost efficiency; capacity; and safety. In the environment KPA Performance Indicators for Air Navigation Services Providers (ANSPs) are established to ensure that improvement in sustainability is achieved. In addition, aviation is included in the European Union's Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS): the EC sets limits on CO2 emissions and provides economic incentives to airlines to reduce emissions by establishing a market-based trading system. EU-ETS can be used to simultaneously promote economic efficiency and achieve environmental goals on a sustainable basis. The PhD research examines the existence of cancel-out effects between supply-led, i.e. SES, and demand-led management, i.e. EU ETS, policies by following a holistic approach. Environmental economics theory and industrial economics are applied to identify factors that have a significant influence on the two policies. Interestingly, and in spite of common objectives, the two schemes are governed by different bodies, which may fail to streamline their communication process. Hence, the PhD thesis also addresses the issue of governance and its possible failure regarding the full implementation and efficiency of the schemes. From a methodological perspective, Delphi is conducted in two rounds to encapsulate policy complexity at an in-depth level. The target population comprises stakeholders involved in SES and EU ETS. To select candidates purposive and snowball sampling was used. Thus, the sample consists of 39 senior managers/experts from Civil Aviation Authorities; ANSPs; aviation-related organisations and institutions; and airlines. Based on the results of the Delphi and building on its theoretical background, the PhD thesis then develops a conceptual model to address governance failure, thus effectively linking supply- to demand-oriented aviation policies in a holistic manner.

The role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) as a facilitator and enabler for development and poverty reduction has been increasingly recognised by many international organisations. ICTs need to be diffused in society to have their effects realised. The diffusion of ICTs in developing countries is lagging behind the developed countries creating the digital divide. Although the divide is reducing in many sub-Saharan countries, in Ethiopia it is increasing. The purpose of this study is to find the factors that affect the adoption and nonadoption of ICTs in small and micro businesses in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A number of sectors were explored and the hotel and tour operator sector was found to have both adopters and non-adopters. The hotel and tour operator business in Addis Ababa was selected to be the study population. The main research question was to find the connection between the political, economic, and social factors and the adoption and use of ICT in this sector. While cultural, social-economic, political and legal factors affect the adoption of innovation in both developed and developing countries, these factors are more pronounced in the developing countries. Rogers’ diffusion of innovation theory is a good initial theoretical candidate for understanding the ICT diffusion factors. However, to include the national level factors, a theoretical framework was proposed based on Rogers’ diffusion of innovation theory. An exploratory research method was used to shed light on the adoption and non-adoption factors. It uses mixed methods research methodology in two phases to collect data from owners/managers. In the first phase in-depth interviews were conducted with 16 hoteliers who adopted ICT in their businesses. In the second phase survey questionnaires were used to collect data from 128 hoteliers and 57 tour operators. In this phase both adopters and non-adopters of ICT were included. Data were analysed using NVivo and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software packages. This study argues that the telecommunications monopoly, the non-affordability of ICT products and services, the general economic situation, lack of knowledge and awareness of the technology, and lack of legal protection for small hotels affect the adoption negatively. On the other hand, network externalities, competition among hoteliers, and major customers (foreign) act as a facilitator agent and have a positive impact on the adoption of ICT. The researcher argues that the political, social, economic, technological and legal policies are the sources of the adoption and non-adoption factors of ICTs in the hotel and tour operator business.

The purpose of this quantitative study was to compare self-directed learning readiness and online learning readiness between hospitality and tourism college students and industry professionals. The Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale (SDLRS) was used for measuring self-directed learning readiness. After examining the reliability and validity indices of the modified Online Learning Readiness Scale (OLRS), it was used in the context of hospitality and tourism for the measurement of online learning and training readiness. Two different study populations, hospitality and tourism college students and hospitality and tourism industry professionals, were identified for the purpose of this study. Data were obtained via online anonymous links which included the demographic and descriptive questions and the two instruments (the SDLRS and the OLRS) through Qualtrics. A total of 550 usable responses (298 from hospitality and tourism college students and 252 from hospitality and tourism industry professionals) were collected for statistical analysis. Using confirmatory factor analysis, the modified OLRS was confirmed as a valid and reliable instrument. The mean score differences on the SDLRS and the dimensions of the OLRS between hospitality and tourism college students and industry professionals were investigated using independent samples t tests. Although there was a significant difference in the SDLRS scores, there were no significant differences in the mean scores of the dimensions of the OLRS among hospitality and tourism college students and industry professionals. Finally, the relationship between the SDLRS score and the dimensions of the OLRS among hospitality and tourism college students and industry professionals were tested and reported a significant and positive correlation among these variables. This study contributes to the knowledge of self-directed learning readiness and online learning readiness among hospitality and tourism college students and industry professionals. This study can stimulate more research on the impact of self-directed learning readiness and online learning readiness in the educational and industrial practices in the hospitality and tourism field.

This study examines the role experiential education, in the form of internships, plays in the professional development of Hospitality and Tourism Management students. Through an appraisal of the literature, it outlines the many benefits available to direct and indirect stakeholders through the facilitation of a structured, work based learning experience. In particular, it analyses the internship through an evaluation of job design by applying both Hackman and Oldham’s (1975a) Job Characteristics Model (JCM) and developing a proposed intern’s version of that model. The outcomes demonstrate that dimensions of the work undertaken do contribute significantly to an individual’s satisfaction and intrinsic motivation with the proposed intern’s model offering improved R2 coefficients, over the original JCM, by using different predictive variables. The study further sub-divides the sample by examining the findings by cohort and emphasis area. This affords the opportunity to identify specific recommendations on internship design that provides maximum utility to the student participant and the facilitators of the work experience. To this end, the results offer a series of recommended job dimensions for various service industry destinations including the need for increased task significance and feedback from agents for tourism students, opportunities for an autonomous work environment for event planners, exposure to a variety of skills for lodging professionals and feedback from the job for food and beverage students. By designing internships in this way, opportunities for enriched work are created for students at the case-study university. The study also examines the role classroom education plays in underpinning the internship experience and finds that while this assists students in observing many of the topics and theories discussed in a theoretical setting, the experiential component of the learning enhances their education through the development of new skills and competencies not previously taught. Overall, this study offers a unique contribution to the existing body of knowledge on experiential education and its impact on worker/job satisfaction and intrinsic motivation.