Biometrics for Hospitality and Tourism: A New Wave of Information Technology

The technologies that empower biometrics have been around for a number of years, but until recently these technologies have been viewed as exotic. In the not too distant future biometrics will be used to regulate internal processes and to improve services in the hospitality and tourism industries. This paper provides an understanding of the current use of biometrics in general and its practical value for the future in hospitality and tourism. The study presents a review of current practices of biometrics with special reference to the hospitality and tourism businesses, addresses key issues imposed by this technology, and identifies business and marketing implications for these industries.

The impact of information technology on organizations: A study of enterprise resource planning system influences on job design and organizational culture

The primary purpose of this research is to study the linkage between perceived job design characteristics and information system environment characteristics before and after the replacement of a legacy information system with a new type of information system (referred to as an Enterprise Resource Planning or ERP system). A public state University implementing an academic version of an ERP system was selected for the study. Three survey instruments were used to examine the perception of the information system, the job characteristics, and the organizational culture before and after the system implementation. The research participants included two large departments resulting in a sample of 130 workers. Research questions were analyzed using multivariate procedures including factor analysis, path analysis, step-wise regression, and matched pair analysis. ^ Results indicated that the ERP system has introduced new elements into the working environment that has changed the perception of how the job design characteristics and organization culture dimensions are viewed by the workers. The understanding of how the perceived system characteristics align with an individual's perceived job design characteristics is supported by each of the system characteristics significantly correlated in the proposed direction. The stronger support of this relationship becomes visible in the causal flow of the effects seen in the path diagram and in the step-wise regression. The perceived job design characteristics aligning with dimensions of organizational culture are not as strong as the literature suggests. Although there are significant correlations between the job and culture variables, only one relationship can be seen in the causal flow. ^ This research has demonstrated that system characteristics of ERP do contribute to the perception of change in an organization and do support organizational culture behaviors and job characteristics. ^

Differential Impacts of Information Technology Services in the Korean Hotel Industry: A Study of Management Perceptions

Successful introduction of information technology applications in various operations of hotel management is vital to most service firms. In recent decades, technologies of information, automation, and communication are increasingly recognized as essential components of a hotel company’s strategic plan. In this study, 62 super-deluxe hotels (5 star), deluxe hotels (4 star), and tourist hotels (3 star) in Korea are examined for differences in the impact of information technology services on guest’ satisfaction, guest convenience, and operational efficiency. The findings generally suggest that the impacts of information technology-enhanced services vary according to the category of hotels in Korea. The results of the study are expected to assist managers in the selections and implementation of information technology systems in their hotel.

A Mixed Method Study of Spirituality and the Influence on TB Medication Adherence

Nonadherence to medication for tuberculosis (TB) can lead to new cases of TB and death. Interest in spirituality in healthcare has grown among adult educators, health educators and healthcare workers (Tisdell, 2003). This mixed-method study will explore spirituality and TB medication adherence among African American and Haitian populations.

Kinetic performance : a study in portable architecture

The purpose of this research was to explore a new way of experiencing a performance space using the portability and flexibility of a cargo container. Since the 17th century there has been a split between theater, as a written work, and architecture. Theater has lost its founding essence becoming more about the structure and less about the performance. Contemporary theater designs came through the development of street performances, which developed into theater types such as the Black Box and lately video and projection screening. With the exploration of kinetic uses in architecture and defragmentation of a cargo container there is a new step on the development of theater design. Using a cargo container gave me a familiar object with specific dimensions to start my exploration as well as the possibility of having the theater transported to many sites. The findings demonstrate that there are many unexplored possibilities to create a performance space outside the conventional theater that can promote new types of performances as well as the use of new technologies of video and projection.