Manuel kaar (6 Ergebnisse)

Taschenbuch. Zustand: Neu. Druck auf Anfrage Neuware - Printed after ordering - Seminar paper from the year 2007 in the subject Tourism - Miscellaneous, grade: 1,2, University of applied sciences, course: Tourism and Leisure Studies, language: English, abstract: When commencing to plan a study, researchers face the oftentimes challengingtask to decide on the adequate research method for their investigation problemat hand. Since the appropriateness of a study, as well as its ability to beaccepted as scientific research, depend very much on the correct choice of theapplied research method(s), the decision process for the latter constitutes acrucial phase of the overall research operation.As many researchers encounter ambiguities when it comes to selecting thesuitable research technique, this paper provides a critical reflection on severalarguments for and against the employment of in-depth interviews, one of themost common tools used in qualitative research.The aim of this paper is, therefore, to consider the strengths and weaknesses ofin-depth interviews from various angles, in order to advance the perspicuity ofthe question in which situations it is apt to use interviews as a research tool andwhen to better search for alternative methods.To arrive at this objective, four main issues have been explored through areview of already existing literature. First, the merits of individual in-depthinterviews are examined. Then the paper addresses the question of whatpossible drawbacks one may come across when selecting in-depth interviewingas a research method. Furthermore, a short comment on the application of indepthinterviews in qualitative tourism research is given. Finally, in theconclusions/recommendations section it is explained for which types ofinvestigations the in-depth interview is the appropriate research technique.As indicated above, the main focus of this paper is not on providing a guide forthe general set-up and implication process of an in-depth interview. The mainspotlight is rather on the enhancement of the detailed knowledge of researcherson in-depth interviews, with the ultimate goal to make a contribution to increasethe number of cases where research methods have been appropriately chosen.Hence, a certain level of previous knowledge about in-depth interviewing isexpected from the reader in order to be able to follow the content of this paper. …

Zustand: New. In English.

Taschenbuch. Zustand: Neu. Druck auf Anfrage Neuware - Printed after ordering - Bachelor Thesis from the year 2009 in the subject Tourism - Miscellaneous, grade: 1, University of applied sciences, language: English, abstract: There have been numerous incidents in one or more countries in the past that ledto sudden and unexpected reductions in demand for tourism services andconfronted travel businesses with an economic environment of high uncertainty.However, the current financial and economic crisis appears to be of a largerdimension than most other crises before, and numerous experts around the globeagree that the present economic slowdown has the potential to become one of themost challenging and transformational disturbances on a supranational level sincethe Great Depression. Predictions of future developments are vague and can onlybe educated speculation at best, yet for the tourism industry the initial effects ofthis first major crisis of the globalization era are already clearly perceptible.Drawing on an extensive review of already existing literature, this paper explainsthe various milestones during the period that led to the 2007-2009 global financialand economic disorder, and subsequently considers a choice of selected keyimplications for the tourism industry and associated businesses. The aim of thispaper is therefore to provide an academically substantiated reference guide formarket participants and policy-makers alike, with the ultimate purpose of making acontribution to reduce the number of cases where wrong decisions lead to majordifficulties or even the failure of a destination or an individual business.Results of the research indicate that the identified impacts are likely to intensifythroughout 2009 and 2010, and that the crisis will most likely also entailfundamental changes for the industry on a long-term basis. In particular, it wasfound that in the medium term decreased public funding for tourism projects andrestricted access to capital are likely to force many travel businesses into seriousliquidity problems. This may cause a series of reactions, including widespreadworkforce reductions and severe cuts in the quality of the provided services.Besides, the crisis is likely to have considerable effects on the way leisure andcorporate travel is conducted, as for instance shorter and less frequent trips or astronger tendency towards cost containment. However, the paper also points outthat every crisis embodies a great number of opportunities and provides ananalysis of a range of selected chances for destinations and tourism businesses.…

Zustand: New. In English.

Taschenbuch. Zustand: Neu. Druck auf Anfrage Neuware - Printed after ordering - Master's Thesis from the year 2011 in the subject Energy Sciences, grade: 5.5 (Schweizer Notensystem), Anglia Ruskin University (FHNW University of Applied Sciences Basel (School of Business) & Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge (Ashcroft International Business School)), course: Focus: Renewable energy, public R&D funding, firm competitiveness, language: English, abstract: This thesis studies the involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in publicly funded research and development (R&D) projects. SMEs represent 99% of all companies in Europe and are important drivers of innovation, yet many lack the necessary resources to engage in formal research activities. Providing these firms with the possibility to make use of public funding programmes for R&D projects therefore constitutes a way of stimulating them to innovate. Reviews of such programmes, however, show that SME participation is frequently lower than desired by policy makers. This raises the question of the benefits SMEs can gain from such projects and the barriers that negatively influence their ability to participate. The author hypothesises that taking part in publicly funded R&D projects can positively influence an SME's competitiveness through a specific set of advantages gained from participation. The second hypothesis is that companies with previous experience in such projects evaluate their participation positively. Finally, the author puts forward that a number of specific barriers limit SMEs' ability to participate. The hypotheses were tested by means of an online survey among Swiss SMEs in the field of renewable energy, as well as interviews with representatives of national and EU funding bodies. The results support all three hypotheses and confirm the importance of the public measures. Participation in publicly funded R&D projects can indeed have positive impacts on an SME's competitiveness. Also, companies tend to evaluate their participation positively. SMEs with previous experience in such projects were well-informed about the specifics of a participation prior to filing an application, whereas a substantial lack of information exists on the part of companies without previous experience. This study adds to the existing pool of literature on SME competitiveness, and through its narrow focus addresses a very specific area where little research has been conducted to date. As such, the thesis is of relevance to the business, research, and political communities.…

Taschenbuch. Zustand: Neu. Druck auf Anfrage Neuware - Printed after ordering - Master's Thesis from the year 2011 in the subject Business economics - Investment and Finance, grade: 5.5, University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, language: English, abstract: This thesis studies the involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in publicly funded research and development (R&D) projects. SMEs represent 99% of all companies in Europe and are important drivers of innovation, yet many lack the necessary resources to engage in formal research activities. Providing these firms with the possibility to make use of public funding programmes for R&D projects therefore constitutes a way of stimulating them to innovate. Reviews of such programmes, however, show that SME participation is frequently lower than desired by policy makers. This raises the question of the benefits SMEs can gain from such projects and the barriers that negatively influence their ability to participate. The author hypothesises that taking part in publicly funded R&D projects can positively influence an SME's competitiveness through a specific set of advantages gained from participation. The second hypothesis is that companies with previous experience in such projects evaluate their participation positively. Finally, the author puts forward that a number of specific barriers limit SMEs' ability to participate. The hypotheses were tested by means of an online survey among Swiss SMEs in the field of renewable energy, as well as interviews with representatives of national and EU funding bodies. The results support all three hypotheses and confirm the importance of the public measures. Participation in publicly funded R&D projects can indeed have positive impacts on an SME's competitiveness. Also, companies tend to evaluate their participation positively. SMEs with previous experience in such projects were well-informed about the specifics of a participation prior to filing an application, whereas a substantial lack of information exists on the part of companies without previous experience. This study adds to the existing pool of literature on SME competitiveness, and through its narrow focus addresses a very specific area where little research has been conducted to date. As such, the thesis is of relevance to the business, research, and political communities.…