Management and Marketing Conference Papers
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Item How Kaon system affects family business in Solomon Island: Case study(2023-12) Daniel, Willie; Etemaddar, Mitra; Simmons, Glenn; Unitec, Te PūkengaThis research examines the impact of the Kaon (depth) system on rural micro-business owners in Northeast Choiseul Province, Solomon Islands, through a case study approach using semi-structured interviews. The aim was to gain an in-depth understanding of the factors affecting these businesses in their real-life context, employing thematic analysis for data analysis. The study identifies the Kaon (loan or debt) system as a significant constraint for these businesses. Kaon, in the Solomon Islands context, refers to the practice of purchasing goods on credit or borrowing, with a promise of future payment. This system has been found to contribute significantly to the failure of rural micro-enterprises. Customers commonly acquire goods with delayed payment, leading to prolonged debts or even non-payment, which places a financial strain on business owners. Furthermore, the research reveals that cultural aspects significantly influence business practices. In the Solomon Islands, cultural values are deeply intertwined with national systems like politics and economics, impacting business development and management. The study finds that cultural influences play a substantial role in how rural business owners approach the Kaon system, impacting their decision-making and, ultimately, the success or failure of their businesses. This cultural influence often results in business owners facing pressure to provide goods on loan, especially when perceived as financially stable or of higher status.Item Evolving family preferences: A study of Airbnb evaluations in New Zealand (2018-2023)(2024) Gianelly, Carl; Etemaddar, Mitra; Su, Shu; Unitec, Te PūkengaThis research aims to identify the specific factors influencing families' evaluation of Airbnb in New Zealand. Airbnb lodgings provide a wide range of accommodation options to meet travellers' interests and budgets. They offer a house-like experience, with hosts providing local insights and guests having access to essential home facilities like a full kitchen and a washing machine. Airbnb reports a rise in the popularity of pet-friendly listings (22%), wireless internet (13%), kitchens (9%), and air conditioning (8%) among families during the pandemic, as those confined to their homes for weeks sought spacious lodgings with pools and playgrounds, commonly located in rural regions distant from city centres. Cleanliness, location, price, facilities, and a family-like relationship with the host have beementioned by several studies as important factors influencing guests' satisfaction with Airbnb accommodations. However, most of these studies were conducted in the pre-COVID-19 pandemic era. Numerous studies also revealed that this pandemic has changed human lifestyles and preferences in many ways. Therefore, it may have also affected Airbnb guests' evaluation of their accommodation and experience. This research examines Airbnb reviews from 2018 to 2023 to understand better if and how guests' evaluation of their experience has changed. We analysed textual review data by applying natural language processing techniques, VADER sentiment analysis and conducted thematic analysis to obtain insights into guests' reviews about their experiences. This research highlights the post-pandemic shift in family preferences for Airbnb accommodations and discovered that after the COVID-19 pandemic, visitors left more reviews indicating higher engagement with Airbnb listings. Hence, the outcomes of this study may help hosts adjust their offerings to boost guests' satisfaction and encourage repeat bookings. Airbnb can refine its recommendation algorithms based on these insights, ensuring the hospitality sector remains relevant in a changed world. This study also contributes to the current body of knowledge of the guest-host relationship in Airbnb in a changing environment.Item Exploring the factors influencing the success and failure of rural micro-business in Choiseul Province, Solomon Islands(2024-12) Daniel, Willie; Etemaddar, Mitra; Simmons, Glenn; Unitec, Te PūkengaIn both developed and developing countries, SMEs are the driving forces in job creation and revenue growth. This means that the SME sector is a significant contributor to developing a country's socio-economic status. This research explores current and former local business owners' experience regarding the challenges and opportunities that affect their rural micro businesses’ success or failure in Northeast Choiseul Province, Solomon Islands. A case study approach using semi-structured interviews was employed to generate an in-depth, multi faceted understanding of factors affecting rural businesses in their real-life situation. Data analysis followed a thematic analysis using coding techniques to generate themes. The research findings indicated that the main reasons for rural business owners in Northeast Choiseul to operate their businesses is to support their family's wellbeing, rural peoples' livelihoods, and to support their children's education. The study also found that factors such as lack of working capital, kaon (debt) system, and the influence of local culture contribute to rural businesses' failure. Contrastingly, the study showed that factors such as past working experience, customer relationship, marketing (location), and social business network contribute to the success of rural businesses. The interpretation drawn here is that operating a micro-business is one of the primary sources of income for the people of Choiseul, and that there is a need to support the growth of such small-scale businesses. The research therefore recommends that relevant authorities need to assist rural business owners to improve their business performance and longevity.Item Carpooling using social frameworks(2022-10-31) de Groot, Cristiaan; Zidov, Maja; Unitec, Te Pūkenga; Te PūkengaUniwaka Admin panel + Cloud database + Mobile app Design iteration User research The incremental expansion and complexity of the Design Hypothesis mirrors a developing understanding of people’s mental models Social norms v. Market normsItem Logistics: Operational interdependencies for food supply chain resilience(2021-11) Umar, M.; Wilson, Mark; Ahmad, Rizwan; Unitec Institute of Technology; Lincoln UniversityRESEARCH QUESTION What are the logistics operational interdependencies that support food supply chain resilience in disaster prone regions? Introduction Literature review Research methodology Analysis: findings and discussions Conclusions and contributions