Applied Management Dissertations and Theses
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Item Exploring the role of AI in enhancing sustainability within New Zealand's hospitality industry: A study on knowledge, applicability, and perception in reducing food waste(2024) Perera, Melanie; Otago Polytechnic | Te PūkengaThe hospitality industry in New Zealand is a noteworthy contributor towards the country’s Gross Domestic Product, however, it is also responsible for a significant amount of food waste (FW). In recent years, there has been a growing interest globally in artificial intelligence (AI) to curb FW in the hospitality industry. This study explores the role of AI in reducing FW and enhancing sustainability within New Zealand's hospitality industry, specifically, it focuses on the factors critical for its implementation - knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of hospitality stakeholders. The study adopted a mixed-methods approach involving quantitative and qualitative data collection from 131 industry professionals. The data suggests that the sample is skewed towards the lower end of FW, requiring caution due to inconsistent self-reported data with audits (Chisnall, 2017). A quarter were unsure or found it difficult to estimate avoidable food waste (AFW), potentially indicating a lack of awareness or difficulty measuring FW accurately. Inaccurate demand forecasting is the primary cause of FW in catering services and cafes/coffee shops, while portion control and plate waste are cited as the main causes of FW in fine-dining restaurants and pubs. A lack of FW awareness is the leading cause of FW in hotels/resorts and fast-food outlets. The diverse range of challenges faced by the hospitality industry provides insights into the areas where improvements can be made to increase efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance customer satisfaction. The study found a general lack of awareness and knowledge about AI among hospitality professionals, yet an openness to adopting AI-driven technologies for FW reduction. Challenges such as cost-effectiveness and proven effectiveness are key causes hindering AI adoption. Increased awareness and promotion of AI's return on investment could decrease scepticism and facilitate effective integration into FW reduction strategies. Finally, this research underlines the need for collaborative efforts among industry professionals, policymakers, and technology developers to overcome existing hurdles and leverage AI for sustainable practices in the hospitality sector in New Zealand.Item Impact of COVID-19 on the use of project management methods, tools, and techniques in the construction sector in the Auckland region, New Zealand(2024) Leksani, Rudina; Otago Polytechnic | Te PūkengaThe construction sector plays a significant role in New Zealand’s economic growth, making a substantial contribution to the nation's gross domestic product and employment rates. Witnessing the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic shortly after its outbreak in November 2019, the construction sector faced significant challenges. This research examined the impact of COVID-19 on project management methodologies, tools, and techniques used in Auckland, New Zealand’s construction sector, providing practical insights for stakeholders, policymakers, and project management professionals, crucial for informing effective responses and strategies. This research employed qualitative methods, using ten semi-structured interviews conducted with participants selected through probability purposive sampling, specifically targeting project managers and construction professionals. Thematic analysis identified six themes and 23 sub-themes. The impact of COVID-19 on project management practices was substantial, particularly in terms of disrupting traditional Waterfall methods. Agile and hybrid methods, on the other hand, proved greater adaptability in response to the challenges brought by COVID-19. Key drivers of change in project management practices included remote working policies, supply chain disruptions, and skilled labour shortages. Practical implications for the construction sector involved optimising methodologies with a mix of Waterfall, Agile, and hybrid methods. In response to the COVID-19 challenges, stakeholders are implementing robust risk management strategies, building a resilient and diversified supply chain through collaborating with suppliers, and addressing skilled labour shortages through training and upskilling initiatives to improve project efficiency.Item Key factors influencing nutraceutical purchase decisions(2024) Laderas, Maria Linda; Otago Polytechnic | Te PūkengaThis study explored how fear influences attitudes, health consciousness, and purchase intentions for the consumption of nutraceutical products in the post-COVID-19 pandemic landscape. The study involved 140 participants, 18 years old and above, who consume dietary supplements and/or functional foods in New Zealand. The study adopted an experimental methodology where participants of the study were exposed to fictional scenarios in either the high fear group or the low fear group to manipulate the independent fear variable. The survey questionnaire distributed through Qualtrics, measured 140 participants’ perceptions of the independent and dependent variables. The descriptive analysis showed a higher prevalence of nutraceutical consumption among women, middle-aged adults, and individuals with higher levels of education and income. This was consistent with previous studies. Correlation analysis demonstrated positive relationships between fear and consumer attitudes, health consciousness, and purchase intentions, aligning with the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). T-test results further supported the influence of fear on attitude, health consciousness, and purchase intention with higher mean values observed in the high fear group compared to the low fear group. These findings, in both the correlations and t-tests, were consistent with customer behaviour in TPB and underscore the significance of fear in driving consumer decisions to purchase nutraceutical products. Overall, this research shed light on the interplay between fear and consumer behaviour in the nutraceutical market. It offers valuable insights for both academia and industry stakeholders.Item Exploring the impact of remote work on the psychological well-being of software professionals in New Zealand(2024) Dissanayake, Jayani; Otago Polytechnic | Te PūkengaThe Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and lockdowns resulted in familiarising ourselves with the practice of remote working. Remote working interrupted conventional office settings and created a unique working environment that limits social interactions and face-to-face communication. Therefore, there is a concern that remote working has the potential to create isolation, a lack of belongingness and an absence of work-life boundaries. However, remote work might also facilitate more flexibility and freedom as it allows one to choose a personalised work environment and more time to invest in personal and family life. Therefore, there has been a keen interest in the literature in understanding how psychological well-being is affected by remote working settings. Also, in New Zealand, most remotely working employees belong to the IT industry, yet their psychological well-being has yet to be widely explored. Therefore, this study aims to explore the impact of remote work on the psychological well-being of software professionals in New Zealand. A mixed methodology, a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches, was used to gather data. An online survey was conducted for the quantitative data, and 128 participants completed the survey. For qualitative data, 15 semi-structured interviews were conducted. Survey and interview data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Results found that more IT professionals enjoy their remote work experience, and work-life balance was the main driver for choosing remote work. Regarding psychological well-being, findings showed that remote work improved participants' autonomy, self-acceptance, and purpose in life. However, concerning environmental mastery, personal growth, and positive relations, participants experienced challenges due to a lack of physical separation between office and home and inadequate social interactions. This study provides insights into remotely working IT professionals' challenges and benefits related to psychological well-being and suggests recommendations for improving remote working environments for better well-being. This study applied Ryff’s six-factor model to explore the psychological well-being of the participants. It proved that it is a practical and comprehensive framework to measure well-being through six well-rounded dimensions: environmental mastery, positive relations, autonomy, self-acceptance, purpose in life and personal growth of remote workers. Also, this study revealed that concerning environmental mastery and positive relations, organisations need to actively support remotely working software professionals to improve their psychological well-being.Item From education to employment: Investigating postgraduate employment outcomes of international students in the ICT sector of New Zealand(2024) Joseph, PatriciaThis research investigates the employment outcomes of international students who completed postgraduate studies in New Zealand's information and communication technology sector against the backdrop of ongoing technology skills shortages and the sector's pivotal economic contributions. Adopting a mixed-methods approach to triangulate quantitative data from surveys with qualitative insights from semistructured interviews and existing literature, the research examines the influence of social capital and labour market barriers on international postgraduates’ employability. Convenience and snowball sampling were used to gather perspectives from international postgraduates, employers, industry experts, and education providers. Analysis revealed that post-study work opportunities significantly attract international postgraduate students to New Zealand and highlighted the importance of technical skills, soft skills, English proficiency, and cultural adaptability for employment post-study. The gap between perceived and actual employability outcomes underscored the critical role of industry-educator collaboration in relation to international postgraduate academic preparation for industry employment. Recommendations focus on strengthening these partnerships and updating policies to integrate postgraduates better into the local information, communications and technical workforce. The limitations suggest future research directions, including longitudinal studies and cross-cultural comparisons for clearer insights.