Templates for handling multi-agency collaboration activities and priorities in mining injury incidents: a Delphi study

PurposeThe purpose of this study was from a Swedish perspective to map experts' opinions on theoretical statements of essential collaboration activities for management of mining injury incidents.Design/methodology/approachA Delphi technique was performed, asking opinions from experts in iterative rounds to generate understanding and form consensus on group opinion around multi-agency management. The experts were personnel from emergency medical service, rescue service and mine industry, all with operative command positions.FindingsThree iterative rounds were performed. The first round was conducted as a workshop to collect opinions about the most important multi-agency collaboration activities to optimize victim's outcome from an injury incident in an underground mine. This resulted in 63 statements and additional three were added during the second round. The statements were divided into one trajectory and seventh time phases and comprised, e.g. early alarm routines, support of early life-saving interventions, relevant resources and equipment for the assignment and command and control center and functions with predefined action plans for response. It also comprised shared and communicated decisions about each agency's responsibility and safety. All statements reached consensus among the experts in Round 3.Research limitations/implicationsThe experts included in this study seem to be adequate but there could be other experts and different statements that other researchers might consider.Practical implicationsThese statements could be used to evaluate collaboration in major incidents exercises. The statements can also be quality indicators for reporting results from multi-agency management.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the research field of collaboration and joint practices between and among personnel involved in rescue operations.

UN Palestinian agency will turn page on ethics scandal

Subject Fallout from UNRWA ethics scandal Significance Last month, the UN Security Council voted overwhelmingly to renew the mandate of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), responsible for assisting Palestinian refugees, for three years. The agency has been under pressure following the US withdrawal of funding in 2018, and a scandal that broke last summer over alleged abuse by agency management, which led several nation-state donors to suspend payments. The officials implicated have now left UNRWA. Impacts Allegations that the UN was slow in responding to concerns may raise questions over unaddressed management issues in other agencies. Having already withdrawn all funding, the United States lacks leverage to push for any changes to UNRWA’s work. Without support at the diplomatic level, Israeli pressure on UNRWA may now focus on restricting its activities in annexed East Jerusalem.

Celebrity Fans in China

This chapter examines the motives, characteristics, and marketing impacts of celebrity fans in China, and illustrates these points using the fans of Wallace Chung. Based on a grounded theoretical approach, the analysis reveals five fan segments with different motives and marketing impacts: casual fans (playful, limited marketing impacts); fascinated fans (aspirational, fervent purchasers); devoted fans (sense of belonging, voluntary marketer-promoters and fervent purchasers); dysfunctional fans (identification with celebrity, rally pro); and reflective fans (solid self-identity, celebrity image-shapers). The analysis shows that in addition to buying celebrity-related products, fans undertake essential marketing activities (celebrity image-shapers, voluntary marketer-promoter) that in the past were the domains of agency management and marketers of endorsed products. These changes elevate fans to become marketing partners. Implications are discussed.

MODELING ACTIVITIES OF REAL ESTATE COMPANIES TAKING INTO ACCOUNT OPPORTUNISTIC BEHAVIOR OPPORTUNITY

The problem of modeling the activity of real estate companies is relevant and causes a certain interest. This article sets and solves the problem of mathematical modeling of the management system of interaction between a realtor and the management of a realtor company, developing an effective mechanism for managing the activities of a realtor company. To describe the management system, a static two-level hierarchical model of interaction between a real estate agency (management of a real estate company) and an agent (realtor) is proposed. The real estate agency acts as the Lead, and the agent acts as the Slave. The slave manages the degree (level) of their qualifications, and the Leader – the amount of funds allocated for agency advertising. The incentive method is used as a method of hierarchical management. Information rules are used that correspond to Stackelberg’s game without management feedback. The model provides the ability to manipulate information from the Slave. The algorithm for finding the Stackelberg equilibrium is specified. An analytical (for a particular type of input functions) and numerical (for a general type of input functions) study of the proposed model is carried out. The results are presented and analyzed, and relevant conclusions are drawn.

Exploring service innovation in a network of travel agencies: the Robintur case

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate how customer engagement technologies impact service innovation in a network of travel agencies, analyzing the effects on sales channels, customer relationships and retail marketing policies. Design/methodology/approach Using a qualitative single case study approach and triangulating the data from different sources (documents, semi-structured interviews and in-store observations), this paper investigates the Robintur Group, a large Italian network of travel agencies operating in the leisure travel, business travel and organized tourism segments. Findings This study highlights three core areas of service innovation that have interrelated effects on travel agency management in coherence with the omni-channel strategy: synergetic channel integration, dynamic customer relationships and dynamic retail marketing. Research limitations/implications This study is based on a single case study in Italy. Future research could extend the framework to other travel agencies and foreign markets where the diversification process of large grocery retailers is more diffused, and investigate the omni-channel approach in relation to other information and communication technologies and the implications on travel agency management. Originality/value Presenting a conceptual framework to exploit new technologies and revitalize the scope and functions of travel agencies, the case study offers insights contributing to the literature on service innovation in travel agencies. The data highlight the adoption of an omni-channel approach to facilitate the customer experience. This case study is also one of the first to empirically investigate the challenges of a large-scale retail group when diversifying to the travel industry and adopting an omni-channel strategy.

Bisnis Online Agent Ilegal dalam Perkembangan Industri Pariwisata Bali

<p><em>The increasing number of illegal online travel agencies recently has become a hot issue that being discussed by the entrepreneurs of tourism business service in Bali. This kind of business has triggered tariff competition, which is unhealthy and has negative impact on the existence of travel agency business in Bali. Therefore, this phenomenon becomes an interesting issue to be investigated. Aims of the investigation were to know the growth of illegal online travel agent business, its impacts and to formulate policies for controlling it that are more relevant to present condition, creating conducive, harmonious, an</em><em>d</em><em> balanced tourism business in Bali. The impacts of illegal online travel agents were classified into economic, social, culture, and impacts on images. Dealing with illegal online travel agent business, it was observed that there was no negative impacts of tourist. The tourist stated that they were remain satisfied to the services given by illegal online travel agents. The effort made by the governments was still limited on providing suggestion, because there has not been a strong punishment for the offender. Thus, it is recommended that there is a need to set up a policy to control illegal online travel agent in Bali. The local government should formulate more effective and efficient policies, to restore the harmony and balanced conditions of tourism business in Bali. In addition, for the travel agency management, they should obey the law and regulations in running the business. </em></p>