Mario Arias-Oliva

e-Human Resources Management: Managing Knowledge People

This book, though, provides a deep discussion about e-HRM issues so the reader can have a thoughtful background about the key role played by those who participate in e-HRM activities. A variety of experiences are provided to involve the reader in real problems and, thus, to help the reader gain an understanding of current and future e-HRM challenges. The books also explores the impact of IT on communication effectiveness, the concept of protean career, the integration of handheld computer technology into HR practice, the B2E models and, perspectives in organizational development and IT.

Pricing policies in hotels: a psychological threshold research in online and offline channels

This research analyses the perception that customers have regarding hotel prices at the time of making their final purchase decision. Price perception depends on the analysis of psychological thresholds. When a hotel decreases their prices, will customers really perceive a gain and change their purchasing decision? If a hotel increases their prices, will customers really perceive a loss and change their purchasing decision? There is not a comprehensive model that allows a global vision taking into consideration all these factors. We analyse the state of the art in price policies regarding psychological thresholds and define a global model based on six different price thresholds. We contrast the proposed model focusing on differences between online and offline channels. We analyse a Spanish Hotels sample located in the region of La Rioja. Our results show that perceived gain and loss in price by customers are different for online and offline channels. E-customers are more influenced by hotel selection and the hotel brand. Loyalty and difficulty to compare hotels uniquely affects offline customers. We find as well factors with influence in both channels: promotions and price volatility. Our findings will let hotel managers increase their occupation rate and profitability playing with psychological prices threshold.

Emotions, price and quality expectations in hotel services

Price, service-quality expectations and emotions have all been found to play a key role in customers’ assessments of offers, but little attention has been given to how these variables interrelate. This article presents an original model to study these interrelations. The model was tested on a sample of 841 hotel customers using structural equation modelling. The results show that the stronger the customers’ emotions, the more likely they were to perceive the product as cheap and the higher their predictive expectations of service quality. Additionally, although the observed price level influenced customers’ predictive expectations, the perception of a product as expensive or cheap did not. These findings have important business implications.

Surveillance Following Snowden: A Major Challenge in Spain

Purpose This study aims to analyse the impacts of Edward Snowden’s revelations in Spain focusing on issues of privacy and state surveillance. This research takes into consideration the Spanish context from a multidimensional perspective: social, cultural, legal and political. Design/methodology/approach The paper reviews the Spanish privacy and state surveillance situation. Responses to a questionnaire were collected from 207 university students studying at Universitat Rovira i Virgili or Burgos University. The quantitative responses to the survey were statistically analysed as well as qualitative considerations of free-text answers. Findings The survey outcomes demonstrate that a majority of respondents are aware of Snowden’s revelations, but only a few have even considered taking serious actions to improve their online privacy. One of the most relevant findings is that Spanish citizens find it acceptable to lose privacy and be subject to state surveillance if that provides a benefit in security. Practical implications The research points out the importance of privacy in a multicultural environment. A sensitised society is a keystone for the healthy and balanced development of state surveillance policy and practice. Social implications Training programmes are a critical dimension to ensure awareness across society regarding privacy and digital technologies. Suitable educational policies and curricula at all levels should be fostered. Originality/value Privacy and state surveillance based on information and communication technologies is an emerging research topic with important consequences for social values and ethics. This study provides an overview of Spanish higher education students’ attitudes in these areas.

The social impact of Snowden's revelations on Mexican youngsters

Purpose As part of an international study of knowledge of and attitudes to Snowden’s revelations about the activities of the National Security Agency/Government Communications Headquarters, this paper aims to deal with Mexico, taking its socio-cultural and political environment surrounding privacy and state surveillance into account. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire was answered by 160 Mexican University students. The quantitative responses to the survey were statistically analysed as well as qualitative considerations of free text answers. Findings Snowden’s revelations have had a limited influence over Mexican youngsters’ attitudes toward privacy and state surveillance, although there is a great awareness by Mexican young people of individual rights issues. Practical implications The study results imply a need to build a collective awareness of the importance of the right to privacy and its responsibilities, the available technological options for individuals to exert their own privacy and security and the democratic means to agree and enforce appropriate legal restrictions on state surveillance. Social implications The results of this study based indicate an urgent necessity for providing Mexican youngsters with opportunities to learn more about privacy, liberty, individual autonomy and national security. Originality/value This study is the first attempt to investigate the social impact of Snowden’s revelations on Mexican students’ attitudes toward privacy and state surveillance as part of cross-cultural analyses between eight countries.

Surveillance of information and personal data by Mexican government: the social impact in Mexican citizens

This study analyses the perceptions about Edward Snowdens revelations in Mexico. A questionnaire survey was developed and applied to students in a Mexican University (Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí). This Study is part of a global research about privacy perceptions by young people in different countries.