Masters Dissertations

Permanent link for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10292/476

The Masters Dissertations collection contains digital copies of AUT University masters dissertations deposited with the Library since 2007 and made available open access. From 2007 onwards, all dissertations for masters degrees awarded are required to be deposited in Tuwhera Open Theses & Dissertations unless subject to an embargo.

Dissertations submitted prior to 2007 are usually recorded in the AUT Library catalogue where the full text, if available, may be accessed with an AUT password. Other people should request an Interlibrary Loan through their library.

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 1221

Innovative Pathways for the Screen Adaptation (Micro-Drama) of Online Literature from a Transmedia Narrative Perspective and Its Cross-Cultural Dissemination
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Bao, Suya
In recent years, Chinese online literature IPs (intellectual properties) have trended towards short-form dramatisation. IP primarily refers to original content with clearly defined ownership that can be continuously adapted across multiple media forms. Numerous popular web novels have been adapted into vertically oriented micro-dramas that deliver complete narratives within a few minutes and spread rapidly across social media platforms. The driving forces behind this phenomenon include the large, built-in fan bases and expandable story worlds of web novels, as well as the short, concise, and fast consumption habits shaped by algorithmic recommendation on short-video platforms. This study investigates the short-form dramatisation of two Chinese web novels, Fortune Writer (2024) and How Dare You? (2025), focusing on their transmedia narrative adaptation characteristics and cross-cultural communication effects. The core inquiries analyse how web-novel IPs share and fragment their story worlds across different media. This also includes how short-form adaptations are received in the Chinese context and how they catalyse participatory cultural practices such as derivative fan production. To address these questions, the study adopts a methodological design that integrates qualitative and quantitative approaches, including textual analysis, audience data mining, and cross-cultural comparison. By reviewing relevant theories and literature, this thesis constructs a four-dimensional analytical framework—intertextuality, expandability, participation, and cross-cultural—to systematically elucidate the narrative strategies and dissemination mechanisms of short-form adaptations of web novels. The findings reveal how micro-drama adaptations extend the originals in terms of plot and worldbuilding while maintaining connections through intertextual references. They also show how Chinese audiences embrace the micro-drama format and engage in narrative re-creation via danmu or bullet screens (real-time user comments overlaid on the footage), comments, reviews, and fan-made works. In addition, when disseminated cross-culturally, micro-dramas need to reduce barriers to cultural understanding through localised translation and semiotic transformation to achieve effective reach overseas. The significance of this study lies in enriching localised interpretations of transmedia narrative and adaptation theory in the Chinese context, offering strategic insights for the global circulation of online-literature IPs, and contributing new cases and perspectives on participatory culture in the digital era.
Behind the Smile: Exploring the Verbal Harassment of Front Office Employees by Guests
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Gaikwad, Akshata
Guest verbal harassment is an increasingly recognised challenge in frontline hospitality work, yet its impact on hotel front office employees remains underexplored. Existing research on customer misbehaviour in hospitality has predominantly focused on the food and beverage, kitchen, or housekeeping departments, overlooking the front office despite its high visibility, emotional demands, and constant guest interaction. This qualitative interpretivist study examines how front office hotel staff in New Zealand perceive and respond to verbal harassment from guests, with a particular focus on gendered perceptions, emotional reactions, and motivational outcomes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with front office personnel working in New Zealand hotels, and the data analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis approach. The findings indicate that verbal harassment is often embedded in routine guest interactions and frequently normalised as part of service work. However, employees' interpretations and coping strategies were significantly influenced by gender. Women participants reported cumulative emotional strain more frequently than did male participants, which was linked to sustained emotional labour and feelings of professional devaluation. The male participants revealed challenges related to authority, role legitimacy, and confidence during guest interactions. Overall, the study demonstrates that guest verbal harassment has profound emotional and motivational effects on front office staff and underscores the need for greater organisational recognition and support of affected staff. By emphasising the front office perspective in a New Zealand hotel context, this research extends knowledge of hospitality scholarship on customer misbehaviour and offers practical insights for hotel management and staff wellbeing.
Women's Empowerment Through Homestay Tourism in Rural Nepal: A Comparative Analysis of Resources, Agency, and Achievements
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Gurung, Ambika
This dissertation critically examines the role of homestay tourism in promoting women’s empowerment in rural Nepal by comparing four communities: Sirubari, Lwang Ghalel, Ghale Gaun, and the Tharu settlements. Guided by Kabeer’s (1999) empowerment framework of resources, agency, and achievements, the study explores how women’s engagement in homestay tourism influences income generation, skill development, financial independence, and decision- making power, while recognising the structural constraints that shape these outcomes. It adopts a qualitative research design within the social constructivist paradigm and relies on secondary data from reports by national and international organisations, government policies, and academic literature. Thematic analysis has been applied to identify patterns across different institutional, social, and cultural contexts. The findings indicate that women’s empowerment through homestay tourism is highly context- specific and uneven. Empowerment remains limited in contexts characterised by patriarchal norms, weak institutional support, and seasonal tourism. However, communities with inclusive governance structures, cooperative leadership, and access to training demonstrate stronger pathways from income to agency and achievement. The study also highlights that participation in tourism alone does not guarantee empowerment; rather, empowerment occurs when women exercise power over decision-making and economic resources are stable and collectively governed. This research contributes to gender and tourism scholarship by offering a nuanced, intersectional understanding of empowerment in rural tourism contexts. It provides useful insights for policymakers and development professionals seeking to establish more inclusive and equitable homestay tourism initiatives in Nepal.
A Systematic Literature Review of Data Analytics Methods Used in Global Corporate Investment Strategies
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Abrol, Ilankshi
Corporate investment strategies are increasingly enhanced by data analytics methods, including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and big data analytics. These technologies reshape financial decision-making by enabling faster forecasting, more accurate risk assessment, and optimized capital allocation. Across industries and regions, analytics tools also support strategic agility and alignment between data capabilities and business goals. Based on secondary data, this dissertation investigates how data analytics methods enhance global corporate investment strategies, addressing the lack of integrated, cross-sectoral understanding of how analytics capabilities, governance, and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) considerations jointly shape investment decision-making. A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines and Braun and Clarke’s (2019) six-phase reflexive thematic analysis framework. A total of 25 peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2025 were analysed to synthesise interdisciplinary insights across sectors. The review identifies AI/ML, ESG integration, and data governance as critical enablers of corporate investment strategy, highlighting how these technologies shape analytics-driven decision-making. Organisational factors – including leadership commitment, digital infrastructure, cultural readiness, and regulatory alignment – emerged as pivotal success factors, in translating analytics investments into improved risk intelligence, strategic agility, and long-term value creation. Ethical concerns such as algorithmic bias and transparency remain persistent barriers, along with data quality and global regulatory fragmentation. Based on the literature review, this study proposes an integrated conceptual framework grounded in Dynamic Capabilities Theory (Teece, 2018) and the Strategic Alignment Model (Coltman et al., 2015). The framework is designed for financial leaders, policymakers, and corporate strategists seeking to enhance decision-making through analytics integration. It serves as a practical guide for applying data analytics in complex investment environments by linking technological enablers (AI, ESG, data governance, and FinTech) with strategic outcomes. The framework’s uniqueness lies in its holistic, cross-sectoral synthesis of technological, organisational, and ethical dimensions, offering both theoretical and practical contributions to the evolving field of data-driven corporate finance. This research provides theoretical insights into the strategic value of data analytics and practical guidance for implementing analytics-enabled investment strategies across global corporate contexts.
Cultural Narratives of Succession: Confucian Influences on Women’s Leadership in Chinese Family SMEs
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Young, Michelle
This research examines how Confucian values—such as family loyalty, respect for hierarchy, and collective harmony are represented in print and media portrayals of women in leadership roles within Chinese family-owned small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It looks at whether these values are framed as barriers that reinforce traditional gender roles or as enablers of women’s leadership in business. While research in Confucian societies has expanded, existing studies primarily address economic barriers (e.g., income disparities, limited business opportunities) and structural constraints (e.g., legal restrictions, family expectations), with comparatively little focus on the role of media in shaping public perceptions of female business leadership. This dissertation uses thematic analysis of five purposively selected media cases, chosen for their relevance to gendered leadership succession in Chinese family-owned SMEs. Cases were selected from an initial pool of 50 based on three key criteria: (1) SME family ownership, where family dynamics significantly influenced decision-making; (2) female leadership, with women occupying key leadership or decision-making roles; and (3) cultural alignment, where businesses demonstrated Confucian values such as family loyalty and respect for hierarchy. The cases were drawn from newspapers, publications, and reports published between 2015 and 2025, a period marked by shifts in succession norms following the end of China’s one-child policy. NVivo was used to identify recurring and culturally significant themes across the selected cases. The analysis of five media cases shows seven recurring themes across the cases: sacrificial succession, quiet leadership, financial entry, emotional labour, earned trust, conditional acceptance, and quiet exit or resistance. These themes suggest that daughters' succession was rarely granted by default but instead negotiated through culturally embedded acts of duty, deference, and quiet perseverance. These findings contribute to the literature by challenging simplified interpretations of daughters' roles in succession and highlighting how Confucian values are negotiated, rather than passively reproduced, in media portrayals of women's leadership.
Studying in Silence: An Autoethnography Study of a Chinese Student in English-Medium University Classrooms
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Zhao, Danying
This study employs an autoethnographic approach to explore why, as a Chinese international student in English-taught university classrooms in Australia, I predominantly chose to remain silent. Although the phenomenon of Chinese students' silence in intercultural learning contexts has been extensively discussed in existing research, detailed presentations of the subjective experience, immediate feelings, and meaning-making associated with silence from the individual student's perspective remain relatively scarce. Addressing this research gap, this study explored how my silence emerged within authentic interactions and revealed how underlying factors—such as emotional pressure, identity concerns, and classroom interaction rhythms—intertwined to influence my participation as a second language learner. The findings of this study show that silence can be understood as a contextualised and strategic classroom coping mechanism, rather than a deficiency in ability or lack of willingness to participate. Silence may serve as a way for students to observe classroom norms and understand interaction rules, function as a temporary pause and self-protection strategy during intercultural adaptation, or act as a safeguard for academic identity and self-image when uncertain about the quality of linguistic output. Through this lens, the research demonstrates that silence does not necessarily signify passive withdrawal; it may also constitute a process of self-positioning and identity negotiation within intercultural classrooms. The study aimed to provide higher education teachers and educators with some insights into the phenomenon of silence from a student’s perspective. The findings challenge the tendency to view silence among international students who have English as an additional language as problematic or deficient, and instead encourage attention to its relationship with classroom interaction arrangements, waiting times, feedback methods, and students' language processing needs. By revealing the multifaceted significance of silence in intercultural classrooms, it is hoped that the findings of this study might inform improvements in participation environments within English-taught settings, potentially fostering greater engagement and more positive learning experiences for international students.
Food, Eating Practices and Identity in Postcolonial Hong Kong: A Study of Cha Chaan Tengs, Soy Sauce Western Cuisine and the Narrative of Indigenisation
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Wang, Yimo
Food is closely linked to human history, and often acknowledged as a symbol of a region or nation’s culture. The culinary history of a cuisine helps people understand the cultural identity of the region or group. In societies shaped by colonial histories, political changes, and cultural shifts, familiar food acts as a vital collective memory and provides a sense of belonging for many locals. Accordingly, people’s daily food practices can reflect their tastes, dietary choices, and rules of eating, and can be used to examine how a group’s food practices contribute to understanding their food culture by connecting the past and present, affirming “who they are” and why they are different from other groups. Hong Kong is a world-famous city that was under British colonial rule for over a hundred years and has been influenced by Western culture for a long time. Following the return of sovereignty to China in 1997, localist culture and China’s communist culture have been in ongoing conflict, with debates surrounding political instability and local identity continuing. In recent years, an increasing number of democratic movements have prompted Hong Kong’s people to reflect on their culture, identity, and sense of belonging. This dissertation investigates the role of food in shaping identity through the case of Hong Kong people’s food practices in cha chaan tengs and their soy sauce Western cuisine. Because cha chaan tengs and their cuisine developed through colonial influence and local adaptation, they occupy an ambiguous cultural position between traditional Chinese and Western culture. This makes it an ideal lens for exploring the development of local culture and the formation of identity in a postcolonial context. The study examines people’s food practices through the lens of social orders, communal functions, and shared memories, focusing on culinary hybridity, dining behaviours, and nostalgic narratives of cha chaan tengs. It explores how characteristics of hybridity in culinary practices manifest in people’s everyday food practices, and how the culture of cha chaan tengs is regarded as a distinct culture that reflects diners’ behaviours and norms, distinguishing insiders from outsiders. Additionally, the study investigates how nostalgic narratives of cha chaan tengs transmit local culture and reinforce the cultural heritage of food. The cha chaan tengs and their soy sauce Western cuisine are chosen as a case study subject because the role of food in the expression and construction of identity highlights the importance of examining ordinary cultural forms to understand broader social processes. The study demonstrates the dynamics of identity production beyond individual self-expression and reveals that identity is not a fixed cultural essence. Additionally, the study offers a valuable perspective on how local culture operates through daily life, providing a framework that may be applied to other postcolonial and culturally hybrid societies.
The Impact of the April 2025 U.S. Tariff Announcement on Country-Level ETF Returns: The Roles of Global Uncertainty and Financial Integration
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Wen, Zhaoheng
This study investigates the global financial market impact of the April 2, 2025, United States tariff announcement using a large cross-country sample of internationally traded exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Treating the announcement as a global uncertainty shock, we employ an event-study framework combined with cross-sectional regressions to analyse abnormal returns (ARs) across countries, regions, sectors, and asset classes. We document significant negative cumulative abnormal returns (CARs) in global markets following the announcement, alongside pronounced cross-sectional heterogeneity. ETFs from countries with lower dependence on the United States, measured by exports to the U.S. relative to GDP, experience larger and more persistent losses, while ETFs from highly U.S.-dependent economies exhibit weaker and predominantly short-lived responses. At the regional level, China, Asia, and Africa show the strongest adverse reactions over extended event windows, whereas U.S. ETFs display comparatively muted ARs. Sectoral analysis indicates that globally integrated and cyclically sensitive industries, including materials, industrials, technology, energy, and financial services, experience the most severe and persistent valuation declines as uncertainty intensifies. Consumer-related sectors exhibit heterogeneous responses, with consumer defensive industries comparatively insulated and consumer cyclical and service-oriented sectors suffering sizable losses at longer horizons. Across asset classes, equity ETFs transition from short-run resilience to large and persistent negative ARs, while fixed-income ETFs display consistently positive abnormal performance relative to factor-model benchmarks, reflecting differences in risk exposure rather than uniformly positive raw returns. Taken together, the evidence indicates that the 2025 tariff announcement functioned as a global macro-financial shock transmitted primarily through uncertainty and financial integration channels rather than narrow bilateral trade effects. The findings highlight the importance of economic structure, sectoral composition, and asset-class characteristics in shaping global financial market responses to major policy interventions.
International Travel, Risks, and New Zealanders: The Role of Travel Agents in Risk Communication
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Ratnayake, Ratnayake Mudiyanselage Radhika
Travel involves navigating unfamiliar environments where uncertainty and risks are unavoidable. In tourism research, these risks are commonly considered as health, physical, psychological, social, financial, and political risks, each influencing travellers’ decision-making in different ways. In tourism, travel agents are an important source of information and advice on many aspects of travel planning and holiday decision-making processes. However, limited research has examined how travel agents communicate travel risks, what risk categories they prioritise, and how such communication shapes traveller preparedness in the New Zealand context. This study aimed to examine how New Zealand travel agencies communicate travel risks to independent outbound leisure tourists and to identify the types of risks emphasised in their communication practices. A qualitative collective case study design was employed, focusing on five New Zealand travel agencies: Helloworld Travel, House of Travel, Flight Centre, Mann Travel, and YOU Travel. Data were collected through document analysis of publicly available materials on the official websites of the five travel agencies, utilising their travel blogs, brochures, magazines, Frequently Asked Questions sections, terms and conditions, and travel insurance documents. The data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach to identify patterns in risk types, communication formats, and risk message framing strategies. The findings revealed that travel agencies employed three dominant framing strategies in their risk communication practices: action-oriented framing, self-efficacy framing, and culturally sensitive framing. Risk messages were predominantly distributed through travel blogs, brochures, and magazines, travel insurance documents, and in the terms and conditions sections of each travel agency website. Health risks emerged as the most frequently communicated category, followed by physical and financial risks, while social and political risks received comparatively limited attention in the agencies’ risk communication practices. The study concludes that New Zealand travel agencies employ communication strategies that reduce travellers’ perceived risk and support booking confidence, while simultaneously transferring responsibility for risk management to individual tourists. This approach creates a preparedness gap for independent tourists, particularly regarding social and political risks that cannot be mitigated through individual behaviour alone. The research contributes to the tourism risk-communication literature by providing an integrated analysis of both risk message framing and information distribution strategies, and offers practical recommendations for more balanced traveller-centred risk communication practices in the New Zealand outbound tourism context.
Crisis Communication During Internal System Failures: Role of Guest Service Representatives in Hotels
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Bandara, Kuruppu Gedara Ivoni Madubhashini
In today's digital era, hotels around the world integrate complex technological systems to ensure operational efficiency and deliver seamless guest experiences. However, relying heavily on technology makes them vulnerable to IT (Information Technology) breakdowns such as PMS (Property Management System) failures, POS (Point Of Sales) failures, key encoder failures, and key card malfunctions, all of which can increase critical operational risks and disrupt guest experiences. As front-line employees, guest service representatives (GSRs) are the first point of contact during internal operational disruptions due to technology failures. While existing hospitality research primarily focuses on external crises, business continuity planning, and managerial decision-making, limited attention has been given to GSRs, who act as both service professionals and immediate crisis responders during crisis events. This research aimed to address this gap by investigating how GSRs manage communication with guests during internal system failures. The study employs a qualitative methodology combining a document analysis and a netnographic analysis of online reviews posted on Booking.com and TripAdvisor platforms. To uncover recurring patterns and insights, the resultant data were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed an absence of crisis communication frameworks of the organisation and protocols to guide GSRs in managing communication during internal system failures. By focusing on internal systems failures in hotels, this study contributes significantly to the existing literature on crisis communication in the hospitality industry, expanding the scope of crisis management research, which has previously focused mostly on external crises such as natural disasters, socio-economic crises, pandemics, and political instability. The study also offers valuable practical insights for hotel management to enhance their crisis communication practices by proposing concrete guidelines for communication protocols and thereby enabling GSRs to manage guest experiences and ensure improved service continuity during internal system failures.
Packaging, Persuasion, Caregiver and the Child Consumer: A Content and Discourse Analysis of Nice & Natural’s ‘Fruit Blocks’ and ‘Fruit Unicorns & Friends’
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Bokkasam, Guru Naga Goutam
This research examines the persuasive power of child-targeted food packaging within the contemporary marketing environment of Aotearoa, New Zealand, focusing on how visual and linguistic strategies construct meaning for both children and caregivers. Positioning packaging as a key discursive and semiotic site, the study analyses two products from Nice & Natural’s fruit-based snack range - ‘Fruit Blocks’ and ‘Fruit Unicorns & Friends’ - through a qualitative approach integrating content and discourse analysis. Drawing on Neuendorf’s seven-step framework and Dryzek’s four-part model, the findings show that packaging operates as a dual-audience communication tool: it engages children through fantasy-driven elements such as bold colours and playful characters, while simultaneously reassuring caregivers through a 'health-halo' effect created by claims like 'contains real-fruit juice', 'no artificial colours or flavours', and 'gluten free'. These strategies position processed snacks as responsible dietary choices. The study argues that packaging functions as a persistent marketing force that operates beyond the reach of New Zealand’s voluntary advertising codes, exposing a regulatory gap that enables brands to shape children’s perceptions while appealing to parental concerns about nutrition. It calls for stronger regulation of child-targeted packaging and increased media literacy to better protect young consumers, contributing to broader debates on ethical branding at the intersection of communication, marketing, and public health.
A Systematic Literature Review of the Experiences of Skilled South Asian Migrant Women Employees
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Khan, Maha
This systematic literature review explores the employment experiences of skilled South Asian migrant women in host countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. The study aims to address two central research questions: (1) What barriers do skilled South Asian migrant women face in seeking suitable employment after migration? and (2) How do skilled South Asian migrant women navigate and overcome these work barriers? Using a structured search strategy guided by the keywords 'skilled,' 'South Asian,' 'migrant women,' 'job,' and 'seek,' relevant peer-reviewed articles published in English between 2010 and 2025 were systematically identified across major academic databases. Following PRISMA guidelines, a total of 47 peer-reviewed articles were selected for inclusion in this review. Studies were included if they focused on primary research related to the employment experiences of skilled migrants from South Asian countries, specifically: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Excluded were grey literature and non-employment-related studies. The synthesis reveals multiple, intersecting barriers, including the devaluation of foreign credentials, limited recognition of prior experience, gendered discrimination, and structural barriers within host-country labour markets. Cultural expectations and family responsibilities further constrain employment participation and advancement. Despite these challenges, skilled South Asian migrant women employ a range of adaptive strategies such as reskilling, professional networking, volunteering, and leveraging ethnic and community connections to re-enter the workforce or attain professional recognition. The review highlights the complexity of their integration journeys, emphasising the intersection of gender, ethnicity, and migration in shaping personal and labour market outcomes. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of global talent mobility, offering insights for policymakers, employers, and professional bodies to develop more inclusive credential recognition systems, culturally responsive employment support, and equitable workplace practices. By identifying both barriers and navigation strategies, this review provides a foundation for future empirical research and practical interventions aimed at improving employment equity for skilled migrant women from South Asia.
How Career Calling Reduces Counterproductive Work Behaviour in Hospitality: A Serial Mediation Model of Job Content Plateau and Workplace Boredom Across Organisational Tenure
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Kancharlapalli, Neha
The hospitality industry is characterised by high work intensity, repetitive service tasks, and limited opportunities for role enrichment, rendering employees particularly vulnerable to stagnation, workplace boredom, and counterproductive work behaviour (CWB). Although prior research has demonstrated that career calling promotes positive work attitudes and motivation, far less is known about how, and under what conditions, a calling may reduce negative workplace behaviours in hospitality settings. Addressing this gap, the present study examines the psychological mechanisms through which career calling mitigates CWB among hospitality employees. Drawing on Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, this study conceptualises career calling as a personal motivational resource that enables employees to sustain meaning, engagement, and self-regulation in demanding service environments. A moderated serial mediation model is proposed in which job content plateau and workplace boredom sequentially mediate the relationship between career calling and CWB. Organisational tenure is further examined as a boundary condition that shapes the effectiveness of career calling as a protective resource. Survey data were collected from 369 employees working in hospitality organisations. Established and validated measures were used to assess career calling, job content plateau, workplace boredom, and CWB. The proposed moderated serial mediation model was tested using Hayes’ PROCESS Models 6 and 83, with indirect effects estimated using 5,000 bootstrap resamples. Structural equation modelling with 5,000 bootstrapping iterations was additionally conducted as a robustness check. The findings provide strong support for the hypothesised relationships. Career calling was negatively associated with job content plateau, indicating that employees who perceive their work as purposeful and meaningful are less likely to experience stagnation and a lack of challenge in their job content. In turn, lower levels of job content plateau were associated with reduced workplace boredom, which subsequently predicted lower levels of CWB. The serial indirect effect of career calling on CWB through job content plateau and workplace boredom was statistically significant. Notably, the direct effect of career calling on CWB became nonsignificant once the mediators were included, indicating full mediation. This pattern suggests that career calling does not directly suppress deviant behaviour; rather, it operates by shaping employees’ everyday work experiences and affective states. By reducing perceptions of stagnation and preventing boredom, career calling helps preserve employees’ motivational and self-regulatory resources, thereby lowering the likelihood of behavioural deviance in hospitality work. In addition, organisational tenure moderated the first stage of the mediation process. The negative effect of career calling on job content plateau was stronger among long-tenure employees than among short-tenure employees. This finding indicates that accumulated organisational experience enhances employees’ ability to enact their sense of calling and derive meaning from stable or repetitive service roles, thereby strengthening the indirect protective effect of career calling on CWB. Overall, this study advances hospitality and career calling research by demonstrating that career calling functions not only as a positive motivational orientation but also as a behavioural safeguard against stagnation, boredom, and misconduct in service work. The findings offer a process-based explanation of how vocational meaning translates into behavioural regulation in hospitality contexts and provide practical implications for the design of calling-supportive and growth-oriented work environments.
Exposure of New Zealand-Listed Firms to Global Risks
(Auckland University of Technology, 2026) Huynh, Linh Chi
Motivated by rising global risks, this dissertation investigates how exchange rate and geopolitical risks are transmitted to firms in a small open economy by examining stock return exposure to these risks among New Zealand-listed companies. Using daily stock returns for 147 non-financial firms over 2012–2025, we first estimate firm-level sensitivities to exchange rate and geopolitical risks, followed by an analysis of how firms’ international operations and risk management practices shape these exposures, and a test of whether geopolitical risk can aggravate firm-level exchange rate exposure. We find that at the aggregate level, appreciations of TWI, CNY, and USD, as well as increases in geopolitical risk, are associated with lower stock returns for New Zealand firms. At the firm level, only around 10–15% of firms exhibit statistically significant exchange rate exposure, and approximately 9–11% show significant sensitivity to geopolitical risk. Cross-sectional analysis shows that larger firms exhibit greater exposure to currencies of New Zealand’s major trading partners. Export-oriented firms show greater sensitivity to AUD returns, while firms with stronger operational links to Australia exhibit significantly lower exposure to both AUD and TWI movements, consistent with operational hedging. These firms also show significantly greater sensitivity to geopolitical risk. There is no evidence that financial hedging reduces exposure to either exchange rate or geopolitical risks. We further find that geopolitical risk has a direct negative effect on firm-level exchange rate exposure but does not amplify it, with the only exception of AUD exposure increasing for firms reporting higher hedging activity during periods of elevated geopolitical risk. The findings suggest that firm-level exposure to global risks is shaped more by operational and geographic structures than by financial hedging. The results imply that risk managers of New Zealand-listed firms should prioritise strategic operational alignment and geographic diversification over traditional financial hedging instruments when managing exposure to both currency fluctuations and geopolitical volatility.
Pathways, Enablers and Barriers of Entry and Development for Women in Motorsport in New Zealand
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Dixon, Cort
This qualitative research investigates the pathways, enablers, and barriers to access for women in motorsport in New Zealand, where only 5% of licensed competitors are women. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 female drivers, revealing that access to the sport is generally informal in nature, often stemming from family connections or exposure to other female competitors, and typically begins later in life. Although intrinsic motivation and informal support networks are effective facilitators, advancement is hindered by systemic barriers, including prohibitive financial costs, psychological pressures, discrimination, and the burden of familial obligations. The results indicate a clear need for governing bodies in motorsport to introduce structured and inclusive pathways and formal support systems to alleviate the pressure of barriers and generate greater female participation and development.
Encouraging Customer Participation in Residential Electrification in New Zealand: A Systematic Literature Review
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Surve, Janhavi
As New Zealand pursues net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the electrification of residential energy use emerges as a critical yet underdeveloped component of the national energy transition. While commercial and industrial electrification have received substantial attention, residential uptake remains low, hindered by financial, behavioural, and regulatory barriers. This study conducts a systematic literature review (SLR) of 63 peer-reviewed empirical studies to identify the global factors (financial, social, policy, technological and geographical) influencing residential electrification and to develop a context-specific framework for supporting customer participation in New Zealand. The review identifies five core dimensions shaping household electrification decisions: economic and financial feasibility, social and behavioural influences, policy and regulatory settings, technological readiness, and geographical context. Economic factors- particularly upfront costs and perceived long-term savings- emerge as the most influential, with social norms, trust, policy stability, and retrofit complexity acting as key enablers or constraints. Policy design is found to significantly influence both financial and behavioural outcomes, especially when stable and well-communicated. The review also highlights critical research gaps, including the limited representation of renters, lower-income households, and emerging technologies like hot water heat pumps and battery storage. Drawing on these insights, the study proposes a New Zealand-specific framework that emphasises targeted financial support, especially for vulnerable households, long-term policy consistency, culturally inclusive communication strategies, support for technological retrofitting, and regionally tailored programme delivery. This framework reflects the interdependent nature of consumer electrification decisions and aims to inform integrated strategies across policy, industry, and marketing research. The findings underscore that residential electrification is not solely a technological shift, but a complex socio-economic transition requiring systemic, context-aware interventions. By synthesising global evidence and tailoring it to local conditions, this study contributes to more equitable and effective electrification pathways in New Zealand.
Prospect Theory and Fund Flows under Uncertainty
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Manjardekar, Yash Ashish
We study whether macroeconomic uncertainty attenuates investors’ behavioural demand for mutual funds. This study employs a comprehensive dataset of U.S. equity mutual funds covering the period from 1995 to 2021. Using monthly panel regressions that incorporate fund-specific fixed effects and double-clustered standard errors at both the fund and time levels, we examine how future fund flows respond to a Cumulative Prospect Theory (CPT) score. The CPT measure is derived from the complete distribution of each fund’s returns over the preceding twelve months. A one-standard-deviation increase in CPT predicts higher inflows, but this CPT–flow sensitivity weakens meaningfully when Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU) rises (about a 15% attenuation in our baseline), even after controlling for risk-adjusted performance and factor exposures. The dampening is strongest for younger, smaller, high idiosyncratic-volatility, and high downside-risk funds, and for active and local funds. Replacing EPU with alternative uncertainty proxies reveals distinct mechanisms: looser global financial conditions (higher GFC) amplify CPT- and return-driven flows; a tighter shadow rate lowers average flows yet increases selectivity toward CPT-aligned funds; and quantitative easing boosts baseline flows while eroding the marginal CPT premium. Results are robust when using abnormal returns and when focusing on “high” CPT/return funds (above the monthly median), for which premia are economically larger but similarly state-dependent. These findings integrate behavioural portfolio choice with macro-uncertainty channels and map when performance-chasing is most fragile.
Examining the Determinants of Migrants’ Career Development Opportunities in the New Zealand Hospitality and Tourism Industry
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Jin, Ye
Ethnic minority employees are an important part of the workforce in the hotel and tourism industry in New Zealand (Liu-Lastres & Wen, 2021). However, previous studies have largely focused on the impact of human capital and other individual-level factors on career progression, with a strong focus on the role of structural conditions and intersecting social identities remaining largely neglected (Buford & Flores, 2025). This study addresses this gap by analysing the relationship between demographic characteristics and employment attributes and how these influence employee's perception of career development opportunities (CDO). Based on human capital theory (HCT) and intersectionality, this study examines the effect of seven variables, demographic characteristics and employment attributes, on perceived CDO (PCDO). The analysis is drawn from secondary survey data, and has been collected from 17 cities and regions across New Zealand. A multiple linear regression model was applied to study the predictive effects of seven basic variables: gender, age, ethnicity, immigration status, business type, managerial responsibility, and work location. The results show that the identity and background of employees have a measurable impact on their PCDO. However, this influence works indirectly, mainly through factors that are congruent with organisational decision-making processes. The study concludes that CDO are determined not only by individual effort and skill but also by the ways in which organisations and society more broadly recognise, interpret and evaluate the potential and value of employees from different identity groups.
Key Components, Principles, and Distinctions of Sustainable Entrepreneurship: A Narrative Synthesis
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Souksamlane, Prarichat
Sustainable entrepreneurship represents a growing area of research that responds to complex global challenges by integrating environmental, social, and economic aims into entrepreneurial practice. However, a lack of conceptual clarity continues to limit its theoretical development and practical application. This study uses a systematic literature review with a narrative synthesis approach to analyse fourteen peer-reviewed empirical articles published between 1997 and 2024. It explores the key components and guiding principles of sustainable entrepreneurship and how it differs from other forms of entrepreneurship. The findings show that sustainable entrepreneurship is a dynamic and context-sensitive process shaped by entrepreneurial identity, stakeholder collaboration, and structural conditions. It is characterised by the pursuit of integrated value creation across the triple bottom line. This review contributes to theory by clarifying the key components and guiding principles that define sustainable entrepreneurship and by distinguishing it from other forms of entrepreneurship.
Understanding Consumer Trust in Virtual Influencers: A Systematic Literature Review
(Auckland University of Technology, 2025) Chen, Xiner
With the advancement of technology, social media platforms and artificial intelligence (AI) have significantly transformed how individuals engage socially, shifting from reliance on traditional experts to interactions with social media influencers. In recent years, various virtual influencers have emerged as substitutes for social media influencers (SMIs), engaging with audiences in the digital world. These virtual agents possess strong capabilities to mimic human appearance and behavior, offering new opportunities for marketers and brands to enhance consumer engagement and build brand loyalty. However, scholars and marketers have not sufficiently explored the underlying mechanisms of virtual influencers, which has led to their misuse in marketing strategies and, consequently, weakened consumer trust. Researchers have yet to develop a comprehensive framework that explains how virtual influencers foster consumer trust and ultimately influence consumer behavior, which remains a key research gap in the field. This research explores the factors that influence consumer trust in virtual influencers on social media in a marketing context, and how this trust leads to changes in consumer behavior. This study employs systematic literature review methodology to examine 97 carefully selected journal articles within the field of marketing. By synthesizing findings from relevant, peer-reviewed journal articles, this study develops a comprehensive understanding of how virtual influencers build consumer trust and influence behavioral change. The analysis identifies several key themes related to virtual influencers and consumer trust: types of virtual influencers, types of trust, factors that contribute to building trust between virtual influencers and consumers, and behavioral changes resulting from that trust. Following the themes of virtual influencers and consumer trust identified from the data analysis, this study proposes a dual-pathways theoretical model integrating VI–trust themes with Influencers’ trust-building strategy (e.g., content strategy, attractiveness, identity cohesion, engagement strategy) and consumer behaviour change (e.g., purchase intention, engagement, and word-of-mouth). The framework provides a foundation for understanding how different trust-building factors interact with current VI characteristics, and how trust in VIs ultimately drives changes in consumer behaviour. This research makes a theoretical contribution by offering a comprehensive view of the relationships between virtual influencers, consumer trust, and relevant behaviour. It establishes clear definitions of VI categories and trust types, while integrating insights from diverse academic domains. The practical implications include equipping marketers with a multidimensional understanding of how to effectively adopt AI-driven influencers in marketing campaigns and influence consumers’ purchasing intentions. Future research directions include empirically validating the proposed framework, investigating the dynamics of human-virtual influencer interactions, and refining the conceptual model linking virtual influencer types, trust dimensions, and consumer behaviour change. Limitations of this study include the potential exclusion of relevant literature and the need for further empirical research focusing on how virtual influencers build trust and influence consumer behaviour.

Browse

Recent Submissions