http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/8609 Tue, 14 Apr 2026 06:23:21 GMT 2026-04-14T06:23:21Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/32936 Title: The role of government initiatives in sustainability practice and performance in the UK hotel sector Authors: Peivand, Fahimeh Abstract: Sustainability has become increasingly important in today’s business world, with companies recognising the need to integrate ethical, social and environmental considerations into their operations. The hotel sector is no exception, and interest in promoting sustainable practices within the industry continues to grow. Although the UK government has introduced several initiatives to advance sustainability in hotels, a comprehensive understanding of their effectiveness as well as the challenges and opportunities that accompany their implementation remains limited. The main objectives and contributions of this research are to assess the impact of government initiatives on sustainability practices and performances in the UK hotel industry and to identify effective strategies and mechanisms to encourage sustainable practices. There is a lack of a holistic framework that not only explains how government initiatives drive sustainability practices and performance, but also how the various elements of government initiatives, sustainability practices, and performance influence one another, including the interrelationships among these elements. This study adopts institutional theory to examine how external drivers and pressures, i.e. government sustainability initiatives, shape sustainability practices and performance in organisations. Semi-structured interviews with hospitality managers and employees provide a fresh empirical perspective and add a new dimension to the existing body of knowledge. The findings of this research demonstrate that there are four key government initiatives that encourage sustainability practices in the hotel industry in the UK i.e. norms and culture, set of rules, decision-making process and innovative initiative entrepreneurship. The research outcome was the development of the new holistic framework based on empirical results, institutional theory and the previous literature discussion, which resulted in the final research framework, as being a significant theoretical contribution of this research. Policymakers, hotel‐industry stakeholders, and researchers can apply this framework to devise government strategies that advance sustainability practices and performance across the hospitality sector and the wider service economy. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/32936 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/32641 Title: Digital ventures in practice: Exploring performance factors through a netnographic immersion journal Authors: Sodha, Sapnaba R Abstract: The continuous expansion of digital platforms has transformed the entrepreneurial landscape, enabling new forms of business activity conducted entirely online. This study explores how digital ventures with no physical presence build and sustain performance through platform-based practices. The research is conducted in the United Kingdom, focusing on fifteen digital ventures within the online jewellery industry, where digital entrepreneurs adopt digital technologies for business operations. The study aims to explore how entrepreneurial and platform practices shape the online performance of digital ventures. It addresses a critical gap in existing literature, where limited qualitative attention has been given to the everyday practices, strategies, and challenges of ventures operating fully online. To fill this gap, the study applies the Entrepreneurship as Practice (EAP) framework and employs a netnographic immersion approach to capture the lived experiences and routines of digital entrepreneurs in their natural online environments. A netnographic immersion was conducted over one year (March 2023 - February 2024), observing the online activities of jewellery ventures across platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Amazon, and Etsy. The findings reveal that entrepreneurial self-representation, digital skills and digital identity are essential to building authenticity and trust, directly influencing online performance. At the platform level, factors such as the degree of digitalisation, engagement, collaboration, and pricing strategy emerge as key determinants of venture success. New insights also identify caption strategy, content creation, and digital consistency as emerging practices that strengthen customer connection and algorithmic visibility. The research advances the theoretical development of practise theory in a digital context by conceptualising how entrepreneurs’ daily digital practices (habitus) interact with platform structures (field) to enhance online performance (capital). Methodologically, it demonstrates the value of netnography for studying platform-based entrepreneurship through, practice-focused observation. Practically, the findings offer guidance for entrepreneurs seeking to enhance their digital presence and engagement, and for policymakers designing initiatives that support digital-venture ecosystems. Overall, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of how entrepreneurial and platform practices combine to influence online performance, offering both theoretical advancement and practical insights. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/32641 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/32534 Title: Investigating socio-cultural influences on Saudi shoppers’ perspectives towards sustainability and ethical practices Authors: Aljukhaydib, Ahmed Nasser Abstract: This thesis investigates how cultural, religious, and institutional factors shape the way Saudi consumers understand and practice sustainable consumption. Most of existing literature on sustainable consumption is based on Western, individualist models that focus on environmental concern, and personal responsibility. However, these models do not fully reflect non-Western contexts such as Saudi Arabia, where social norms, religious beliefs, and government influence are deeply connected to consumers’ everyday choices. The research adopts a qualitative, interpretivist approach based on social constructivism. In total, 40 participants took part in this study — 30 semi-structured interviews and a separate group of 10 shop-along interviews were conducted, all with Saudi citizen-consumers. Data were analyzed thematically using Lochmiller’s five-step method. Two main theoretical perspectives guided the study: Practice Theory, which focuses on the role of social routines and shared behaviors, and Multiple Modernities Theory, which emphasizes that different societies modernize in culturally specific ways. Findings show that Saudi consumers prioritize affordability, need, and product quality over environmental concern. Many participants linked sustainability to Islamic teachings such as avoiding waste and practicing moderation. Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s national transformation plan, emerged as a key driver of sustainability efforts, highlighting a strong reliance on state-led transformation rather than the individual or community efforts that were often the focus in earlier research. This study contributes to sustainable consumption studies by offering a culturally grounded understanding of non-Western consumers’ perceptions on the role and responsibilities of various stakeholders for sustainability. I make a novel theoretical contribution in combining Practice Theory with a Multiple Modernities perspective to analyse non-Western consumers’ shopping practices in relation to sustainability concepts. The thesis argues for a more inclusive, context sensitive approach to sustainability research and policy that considers culture, religion, and structure not just individual attitudes. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/32534 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/32525 Title: Leadership through lived experience: How remote work shapes leadership practices in non-profit organisations – a grounded theory approach Authors: Buresova, Petra Abstract: This study examines how remote work impacts the understanding and practices of non-profit leadership, it does so through the lens of lived experiences. Using a Constructivist Grounded Theory approach, the research investigates how non-profit leaders understand their roles and adapt to challenges in remote settings. Through 34 in-depth interviews with non-profit leaders, team members, and other key stakeholders, in the UK, the study proposes a practice framework for remote leadership in charitable organisations. This framework highlights four interconnected dimensions of leadership: building relational connections, maintaining connection with organisational culture and mission, adapting to individual needs and promoting empowerment, and applying continuous reflection. The model builds upon our understanding of leadership as an interpersonal and relational process. These findings show that remote non-profit leadership is not build on operational oversight, but it is relational and adaptive in its core. The study offers a framework that considers the complexities of remote work in missiondriven non-profit organisations. The findings also offer practical insights for non-profit leaders. They highlight the importance of visibility in the digital space, trust-building, personalised leadership approaches, and continuous reflection, to keep the remote nonprofit teams engaged. This study brings an updated perspective for our understanding of non-profit leadership in remote settings, as it frames it as a relational and adaptive experience. The study offers theoretical contributions, as well as practical applications for leaders engaging with a dispersed workforce. This study also aims to provide contribution to the knowledge of the non-profit sector, and through the shared knowledge, support the organisations to continue to provide invaluable services to those in need. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/32525 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z