Platform-based business models have become such an essential pillar of today's economy that the term 'sharing economy' is now frequently used to describe the new status quo. The success of platforms such as Airbnb, Blablacar or Shpock is evidence of a seismic shift from an ownership society to a sharing society. However, only very few platforms are able to accumulate a large and loyal following of customers. When success hinges upon engagement, a large user base can make or break one of these platforms. In our research we approach this challenge by researching platform loyalty from a customer-centric perspective. We show the impact of different value perceptions for customer-to-customer-based platforms through the use of a variance-based structural equation model. By demonstrating how customer perception of emotional value and quality value drive the loyalty of the platform, we are able to show that factors other than price determine loyal usage among platformbased business models.
Background: Cognitive Muscular TherapyTM (CMT) is an integrated behavioural intervention developed for knee osteoarthritis. CMT teaches patients to reconceptualise the condition, integrates muscle biofeedback and aims to reduce muscle overactivity, both in response to pain and during daily activities. This nested qualitative study explored patient and physiotherapist perspectives and experiences of CMT.Methods: Five physiotherapists were trained to follow a well-defined protocol and then delivered CMT to at least two patients with knee osteoarthritis. Each patient received seven individual clinical sessions and was provided with access to online learning materials incorporating animated videos. Semi-structured interviews took place after delivery/completion of the intervention and data were analysed at the patient and physiotherapist level.Results: Five physiotherapists and five patients were interviewed. All described a process of changing beliefs throughout their engagement with CMT. A framework with three phases was developed to organise the data according to how osteoarthritis was conceptualised and how this changed throughout their interactions with CMT. Firstly, was an identification of pain beliefs to be challenged and recognition of how current beliefs can misalign with daily experiences. Secondly was a process of challenging and changing beliefs, validated through new experiences. Finally, there was an embedding of changed beliefs into self-management to continue with activities.
Conclusion:This study identified a range of psychological changes which occur during exposure to CMT. These changes enabled patients to reconceptualise their condition, develop a new understanding of their body, understand psychological processes, and make sense of their knee pain.
Local Communities have always had an impact on people living, particularly with the exchange of information and experience that occurs with migration and movement. With the latest developments in the information and communications technology (ICT) field, the boundaries of local communities have become transparent, making nearly everyone a part of the global community. On the other hand, the nurturing of local communities has been largely neglected through the use of ICT. This paper explores ways in which local communities may be developed and those in which new communities may act as transit nodes for communications between local and global communities. The conceptual design of "Travel Virtual Communities" will map the importance of this "transit" and provide a fundamental structure focused on developing local Virtual Communities.
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