Alastair Watson

• Doctor of Philosophy
• Associate Dean - Quality and Academic Standards at University of Dundee

Following the rampant increase in Bitcoin prices, there has been a proliferation of cryptocurrencies, which have become a major way of doing business across national boundaries. This paper investigates the link between cryptocurrency markets and drug trafficking activities. More specifically, we explore the impact of the announcement of 24 major dr...

The ongoing trade war (or at least dispute) between the US and China has its roots in the early 2000s when American politicians and economists started complaining about the US trade deficit with China. Accusing China of wrong-doing, as far as the US trade deficit is concerned, is based on the three propositions that the yuan is undervalued against...

Purpose Despite evidence largely confirming gender-based differences in service quality perceptions in healthcare, little research has considered patients’ expectations. This study aims to examine the gender-based differences in both the affective and cognitive components of customers’ service quality expectations. Design/methodology/approach Data...

Purpose Augmenting employees’ commitment is of important interest to hospitality managers, particularly in the branded restaurant industry where the workforce is often transient. This paper aims to identify and analyse if levels of personal motivation and flow are drivers of commitment, and if the relationship between the variables is moderated by...

Waiting time in hospitals poses a sensitive issue; particularly since it acts as an important indicator to the quality of service patients are about to receive. We seek to understand the impact of waiting time on patient perception and satisfaction in hospitals. The article examines the moderating role of gender on the relationship between waiting...

Highlighting various issues in the employment of staff, this article explores motivation and the relationships between colleague support, workplace flow, and commitment. Using purposive sampling in in UK branded restaurants, it finds a strong relationship between colleague support and commitment; however, it demonstrates a negative influence on flo...

This paper aims to examine a contract management process for the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) using a performance-based contract (PBC). In this instance, the customer only pays when a specified outcome is delivered. By conducting SWOT analysis of PBC, the authors seek to offer guidance to practitioners in order to negotiate a r...

Research philosophy tends to send, for no apparent reason, dissertation students into a mild panic. This does not need to be the case, all you are doing is explaining the foundations for your study and explaining to your reader this basis for your knowledge claims. In this book we are dealing with the human world: the social sciences. To help expla...

Employees need to fit the organisation that they are employed by, whilst personalities are often recruited, their skillsets should match the needs of the workplace. With spiritual alignment of goals, collegial support and vision of the employer, the employee can enable a stable and satisfied workforce. However, often in industry, once an employee h...