https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/128470 2026-04-11T09:54:51Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/141125 Title: Creativity in haute cuisine : exploring the role of socio-cultural and material constraints in culinary creation Abstract: This dissertation explores the role of the socio-cultural and material environment on culinary creativity in haute cuisine chefs. Creativity is widely recognized as essential for gaining a competitive advantage in the culinary field. However, research on how socio-cultural and material influences can constrain or enhance creativity in chefs is limited. In particular, the role of the material environment in fostering creativity is underexplored. This research aims to understand how these environments affect the creativity of chefs, particularly focusing on restaurant guides and critics, the role of customers, and the kitchen facilities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten haute cuisine chefs in Malta and Vienna, Austria. The sample was chosen through the restaurant’s listing in the Michelin Guide, one of the most prestigious international restaurant ranking systems and includes both Michelin-starred and Bib Gourmand awarded chefs. A thematic analysis revealed that creativity in haute cuisine predominantly follows a customer-centric approach, prioritizing input from customers over guidelines set by guides and critics, including the Michelin Guide, who are considered as gatekeepers of the culinary domain. Customer expectations, feedback and cultural context were found to have a more substantial impact on the direction of haute cuisine and chefs’ creativity than the influence exerted by external evaluators. Spatial constraints, such as kitchen layout and equipment, are revealed to both challenge and enhance creativity. Chefs adapt to spatial limitations through problem-solving and creative thinking. High-end kitchen equipment emerges as an enabler of creativity by enhancing operational efficiency, affording more time for experimentation. The study concludes that the dynamic interplay between socio-cultural and material environments significantly impacts culinary creativity, emphasizing the role of customer feedback, cultural context, and advanced equipment in enhancing creative action. The broader implications of the findings suggest that fostering a supportive socio-cultural and material environment can significantly enhance creative outcomes in the culinary arts. Description: M. CI(Melit.) 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/129384 Title: Think like a fraudster to catch a fraudster : exploring the use of storytelling to deter fraud Abstract: The increasing complexity in fraud tactics necessitate that anti-fraud practitioners adopt creative thinking methods to outsmart fraudsters. Creative thinking can be used malevolently in fraud, such as, building trust, exploiting emotions, impersonating. Conversely, anti-fraud practitioners can use it benevolently to prevent and detect fraud by: ‘Learning to think like a fraudster to catch a fraudster’ (Kremers, 2023). An extant review of the literature within the theoretical framework, grounded in Creativity and Possibility Studies, reveals a research gap concerning how the application of Possibility Thinking (PT), mobilised by storytelling, can facilitate the creative process for anti-fraud practitioners both in training and practice. Specifically, this gap relates to how these methods may aid in deterring fraud in the context of EU funding. The study addresses this gap by answering the research question: How does the application of PT and the use of storytelling facilitate the creative process for anti-fraud practitioners? Employing a qualitative research methodology, the study analyses data from semi-structured interviews with twelve anti-fraud practitioners and two trainers, supported by thematic analysis. The findings designate creativity as a foundational pillar, recognise PT as a skill, and underline storytelling’s universality to secure audience-centric engagement. The findings suggest that both PT and storytelling create dynamic possibility spaces (Glăveanu, 2023), which expand cognitive flexibility and equip practitioners to identify and respond to a broader spectrum of fraud scenarios with innovative strategies. These insights and benefits align creative thinking modes in the conceptual model highlighting their synergy with systematic anti-fraud methods. Recommendations for future research include exploring a mixed-methods approach that utilises quantitative data, examining PT and storytelling in various cultural and regulatory environments, and investigating the interactions between different affordances. Recommendations for future practice include expanding the deliberate use of these techniques across various fraud contexts and continuously refining them as fraud schemes evolve should foster corporate culture that champions creativity. Description: M. CI(Melit.) 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/129382 Title: Digital innovation adoption in ground handling operations : an exploratory study Abstract: Digital technologies have become instrumental in every industry, enabling a multitude of benefits. Aviation is one of the industries in which the fourth industrial revolution is taking place, particularly Ground Handling Operations (GHOs), which form an integral part of airport functionality, yet are relatively overshadowed by the other aviation operations. The purpose of GHOs is to connect passengers or cargo to their respective flight while tending to the inter-flight maintenance of the aircraft which are crucial to the airport operations. GHOs are deploying digital technologies to enhance operational efficiency. However, the innovation adoption process in relation to digital technologies within GHOs is under explored. The innovation adoption process involves several nonlinear stages due to various determinants, like individual managerial elements and employee perceptions. This study aimed to explore the adoption of digital innovations within core processes of GHOs focusing on the latter two phases of the innovation adoption process: adoption-decision phase and the implementation phase. It focuses on top managers’ perceived behavioural control on digital innovation adoption and how it influences adoption-decisions, and on employees' perceptions on the digital innovation implementation. The study contributes to the literature gap of digital innovations in service-oriented organisations such as GHOs. The study adopted a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews with six top managers and six employees in three GHO companies at Malta International Airport. This captured the perspectives on the local digital innovation adoption and implementation. The findings reveal that digital innovations, like cargo management systems and ground operations software, are used for streamlining GHO processes. Top managers' perceived behavioural control over digital technology adoption varied, and is influenced by self-efficacy, perceived difficulty, effort, obstacles, and resources. Employee acceptance of technology was generally positive, recognising both benefits and challenges. This study underscores that innovation adoption and implementation depends on aligning top managers' intentions with employee acceptance and modifications based on user feedback. Description: M. CI(Melit.) 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/128822 Title: From corporate responsibility to opportunity : corporate impact venturing as a driver of sustainability-oriented innovation Abstract: Innovation is a critical driver of enterprise growth and competitive advantage and, consequently, to value creation. Enterprises complement internal innovation efforts with knowledge acquired from outside their boundaries including through corporate venture capital (CVC), i.e., equity investments in external young ventures. When investing in sustainability-oriented ventures, enterprises create and appropriate value by generating a social/environmental return alongside a financial return, in the process integrating sustainability as a driver of competitive advantage and improved performance. The purpose of this research was to understand the motivation and willingness, influencing factors and perceived value of adopting this strategy for Maltese enterprises. Three research questions were addressed: (1) What is the motivation and willingness of established enterprises to engage in corporate venture capital? (2) What are the factors influencing corporate venture capital and corporate impact venturing? (3) How do enterprises value these partnerships for their strategic/financial/social return? A qualitative method was adopted. Data collection included a survey to identify those established enterprises that have engaged in CVC and seven semi-structured interviews with relevant CEOs of enterprises to collect deeper information. The survey was fully completed by 18 respondents who fell within the targeted population. Thematic analysis was applied and three main themes with further sub-themes were identified. The findings show that growth, innovation, competitiveness, capabilities and knowledge creation are key motivators of Maltese companies that engage in CVC activities. Factors that drive this investment include talent, culture and mindset, financial considerations, deal flow as well as market pressures. The findings also suggest that incumbents perceive that the value generated by these partnerships is material in monetary and strategic terms. Lastly, the findings illustrate that although established enterprises display a priori disposition to engage in CVC, the perceived partial benefits of sustainability-oriented ventures could lead to biased investment choices with adverse consequences to their competitiveness. Description: M. CI(Melit.) 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z