Frequent Travel Research Articles

Enhancing Quality of Life through Travel, Happiness, and Psychological Resilience: The Influences of Coping and Vulnerability

This study, guided by the broaden-and-build theory (BBT), examines the relationship between leisure travel frequency and tourists’ quality of life (QoL), with happiness and psychological resilience as key mediators. We also explore how tourists’ coping abilities and perceived vulnerability levels shape this relationship as moderators. Using cross-sectional surveys with Australian tourists at three time points (Study 1– n = 599, Study 2– n = 290, Study 3- n = 379), we evidence the connection between travel frequency and QoL, highlighting the mediating roles of happiness and psychological resilience. Individuals with weaker coping abilities and high vulnerability levels are also shown to benefit more from increased travel frequency in terms of QoL. These findings deepen our understanding of the link between leisure travel and QoL, identifying the types of tourists who gain the most from frequent travel. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed in line with these findings.

Comparative Analysis of Carbon Footprints from Away and Home Matches: A Study on Leading Basketball and Football Teams in Türkiye

Problem: Basketball and football teams in Türkiye have the capacity to travel hundreds of kilometres for league matches. In general, such major leagues and leading teams travelling from Türkiye have not been sufficiently researched in the context of Türkiye’s leading leagues and teams. In this context, the aim of this study is to assess and compare the carbon footprint of the transport activities of basketball and football teams in Türkiye for their home and away matches for the 2023–2024 season. Methods: The research is based on EN 16258 and ICAO carbon emissions methodologies. This study aims to calculate and compare the carbon footprint of different transport methods, including bus and plane, used by five basketball and football teams in Türkiye. Results: The findings show that there are significant differences between the teams in terms of travelling distances and carbon footprints. Trabzonspor from the Black Sea region released the highest CO2 emissions from air travel with a total of 91,667.1 kgCO2e, while Fenerbahçe Beko had the lowest CO2 emissions with 5316.72 kgCO2e. In terms of bus travel, Gaziantep FK led the CO2 emissions with 4356.45 kgCO2e, while Türk Telekom was the team with the lowest CO2 emissions with 1233.225 kgCO2e. The findings also reveal a notable difference in the number of trees teams need to plant to offset their carbon emissions. Because of their travel patterns, Antalyaspor would need to plant 3481 trees, whereas Fenerbahçe Beko would only need to plant 348 trees. Conclusions: Air travel is emerging as the dominant source of CO2 emissions and has a greater impact on the environmental impact of teams that rely heavily on airplanes. In this study, the league structure and duration play a critical role in shaping the carbon footprint of sports teams. The football season, which is longer compared to basketball, requires more frequent travel, especially for teams in more remote regions, resulting in higher carbon emissions than basketball. The dominance of Marmara region teams in basketball has a negative impact on the carbon footprint since these teams generally have shorter travel distances.

Disentangling temporal changes in travel behavior: An age-period-cohort analysis based on German travel demand

Travel behavior changes over the temporal dimensions age, period, and cohort. However, longitudinal studies that simultaneously analyze and separate these temporal effects are missing. This study aims to disentangle the temporal changes in travel behavior (participation, frequency, expenses) and explain these changes through different theoretical lenses. Our analysis builds on large-scale representative secondary data from a repeated cross-sectional survey in Germany on the leisure travel behavior between 1983 and 2018 (N = 198,000) and uses generalized additive regression. Age and period are main drivers for changes in travel participation, cohort and age main drivers for changes in travel frequency over time. Relative travel expenses do not substantially change over time. Understanding temporal changes in travel behavior can support long-term planning in tourism.

Beyond Dialysis: Reshaping CKD Paradigms in Developing Nations

Dear Sir / Madam, Respected Editor, I am writing to bring attention to the critical need for increased research on conservative kidney management (CKM) in the context of patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). The recent advancements in developed nations have demonstrated that CKM is a novel and effective approach to caring for CKD patients, particularly those who choose not to pursue maintenance dialysis. Historically, medical care for individuals with CKD has adhered to a paternalistic model, where clinicians make treatment decisions independent of patient preferences. JS Scherer et al observed that a provider's assessment of a patient's frailty and response exerted a more substantial influence on the treatment provided than the patient’s comorbidities, functional status, and stated preferences. 2 Furthermore, another study showed that some individuals exhibited a preference for conservative care after shared-decision making, irrespective of the potential survival benefits offered by dialysis if it entailed frequent hospital visits or travel restrictions. 3 This underscores the significance of patient autonomy, where the pursuit of freedom can sometimes outweigh the emphasis on clinical outcomes. However, contemporary CKD management in the 21st century emphasizes shared decision-making and patient empowerment. While research suggests CKM can improve quality of life, reduce hospitalizations, and minimize invasive procedures, offering a valuable alternative to dialysis, its impact on survival becomes less clear for patients over 80 or those with multiple comorbidities.4 Additionally, the inclusion of patients and their families in collaborative decision-making processes has proven advantageous, supported by specialized decision aids that promote well-informed discussions regarding CKM with healthcare providers.5 Nephrologists face significant challenges in implementing effective conservative kidney management (CKM) due to a lack of clinical guidelines, training, evidence, and system-level infrastructure. This has resulted in limited awareness and discussion of CKM among patients and healthcare providers, hindering its adoption. With the global burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) increasing significantly over the past three decades, particularly affecting low- and middle-income countries, there is a pressing need for innovative, cost-effective solutions. CKM emerges as a viable alternative where dialysis is often inaccessible or unaffordable, with the potential to significantly impact CKD management, especially in resource-limited settings such as Pakistan. I urge the scientific community and policymakers to recognize the importance of supporting and conducting research on conservative kidney management. ---Continue

Travelers’ Propensity to Use Intercity Railway Services in Emerging Economies: Significance of Passengers’ Satisfaction and Communication Technologies

This paper focuses on the perspectives of passengers who were railway users and how railways as a service can be uplifted with technological advancements through the introduction of information and communication technologies (ICTs). For this purpose, a questionnaire was designed comprised of six sections related to information on socio-economic-demographics, travel, station facilities, train facilities, customer care, and familiarity with and benefits of ICTs. A total of 800 respondents were recruited on trains and in railway stations to collect data through a random sampling technique. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, factor analysis, bivariate correlation analysis, and ordered logistic regression analysis. The three hypotheses tested showed that (i) there is a correlation between socio-demographic factors, train frequency, and satisfaction levels, (ii) satisfaction with station and train facilities and customer care impacts users’ travel likelihood with the train service, and (iii) users’ familiarity with perceived benefits of ICTs influences passengers’ travel likelihood with the train service. The results indicate that the users’ satisfaction with attributes of station facilities, train facilities, and customer care and perceptions about ICTs significantly influences their travel frequency with the train service. This study is useful for multiple stakeholders, especially for railway management authorities, to provide inclusive services to passengers and to plan for future transportation, which should be well-equipped with ICTs, well-integrated with other transport modes, and well-connected with optimum stops.

Travel pattern recognition of urban rail passengers based on spatiotemporal sequence similarity

Understanding passenger travel patterns is helpful for the allocation of passenger resources in urban rail transit. Based on rail transit smart card data, this paper proposes a method to identify travel patterns by modeling individual spatiotemporal sequences. First, all the stations visited by individual passengers are extracted, and the similarity of the stations is calculated by the frequency of inter-station travel, the distance between stations and the activity duration of the stations. The main spatial activity area of the individual is divided using a hierarchical clustering algorithm. Then, the spatiotemporal sequence is inferred based on the individual's travel order. The sequence is a set of discrete values that characterize the spatiotemporal state. PCA-KL and K-Means++ are used to extract the similarity sequence structure to identify the passenger travel pattern. Finally, the rail transit smart card data of Xi'an in a certain month is taken as an example to identify its passenger travel pattern. The results show that complex passenger flow has 5 travel modes, of which 3 typical modes are commuting travel in a macro sense, accounting for 79% of the passenger flow. It can be seen that the pattern recognition based on the similarity of individual spatiotemporal sequences in this paper fully reflects the particularity and versatility of the research method, and is highly operational for different cities.

Quantifying drivers of virtual reality acceptance in tourism planning using a grey system theory-based approach

PurposeThis study examines the role of Virtual Reality (VR) in tourism marketing, analyzing its psychological effects, demographic differences and factors influencing adoption. It seeks to identify and measure the main drivers and obstacles to VR acceptance, improving predictions of adoption trends in tourism planning and experiences across various demographics.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs a quantitative method, blending statistical analysis with Grey System Theory. It analyzes data from VR-experienced participants using ANOVA, regression models and dynamic grey relational analysis to produce actionable insights. Data were collected from July to September 2023 from participants experienced with VR in tourism.FindingsUser engagement, positive word-of-mouth and a desire for immersive experiences drive VR acceptance, especially among frequent travelers and tech enthusiasts. While VR can enhance trip enjoyment, its long-term impact varies. To increase VR adoption in tourism, strategies include targeting frequent travelers and online users, creating accessible and engaging content, leveraging positive feedback and partnering with influencers to develop interactive VR experiences that mitigate travel planning uncertainties and attract specific user groups.Practical implicationsThe study demonstrates how VR can expand access to tourism for those unable to travel, enhance engagement and streamline planning. By leveraging VR in marketing, providers can create immersive, targeted content, reduce uncertainties, attract tech-savvy travelers and boost appeal through influencer partnerships.Originality/valueThis study pioneers the integration of Grey System Theory with traditional statistical methods to elucidate the dynamics of VR adoption in tourism. By uniquely combining ANOVA, regression models and dynamic grey relational analysis, it offers a precise model to interpret complex data, highlighting the nuanced effects of demographic factors on technology acceptance. This approach not only advances the analytical frameworks in tourism marketing but also provides critical insights into the demographic and psychological drivers of VR adoption.

Comparison of At-Home Versus In-Clinic Receipt of Long-Acting Injectable Cabotegravir/Rilpivirine.

The need for frequent travel to a clinic could impair access to injectable antiretroviral therapy for persons living with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. We hypothesized that allowing persons receiving treatment with long-acting injectable cabotegravir plus rilpivirine (LA CAB/RPV) to receive and store the medication in their own refrigerator prior to in-home administration by a healthcare provider would be as safe and effective as receiving treatment in a clinic. Persons prescribed LA CAB/RPV in the Infectious Diseases clinic at the Medical University of South Carolina were offered enrollment in this non-randomized, observational study between August 2021 and December 2022. After in-clinic receipt of the initial LA CAB/RPV injection, participants chose to receive each subsequent injection over the following 12-months either in clinic or at home. The 33 enrolled participants were primarily Black (64%), male (73%), and had a median age of 46. Three participants stopped LA CAB/RPV and transitioned to oral antiretroviral therapy due to allergy (n = 1), loss of virologic suppression (n = 1), and visit adherence (n = 1) concerns. A comparable number of participants received treatment primarily in clinic (n = 18) relative to at home (n = 15). Injection site pain/soreness was common (52% of injections) but did not differ between groups. There were no differences in safety or efficacy between groups and both groups reported high treatment satisfaction. All participants were virologically suppressed and retained in care at the end of the study. At-home administration of LA CAB/RPV by a healthcare provider was comparably safe, effective, and associated with high participant satisfaction relative to in-clinic administration.

Physical activity through place attachment: Understanding perceptions of children and adolescents on urban places by using photovoice and walking interviews

Public urban places and their environmental characteristics impact youth's physical activity (PA) through perceptions. The objective of this study was to use a qualitative participatory approach with children and adolescents to understand how their attachment to urban places perceived as PA-friendly or unfriendly is related to their PA behaviour. Ninety-three participants aged six to 17 from six neighbourhoods with varying objective walkability engaged in photovoice and walking interviews. Data were analysed by using the tripartite framework of place attachment (PPP model), which was adapted for application to PA behaviour and supplemented by photographs. Themes were identified for each (sub-)dimension of the PPP model with person, place and process factors influencing attachment. Further subdimensions (PA and other behaviours) and categories (travel mode, trip length and frequency of visits) were added to the PPP model. Urban design recommendations were derived by age and gender to promote PA through place attachment.

Who is ready to live a car-independent lifestyle? A latent class cluster analysis of attitudes towards car ownership and usage

An excessive use of private cars for transportation has multiple negative effects on our society. It is therefore paramount to identify the underlying factors driving car usage among different segments of travellers. In this study, we aim to identify and characterise traveller segments in terms of their car-related attitudes and how different sociodemographic attributes, travel behaviour characteristics (such as using cars as the primary mode of transportation), and the accessibility of their place of residence vary amongst different population segments. Through Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Latent Profile Analysis we identify five different classes, namely car-detractors, −hesitants, −positives, −friends, and −lovers. More favourable car attitudes are associated with higher car ownership and access but, interestingly, there are no significant differences in terms of travel frequency and trip length distribution. This suggests that attitudinal differences relate mostly to modal preference rather than to the underlying travel demand patterns and the associated activities. We also see that car-less individuals are more likely to be car detractors, suggesting that the experiencing barriers for owning a car may contribute to developing more negative attitudes towards cars. Our results shed light on the different influencing factors and characteristics of individuals that consider, or not, a car-centred mobility.

Weather conditions and tourism demand: A tested by threshold regression in 5 major tourism destinations in Thailand

The objective of this study is to explore the relationship between changing weather conditions and tourism demand in Thailand across five selected provinces: Chonburi (Pattaya), Surat Thani, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Bangkok. The annual data used in this study from 2012 to 2022. The estimation method is threshold regression (TR). The results indicate that weather conditions proxied by the Temperature Humidity Index (THI) significantly affect tourism demand in these five provinces. Specifically, changes in weather conditions, such as an increase in temperature, generally result in a decrease in tourism demand. However, the impact of weather conditions varies according to each province’s unique characteristics or highlights. For example, tourism demand in Bangkok is not significantly affected by weather conditions. In contrast, provinces that rely heavily on maritime tourism, such as Chonburi (Pattaya), Phuket, and Surat Thani, are notably affected by weather conditions. When the THI in each province rises beyond a certain threshold, the demand for tourism in these provinces by foreign tourists decreases significantly. Furthermore, economic factors, particularly tourists’ income, significantly impact tourism demand. An increase in the income of foreign tourists is associated with a decrease in tourism in Pattaya. This trend possibly occurs because higher-income tourists tend to upgrade their travel destinations from Pattaya to more upscale locations such as Phuket or Surat Thani. For Thai tourists, an increase in income leads to a decrease in domestic tourism, as higher incomes enable more frequent international travel, thereby reducing tourism in the five provinces. Additionally, the study found that the availability and convenience of accommodation and food services are critical factors influencing tourism demand in all the provinces studied.

Unlocking Tourism Diversity in Winter: Clusters of Tourists in Lisbon Based on Motivations, Profiles, and Behaviour

Recent trends in Lisbon's winter tourism indicate a shift towards off-peak travel, attracting diverse visitors with its rich cultural heritage, sustainable initiatives, and extended stay options for digital nomads. The city's culinary scene, arts, wellness activities, and tech-driven tourism options enhance its appeal. Aligned with these recent trends, tourism in Lisbon's region during the winter season presents a unique and dynamic landscape influenced by a wide range of motivations, tourist profiles, and travel behaviours. This study aims to define distinctive clusters of winter tourists in Lisbon by analysing these key variables, providing valuable insights specific to the winter travel context. Based on a compiled dataset from the winter season in Lisbon, this study delves into examining the factors driving tourist visits, encompassing socio-economic backgrounds, travel frequency, and age demographics. We aim to reveal the distinctive subgroups that define Lisbon's winter tourist population, employing data analysis techniques such as cluster analysis. From an academic perspective, this study offers a novel tourist segmentation model based on motivations, profiles, and behaviour. This model enriches the existing body of knowledge in tourism studies, providing a valuable reference for future research. For tourism agents in Lisbon, this study provides actionable insights to enhance strategic decision-making. By segmenting winter tourists, they can tailor marketing strategies and product development to cater to diverse tourist segments. Moreover, this approach can lead to economic benefits, optimising resource allocation, and revenue generation.

Regional comparison of specialized outpatient and (partial) inpatient pain medicine care in Germany

Chronic pain requires graduated and staged levels of care. The aim of this study is to provide aregional overview regarding the accessibility of specialized outpatient and (partial) inpatient pain medicine care from the patient's perspective in Germany. For 1000 model patients randomly generated from German postal code location combinations, the travelling time by car (individual transport, IT)and available public transport connections (PTC) to the nearest specialized outpatient and inpatient pain medicine clinics and units were assessed using aroute planner. Outpatient facilities (in apractice setting) were mostly realistically accessible depending on the proportion of pain treatment and the networking structure. University pain outpatient clinics were at a critically reachable distance with IT for 70% of the patients (80% with PTC) and had unrealistic accessibility for 49% of the patients with IT (68% with PTC). Interdisciplinary multimodal pain programs in day clinics were at a critically reachable distance for 68% of patients with IT (83% with PTC) and in 49% (75% PTC) at an unrealistic travelling time distance considering the more intense treatment requiring frequent travel. Full inpatient interdisciplinary multimodal treatment was more realistically reachable (IT 39% critical, 14% unrealistic, PTC 61% critical, 48% unrealistic). The results show relevant nationwide differences in the accessibility of facilities for specialized pain treatment depending on the place of residence. Considering the treatment of achronic condition with long-term therapeutic goals and the need for graduated care (outpatient and inpatient treatment), the results reveal apartly critical situation from the patient's perspective.

Impact of airline social media marketing on purchase intention:Evidence from China using PLS-SEM

Social media has emerged as a pivotal marketing instrument and a platform that facilitates connections between consumers and businesses. In the intense market competition among peer airlines and high-speed rail services, the effective and efficient use of social media can provide a competitive edge for airlines in China. This paper constructs a partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) and examines the impact of the perceived ease of use of the social media platform, perceived usefulness of information, and marketing strategies on customer perceived value and purchase intention for Chinese airlines using multigroup analysis. The results suggest that social media marketing can positively influence on customers’ purchase intention, and perceived value plays a mediating role between social media marketing and customers’ purchase intention. Perceived usefulness of information is the most important factor contributing to the perceived value of airline products while marketing strategy is the most significant factor that can increase purchase intention. The research indicates a clear need to tailor marketing strategies for passengers based on factors such as gender, income, social media usage, and travel frequency.

Machine learning in geography education: Evaluating student performance in rural china

The disparity in the development and application of educational resources between urban and rural areas is pronounced, with rural students often encountering significant challenges in acquiring geographic knowledge and developing spatial cognitive skills due to their geographical isolation and limited access to educational resources. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of geography education resource development in rural areas by examining the influence of various educational resource characteristics on students' scores in geography education. Through the application of data analysis and machine learning predictive methods, this research explores the impact of 13 variables, including gender, age, parental education level, family background, internet accessibility, outdoor practical activities, and family outdoor travel frequency. These factors were modeled and assessed using a range of machine learning algorithms. The findings reveal differential impacts of these characteristics on students' scores in geography education, with models such as Random Forest and XGBoost demonstrating superior performance in predicting scores in geography courses. This research provides empirical data and a scientific framework to support the optimization of geography education resources in rural areas, offering theoretical and practical insights for advancing educational equity and fostering local socioeconomic development.

Customer Booking Habits and Attitudes Towards AI-Powered Features in Online Travel Agencies

The use of modern technologies, especially AI enabled features, has led to significant changes in the hospitality and tourism industry, both for travellers and service providers. Thanks to the rapid development of various AI features, the Internet of Things and other technologies, travellers can enjoy personalised and tailored booking and travel experiences. Online travel agencies (OTAs) are websites or mobile applications where users can book a variety of travel-related services such as accommodation, cruises, airline tickets, car hire and many other travel items. The focus of this study is on the impact of the introduction of AI technology in OTAs (online travel agencies) on travellers. It represents the realisation of the fourth phase of the research, which focuses on the analysis of travellers' habits and key demographic characteristics, as well as significant differences between genders and the travelling' frequency of the respondents. For this purpose, an originally developed questionnaire with specific demographic questions, OTA booking habits and 12 questions on different AI features in OTAs was used. One-way ANOVA (for frequency of travel) and a two-sample t-test (for gender) were used for this study. The results obtained showed significant differences in responses for some questions, both for gender and travel frequency, and are presented in detail in the Results and Discussion section

A web-based travel package management system integrated with QR code

The tourism industry is associated with people travelling either domestically or abroad, for business, social, or recreational reasons. This industry integrates numerous services and activities such as tourism organization, marketing, hotel industry, transportation services, food and beverage activities, retail stores and various other activities under one umbrella. In addition to generating income and jobs, tourism is the best way to promote the nation's image. As the economy and living conditions have improved, so too has the tourist sector, and more people are turning to vacations as a way to alleviate stress and unwind. Currently, travel agencies handle a lot of data with low efficiency and a lot of mistakes. Therefore, this study developed a comprehensive integration of QR code for package travel management system that caters to users in Malaysia, offering functionalities such as itinerary customization, QR code generation and access to essential travel information. The development of this project adopts the Waterfall Methodology, encompassing phases such as planning, requirement analysis, design, implementation and testing. The application is crafted using the Visual Studio Code. The study conducted a User Acceptance Testing (UAT) using questionnaires to evaluate the system's effectiveness and user-friendliness to thirty respondents including family members of frequent travellers and randomly selected community members. Positive feedbacks with Perceived Ease of Use (PEU) scoring 3.6, Attitude of Using (ATT) at 3.7, Perceived Usefulness (PU) scoring 3.4, and Intention to Use (IU) obtaining 3.9, were gathered from the analysis and findings that emphasizing the QR code system's potential as a cost-effective and efficient solution for travellers to monitor and optimize their travel experiences. Future work involves adding maps for easy navigation and implementing augmented reality (AR) for virtual destination previews.

A case of adnexal cutaneous leishmaniasis in Washington DC

PurposeTo report a rare non-endemic case of Leishmania aethiopica in Washington DC.Case reportA 68-year-old female presented for a routine examination with a complaint of right upper eyelid lesions for the past 5 months. On examination, a cluster of elevated and erythematous lesions extending from the medial canthus to the brow area of the right eye were seen. Initial treatment with Valtrex based on a suspected viral etiology failed. Although a biopsy was recommended at this time, the patient declined, and subsequent workup included nasolacrimal duct irrigation, blood work to rule out autoimmune etiology, a course of doxycycline, and an MRI, which yielded no improvement. Upon progression of the lesions into persistent plaques on the eyelids, a punch biopsy was performed, confirming leishmaniasis. The patient was then started on a 28-day course of oral miltefosine which led to complete resolution of her symptoms.ConclusionThis case underlines the importance of a broad differential including non-endemic diseases, particularly in urban areas with frequent patient travel. Furthermore, the delayed punch biopsy in this case highlights the importance of patient counseling to ensure prompt diagnosis and treatment.

TripChain2RecDeepSurv: A novel framework to predict transit users’ lifecycle behavior status transitions for user management

Transit users’ lifecycle behavior pattern transition reflects the continuous and multi-phase changes in how frequently and regularly users utilize public transit over their lifetime. Predicting transit users’ lifecycle behavior pattern transition is vital for enhancing the efficiency and responsiveness of transportation systems. Thus, this study incorporates lifecycle analysis in predicting long-term sequential behavioral pattern transition processes to go beyond just examining user churning at a single point in time. Specifically, this study proposes the TripChain2RecDeepSurv, a novel model that pioneers the individual-level analysis of lifecycle behavior status transitions (LBST) within public transit systems. The TripChain2RecDeepSurv is composed of (1) the TripChain2Vec module for encoding transit users’ trip chains; (2) the self-attention Transformer module for exploring the latent features related to spatiotemporal patterns; (3) the recurrent deep survival analysis module for predicting LBSTs. We demonstrate TripChain2RecDeepSurv’s predictive performance for empirical analysis by employing Shenzhen Bus data. Our model achieves a 74.39% accuracy rate in churn determination and over 80% accuracy in status sequence identification on the churn path. In addition, our findings highlight the segmented nature of Kaplan-Meier curves and identify the optimal intervention time against the user churning process. Meanwhile, the proposed model provides individual-level heterogeneity analysis, which emphasizes the significance of customizing user engagement strategies, advocating for interventions that extend users’ engagement in patterns with high-frequency transit usage to curb the transition to less frequent travel usage.

Achieving Work-Life Balance: A Tan Sri Syed Zainal Experience

One Saturday morning in 2005, Syed Zainal sat at his desk contemplating the career decision he would have to make over the weekend. At 38, Syed Zainal was Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at HICOM Holdings Berhad, a Malaysian automotive manufacturing company, for ten years. Perodua just offered Syed Zainal a promotion to CEO, a position that would make him responsible for the entire division. Normally, Syed Zainal would have been blissful by such an opportunity, but he worried about its impact on his already fatigued personal life. Since his last promotion, he has struggled to balance an increasingly demanding workload with his responsibilities at home. Syed Zainal explained: “I have worked my whole career, and until now, I have never had any issues balancing work and home. However, things started spinning a bit out of control after my last promotion. At first, I thought I could handle the longer hours and more frequent travel, but it became a real drag on the family after a while. Then, two kids need my attention. That is when I realized it was time to change the situation. Syed Zainal has mixed feelings about accepting the promotion.” Over the past several years, Syed Zainal has taken steps to get his schedule under control. He and his wife Jan agreed that things were better. Nevertheless, another promotion would invert their lives all over again. As CEO, he could expect to be busier than before. It actually worried him. Syed Zainal found it hard to decide about accepting the promotion. He knew that the CEO of Perodua expected him to accept; in fact, he had emphasized that he had no second choice.