Strategies of Managing Coach Driver Job Stress for Sustainable Coach Tourism Industry—The Use of DANP-V Model

Abstract

Coach drivers are integral to the coach tourism industry. However, they are susceptible to job stress in the tourism context. Few studies address this problem from a job stress theory and tourism scenario. This study, thus, examines the network relationships between criteria and proposes a physical and workable improvement plan. A novel DEMATEL-based ANP and VIKOR (DANP-V) model is used to examine the job stress criteria based on the transaction stress framework in the tourist coach context of Taiwan. The expert survey produced useful results. The influential network relation map (INRM) illustrates the sequence of improvement is job stressors, cognitive coping strategies, and stress outcomes. The gap values of the modified VIKOR suggest the first priority to reach the aspired level is reducing stress outcomes. However, teaching active action as a strategy to cope with job stress is a long-term goal. These results are formulated into an action plan and can be easily indexed and followed. The findings have practical implications for decision-makers and coach drivers and may contribute to coach driver job-related stress management, ultimately, helping the sustainability of coach tourism.

Application of Hybrid Multiple Attribute Decision-Making Model to Explore the Design Strategies of Children’s Facilities in Neighborhood Open Spaces Based on Sensory Integration Theory

“…Recently, this analysis technology has been widely used in the field of public health and urban planning. It can effectively integrate the experts' domain knowledge from stakeholders, clarify the impact network relationship and relative weight between evaluation criteria, and provide decision-makers with dynamic impact viewpoint [ 31 – 33 ]. Step ( D 1): A direct influence relation matrix A was established based on questionnaire results.…”

Using DANP-mV Model to Improve the Paid Training Measures for Travel Agents amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The DANP-mV Model is considered as an effective compromise solution technique while decision making [15][16][17][18]. Originated in MCDM (Multi Criteria Decision Making) [54], the DANP-mV has been applied to many fields, including tourism fields [55].…”

“…Then, the influential weights can be further used by the modified VIKOR technique to calculate the gap between real/aspirational levels. DANP was verified as an evolutional joint method in literature [15][16][17][18]55].…”

“…Comparing to the traditional VIKOR, the modified VIKOR only applies the basic positiveideal point, the maximum-minimum concept, and the negative-ideal point. Therefore, it can avoid "picking the best apple from a barrel of rotten apples" scenario [15][16][17][18]55].…”

“…The innovative DEMATEL-based ANP and modified VIKOR (DANP-mV) technique was used to find the influential relationships the gaps between actual/desired effectiveness level between and criteria. The DANP-mV can be considered as a multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) robot combination algorithm [15][16][17][18]. Because the research problem is inherently complicated with interactions beyond linear relationships, the model is accordingly suitable for this research for (1) DEMATEL to clarify interrelated criteria, (2) DANP to calculate influence weights, and (3) the modified VIKOR to evaluate gap values.…”