BRCoP 2025

Applied Business Research Community of Practice Proceedings 2025

Edited by: Indrapriya Kularatne, Neeru Choudhary, Pii-Tuulia Nikula

eit.ac.nz | 0800 22 55 348

Applied Business Research Community of Practice Proceedings 2025 Dr Indrapriya Kularatne Principal Lecturer and Postgraduate Programme Manager Department of Applied Management Auckland International Campus Email: Indrapriya.Kularatne@op.ac.nz

Dr Neeru Choudhary Principal Lecturer Open Polytechnic of New Zealand Email: neeru.choudhary@openpolytechnic.ac.nz

Dr Pii-Tuulia Nikula Associate Professor School of Business Eastern Institute of Technology Email: pnikula@eit.ac.nz

Recommended citation: Kularatne, I, Choudhary, N. & Nikula, P.-T. (2026). Applied Business Research Community of Practice Proceedings 2025.

Table of Contents Applied Business Research Community of Practice 2025 1

Foreword

The Applied Business Research Community of Practice 2025

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Session 1

ABRCoP Launch, Ideas and Schedule for 2025 by Associate Professor Pii-Tuulia Nikula Presentation 1: Leveraging Cloud Computing in Small & Medium Enterprises

by Dr Krishna Reddy

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Session 2 Presentation 2: Vendor Evaluation Using Analytic Hierarchy Process in Just-In-Time Manufacturing

by Dr Ram Roy

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Session 3

Session 4

Editors’ Insights: Perspectives on Academic Publishing by Dr Khaled Ibrahim and Associate Professor Pii-Tuulia Nikula Presentation 1: From ‘Again! Again!’ to Engineer: How Early Play Schemas Shape Career Pathways

by Dr Hymie Abd Latif Presentation 2: Environmental Sustainability: An Exploration of Sustainability Actions to Conserve and Protect the Environment by Dr Olufemi Muibi Omisakin

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Session 5

Session 6

Workshop on Researchedd.com: Design, Publish, Collect, and Analyse Questionnaires – All-in-One Platform by Dr Naveed ur Rehman Presentation 1: Impact of Free Trade Agreements on New Zealand’s International Trade: An Application of the Gravity Model by Dr Satya Gonuguntla Presentation 2: The Effect of Trade Associations on the Internationalisation of Chinese Firms by Dr Shuting Yu

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Session 7

Session 8

What defines truly impactful research in today’s complex, fast-changing world?

by Dr Krishna Reddy Presentation 1: Exploring the students’ and lecturers’ perceptions towards the use of GenAI tools for learning, assessment and teaching practices within the New Zealand Polytechnic context by Anita Keestra, Dr Ansab Qureshi, Dr Marlon Gunasekera and Tuivaiti Ma’amora Taulapapa Presentation 2: Transforming Digital Customer Experience through Artificial Intelligence: Insights from an Empirical Analysis by Dr Surej P. John

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Flyer

Invitation to Participate in the Applied Business Research Community of Practice 2026 Seminar Series

Foreword Welcome to the 2025 Proceedings of the Applied Business Research Community of Practice (ABRCoP).

It is our pleasure to present this compilation, which reflects another year of collective learning, inquiry, and knowledge-sharing across the business research community in Aotearoa New Zealand.

In its fourth year, the ABRCoP continued to serve as a vibrant platform for exchanging ideas, strengthening research capability, and fostering meaningful connections among academics throughout the ITP/vocational sector. The online series featured one networking event, three professional development sessions, and eight research presentations drawing well over 100 participants and demonstrating the strong engagement and curiosity within our community.

Our professional development sessions explored critical themes in contemporary research practice, including what journal editors look for, navigating peer review, a hands-on workshop introducing Researchedd, an innovative research tool designed to streamline the end-to-end research workflow, and a session on understanding the value of impactful research. These sessions offered practical guidance, expert insights, and opportunities for members to refine and elevate their research approaches.

Complementing these sessions were eight diverse research presentations, showcasing the breadth and depth of applied business research across the sector. Topics included cloud computing adoption in SMEs, vendor evaluation in Just-InTime manufacturing, early play schemas shaping engineering pathways, sustainability practices for environmental protection, the role of Free Trade Agreements in shaping New Zealand’s trade, trade association influences on Chinese firm internationalisation, perceptions of GenAI use in polytechnic education, and AI-enabled transformation of digital customer experience. Together, these works reflected the rich variety of contemporary issues our researchers are tackling.

The Convenors of ABRCoP organised a session at the OPSITARA Research Symposium, hosted by Otago Polytechnic on 5 December 2025 in Dunedin. The session aimed to share the objectives of ABRCoP with applied business researchers from other polytechnics and institutes of technology, and it attracted a strong turnout of participants.

As we enter our fifth year in 2026, we extend our sincere thanks to all contributors, presenters, facilitators, and participants who continue to enrich this community. Your commitment helps us cultivate a space where research not only informs practice but also connects people, strengthens institutions, and shapes future innovations. We remain excited about the possibilities ahead and look forward to deepening collaboration, sparking new conversations, and co-creating knowledge that meaningfully impacts our sector and society.

Together, we reaffirm our belief that research grows stronger through connection, reflection, and shared insight. May these proceedings inspire further inquiry, encourage cross-institutional collaboration, and highlight the important contributions of applied business researchers across New Zealand.

Neeru Choudhary Pii-Tuulia Nikula Indrapriya Kularatne

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Session 1 Date: 20 March 2025

Topic: ABRCoP Launch, Ideas and Schedule for 2025 Facilitators: •

Associate Professor Pii-Tuulia Nikula, School of Business, EIT.

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Dr Indrapriya Kularatne, Principal Lecturer, Auckland International Campus.

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Dr Neeru Choudhary, Principal Lecturer, Open Polytechnic of New Zealand.

Dr Pii-Tuulia Nikula is an Associate Professor at EIT and the founder and Co‑Chair of the Applied Business Research Community of Practice. Pii-Tuulia serves as Co‑Chair of the School of Business and School of Computing Research Committee at EIT and co‑chairs an industry academic advisory board. She also has extensive experience in editorial roles: Pii-Tuulia has edited two academic books and she currently serves as a Section Editor for the Journal of Global Higher Education and Associate Editor for Higher Education Research & Development.

Dr Indrapriya Kularatne is a Principal Lecturer and Postgraduate Programme manager at Otago Polytechnic Auckland International Campus and Future Skills Academy, New Zealand. He has obtained his PhD from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, Master of Management from Massey University, New Zealand and Master of Science from the University of Sri Jayawardenepura, Sri Lanka. His research focuses on sustainability, employability skills, project management, AI application in management and corporate social responsibility. He is a Member of the Environment Institute of Australia & New Zealand and a Senior Fellow of Higher Advance Education (SFHEA).

Description The session began with a karakia and a welcome address by Associate Professor Pii‑Tuulia Nikula (EIT), who underscored the importance of applied business research and the significant work underway across Aotearoa New Zealand.

She outlined the objective of the applied business research community of practice as a platform for academic staff to network with other applied business researchers across the ITP/vocational sector, and as a friendly, inclusive forum for staff to learn more about research occurring across the sector.

The proposed plan for 2025 was then presented. Following this, attendees introduced themselves and shared their research areas. The session concluded with an invitation for members to contribute through presentations, professional development sessions, or other forms of leadership.

Dr Neeru Chaudhary is a Principal Lecturer and Business Degree leader at Open Polytechnic of New Zealand. She holds a Ph.D. and Masters in Business Administration (HRM).

She has substantial teaching experience having taught courses in business management, organisational behaviour, and HRM. Her recent research efforts have been concentrated on flexible work arrangements, leadership, and employee engagement. She is a Chartered (Academic) Member of the Human Resource Institute of New Zealand (HRNZ). She serves as the editorial advisor board member for New Zealand Journal of Applied Business Research (NZJABR).

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Session 2 Date: 17 April 2025

Presentation 1: Leveraging Cloud Computing in Small & Medium Enterprises

By Dr Krishna Reddy Principal Academic Staff Member Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology

Dr Krishna Reddy teaches the following courses to the Postgraduate students at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology: Finance for Managers, Governance and Management in Health Care, Leadership in Health Care, and Communication for Managers. Dr Reddy supervises and examines Masters and Doctoral students’ theses. Dr Reddy has a Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Waikato. Dr Reddy has over 70 publications: 1 book, 3 book chapters, and 70 peerreviewed journal articles in ABDC ranked journals.

Abstract: This study investigates the key determinants influencing employee readiness for cloud computing adoption among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in accommodation and food service sectors. It delves into the factors influencing SME employees’ readiness to adopt cloud-based services and examines critical aspects such as compatibility, which reflects how well cloud-based services integrate with existing workflows, systems, and technologies within SMEs. The study employs a quantitative approach and conducts a partial least square equation model (PLS-SEM) to unravel the most influencing factors of employee readiness for cloud computing adoption by utilizing data collected from 61 managers and owners of SMEs in the Bay of Plenty region.

The findings reveal that cost-benefit, competitive pressure and market scope positively influence employee readiness for cloud computing adoption in accommodation and food service SMEs, representing a significant deviation from conventional adoption theories that prioritise organizational and leadership variables while underemphasizing marketoriented factors. Findings further underscore the importance of economic and competitive drivers in fostering employee readiness for cloud adoption.

The findings of this research provide valuable implications for SME owners, managers, and policymakers, offering strategic guidance for adjusting adoption strategies and designing supportive actions in terms of employee readiness, which is more influenced by external stimulus, market forces exercising pressure, and current market competition rather than top management support in SME’s. This study contributes to the literature by examining the factors influencing employee readiness for cloud computing adoption among SMEs in the accommodation and food service sector. It also employs the PLS-SEM approach to provide empirical insights, offering a comprehensive understanding of cloud adoption dynamics in SMEs. 3

Presentation 2: Vendor Evaluation Using Analytic Hierarchy Process in Just-In-Time Manufacturing

By Dr Ram Roy Senior Lecturer Eastern Institute of Technology

Dr Ram Roy has an industrial, academic, and research background, with published papers on a range of topics in national and international journals. He is also a regular contributor and an active participant in national and international conferences. Ram has over 25 years of teaching experience at in diverse environments and across a range of subjects including operations and supply chain management, strategic management, operations research, decision-making, and lean management. His areas of academic research include inventory modelling, JIT, lean systems, value stream mapping, process capabilities, TQM and statistical quality control. Ram has both master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering as well as a Doctorate in Supply Chain & Logistics Management.

Abstract: Just-In-Time ( JIT) manufacturing emphasises the procurement of high-quality materials from reliable vendors to minimize waste and enhance efficiency. A critical aspect of JIT implementation is the selection of vendors who consistently meet quality, delivery, and cost expectations. However, challenges arise due to the lack of quality-certified vendors, leading to increased inspection, storage, and handling costs.

Vendor evaluation is inherently a multi-criteria decisionmaking problem, necessitating a systematic approach to assess various performance metrics. In such a complex situation, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model offers a structured methodology for vendor evaluations. A case study was conducted in a large-scale integrated steel plant (which procures approx. 80,000 different items from nearly 6,000 vendors) and the AHP model was applied to streamline vendor selection. Initially, the study considered the 23 sub-criteria for vendor evaluation identified by Dickson (1966). However, to simplify the evaluation process, these sub-criteria were clustered into six main criteria:

• Quality Assurance: Evaluates the vendor’s adherence to quality standards and consistency in product quality.

• Delivery Performance: Assesses the timeliness and reliability of the vendor’s delivery schedules.

• Cost Competitiveness: Analyses the pricing structure, including discounts, payment terms, and overall cost-effectiveness.

• Technical Capability: Considers the vendor’s ability to meet technical specifications and support product development.

• Financial Stability: Reviews the financial health of the vendor to ensure long-term reliability.

• Vendor Relationship Management: Looks into the vendor’s commitment to customer service, communication, and problem-solving capabilities.

By applying AHP, the steel plant was able to prioritise these criteria according to its strategic objectives and operational needs. This approach facilitated the identification of vendors who not only met the essential requirements but also aligned with the company’s long-term goals. The implementation of AHP in vendor evaluation led to reduced inspection and handling costs, timely deliveries, and strengthened relationships with reliable suppliers. implementation.

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Session 3 Date: 15 May 2025

Topic: Editors’ Insights: Perspectives on Academic Publishing Facilitators: •

Dr Khaled Ibrahim Editor in Chief, New Zealand Journal of Applied Business Research and Lecturer in Digital Marketing, Unitec Institute of Technology.

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Associate Professor Pii-Tuulia Nikula School of Business, EIT

Dr Khaled Ibrahim is a brandologist and consumer behavioural scientist whose research spans the branding domain through a multidisciplinary lens, with a particular focus on brand generosity, consumer perceptions, and the intersection of human-brand-AI ethics. His work bridges theory and practice, offering insights into how emerging technologies and ethical considerations are reshaping marketing. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the New Zealand Journal of Applied Business Research (NZJABR) and reviewed numerous articles for international journals.

Dr Pii-Tuulia Nikula is an Associate Professor at EIT and the founder and Co‑Chair of the Applied Business Research Community of Practice. Pii-Tuulia serves as Co‑Chair of the School of Business and School of Computing Research Committee at EIT and co‑chairs an industry academic advisory board. She also has extensive experience in editorial roles: Pii-Tuulia has edited two academic books and she currently serves as a Section Editor for the Journal of Global Higher Education and Associate Editor for Higher Education Research & Development.

Description: In this session Dr Khaled Ibrahim, Editor-in-Chief of the New Zealand Journal of Applied Business Research (NZJABR) explained what editors look for in submissions, common reasons for rejection, and how authors can effectively align their work with a journal’s scope. He also outlined strategies for navigating the peer review process, responding to reviewer feedback, and increasing the visibility and impact of published research. In addition, Dr Ibrahim shared updates on NZJABR’s open access model, current indexing efforts, and opportunities for scholars to propose special issues or serve as guest editors.

Associate Professor Pii-Tuulia Nikula shared further insights from her experience as a Section Editor, Editorial Board Member, and Associate Editor across four international journals to contribute to the discussion on common issues, processes, and considerations that authors should be aware of before submitting their work to academic journals.

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Session 4 Date: 19 June 2025

Presentation 1: From ‘Again! Again!’ to Engineer: How Early Play Schemas Shape Career Pathways

By Dr Hymie Abd Latif, Educator and Researcher Capable NZ, Otago Polytechnic

Dr Hymie Abd Latif is a Principal Lecturer at Otago Polytechnic, with over 20 years of experience in engineering education, applied management, and work-integrated learning. He holds a Ph.D. in Technology from Massey University, alongside degrees in Computer Information Engineering and qualifications in tertiary education and bicultural competency. Hymie leads the Bachelor of Engineering Technology programme at CapableNZ Otago Polytechnic and a sessional Lecturer at OPAIC teaching Master’s and Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Management (BIS) and Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT). He is actively involved in curriculum design, moderation, academic leadership, and applied research. His current research focuses on early childhood play schemas as indicators of engineering interest, and he is passionate about nurturing future engineers through innovative, learner-centred approaches.

He has published extensively and led multiple international research projects, and is a member of Engineering New Zealand Te Ao Rangahau, Institute of Electrical Electronics Engineering IEEE, Diversity Works NZ, Volunteer South and Australasian Association for Engineering Education (AAEE).

Abstract: This presentation explores how early childhood play schemas, repetitive patterns of behaviour such as connecting, rotating, and transporting, can signal emerging engineering interests.

Drawing on reflective portfolios from mid-career engineers enrolled in the BEngTech programme at CapableNZ, our pilot study identified strong correlations between early play behaviours and later career choices in engineering.

Supported by literature review grounded in the work of Piaget, Vygotsky, and schema theorists such as van Wijk and Louis, our findings suggest that these schemas are not only developmental milestones but also pedagogical tools. Recognizing and nurturing these behaviours in early childhood settings can inform curriculum design and teaching strategies that foster engineering thinking from a young age. This research hopes to contribute to the broader conversation on talent development in STEM and provide insights into how early educational interventions can support long-term career pathways—particularly in addressing future skills needs in engineering in Aotearoa New Zealand.

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Presentation 2: Environmental Sustainability: An Exploration of Sustainability Actions to Conserve and Protect the Environment

By Dr Olufemi Muibi Omisakin Principal Lecturer Otago Polytechnic, Auckland Campus

Dr Olufemi Muibi Omisakin, is a principal lecturer, a senior researcher and coordinator of Master of Professional Project placement at Otago Polytechnic Auckland campus, Auckland New Zealand. He obtained his PhD in social sciences and public policy from Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. His doctoral research was on immigrants’ entrepreneurship management. He teaches postgraduate applied management, business and supervise masters’ thesis. His research interests are migration, migrants’ entrepreneurship management, small and medium enterprises, sustainable practice, international business, and organizational management. Dr Omisakin is a multidisciplinary researcher; he has contributed to knowledge by publishing articles with international refereed journals.

He is a Conference Committee Member and Editorial Board Member of Institute of Research, Learning and Development was Ranked New Emerging Researcher C(NE) by New Zealand Tertiary Education Commission’s Performance Based Research Fund. He is a member of Research Association of New Zealand and an Associate member of Institute of Management Consultant, New Zealand. He is a Fellow of Higher Advance Education (FHEA) UK. He constantly attends international academic conferences in the US, Canada, UK and in New Zealand to present his research works in front of tones of people seeking feedback.

Abstract: This study examines the environmental sustainability actions/ activities undertaken by individuals and communities to ensure that the environment is conserved and protected.

The actions and activities have been evaluated in relation to the extent of engagement in minimising environmental waste, water conservation, energy saving, effective transportation methods and tree planting. The study adopted a quantitative approach. Survey questionnaires were used to collect data from 240 participants. Qualtrics application was used to design the questionnaire, and a link was posted to various social media platforms to enable willing participants to take part. Descriptive analysis was used to analyse the data collected. This enabled the research to use numbers to describe its quality data set and condense data sets to sample and compact forms. The study found that participants to a very great extent agreed that the prescribed action/activities raised with them were necessary for communities as well as individuals to engage in conservation and protection of the environment.

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Session 5 Date: 21 August 2025

Topic: Workshop on Researchedd.com: Design, Publish, Collect and Analyse Questionnaires – All-in-One Platform Facilitators: •

Dr Naveed ur Rehman Lead Tutor, Southern Institute of Technology

Dr Naveed ur Rehman is a researcher and entrepreneur specialising in computational approaches to optimising questionnaire-based research workflows. His work focuses on the development of AI-driven research instruments, secure and scalable data acquisition pipelines, and automated data transformation frameworks that support downstream statistical analysis and reporting. He is the founder of Researchedd.com, a digital research platform adopted by multiple academic institutions both within New Zealand and internationally. Dr Rehman holds a PhD in Computational Engineering from Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and is currently engaged in teaching and research at the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) in Invercargill.

Description: Researchedd.com is a next-generation survey tool that streamlines the entire research workflow, from questionnaire design to in-depth analysis. Dr Naveed demonstrated how users can create and publish structured questionnaires, collect data efficiently, and access a wide range of quantitative and qualitative analysis tools, all within this single platform.

The workshop started with a brief overview of common pain points in the research process faced by students, supervisors, and commercial researchers alike followed by a discussion on how Researchedd.com addresses these challenges swiftly and effectively. This session included a live demonstration of the platform, showcasing how to create and publish a survey, collect responses, and perform both quantitative and qualitative analysis. The onboarding process for individuals and institutions were demonstrated. The session concluded with an open Q&A and discussion.

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Session 6 Date: 18 September 2025

Presentation 1: Impact of Free Trade Agreements on New Zealand’s International Trade: An Application of the Gravity Model

By Dr Satya Gonuguntla Principal Lecturer Manukau Institute of Technology

Dr Satya Gonuguntla holds a PhD in Business Administration and a master’s degree in commerce. He started his career as an accountant before moving into academia in the 1980s and joined MIT in 1998, where he is currently a Principal Lecturer in the School of Business. He teaches Research Methods and Introduction to Finance, supervises Industry Project students in accounting. Previously, Dr Gonuguntla served as Programme Leader (Quality) from 2017–18 and Academic Lead (Research) from 2019–23, organising research seminars and supporting emerging researchers. He was also the editor of the New Zealand Journal of Applied Business Research from 2019 to 2023. Dr Gonuguntla has published research in national and international journals, with interests including international trade and foreign direct investment.

Abstract: New Zealand, with a population of 5.4 million, is endowed with a large amount of natural resources. Accordingly, New Zealand specialises in the export of primary products such as dairy, forestry, meat, and horticulture. About 80% of New Zealand’s merchandise exports consist of primary goods.

In addition to a small domestic market, another key feature that adversely affects New Zealand’s trade is its geographical distance from all major markets. To overcome these shortcomings, New Zealand relies on Free Trade Agreements to export surplus land-based products and import manufactured or high-technology goods such as electronics and automobiles from its trading partners. Free Trade Agreements are aimed at eliminating tariff and non-tariff barriers, thus promoting trade among member countries.

Some key trading partners with which New Zealand has bilateral trade agreements include Australia, China, Singapore, Malaysia, the UK, Thailand, and Korea. In addition, the US and Japan are also major export markets for New Zealand, although they have not negotiated any bilateral Free Trade Agreements but are part of multilateral trade agreements.

New Zealand’s exports to these countries account for 62% of total exports. Historically, the UK, located far from New Zealand, was the major export destination. Australia replaced the UK as New Zealand’s top trading partner in the 1980s after the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries, known as Closer Economic Relations, came into force. Subsequently, New Zealand negotiated a Free Trade Agreement with China in 2008, which replaced Australia as New Zealand’s top export destination. The preliminary results indicate that, distance has low impact on trade flows and, New Zealand has been successful in overcoming the distance hurdle in its trade with countries that have large markets.

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Presentation 2: The Effect of Trade Associations on the Internationalisation of Chinese Firms

By Dr Shuting Yu Lecturer EIT Auckland Campus

Dr Shuting Yu is a lecturer at the Eastern Institute of Technology. She received her Ph.D. in Management and International Business from the University of Auckland in 2023. Dr Yu’s research focuses on international business, corporate social responsibility, and non-market strategy, with a particular emphasis on the government–NGO– business interface. Her work examines the evolving role of trade associations in shaping firm strategies, facilitating networks, and mediating relationships between institutional and organizational actors. Dr Yu has published research in peer-reviewed journals and presented at several international conferences.

Abstract: This study explores the role of trade associations in supporting the internationalisation of Chinese firms, particularly Small and Medium Entreprises. It examines how trade associations facilitate knowledge acquisition, both institutional and network-based, and how this knowledge contributes to foreign market expansion. The research identifies three core trade association roles: industry voice, broker, and counsellor. Survey data from 128 firms reveals that the industry voice and counsellor roles significantly enhance knowledge acquisition, while only the counsellor role directly impacts internationalization. The broker role shows no significant effect. Contrary to expectations, knowledge acquisition does not moderate the relationship between trade agreement roles and internationalisation. The findings provide new insights into how Non-government Organisations like trade associations influence firm strategies, emphasising the value of advisory functions over networking activities in global expansion.

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Session 7 Date: 16 October 2025

Topic: What defines truly impactful research in today’s complex, fast-changing world?

Facilitators: •

Dr Krishna Reddy Senior Academic Staff Member, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology

Dr Krishna Reddy teaches the following courses to the Postgraduate students at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology: Finance for Managers, Governance and Management in Health Care, Leadership in Health Care, and Communication for Managers. Dr Reddy supervises and examines Masters and Doctoral students’ theses. Dr Reddy has a Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Waikato. Dr Reddy has over 70 publications: 1 book, 3 book chapters, and 70 peerreviewed journal articles in ABDC ranked journals.

Description: This workshop focused on the essential qualities of research that emphasise “rigour, insight, and influence”. The session dissed the question: What defines truly impactful research in today’s complex, fast-changing world.

This presentation focused on the essential qualities of research that emphasise “rigour, insight, and influence.”

Focused on the disciplines of business, management, economics, and finance, the presentation delved into the question: What defines truly impactful research in today’s complex, fast-changing world? The session was anchored on two key pillars: (i) Why it Matters; and (ii) Dissecting the Difference. The presentation aimed to foster a deeper appreciation for research that not only asks the right questions but also answers them in ways that matter.

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Session 8 Date: 20 November 2025

Presentation 1: Exploring the students’ and lecturers’ perceptions towards the use of GenAI tools for learning, assessment and teaching practices within the New Zealand Polytechnic context

By Anita Keestra, Dr Ansab Qureshi, Dr Marlon Gunasekera and Tuivaiti Ma’amora Taulapapa Manukau Institute of Technology

Anita Keestra is a Senior Lecturer and Industry Engagement Champion at the School of Business, MIT. With a strong background in both academia and leadership, she teaches courses in the Bachelor of Applied Management and in the Diploma in Business, with a focus on Leadership Management and Management Accounting. Anita brings extensive experience from senior management roles across various sectors, enriching her teaching with real-world insights. Her academic qualifications include an MBA with majors in Management and Marketing, a GradDip. in Economic Development, and a B.Ed. in Adult Education.

She is currently pursuing a law degree at the University of Auckland, further expanding her interdisciplinary expertise.

Her research interests include Project-Based Learning through industry engagement, women entrepreneurship, and the use of technology in teaching and learning.

Dr Ansab Qureshi is a Lecturer at the School of Business, Manukau Institute of Technology. He teaches core courses offered under the New Zealand Diploma in Business (NZDB) and Bachelor of Applied Management (BAM). He is also serving as Academic Lead (research) at the School of Business. He earned his PhD in international business from the University of Auckland. Prior to this, he completed his Master’s in international business from Queen Mary, University of London. Ansab’s current research interests lie in the internationalisation of firms and the use of technology in teaching and learning.

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Dr Marlon Gunasekera is a Lecturer at the Business School of the Manukau Institute of Technology. He coordinates and delivers lectures for core courses offered for the New Zealand Diploma in Business (NZDB), Bachelor of Applied Management (BAM) and Bachelor of Accounting (BACC) programmes. He holds a PhD from Massey University, New Zealand. Before joining MIT, Marlon worked at Unitec’s Master of Applied Business programme and at Massey University as a post-doctoral researcher.

Marlon has served as a university academic in Sri Lanka for more than 20 years and has diverse experience in teaching, research and administration. His research interests focus more on the domains in operations and supply chain management, strategic management, applied business, and educational management. He prefers interdisciplinary research informed by contemporary management theories and quantitative methods.

Tuivaiti (Tui) Ma’amora Taulapapa is a Senior Lecturer at Manukau Institute of Technology, teaching Accounting with a focus on Management Accounting. He is currently teaching in the Bachelor of Applied Management, Bachelor of Accounting and the New Zealand Diploma in Accounting.

With an MBus with Honours from Auckland University of Technology, Tui has over 20 years of teaching experience and has worked over 20 years in auditing and industry overseas and in New Zealand. His current research interests include management accounting, performance measurement and management, accounting education and Pasfika research in general.

Abstract: Generative AI (GenAI) is reshaping student learning, teaching practices, and assessment in tertiary education. Understanding how students and lecturers perceive and use GenAI is essential for developing effective institutional policies and guidelines.

This proposed study investigates these perceptions within undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at two leading New Zealand polytechnics. Using a quantitative approach, data will be collected via an online survey of 200 students and 50 lecturers, analysed through descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression.

The research explores: • Students’ views on GenAI’s role in learning, engagement, and assessment preparation.

• Lecturers’ perspectives on its impact on teaching methods, course design, and assessment practices.

• Recommendations for a GenAI policy framework to enhance learning, teaching, and assessment outcomes.

This is the first study of its kind in the New Zealand polytechnic context, offering evidence-based insights to guide GenAI integration.

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Presentation 2: Transforming Digital Customer Experience through Artificial Intelligence: Insights from an Empirical Analysis

By Dr Surej P. John Senior Lecturer EIT Dr Surej P. John is a marketing academic and researcher with expertise in digital marketing, technology-enabled customer experience, and consumer behaviour in tourism and service contexts. He currently works as a Senior Lecturer of Marketing at the Eastern Institute of Technology in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. His research explores the transformative role of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, virtual reality, and automation in shaping customer value co-creation and experience design. Dr John has published in leading international journals, including the Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, International Journal of Tourism Research, Anatolia, FIIB Business Review, Tourism Review International, International Journal of Tourism Policy and many others. He is also actively involved in teaching and mentoring postgraduate and undergraduate students in marketing analytics, digital strategy, and consumer insights. His current research focuses on how emerging technologies such as AI, VR, XR systems influence customer engagement and experience transformation across digital service ecosystems.

Abstract: The rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into digital service ecosystems has fundamentally transformed customer experience (CX) across industries, particularly in the online food delivery sector. This study empirically examines how AI-enabled features including personalization, automation, transparency, proactivity, and decision support, shape customers’ cognitive, emotional, functional, and social experiences. Drawing upon data collected from 550 online food delivery users, the study employs structural equation modelling (SEM) to test a comprehensive framework linking AI attributes to multidimensional customer experiences through key mediators: perceived usefulness, trust, and perceived value. Results reveal that AI-enabled personalization, automation, and proactivity significantly enhance perceived usefulness and trust, leading to enriched experiential outcomes. Transparency emerged as a critical factor fostering trust and perceived value, whereas decision support demonstrated the strongest influence on cognitive and functional experience dimensions. The findings contribute to the growing discourse on AI-enabled digital transformation by offering theoretical insights into how AI reshapes customer experience structures and practical implications for service managers seeking to design intelligent, trustworthy, and human-centred food delivery platforms. The study extends current understanding by integrating multiple AI capability dimensions and identifying key contextual factors that moderate the effectiveness of AI in creating superior customer experiences in digital service environments.

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INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN The Applied Business Research Community of Practice 2026 Seminar Series

BUSINESS RESEARCH COP 2026 The Applied business Research Community of Practice Series provides a platform for staff to network with other researches across New Zealand. You are able to learn more about the ongoing research across the sector, share your own research insights, and find collaborators. Everyone is welcome!

This series aims to promote the exchange of ideas bwteen business researchers across the network of polytechnics and institutes of technology and help identify new collabrations and directions for research development.

CONTACT OUR 2026 COP CONVENORS: Dr Pii-Tuulia Nikula Associate Professor EIT pnikula@eit.ac.nz

CLICK HERE AND JOIN US ON MICROSOFT TEAMS SERIES SCHEDULE 2026 Every third Thursday of the month at 12-12.50pm:

Dr Indrapriya Kularatne Principal Lecturer Otago Polytechnic (Auckland Campus) Indrapriya.Kularatne@op.ac.nz Dr Neeru Choudhary Pricipal Lecturer Open Polytechnic neeru.choudhary@openpolytechnic.ac.nz

• 19 March • 16 April • 21 May • 18 June • 20 Auguest • 17 September • 15 October • 19 November

Business Research Community of Practice

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