Innovation Barriers and Proactive Work Behaviour: Lessons from Selected Hotels in Nairobi City, Kenya

Description

Proactive work behavior and innovation in hotels may bring about positive changes in work environment which may include improved quality products, increased efficiency, a cut on costs and a greater market share. Despite these benefits, hotels seem to struggle to be proactive and innovative; this challenge may be attributed to innovation barriers such as governmental constraints, incompetence and risks of failure of innovative ideas. These barriers lessen employees’ personal initiative, ability to take charge, voice views and sell issues to others. This book makes a significant contribution to innovation in hospitality management. It examines innovation barriers which affect proactive work in the Kenyan hotel industry. The book contends that endogenous barriers stifle proactive behavior. Conversely, exogenous barriers breed proactive behavior. Lastly, gender diversity at workplace creates a broader search base for proactive and innovative employees. This book is useful to university students in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, managers in the industry, consultants, senior government officers working in tourism and hospitality public institutions and anybody interested in training staff on innovation and proactive behaviour at the work place. The book will strengthen the reader’s ability to critically evaluate barriers which stifle the performance of hospitality innovations in Kenya and the world.

Duncan Shirandula holds a First Class Honors degree in Hotel and Hospitality Management and a master’s degree in Hospitality Management from Moi University. Presently, he is pursuing a doctorate degree in the same field. He has a solid experience in hospitality management gained from both industry practice and teaching. Currently, Shirandula lectures at Machakos University. Besides lecturing, he has a keen interest in research and has published several papers in refereed journals in various contemporary areas of hospitality management such as innovation, service quality and entrepreneurship. Shirandula is also an active member of Tourism Professional Association (TPA) and the Association for Tourism and Leisure Education (ATLAS). Through these platforms, he has been able to create and disseminate knowledge in seminars, workshops and conferences.