Impacts of information and communication technology on competitive advantage in 3-5 star hotels in Nairobi
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Date
2014-08-01
Authors
Odawa, Esther Lambert
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Abstract
The main purpose of this study is to examine the role of Information and Communication
Technology (lCT) in creating competitive advantage in selected hotels in Nairobi. The study also
seeks to find out the extent to which the application of ICT in the hotel industry (in the 3-5 star
hotels) has improved service delivery; the effect of empowered of employees in relation to ICT
application; to determine whether the use of ICT has improved Marketing and whether there is
significant relationship between the introduction of ICT and competitive gain within the hotels.
The study also intends to establish whether investing in IT (Information Technology) has created
useful value chains within the hotel industry by creating core competencies capable of
integrating and coordinating multiple technologies effectively, hence increasing the hotels'
operational efficiencies. The study will be carried out in 3-5 star hotels which form about 80% of
the total income of the star-rated hotels in the country. The researcher will use a total sample size
of 24, 3 to 5 star-rated hotels in the country. The study will employ the descriptive research
design. This design will allow the use of both qualitative and quantitative methods of data
collection and analysis which is a mixed method of data collection and analysis. Data will be
collected through the use of questionnaires and interview methods. A total of two hundred and
fifty nine (n=259) respondents will be targeted by the study from the 24 hotels. Questionnaires
coupled with interview schedules as data collection instruments will give the study a reliable and
valid representational approach. The well structured questionnaires will both be close and open
.ended. Purposive sampling technique will be used to sample the respondents for the study. The
main advantage of this design is that it will allow only those perceived to have information
required for the study will be sampled. The validity of the instruments will be determined by
employing sampling validity subject to assessment of each of the content of each research item.
The researcher will use the split- half technique to determine the reliability of the research
instruments. The collected data will then be analyzed using the ANOVA, the linear and multiple
regression analysis. The researcher's anticipated findings will be to establish tangible sources
within the hotel industry which use modern technologies, hence forming valuable value chains
within the industry.