Innovation in the Spanish tourism industry: Factors determining the innovative capacity of the Spanish hotel sector, using the approach of the strategic management process

Abstract

Goal and objectives of the dissertationGoalThe research presented in this thesis concerns the relationships existing between, on the one hand, the factors determining the Strategic Management Process in the hotel companies operating in our country and, on the other, their capacity for Innovation. There is also an analysis of the influence of innovation on the competitive advantage and organizational results of these companies.ObjectivesAs a starting point in this Doctoral Thesis, successive theoretical and empirical objectives are proposed, as milestones to be reached as the work of investigation advances. The main objectives, both theoretical as practical, that have been considered are the following:1) To understand in depth the theoretical framework in which the strategic management of the innovation process is situated.2) To set out the various theories proposed to explain innovation in the services sector, and more specifically in the tourist sector.3) To develop a model that shows the relationship between the factors that comprise the strategic management process and the degree of innovation achieved in the Spanish hotels sector.4) To find out to what extent each of the determining factors identified in the strategic management process influence the capacity for innovation. A model will be established to test this influence empirically. Then this model will be used to articulate the nature of the relationship between each of the factors that comprise the strategic management process and their impact on the degree of innovation achieved.5) As a last stage, to determine the strategic importance of the resulting model for the degree of innovation as the generator of sustainable competitive advantages and positive financial results for the companies studied.MethodologyThese objectives could not be met without constructing a methodological framework that is appropriate for the task. The theoretical positioning to be adopted in this research is integrated, within the discipline of Strategic Management, taking the approach based on the resources and capacities of the organisations under study. Starting from this premise, innovation is emphasized as a key strategic capacity, and the management of innovation is considered to be a fundamental element for the development of dynamic capacities that would enable a company to secure competitive advantages.ResultsIn this research it has been possible to test positively how the various factors determining the Strategic Management process affect the degree of innovation achieved, both individually and considering their joint action; the incidence of the innovation activity as a specific strategy in generating the company's business results has also been determined. The results obtained support the proposition that, adopting the approach of the company's Resources and Capacities, innovation is significant as a key strategic capacity of the company for obtaining advantage competitive.Theoretical conclusionsIn general, this study aims to provide a series of both theoretical and practical contributions to the field. Theoretically, the novelty lies in presenting the connections between the factors that determine the strategic management process and their impact on the capacity for innovation; although these have obvious points of contact, they have not, to date, been subjected to integrative study, according to a review of the specialised literature. For this, the theoretical approach based on the company's Resources and Capabilities is a relevant and suitable theoretical framework for understanding these points of connection.Practical application of the dissertationEmpirically, the analysis of the strategic interrelationships between certain factors of the Strategic Management Model and the degree of innovation, and their impact on the enterprise results, will help to emphasize the importance of managing innovation as a strategy in itself, and to introduce them into the model of strategic thinking of the hotel chains operating in our country. …