The relationship between HRM practices and the service performance of student interns: Industry perspective

C-S Lee,H-I Chen,C-W Chao

doi:10.4102/sajbm.v46i3.96

Abstract

This study aims to examine the relationship between human resource management (HRM) practices and the service performance of student interns. Data were collected using a questionnaire survey that was designed to capture the perceptions of human resource managers and internship supervisors from international tourist hotels in Taiwan. The structural equation model (SEM) was used as a framework for the data analysis. The findings indicate that the service performance of student interns was greatly affected by HRM practices, including recruitment and selection, rewarding quality, and retention. The implications of this study offer preliminary insights into the industry-academia co-operation that aims to manage total quality initiatives in the hotel industry and achieve the goals of hospitality higher education. The study lays the groundwork for the development of HRM practices for student interns to cope with the changing flexible labour structure in the hotel industry.

Highlights

IntroductionMany developing countries in the Asia Pacific region (e.g., mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Malaysia, Thailand, etc.) transitioned from a secondary to a tertiary industry
Over the past decade, many developing countries in the Asia Pacific region transitioned from a secondary to a tertiary industry
The purpose of this study was to test the full model of human resource management (HRM) practices and service performance by using a structural equation model

Summary

Introduction

Many developing countries in the Asia Pacific region (e.g., mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Malaysia, Thailand, etc.) transitioned from a secondary to a tertiary industry. The demand for a service workforce has led many academic institutions to develop hospitalityrelated programs. To facilitate hospitality students in the transition from school to the work environment, hospitality management programs within colleges and universities usually require students to participate in industry internship before graduation. The relationship between international hotels and higher education depends on the needs of students for internship credits and those of hotels for talented workers. The student interns have emerged with status and hospitality higher education backgrounds that will rival original flexible labour market dominance. The increasing proportion of student interns in the hotel industry inevitably results in many management-related initiatives

Objectives

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion