Knowledge Acquisition and Assimilation in Tourism-Innovation Processes

Abstract

The paper develops a framework and an understanding of the external knowledge absorption in nature-based tourism companies. The concept of potential absorptive capacity is the starting point for exploring how external knowledge (tacit and explicit) is absorbed and assimilated in tourism innovation processes. Although knowledge is the engine that drives innovation, tourism firms can have problems and challenges when trying to absorb external knowledge for innovation. The main challenge is to access and absorb tacit knowledge. This type of knowledge is personal and sticky and therefore difficult to acquire and assimilate into the existing knowledge pool of organizations. Tacit knowledge is also difficult to imitate and is 2 therefore important for developing original and competitive innovations. In this study, knowledge acquisition and assimilation processes and how knowledge challenges are handled are investigated by adopting a multiple, qualitative case-study strategy that focuses on three Icelandic whale-watching firms. This study contributes to the tourism innovation discussion by identifying tourism specific abilities for the acquisition and assimilation of knowledge. The sense-making and strategic interpretation of this knowledge are considered to be important subsequent steps in the innovation process.

Exploring Driving Forces of Innovation in the MSEs: The Case of the Sustainable B&B Tourism Industry

“…Innovative idea formation will then be followed by a continuous innovation development process, which involves several determinants. Hoarau demonstrated that small-and medium-sized whale-watching firms can absorb knowledge from scientists and customers to generate innovation [51]. Furthermore, the tourism industry is a labor-intensive industry.…”

How Tour Guides’ Professional Competencies Influence on Service Quality of Tour Guiding and Tourist Satisfaction: An Exploratory Research

“…Tour guides are the critical members in tourism industry and their services are mainly based on their professional competencies (Chen et al, 2012;Hoarau, 2014;Mao & Wang, 2010). When guiding the tour groups, they must have broad tourism related knowledge in order to satisfy different tourists' needs (Çetı̇nkaya & Öter, 2016).…”

Absorptive Capacity in Tourism Enterprises – The Significance and Measurement Possibilities

“…Taka ocena, w dotychczasowych badaniach, oparta była na opinii jednej osoby, znaczenie zdolności do absorpcji w przedsiębiorstwach turystycznych Dotychczasowe badania prowadzone w przedsiębiorstwach turystycznych sugerują, że zdolność od absorpcji wiedzy może być istotnym czynnikiem wpływającym na wyniki przedsiębior-stwa. Badacze testowali zarówno bezpośrednie związki pomiędzy zdolnością do absorpcji wiedzy a wynikami przedsiębiorstw (Herath, Mahmood, 2014), jak również pośredni wpływ na wyniki poprzez wzrost innowacyjności przedsiębiorstw (Hoarau, 2014) oraz zdolności do uczenia się (Brookes, 2014).…”

“…Dotychczasowe badania wśród przedsiębiorstw turystycznych opierają się na skalach opracowanych dla innych rodzajów działalności gospodarczej. Jest to postulat wysuwany także przez Hoarau (2014).…”