The changing role of ICT competitiveness: the case of the Slovenian hotel sector

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to survey the role of information and communication technology (ICT) for hotel firm's competitiveness. Based on competitive advantage factor (CAF) and resource theory, this article empirically tests ICT as one of several possible competitiveness factors. The research is focused on analyse of ICT competitiveness position over time, with special attention to different generations of ICT technologies. An electronic survey instrument has been used to collect Slovenian hotel manager's opinion on competitiveness resources in 2000 and 2010. Hypothesis testing and cluster analyses has been applied, SPSS was also used. The article's findings indicate that hotels need time to recognise the competitiveness potential of every new resource, and once they start to implement it its importance may change over time. Some firms might be slower in implementing new ICT resources, yet, over time, the resource use converges among the firms. The process is repeated with every new ICT generation. The study informs firms and researchers on practical and research issues forthcoming with ICT progression. Research results directly benefits hotel managers by providing actual information on how to employ different generations of ICT. This contribution is a novel way of connecting a firm's competitiveness with different web generations over time.

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