A systematic literature review of research on diversity and diversity management in the hospitality literature. (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Manoharan, Ashokkumar; Singal, Manisha
• Is Part Of: International journal of hospitality management. Volume 66(2017)
• Page Start: 77
• Page End: 91
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: Diversity -- Diversity management -- Systematic literature review -- Hospitality and tourism; Hotel management -- Periodicals; Restaurant management -- Periodicals; Food service management -- Periodicals; Hôtels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Restaurants -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Services alimentaires -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Food service management; Hotel management; Restaurant management; Periodicals; 647.94
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhm.2017.07.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0278-4319

Abstract

Highlights: The paper provides a comprehensive review on diversity and its management in the hospitality and tourism literature. The top three diversity dimensions studies are gender, age, and migrants and within diversity management themes, the top three relate to diversity practices, diversity training, and managing migrants. Current research in hospitality literature on diversity is often atheoretical, is narrow in scope with relying on small sample sizes, with low methodological rigor, which provides many opportunities for future studies for hospitality scholars. Future research suggestions include: expansion of themes in diversity and diversity management, more theory-based research, increased methodological improvements, greater geographical expansion and improved practical implications. Abstract: With demographic shifts, international labor mobility, and the blurring of geographical boundaries, workforce diversity and diversity management have assumed an important role in hospitality operations. More importantly previous research has established the role diversity plays on outcomes such as innovation and firm performance. Yet reports of research on diversity and its management in the hospitality industry are fragmented, underdeveloped, and inconsistent. To assess the current state of this research, we provide a systematic review of the available research on the different dimensions of diversity, and on topics related to diversity management. Using articles found in hospitality journals, we identify current themes explored by scholars as well as gaps and limitations. We provide suggestions for topics, themes and methodologies for future research and highlight the importance of research that can inform managerial practice. Our review indicates that there is greater need for theory development, empirical data-driven research, and expansion of contexts in hospitality-diversity research, especially in terms of geographical regions covered by extant studies.