'Doing the right thing': organizational effectiveness & phronesis in small tourism firms. Issue 13 (3rd July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tomassini, Lucia
• Is Part Of: Current issues in tourism. Volume 24:Issue 13(2021)
• Page Start: 1809
• Page End: 1813
• Publication Date: 2021-07-03
• Subjects: Small tourism firms -- phronesis (practical wisdom) -- Aristotle -- organizational effectiveness -- ethical business; Tourism -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Tourism -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Travel -- Periodicals; 338.479105
• DOI: 10.1080/13683500.2020.1793922
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-3500

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Drawing upon the Drucker's ([2006]. The effective executive . Harper Paperbacks.) definition of effectiveness as 'doing the right thing', this paper explores how small tourism firms driven by an ethical approach to tourism, here named as 'values-based', understand their organizational effectiveness. This study is guided by Aristotle's notion of phronesis (practical wisdom) aimed at developing and exercising an attitude towards 'good' actions. Using a narrative approach via unstructured interviews with owner-managers of small values-based Italian firms, these explorative research findings disclose an organizational effectiveness rooted in a personal intuitive disposition for 'doing the right thing', gained by practical first-hand experience, personal knowledge, and moral rectitude.