The practice of organizational flexibility in Malaysia higher rated hotels

This study explores the practice of organisational flexibility in four- and five-star hotels in Malaysia, which is referred to as Malaysian higher rated hotels in this study. The practice of organisational flexibility is particularly important in hotel industry because the industry is by nature labo...

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Main Author: Sharon, Jong Ying Hui
Format: Thesis
Language:eng
eng
Published: 2016
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Online Access:https://etd.uum.edu.my/6390/1/s810042_01.pdf
https://etd.uum.edu.my/6390/2/s810042_02.pdf
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id my-uum-etd.6390
record_format uketd_dc
institution Universiti Utara Malaysia
collection UUM ETD
language eng
eng
advisor Ahmad, Rozila
topic TX901-946.5 Hospitality industry
Hotels, clubs, restaurants, etc
Food service
spellingShingle TX901-946.5 Hospitality industry
Hotels, clubs, restaurants, etc
Food service
Sharon, Jong Ying Hui
The practice of organizational flexibility in Malaysia higher rated hotels
description This study explores the practice of organisational flexibility in four- and five-star hotels in Malaysia, which is referred to as Malaysian higher rated hotels in this study. The practice of organisational flexibility is particularly important in hotel industry because the industry is by nature labour intensive. As such, wages constitute the highest cost element of hotel expenditures. The two forms of organisational flexibility (functional flexibility and numerical flexibility) enable hotels to efficiently manage its labour force. With functional flexibility, hotels are able to redeploy its employees through a variety of different work practices whilst numerical flexibility enables hotels to vary the types of employees through the engagement of short-term employees. This study is framed based on three research questions. The first research question determines the purposes of practising organisational flexibility in Malaysian higher rated hotels. The second research question seeks to identify the approaches employed by Malaysian higher rated hotels in practising organisational flexibility. The third research question aims to investigate the outcomes of organisational flexibility practice. In seeking the answers to these research questions, qualitative methodology and semi-structured interview methods are employed. The findings of this study indicate that different hotels practise organisational flexibility for different purposes. Similarly, the extent to which approaches are employed to practise functional and numerical flexibility in each hotel also varies. It is discovered that functional flexibility is preferable as compared to numerical flexibility. The findings of this study reveal that the most common approaches of functional flexibility used in Malaysian higher rated hotels are multi-skilling, job rotation and cross-exposure whilst employment of casual and agency workers are the most preferred approach of numerical flexibility. The practice of organisational flexibility results in more positive outcomes. The findings of this study contribute to both theoretical and practical knowledge. In terms of its theoretical contribution, this study recognises that organisational flexibility is an important aspect of human resource management especially in higher rated hotels. The investigation into the area of organisational flexibility serves as a reference point for managers and human resource practitioners intending to pursue organisational flexibility.
format Thesis
qualification_name other
qualification_level Master's degree
author Sharon, Jong Ying Hui
author_facet Sharon, Jong Ying Hui
author_sort Sharon, Jong Ying Hui
title The practice of organizational flexibility in Malaysia higher rated hotels
title_short The practice of organizational flexibility in Malaysia higher rated hotels
title_full The practice of organizational flexibility in Malaysia higher rated hotels
title_fullStr The practice of organizational flexibility in Malaysia higher rated hotels
title_full_unstemmed The practice of organizational flexibility in Malaysia higher rated hotels
title_sort practice of organizational flexibility in malaysia higher rated hotels
granting_institution Universiti Utara Malaysia
granting_department Ghazali Shafie Graduate School of Government
publishDate 2016
url https://etd.uum.edu.my/6390/1/s810042_01.pdf
https://etd.uum.edu.my/6390/2/s810042_02.pdf
_version_ 1747828070347177984
spelling my-uum-etd.63902021-04-19T07:19:09Z The practice of organizational flexibility in Malaysia higher rated hotels 2016 Sharon, Jong Ying Hui Ahmad, Rozila Ghazali Shafie Graduate School of Government Ghazali Shafie Graduate School of Government TX901-946.5 Hospitality industry. Hotels, clubs, restaurants, etc. Food service This study explores the practice of organisational flexibility in four- and five-star hotels in Malaysia, which is referred to as Malaysian higher rated hotels in this study. The practice of organisational flexibility is particularly important in hotel industry because the industry is by nature labour intensive. As such, wages constitute the highest cost element of hotel expenditures. The two forms of organisational flexibility (functional flexibility and numerical flexibility) enable hotels to efficiently manage its labour force. With functional flexibility, hotels are able to redeploy its employees through a variety of different work practices whilst numerical flexibility enables hotels to vary the types of employees through the engagement of short-term employees. This study is framed based on three research questions. The first research question determines the purposes of practising organisational flexibility in Malaysian higher rated hotels. The second research question seeks to identify the approaches employed by Malaysian higher rated hotels in practising organisational flexibility. The third research question aims to investigate the outcomes of organisational flexibility practice. In seeking the answers to these research questions, qualitative methodology and semi-structured interview methods are employed. The findings of this study indicate that different hotels practise organisational flexibility for different purposes. Similarly, the extent to which approaches are employed to practise functional and numerical flexibility in each hotel also varies. It is discovered that functional flexibility is preferable as compared to numerical flexibility. The findings of this study reveal that the most common approaches of functional flexibility used in Malaysian higher rated hotels are multi-skilling, job rotation and cross-exposure whilst employment of casual and agency workers are the most preferred approach of numerical flexibility. The practice of organisational flexibility results in more positive outcomes. The findings of this study contribute to both theoretical and practical knowledge. In terms of its theoretical contribution, this study recognises that organisational flexibility is an important aspect of human resource management especially in higher rated hotels. The investigation into the area of organisational flexibility serves as a reference point for managers and human resource practitioners intending to pursue organisational flexibility. 2016 Thesis https://etd.uum.edu.my/6390/ https://etd.uum.edu.my/6390/1/s810042_01.pdf text eng public https://etd.uum.edu.my/6390/2/s810042_02.pdf text eng public other masters Universiti Utara Malaysia Adam-Smith, D., Norris, G., & Williams, S. (2003). Continuity or change? The implications of the national minimum wage for work and employment in the hospitality industry. Work, Employment & Society, 17(1), 29-47. Adler, P. A., & Adler, P. (2003). Seasonality and flexible labor in resorts: Organizations, employees, and local labor markets. Sociological Spectrum, 23(1), 59-89. Ahmad, A. Z., & Sipalan, J. (2012, May 1). Lowest salary set at RM900, The Star, p. 4. Ahmad, R., Scott, N., & Abdul-Rahman, R. (2016). Why minimum wage order implementation is a challenge to human resource managers in Langkawi. 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