Project Co-ordinatorsProfessor Gareth Shaw (School of Business and Economics, University of Exeter) Professor Allan Williams (ISET and WLRI, London Metropolitan University) FundingESRC AIM Targeted Innovation Programme http://www.aimresearch.org/release/targetinnov.pdf) BackgroundInternational migration is an important but under-researched channel of tacit knowledge transactions and innovation. This project examines the role of innovation in a ‘low-tech’ sector, hotels, where international migration is particularly prominent: accounting for 60-80% of all the labour force in London hotels. The project builds on earlier work on international migration and knowledge transfer, tourism SMEs, and the history of innovation in British supermarkets (Need to be able to link here to the poster) Aims
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Project Update, September 2008The first stage of this project, undertaken jointly with the School of Business, University of Exeter, examined innovations in large hotel chains within the UK. In the second phase, the focus shifts to smaller hotels in London, where they are comparing the innovation performance of British and international managers. They are focussing particularly on the transfer of knowledge and capital by international managers, as well as on how the availability of migrant workers influences innovation and firm performance. The research is part of a larger programme, under the auspices of the Advanced Institute of Management, which aims to deepen understanding of the internationalization of innovation in the UK, particularly in the service sector. Hotels have been relatively under-researched in relation to innovation and knowledge transfer, yet constitute an important segment of the London economy, and its dynamic tourism industry. Professor Williams commented that 'It will be particularly important to understand the process of innovation in hotels as London gears up for the Olympics in 2012. The key question is whether an industry which is 60-80% reliant on migrant workers is making the best use of their knowledge and creativity'. |
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