Can managing employee diversity be a pathway to creativity for tour companies?

Abstract

Purpose

When effectively synergized, uniqueness from employee diversity can be conducive to original ideas and solutions in the tourism services. The purpose of this study is to unfold how and when diversity-oriented human resource (HR) practices impact creativity among employees working in tour companies.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants in this research project comprised employees and their direct managers working in tour companies in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Findings

The results provided evidence for the positive influence of diversity-oriented HR practices on employee creativity through the mediation channel of knowledge sharing. Diversity climate fortified the effects of diversity-oriented HR practices on knowledge sharing among employees. Besides, the findings lent support for the moderating role of group diversity regarding age, expertise, openness and extroversion in the current research model.

Originality/value

This study advances both diversity management and organizational research streams and marks the convergence between them.

Citation

Trong Tuan, L. (2020), "Can managing employee diversity be a pathway to creativity for tour companies?", International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 32 No. 1, pp. 81-107. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-12-2018-0990