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Using Systems Thinking to Improve Tourism and Hospitality Research Quality and Relevance: A Critical Review and Conceptual Analysis

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  • Gianna Moscardo

    (College of Business, Law and Governance, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia)

Abstract

This paper argues that that much published tourism and hospitality research has had little influence on tourism or hospitality practice especially with regard to the problems of sustainability because of a failure to use systems thinking to guide research questions and approaches. This critical review and conceptual paper demonstrates how a systems thinking approach could be used to improve both the relevance of, and theoretical development in, tourism and hospitality research in the area of sustainability. This paper reviewed recent published research into tourism’s social impacts to demonstrate the power of taking a systems approach to map out the research problem area. It then critically reviewed the use of concepts from psychology in published research into guest engagement in sustainability programs in hospitality businesses to demonstrate the value of systems thinking for organising theoretical concepts. In both of the reviewed areas the overwhelming conclusion was that the majority of the research lacked both practical relevance and was based on inappropriate or deficient theoretical understanding.

Suggested Citation

  • Gianna Moscardo, 2021. "Using Systems Thinking to Improve Tourism and Hospitality Research Quality and Relevance: A Critical Review and Conceptual Analysis," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 2(1), pages 1-20, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jtourh:v:2:y:2021:i:1:p:9-172:d:515097
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    3. Dirk Inghels, 2020. "Introduction to Modeling Sustainable Development in Business Processes," Springer Books, Springer, edition 1, number 978-3-030-58422-1, February.
    4. Gates, Emily F., 2016. "Making sense of the emerging conversation in evaluation about systems thinking and complexity science," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 62-73.
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