Short answer

When designing for sustainability in hospitality and tourism, consider how to best support and amplify the inherent strengths of family businesses in integrating ethical and environmental goals.

Field
Sustainability
Source
Zeitschrift für Tourismuswissenschaft (2023)
Method
Qualitative Case Study
Sample
3 case studies (specific number of interviewees not detailed)
Evidence
Strong effect

Family-run businesses in hospitality and tourism are uniquely positioned to integrate UN Sustainable Development Goals and humanistic management principles due to their inherent characteristics. This sustainability research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Zeitschrift für Tourismuswissenschaft. Using Qualitative case study with 3 case studies (specific number of interviewees not detailed), researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing for sustainability in hospitality and tourism, consider how to best support and amplify the inherent strengths of family businesses in integrating ethical and environmental goals.

Study
SustainabilityRecentStrong effect

Family Businesses Lead in Integrating UN Sustainable Development Goals with Humanistic Management

Family-run businesses in hospitality and tourism are uniquely positioned to integrate UN Sustainable Development Goals and humanistic management principles due to their inherent characteristics.

Zeitschrift für Tourismuswissenschaft · 2023

01

Key Findings

  • 01Family businesses are well-suited to manage the complexities of transforming towards sustainability and humanistic principles.
  • 02These businesses can successfully align corporate structures, products, and operations with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
  • 03There is a natural bridge and often explicit integration of humanistic management principles within these family-run enterprises.
02

Application

Design takeaway

When designing for sustainability in hospitality and tourism, consider how to best support and amplify the inherent strengths of family businesses in integrating ethical and environmental goals.

How to apply

When working with hospitality or tourism clients, explore their family business structure as a potential advantage for implementing ambitious sustainability and humanistic management goals.

Project actions

  • 01When researching sustainability, look for examples of family businesses that have successfully implemented these practices.
  • 02Consider how the 'family' aspect of a business influences its approach to ethical and environmental responsibility.
03

Method & Evidence

AimHow can family businesses in the hospitality and tourism sector effectively integrate UN Sustainable Development Goals and humanistic management principles into their operations and business models?
MethodQualitative Case Study
ProcedureThe study employed a systemic approach as a conceptual framework and conducted expert interviews with managing directors or owners of selected family businesses in the hospitality and tourism industry to understand their alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals and humanistic management principles.
Sample3 case studies (specific number of interviewees not detailed)
ContextHospitality and Tourism Industry, Family Businesses

Variables

IVFamily business structure, Integration of UN SDGs, Humanistic Management Principles
DVSuccess in aligning corporate structures, products, and operations with SDGs and Humanistic Management
CVIndustry (Hospitality & Tourism), Business Size (implied by family-run)
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Provides a systemic framework for understanding sustainability integration.
  • +Focuses on a specific, often overlooked, business model (family businesses) that shows promise for sustainability.

Limitations

The findings might not apply to large, publicly traded companies or businesses with different ownership models. The qualitative nature means results may not be statistically generalizable.

Reliability & validity

The study's validity is enhanced by its systemic approach and expert interviews. Reliability could be improved with a larger, more diverse sample size and quantitative data.

Think critically

To what extent do the 'inherent characteristics' of family businesses truly drive sustainability, or are they simply more visible due to their scale and public profile?

05

Design Principles

"Leverage inherent organizational characteristics to drive systemic sustainability integration."

This research highlights that the inherent structures and values of family businesses can be a significant advantage when striving for sustainability and ethical operations. Designers and strategists can leverage these insights to develop more effective sustainability initiatives, particularly within sectors where long-term vision and community impact are paramount.

06

What This Means for Your Design

Family-run hotels and restaurants are often better at being sustainable and treating people well because of how they are built and the values they hold.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Reference this study when discussing the unique advantages of specific business structures in achieving sustainability goals.
  • 2.Use the case studies as examples of successful integration of UN Sustainable Development Goals.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research indicates that family businesses within the hospitality and tourism sector possess inherent characteristics that facilitate the successful integration of UN Sustainable Development Goals and humanistic management principles. The systemic approach employed in this study, supported by expert interviews, reveals that these enterprises are particularly adept at aligning their structures, products, and operations with broader sustainability agendas, often naturally embodying humanistic values.

09

Source

Zeitschrift für Tourismuswissenschaft

Sustainable Development Goals and Humanistic Management<b> in Hospitality and Tourism: Systemic Approaches and Application-Oriented Perspectives Using the Example of Family Businesses</b>

journal · 2023

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about family businesses lead in integrating un sustainable development goals with humanistic management?
When designing for sustainability in hospitality and tourism, consider how to best support and amplify the inherent strengths of family businesses in integrating ethical and environmental goals. Evidence: Zeitschrift für Tourismuswissenschaft (2023).
Why does "Family Businesses Lead in Integrating UN Sustainable Development Goals with Humanistic Management" matter for design?
This research highlights that the inherent structures and values of family businesses can be a significant advantage when striving for sustainability and ethical operations. Designers and strategists can leverage these insights to develop more effective sustainability initiatives, particularly within sectors where long-term vision and community impact are paramount.
How can designers apply this research?
When designing for sustainability in hospitality and tourism, consider how to best support and amplify the inherent strengths of family businesses in integrating ethical and environmental goals.
What were the main findings?
Family businesses are well-suited to manage the complexities of transforming towards sustainability and humanistic principles.. These businesses can successfully align corporate structures, products, and operations with UN Sustainable Development Goals.. There is a natural bridge and often explicit integration of humanistic management principles within these family-run enterprises.
What research method was used?
Qualitative Case Study with 3 case studies (specific number of interviewees not detailed).
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2023 journal from Zeitschrift für Tourismuswissenschaft.
What should I do differently in my next project?
When working with hospitality or tourism clients, explore their family business structure as a potential advantage for implementing ambitious sustainability and humanistic management goals.
What are the limitations?
The study focuses on a specific sector (hospitality and tourism) and business type (family businesses), limiting generalizability to other industries or ownership structures. The findings are based on a small number of case studies.