A CASE STUDY OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AT THE INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS’ GROUP

Abstract

Purpose of the study: This study aims to gain an understanding of how (and if) the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) manages knowledge to create value. Methodology: Publicly available data about the IHG were assessed using Pawlowski and Bick’s (2015) Global Knowledge Management Framework (GKMFW) to determine the extent to which the IHG is implementing knowledge management (KM). Four experts reviewed the findings for validation. Main findings: Knowledge management (KM) practices are used by the IHG at a basic level. Data collected in this study indicate that the IHG is not connecting KM processes in its strategy. This research highlights that the IHG and potentially other hotel companies could integrate KM to enhance their performance. Applications of this study: The study’s findings are important for hotel industry stakeholders (academics, hotel executives, owners, etc.), assisting them to better understand “hotel KM”. Stakeholders are encouraged to implement holistic and purposeful KM programs (i.e., a framework), potentially delivering more value to their organizations. Novelty/Originality of this study: This study is the first attempt to investigate KM activities in one major standard-setting hotel company (SSHC), as defined by Boardman and Barbato (2008). It highlights the limitations in hotel-specific KM research and the limited way in which KM is being applied in the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG). It not only identifies a gap in the literature about KM in the hospitality industry but starts to fill this gap.