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DOCTORAL DISSERTATION SUMMARY: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AS AN INCENTIVE OF FAMILY ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE CROATIAN HOTEL INDUSTRY
Robert Svetlačić
; University of Rijeka Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Croatia
Abstract
Purpose
The sustainable development of family entrepreneurship in the hotel industry of the
Republic of Croatia has not been sufficiently researched. The objectives of the research
are: to investigate the existing scientific and professional knowledge on the establishment
of the concept of sustainable development as an incentive for family entrepreneurship
in the hotel industry of the Republic of Croatia; scientifically explore the need for more
effective strategic and operational thinking and planning the establishment of partnerships
to achieve sustainable development; to present scientifically based concepts of successful
realization of sustainable development as an incentive for family entrepreneurship in the
hotel industry of the Republic of Croatia; analyze the concept of inducing scientifically
based guidelines for improving the current and creating a better future state of sustainable
family entrepreneurship in the hotel industry of the Republic of Croatia; question the
need for more harmonized implementation of legislative and other EU provisions on the
of sustainability implementation. The purpose of the doctoral thesis is to elaborate and
investigate aspects of sustainable development in the functioning of economic policy
to encourage small and family businesses in the Croatian hotel industry and identify all
vital aspects concerning opportunities to improve and enhance the existing situation.
The specific objectives of the research are:
(a) to investigate existing scientific and professional (both theoretical and practical)
knowledge regarding the reality of the need to establish the concept of sustainable
development as a stimulus for family entrepreneurship in the Croatian hotel industry,
with the objective of faster growth, higher level of greater diversity, quality, and
competitiveness; (b) to scientifically explore the need for strategic and operational thinking and planning
the establishment of partnerships (public, private and civil sector) that would be more
effective, in order to achieve sustainable development, with the objective of creating real
incentives for family entrepreneurship in the Croatian hotel industry and achieving the
concept of greater profitability;
(c) to present scientifically based concepts of successful implementation of sustainable
development as an incentive for family entrepreneurship in the Croatian hotel industry,
with their similarities and differences;
(d) to consider the concept of inducing scientifically based guidelines for improving the
current state as well as creating a better state of sustainable family business in the hotel
industry of the Republic of Croatia in the future;
(e) to examine the need for more harmonized implementation of legislative and other
EU provisions regarding the implementation of sustainability in the national economic
policy and more efficient use of relatively limited capacities of family business in the
hotel industry of the Republic of Croatia.
The intention and purpose of the doctoral research work is to elaborate and investigate
in more detail the aspects of sustainable development in the functioning of economic
policy to encourage small and family entrepreneurship in the Croatian hotel industry and
to identify all important aspects of improving the existing situation. Accordingly, the
research task is to determine hitherto insufficiently known scientific facts, knowledge,
as well as the practical rules in the field of economics and other relevant scientific
disciplines, related to the improvement and implementation of sustainable development
policy as an important stimulus for small and family businesses in Croatian hospitality.
Methodology
The methodology of scientific research uses available literature from primary and
secondary scientific and professional sources and the conducted quantitative and
qualitative statistical and scientific analysis of the obtained results. Empirical (primary)
research employed a survey method on a deliberate sample of 100 small family businesses
in the hotel industry (80% of the population) from March to May 2018.
The research methodology in this paper includes the definition of the research sample and
research variables, with the use of appropriate scientific research methods and procedures
that led to the results of the research conducted here. Following the previously set
objectives of the research, one main hypothesis and three auxiliary research hypotheses
were set, and they were tested using the results of the primary research by surveying a
selected and representative sample and using independent and dependent variables and
compared with the results. research from secondary sources.
Main hypothesis is the following: There is a significant connection between sustainable
development and the development of family entrepreneurship in the Croatian hotel
industry First auxiliary hypothesis: Sustainable development contributes to foreign and domestic
investments with the objective of stronger development of family entrepreneurship in the
Croatian hotel industry.
Second auxiliary hypothesis: The policy of sustainable development of family
entrepreneurship in the hotel industry affects the increase of diversity, quality, and
competitiveness of the price of the tourist offer in the Republic of Croatia.
Third auxiliary hypothesis: By positively revaluing the incentives for sustainable
development, Croatian tax policy enables the development of family entrepreneurship
in the hotel industry.
The results of the empirical research conducted here are obtained by using the survey
method “on the state and possibilities of achieving sustainable development as an
incentive for family entrepreneurship in the Croatian hotel industry” (made primarily
in Kvarner (Opatija, Rijeka, Crikvenica, Novi Vinodolski and Senj)), Dalmatia (Split,
Zadar, Šibenik and Omiš), Istria (Poreč, Umag, Rovinj, and Rabac) and Zagreb (city and
the county)). The survey was conducted:
(a) via a classic and electronic e-mail questionnaire in the period from March to May
2018 on members of the National Association of Family and Small Hotels, where 126
were identified as family hotel companies (and represents the total population), out of
380 regular and associate members of the said association;
(b) on a chosen sample of 100 small family hotels in the hotel industry, which makes up
for 79.37% of the population, and the return rate is 66% (ie the survey questionnaire was
completed by 66 respondents) of small family hotel companies, which represents 52.38
% of the total population, and is therefore considered representative.
Findings
Theoretically, the scientific contribution is determined primarily in the systematization and
theoretic definition: the family business, sustainable development, and development of
knowledge about the importance of integrated understanding of family entrepreneurship
in hospitality and sustainable development and setting an integrated model to promote
sustainable development. The applied contribution of the paper is on the results of the
research that enable the definition of guidelines for potential improvement of the current
situation and trend of implementation and improvement of sustainable development
policy as a vital factor in encouraging the expansion and development of family business
in hospitality.
Theoretical knowledge and evaluation of the state and possibilities of sustainable
development as an incentive for family entrepreneurship in the Croatian hotel industry
enabled testing and confirmation of the main and the other three auxiliary hypotheses
on sustainable development as an incentive for family entrepreneurship in the Croatian
hotel industry. In addition, it is possible to develop a proposal for a model of promoting
sustainable development in the optimization of the family business in the Croatian hotel
industry. The obtained results indicate the importance of the connection between sustainable
development and the development of family entrepreneurship in the Croatian hotel
industry. Sustainable development systematically contributes to foreign and domestic
investments with better development of family entrepreneurship in the hotel industry of
the Republic of Croatia. The policy of sustainable development of family entrepreneurship
in the hotel industry affects the increase of diversity, quality, and competitiveness of the
price of the tourist offer. The conducted analysis indicates the need for an appropriate
definition of family entrepreneurship in the hotel industry. Application of active tax
policy through a positive revaluation of sustainable development incentives will enable
better development of family entrepreneurship in the hotel industry.
The results of scientific research should contribute to and improve the concept and
strategy of sustainable development as a stimulus for family entrepreneurship in the
Croatian hotel industry, which implies a positive effect on the development of tourist
destinations.
Also, the scientific research conducted here results in the scientific contribution of the
doctoral dissertation in the analysis of the current situation, intending to improve the
future situation, especially in defining goals and concrete innovation of operational
strategies in implementing sustainable development of family business in Croatian
hospitality and use of natural resources. serves as an ambitious incentive for family
entrepreneurship in the Croatian hotel industry.
Originality of the research
The envisaged scientific contribution was made in:
„(a) theoretical sense, a systematic overview of theoretical knowledge in the field of
sustainable development, Croatian family entrepreneurship and hospitality (definition
and classification); a strategy and concept of successful integrated implementation of
sustainable development as incentives for family entrepreneurship in the Croatian hotel
industry, the application of economic principles and scientific methods in the research of
sustainable development, hospitality and family entrepreneurship resulted in knowledge
about the competitiveness of family entrepreneurship in the Croatian hotel industry and
beyond, deepened theoretical knowledge about the application of sustainable);
(b) in terms of application, the strategic importance arising from the proper and integrated
management of the concept of successful implementation of sustainable development as
a stimulus for family entrepreneurship in the hotel industry of the Republic of Croatia
(its better positioning, faster conquest and retention of the target market) was expressed;
development as a stimulus for family entrepreneurship in the hotel industry of the
Republic of Croatia through all aspects, initiatives of integral application of sustainable
development in family entrepreneurship in the hotel industry of the Republic of Croatia
and its importance in tourism are highlighted).
Achieving the intended scientific contribution of the doctoral dissertation in theoretical
and applied terms gives a certain contribution to the scientific field of social sciences,
economics, general economics (or microeconomics), which is the result of research
defined by the research goal and proving the main hypothesis as well as the three
auxiliary hypotheses. This enables the definition of guidelines for potential improvement of the current state
and trend of implementation and also for the improvement of sustainable development
policy as an important factor in encouraging the expansion and development of family
business in the hotel industry, which should potentially contribute to Croatia’s hotel
business and further economic development and prosperity.
Keywords
Sustainable development; family entrepreneurship; tourism; Croatian hotel industry
Hrčak ID:
269578
URI
Publication date:
4.10.2021.
Visits: 557 *