A Case Study Approach To Understanding the Impact of Information Technology On Competitive Advantage in the Lodging Industry

Abstract

The lodging industry, along with most parts of the service sector, is making significant capital investment in information technology to improve the quality and efficiency of its business processes for the purpose of gaining competitive advantage. This study investi gates the impact of information technology on competitive advantage in the lodging indus try. This research uses a case study methodology to measure competitive advantage from information technology. The results indicate that the overall strategy of the lodging firm in fluences the impact of information technology on competitive advantage. More specifi cally, the asset holding and managing companies achieve a different type and level of com petitive advantage through information technology as compared to franchising lodging firms.