TOPIC: - THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF THE STAFF HIGH TURNOVER RATE ON THE HOUSEKEEPING PERFORMANCE A CASE STUDY OF MERITON SUITE CHATSWOOD

In this capstone subject, students have the opportunity to demonstrate the core attributes of written communication, information literacy, synthesis of complex information, and logical and critical thinking. This is achieved by completing a substantive piece of analysis, supported by research and based on experiential learning and the analysis of an actual business situation and/or contemporary topic that has significance to industry.

Prerequisite: Students must have completed MHC607 Business Research Methods prior to undertaking this subject.

Learning Outcomes

a. Critically reflect upon and apply disciplinary methods and approaches in the design of the hotel analysis

b. Critically review the literature as it applies to the hotel analysis

c. Collect and synthesise data using appropriate research tools.

d. Critically reflect upon and interpret information to generate findings, reach meaningful conclusions and make recommendations.

e. Communicate the hotel analysis in appropriate academic language and structure.

f. Seek and utilise resources provided by the University and maintain an effective relationship with faculty and a mentor group.

Assessment Brief

This unit builds on MHC607 / GBM914, specifically your research proposal, enabling you to independently undertake a small-scale project based on the analysis of an actual business situation and/or contemporary topic that has significance to the hotel industry.

Using a research approach, you will be required to analyse and provide recommendations concerning a business situation utilizing diverse sources of academic and industry information and make informed recommendations.

You will be allocated a mentor group comprised of your peers, however it remains your responsibility to develop effective working relationships within this group for means of support, peer guidance and discussions. All work completed must be independent and original, as this is not a group assignment. Your lecturer and tutor's role is to guide you through the process of quality research and academic writing.

The Business Analysis Process

The business research analysis process requires you to independently:

1. Identify an actual business situation and/or contemporary hotel topic through either primary or secondary sources. Primary sources must be limited to consultation with a single key industry informant (personal interview) / and first-hand experience at your work organisation (participative or non-participative observation). Failure to adhere to the above is a breach of the TUA Research Ethics Policy.

A scheduled face-to-face meeting (personal interview) is to be held with your key informant to identify and explore relevant situations. Additional information will be obtained through one further (1) subsequent personal interview with your key informant (do not exceed 2 meetings in total), or additional phone/email conversations throughout the term.

You can choose to include participative or non-participative observation if you work at your nominated organisation, however this must supplement personal interview/s with your key informant and is reliant on permission being granted by your manager.

Please note that additional means of collecting primary data, including interviews with other staff and additional face-to-face meetings with your key informant beyond the two identified above, are not allowed in this unit due to BMIHMS at TUA ethics restrictions. This is non-negotiable.

Actual business situations must relate at a minimum to one of the following major interest areas. Please discuss and seek approval through your lecturer if you wish to undertake a project that does not meet one of these areas:

i. Customer service: processes, design and/or management;
ii. Human resource management;
iii. Facilities management and/or the service environment;
iv. Leadership and organisational culture;
v. Change management and/or organisational development;
vi. Operations management e.g. food and beverage, revenue management or rooms division management;
vii. Marketing.

2. Critically analyse and synthesise an identified business situation using credible sources of information.

You may wish to supplement data from your key informant and information from peer-reviewed academic journal articles (12 minimum) with:
a. Credible industry sources such as industry publications
b. Company reports including those of competitors
c. Credible newspaper articles
d. Secondary data sets from the ABS, Tourism Australia, Tourism NSW, World Tourism Organization, national tourist offices (NTOs).

3. Propose recommendations and strategies for overcoming or enhancing the business situation using credible sources of information.

Ensure you clearly demonstrate how the proposed strategies will enable enhance the organisation's effectiveness. This is a key element of your report.