Abstract
This chapter studied the institutional influence associated to quality practices in hotels. The aim was to interpret whether it was the normative, coercive or mimetic pressures (Institutional pressures) that influenced the three, four and five star hotels in north of Portugal. In order to accomplish these objectives the author used an investigation model that connects institutional context pressures with quality practices and quality practices with legitimacy. To study used the Institutional Theory as theoretical reference.
TopBackground
In this section we review Institutional Theory and quality in organizations and its future relationship with tourism in Portugal.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Construct: A set of indicators related to the construct. They cannot be directly measured which signifies that a set of items is necessary. They are also known as latent variables. Constructs can be made up of reflective or formative indicators. They are represented by a circle in the model.
Formative Indicators: These are the cause of the construct. They can be directly measured and are not correlated among each other. They are represented by a rectangle and joined to construct by means of an arrow in the model. The arrowhead is directed at the circle (construct).
Reflective Indicators: These are caused by construct; a symptom of the construct symptom. They can be directly measured and are correlated among each other. In the model they are represented by a rectangle and joined to construct by means of an arrow in the model. The arrowhead is directed at the rectangle (indicator).
Reliability: It is a parameter which measures consistency. In our work reliability can measure the construct´s consistency (reliability of the construct) or the indicator´s consistency (individual reliability).
PLS: A term known as Partial Least Square. This is an approach to causal modeling. It is a technique which allows reflecting the theoretical and empirical conditions of behavior. Normally this technique is applied when the theoretical situations are not strong enough and there is little information available. It is a technique that focuses on predictive causal analysis and the results can be interpreted as a step backwards.
Isomorphism: The term 'isomorphism' means 'the same way”. It seeks to highlight the idea that there are formal similarities and correspondence between different types of systems. The word isomorphism refers to the construction of systems models similar to the original model. In our study, isomorphism behavior refers to the different companies behaving in a similar way to the model set out in our investigation.