Factors that impact the implementation of multimedia in hotel training: A survey study

This study examined hotel managers\u27 perceptions regarding potential factors that impact the implementation of multimedia in employee training. Nine factors were dependent variables (acceptance, usefulness, ease of use, effectiveness, cost, knowledge, accessibility, opportunity and technical support). This study also examined whether demographic variables influenced hotel managers\u27 decisions to use multimedia in training (these were 11 independent variables, including age, education level, ethnic background, hotel experience, hotel managerial experience, hotel training manager experience, geographic location, size, hotel type, room occupancy, and ownership). This study also investigated whether Ajzen and Fishbeins\u27 (1980) Theory of Reasoned Action applied to hotel managers\u27 decisions to implement multimedia in hotel training. The sample was 229 hotel managers from hotels located in three regions: Asian cities, the Pacific Islands, and the Micronesian Islands. Data were collected using a 47 items, cross sectional, descriptive survey modified from Huang (1993) and Van Hoof (1995). Data were analyzed using basic descriptive statistics, Pearson\u27s correlation, ANOVA and multiple regression. The data indicated that hotel managers\u27 perceptions toward acceptance, usefulness, ease of use, and cost were positive. However, perceptions toward knowledge, accessibility, opportunity, and technical support were negative. Three demographic variables (educational level, types and ownership of hotels) did not have a significant effect on hotel managers\u27 perceptions toward the eight potential factors. However, the geographic location of hotels had a significant effect on hotel managers\u27 perceptions toward the usefulness of multimedia in hotel training. In addition, six demographic variables: age, hotel experience, hotel managerial experience, experience as a training manager, size and occupancy of the hotel did not have a significant effect on hotel managers\u27 perceptions toward the cost of multimedia in training. However, when these six demographic variables were combined, they had a significant effect on hotel managers\u27 perceptions toward the cost of multimedia in hotel training (R2 = .24, F = 3.99, p \u3c .0039). The data were inconclusive regarding whether Ajzen and Fishbeins\u27 (1980) Theory of Reasoned Action could be applied to hotel managers\u27 decision to use multimedia in hotel training (R2 = .20, F = 6.0, p \u3c .0002)