Towards Inter-Organizational Management in Tourism: An Analysis of The Inter-Organizational Relationships in the Tourism Industry in Barbados.

This study was motivated by an observation that the success of tourism in Barbados was perceived to be dependent on the effectiveness of a single management or marketing organization where all the roles critical for the success of the industry were centralized. The proposition presented here is that such success in tourism is also dependent on the efficient working together of an inter-organizational network where resources are pooled and coordinated and roles are clearly defined. As a small island state with a high dependence on tourism, Barbados presents a useful setting to explore these relationships. Hence this study examines the extent to which tourism in Barbados functions as an inter-organizational network and makes recommendations regarding how it should function as such from a theoretical perspective. Consistent with inter-organizational theory, specific variables have been isolated for analytical purposes. A mixed-method quantitative-qualitative design was adopted to explore the variables of economic and non-economic dependency, awareness, resource exchange and conflict. The population of tourism organizations in Barbados was surveyed in the quantitative analysis. In the qualitative analysis the most senior representatives of the various identified focal organizations were chosen as informants. The results indicate that organizations are dependent on the focal organizations but that this dependence is more of a non-economic than an economic nature. It suggests that there are limited levels of exchange taking place within the network and that there is much room for improvement to suggest a truly functional network. Consistent also with inter-organizational theory is the importance of a coordinating or lead agency. The research was able to make an evaluation as to which organization functions as the lead agency, viz. , the Barbados Tourism Authority. The research methodology and approach can serve generally as an analytical model for other tourism destinations. Specifically it is useful for planners and policy-makers who might use this knowledge to reassess and re-evaluate the current role of all the principal tourism agencies including the perceived leader