Use of the Ishikawa Diagram to Understand the Employees’ Perceptions Towards Nepotism in Tourism and Hospitality Industry

Purpose – Nepotism is an old social phenomenon that exists in many societies. It was associated with the human need to secure the requirements of their life and improve their social life. Nepotism is the practice between those with control of favoring relatives or friends, by providing them specific jobs. This research aims at understanding the impact of nepotism on employees' perceptions in tourism and hospitality industry.Design – This study used cause–effect model (Ishikawa diagram) to investigate employees' perceptions towards nepotism in tourism and hospitality industry. The conceptual framework is used as a tool to structure the layout of the analysis. This led to the development of a model for the perceptions of employees towards nepotism in tourism and hospitality industry.Methodology – This research used a qualitative analysis with purpose sampling technique. Interviews with human resource managers in selected hotels and travel agencies in Egypt were implemented.Findings – The main finding is nepotism has major negative impacts on employees in tourism and hospitality industry as it affects job satisfaction, job stress, job commitment, tourism and hospitality organizational citizenship, performance and employee's turnover. Finally, this research provides some recommendations and managerial implications to investors and managers in tourism and hospitality industry in order to overcome the nepotism