Process framework for innovation through tradition and its antecedents in rural heritage B&B
International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management
ISSN: 0959-6119
Article publication date: 13 June 2022
Issue publication date: 1 November 2022
Abstract
Purpose
Innovation through tradition (ITT) is an increasingly important area of research particularly in the creative and cultural industries. The purpose of this study is to develop a process framework of ITT for rural heritage bed and breakfast (B&B) sector and investigate the antecedents and challenges of ITT implementation.
Design/methodology/approach
Nine heritage B&Bs displaying successful ITT in Songyang county in China were selected as the research site. Multiple cases of B&B were interviewed, and some observations were conducted. This study adopted the process-oriented reflexive critical incident technique to collect qualitative data and analysed it thematically.
Findings
Based on the findings, a five-phase innovation framework is proposed to demonstrate how ITT could be achieved in practice. These phases are idea generation, idea evaluation, initial implementation, continuing implementation and sustaining improvement. Three key antecedents (experience corridors, networks and institutional pressures) of ITT implementation were also identified.
Practical implications
This study has showed that rural heritage B&Bs can differentiate themselves from competition by the means of ITT. This study proposes a process framework for this kind of innovation bringing to light the required steps, the antecedents and key activities which the practitioners should pay great attention. This study highlights the needs for continuing and sustaining innovations in the long term.
Originality/value
This study proposes a novel five-phase process framework of ITT to encompass the innovation activities in heritage setting. For practitioners, this study recommends enhancing the sensing capability of local entrepreneurs through personal travel experience and establishing business networks as the key antecedents of a successful ITT under rural heritage setting.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was partly supported by The National Social Science Foundation of China (No. 18BJY203).
Declaration of interest statement: We declare that we have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that can inappropriately influence our work, there is no professional or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service and/or company that could be construed as influencing the position presented in or the review of, the manuscript entitled.
Citation
Wang, W., Ding, L., Chan, J.H. and Qi, X. (2022), "Process framework for innovation through tradition and its antecedents in rural heritage B&B", International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 34 No. 12, pp. 4329-4354. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-08-2021-0990
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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