Workplace Learning in the Malaysian Tourism Sector

Author: Shamuni Kunjiapu

Publisher: SIRD and New Era

ISBN: 9789672464204

Weight:

Year: 2021

Page: 162pp

Price: RM30

Lack of skills and innovative ability among employees hampers the competitiveness of an organisation regardless of its size. Yet human capital can be developed through workplace learning. This book explores workplace learning among employees of small to mid-sized tourism related enterprises. It looks at types of learning, factors that encourage it, competencies that are developed through it and job satisfaction as the outcome of participating in workplace learning.

Based on quantitative and qualitative research, including interviews with employees, this book argues that informal learning is the foremost type of workplace learning, whilst the main factor encouraging workplace learning is the organisational culture. Findings also showed that soft competencies are by far the most important competencies developed and that there is a significant relationship between workplace learning, competencies developed and job satisfaction. This study establishes the importance of small to mid-sized tourism enterprises as a learning organisation. Besides this, it also urges organisations to rethink their workplace culture in order to encourage workplace learning, and encourages authorities to redesign training programmes for small to mid-sized organisations.

About the Author

Shamuni Kunjiapu is an Assistant Professor of Management in the Department of Business Studies and the Director of The Centre for Professional and Executive Development at New Era University College, Malaysia. With a Business Administration background, her research interests lie in the areas of management, entrepreneurship, strategy, teaching & learning, mental health and emotional well-being. Her published works cover topics such as small-medium enterprises, competencies development, workplace learning, learning anxieties and psychological well-being. Presently, she is leading a research project to study and resolve problems related to stress, anxiety and depression among students in her Faculty.