The Effect of Nepotism on Hrm

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The effects of nepotism on human resource management
The case of three, four and five star hotels in Northern Cyprus
Huseyin Arasli
School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Eastern Mediterranean University, Mersin, Turkey

Effects of nepotism on HRM 295

Ali Bavik
Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Cyprus International University, Mersin, Turkey, and

Erdogan H. Ekiz
Department of Hotel and Tourism Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential effects of nepotism on human resource management (HRM) practices through the use of Turkish Cypriot hotel employees in three, four, and five star accommodation establishments in Northern Cyprus. Design/methodology/approach – Questionnaires were distributed to full time hotel employees in three, four, and five star hotels in Northern Cyprus. Of the 500 distributed, 257 usable questionnaires were retrieved. A judgmental sampling approach was used. Findings – The principal finding is that nepotism has a significant negative effect on HRM, job satisfaction, quitting intention, and negative word of mouth. The study also shows that HRM exerts a significant positive effect on job satisfaction. Research limitations/implications – This study reveals that nepotism is an unprofessional phenomenon that provides benefits merely to the family members or close friends. Therefore, nepotism paralyzes human resource practices and affects the level of satisfaction among employees. Although the job opportunities are limited in the hotel industry in north Cyprus, employees may think of quitting their jobs or using negative word of mouth if their job satisfaction level is not enhanced. Customers perceive and evaluate the quality by considering the attitude, behavior and tone of the voice of employees.

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About the authors Huseyin Arasli is an Associate Professor or management at Eastern Mediterranean University in north Cyprus. He has been teaching management related courses for ten years in tourism department and has recently published several scholarly articles in different journal such as Journal of Small Business Management, Total Quality Management and Business Excellence Journal, Tourism Management Journal, Services Marketing Quarterly Journal, International Journal of Bank Marketing, and International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance. Ali Bavik holds a Bs and MSc of Tourism and Hospitality Management from Eastern Mediterranean University in north Cyprus. He is currently working as a managing director of a local travel agency in north Cyprus. He published several scholarly articles in both international and national journals and present papers in local conferences. Erdogan H. Ekiz holds a Bs of Tourism and Hospitality Management and a MBA from Eastern Mediterranean University in north Cyprus. He currently works as an instructor in Cyprus International University in north Cyprus. He is teaching tourism and business courses for ten years in tourism and hospitality management department. He published several scholarly articles in both international and national journals as well as he attended and present papers in both local and international conferences. He is currently in search for PhD program in services marketing field. Erdogan H. Ekiz is the corresponding author and can be contacted at: [e-mail] To purchase reprints of this article please e-mail: [e-mail] Or visit our web site for further details: www.emeraldinsight.com/reprints