4. Effect of Resilience Strategies on Business Continuity in The Hospitality Industry in Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

The evolving business landscape faces numerous threats, including cyber-attacks, IT breakdowns, supply chain disruptions, and natural disasters. The digitization and globalization of business processes introduced new vulnerabilities, further underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has brought attention to how vital resilience is. In spite of this, a lot of businesses lack thorough business continuity plans. With a focus on five-star hotels in Nairobi County, this study evaluated the effect of resilience strategies on business continuity within Kenya's hospitality sector. Guided by Prospect Theory, Management Theory, and Organizational Learning Theory, the research explored the effects of financial, operational, and human resource resilience strategies. The study involved senior managers from 10 five-star hotels, with a target population of 90 senior managers. A correlational research design was used. Purposive sampling was used to select participants with specific roles relevant to the research objectives. The Census survey approach was adopted, given the manageable size of the population. Primary data were collected via questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 27.0, employing both descriptive and inferential statistics, including multiple linear regression and paired t-tests. Diagnostic checks were performed to assess the assumptions of multiple linear regression and Pearson correlation, including checks for linearity, independence, homoscedasticity, and normality of residuals. Qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis. The finding of the study revealed a significant positive association between financial resilience and business continuity, indicating that stronger financial resilience contributed to improved business continuity within Kenya's hospitality industry, emphasizing strategies like revenue diversification and emergency funding. However, no significant relationship between operational or human resource resilience and business continuity was found. The study recommended that hospitality organizations adopt a holistic approach to resilience, focusing on culture, leadership, and employee engagement, and suggested further research into other influencing factors.