Why are there different schools of thought on strategic management? Do you think it is
confusing to have several different views on strategic management?
There are different schools of thought on strategic management because each destination has its
distinctions. These distinctions cut across all spheres. The environmental characteristics of several
destinations will be different and require their own management strategy to preserve the environment.
The same is true for the type of destination and the subsequent demographics they will naturally
attract-this too will require its own consideration in management. The environment and customer
expectations are just two examples, but the theme is that different schools of thought on strategic
management exist to meet the varying needs of different tourism destinations, in an attempt to make
them develop, sustain, and continue to grow.
I do not think it is confusing to have several different views on strategic management. I actually think it
is healthy for the tourism industry for different views on management to exist. By having different
ideas, the tourism industry will not have a “bottleneck” effect on its management. By having more
views and ideas on management, there can be evolution and different mixtures of strategy to fit the
needs of different organizations. Also in time, the current and future individuals interested in,
researching, or working in the tourism industry may have their own creative contributions to different
strategic management styles. The aforementioned is quite important, as stronger and more efficient
management styles are more likely to develop from an array of views on strategic management, instead
of stemming from one single mainstream view of strategic management.