Perceptions of Tourist Guides on Employee Empowerment: Behavioral Approach

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the perceptions of tourist guides on employee empowerment in the context of behavioral approach. Employee empowerment practises of travel agency operation department managers were tried to determine in the view of tourist guides. In this frame, a questionnaire was developed and applied to tourist guides who worked as a guide actively in the English language. Data, obtained between 2014 and 2015, was analyzed by using the SPSS statistical program. In this frame reliability analysis and factor analysis were used. Also independent samples t test and ANOVA test were used in order to determine whether there was a siginificant differences between independent variables and scale items. According to the results tourist guides had positive perceptions about employee empowerment practices. Operation managers were mostly applied employee empowerment about communication, giving responsibility and applying personal capabilities to work. Congratulating successes, giving knowledge and education and encouraging had the lowest mean scores according to tourist guides. In addition, it was determined in the study that there was a significant difference between genders, ages and working years in terms of employee empowerment. Considering this result male guides felt more empowered than female guides. Also, it was determined that the more years they work the more they feel empowered.