Strategic Knowledge Management and Its Role in Sustainable Development: A Hospitality Sector Perspective from Nagpur

Abstract

With the growing environmental concerns and the need to conduct business in a more sustainable way, hospitality industry in growing urban centres such as Nagpur also needs to change and this can be done through the use of strategic knowledge management (SKM) systems. In this research paper, there is a critical analysis of the impact of adaptation and implementation of SKM amongst hotels and restaurants within Nagpur district towards ensuring sustainable development. Through a mixed-method research design comprising of structured questionnaires and qualitative interviews, the research assesses the level at which knowledge creation, sharing, storage and application impacts on environmental, economic and social sustainability objectives. The quantitative results, which are backed by both descriptive and inferential statistics, show that there is a strong correlation between the existence of structured knowledge management practices and the sustainable performance, including streamlined use of resources, employee effectiveness, environmentally-friendly activities, and prolonged profitability. Qualitative insights also indicate that although formal knowledge systems are not well developed in smaller establishments, informal knowledge transfer mechanisms in the form of staff training, collaborative problem solving and managerial encouragement are important mechanisms in developing organizational sustainability. The research makes an emphases on the necessity of integrated SKM framework capable of aligning knowledge practices with sustainability strategic objectives. In general, this study adds to the ever-evolving literature about sustainable hospitality since it shows that strategic knowledge management is not only an operational instrument but a key facilitator of competitive and sustainable advantage in a volatile service-oriented market such as Nagpur. The paper gives a conclusion and makes realistic recommendations to the stakeholder in the industry and policymakers to be able to institutionalize knowledge-based sustainability approach in the regional hospitality sector.