Influence of Knowledge Creation on Organizational Resilience Among Travel Firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t5400Abstract
Knowledge creation have become essential for organizations seeking to build resilience in today's dynamic business environment. The tourism industry, particularly travel firms, faces unprecedented challenges that require effective knowledge utilization to maintain operational continuity. Thus, this study examined the influence of knowledge creation on organizational resilience among travel firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya. A mixed-methods research design was employed, targeting 286 participants drawn from travel firms and tourism-related institutions including KATO, KATA, TOSK, Ecotourism Kenya, the Tourism Regulatory Authority, Tourism Promotion Fund, Kenya Tourism Board, Tourism Research Institute, Kenya Tourism Federation, GTRCMC–EA, the Tourism Professional Association, and the State Department of Tourism. The sample size comprised of 233 respondents, representing an 81.47% response rate. Quantitative findings showed that knowledge creation had a significant positive effect on organizational resilience, demonstrating that travel firms with structured practices for generating new ideas, insights, and solutions were better able to withstand disruptions. Qualitative results revealed that although some firms had initiated knowledge creation activities, many relied heavily on informal practices that limited the institutionalization of creativity and innovation. The study concludes that knowledge creation is a critical driver of organizational resilience among travel firms but remains underdeveloped due to inconsistent structures, limited formalization, and insufficient institutional support. Strengthening knowledge creation systems, fostering collaborative innovation environments, and enhancing organizational mechanisms for generating new knowledge are essential for improving resilience capacity. The study recommends that travel firm managers should strengthen structured systems for knowledge creation and innovation, ensuring that such processes are institutionalized and supported through dedicated teams, professional development, and continuous learning mechanisms. The study further recommends that tourism sector policymakers should enact supportive regulatory frameworks that reduce barriers, promote collaboration, and provide incentives that enable travel firms to develop innovation hubs and advance sustainable tourism development.
Keywords: knowledge creation, organizational resilience, travel firms, Nairobi City County, Kenya
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