Abstract
The thesis consists of six parts in which the conduct of the study, its findings and conclusions are described. The aim has been to determine whether a methodology could be devised for analysing the activities of hotel managers with a view to providing meaningful data for comparison between units and with findings of other studies. It is proposed that the development of such a methodology would provide a means of analysis which could be used for designing courses which would more effectively provide for the training needs of hotel managers. Part 1 examines the general approach of theorists to the analysis management work and the effect of this on current management teaching. It identifies the need for measurement and empirical data, rather than normative abstractions, as a major basis for construction of thesis about management as an activity. Part 2 develops criteria for examining work related to this thesis and summarises studies which fulfil these criteria. Each of these studies is described in terms of purpose, period of study, number of managers involved, method of collection of data and the findings of the study. Part 3 reviews the relevance of related studies to this study and describes the design and conduct of the present study derived from these. Five aspects of activity are derived in terms of the activity itself, the function with which it is associated, its content, the location in which it occurred and the interaction which took place. Part 4 tabulates the findings of the study both as a general summary and for individual managers in six categories: Activities as a percent of total events; Activities as a percent of total time; Activities related to functions; Activities related to content; Time spent in different locations; Time spent in interactions. Part 5 comments on the methodology and validity of the data obtained and tentative comparisons are made between the findings of this and other studies. Part 6 describes improvements which could be made to the methodology of this study in the light of experience and draws tentative conclusions about the pattern of hotel management activity as revealed by this study.