In July 2017, the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations in Tofino, British Columbia, Canada, grappled with mounting conservation costs, inconsistent and unreliable funding, and the erosion of their cultural identity within their Tribal Parks. Some of the community’s past knowledge had also been lost due to ongoing colonial impacts, and the sacred protocol for visitors to the land was often disregarded. The community also had to contend with the significant expenses required to sustain the lands, aggravated by inconsistent support from tourism operators and the government. Julian Hockin-Grant, a senior consultant with responsibilities spanning the entire Clayoquot region, faced a daunting challenge. In an average year, the Tribal Parks hosted approximately a million visitors engaging with the community in various ways. Managing funding was an arduous task, as donations and grants fluctuated annually, making budgeting and project planning difficult. Relying on volunteers and a limited crew of Guardians only stretched resources so far. Hockin-Grant’s mission was twofold: to secure greater funding opportunities and to ensure that financial progress remained within the operations of the Tribal Parks. He also had to craft strategies to strike a delicate balance between sustaining the Tla-o-qui-aht culture from extinction and coping with the influx of tourism that would generate support for the area.
Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations: Operations Management for Sustainable Tourism Development
Rachel Dodds, Shaun Tyler
Product #:W32216
Supplier:Ivey
Discipline:Organizational Behaviour/Leadership, Sustainability
Setting:Canada, 2018
Geography:
Your Price:$10.54
Purchase this material with a free Educator Account and enjoy more benefits:
- Free Educator Copy
- Free Teaching Notes
- Build your coursepack
- Discounted academic price
Learning Objectives
This case is appropriate for courses in operations management, cultural resilience, sustainability, and strategy at both undergraduate and graduate levels. The case addresses the importance of cultivating partnerships to generate sustained and enhanced financial gains. It also underscores the approach of engaging with local organizations to foster meaningful and mutually beneficial relationships as a key element in achieving these objectives. After working through the case and assignment questions, students will be able to complete at least one of the following (depending on time spent on the case):
- Weigh the values of cultural, environmental, and political issues when managing an organization in order of your perceived importance using the three pillars of sustainability and resilience (social, environmental, and economic impacts).
- Leverage stakeholder theory to problem-solve from different stakeholder angles.
- Understand the role of sustainable development within marketing and partnership development.
- Understand the impact of bias and how to address personal and cultural values in decision-making.
- Portray and explain the different elements that affect management within the hospitality and tourism industry.