Abstract:
Hotels in Western Uganda continue to face survivability challenges arising from weak
succession planning structures and informal cultural practices that undermine
leadership continuity. This study examined how succession planning practices (skill
development, mentorship, and internal promotion) and organizational culture affect
hotel survivability. In addition the study examined the relationships between succession
planning practices (skill development, mentorship, and internal promotion) and
organizational culture, and further explored the moderating role of organizational
culture in the relationship between succession planning practices and hotel
survivability. Guided by leadership development, tournament and dynamic capability
perspectives, the study adopted a pragmatic, convergent mixed-methods design
involving 200 management employees and 10 key informants from forty hotels.
Quantitative data were analyzed using structural equation modeling, and qualitative
data were thematically analyzed. Findings revealed that organizational culture is a
critical determinant of hotel survivability, as it fosters adaptability, resilience, and
shared values that sustain business continuity. While skill development, mentorship and
internal promotion were not statistically significant, qualitative insights emphasized
that financial literacy, innovation, adaptability and leadership training enhance
managerial readiness for transition. The study concludes that nurturing a strong and
enabling culture and continuous learning climate strengthens leadership pipelines and
improves hotel survivability. The study recommends aligning skill development,
mentorship and promotion systems with strategic objectives to build sustainable
leadership capacity. The findings contribute to hospitality management literature by
integrating succession planning and organizational culture into a unified model of hotel
survivability, offering practical guidance for managers seeking to institutionalize
leadership continuity in the competitive hospitality environments.
