Title: Innovation orientation and performance in the not-for-profit sector

Authors: Mark Klassen; C. Brooke Dobni; Veronica Neufeldt

Addresses: Edwards School of Business, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5A7, Canada ' Edwards School of Business, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5A7, Canada ' Edwards School of Business, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5A7, Canada

Abstract: Innovation is increasingly gaining attention by not-for-profits (NPOs) as their environment is becoming more competitive, complex and stakeholder driven. This objective of this research is to develop a better understanding of the association between innovation orientation and performance. This is accomplished through a survey of registered and active Canadian NPOs. The innovation orientation approach in this study has advantages given the holistic nature and inclusion of multiple innovation determinants to measure the state of innovation in NPOs. The results suggest that NPOs with high innovative orientations have a positive relationship with the performance metrics of beneficiary satisfaction, resource attraction, peer reputation, effectiveness, and optimism in meeting future objectives. In contrast, NPOs with low innovation orientations did not present any meaningful associations with the performance constructs suggesting that innovation may not have a robust impact on performance amongst low orientation NPOs.

Keywords: innovation; not-for-profits; NPOs; strategy; innovation orientation; measurement.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBIR.2020.111769

International Journal of Business Innovation and Research, 2020 Vol.23 No.4, pp.540 - 560

Received: 06 Dec 2018
Accepted: 06 Jun 2019
Published online: 14 Dec 2020 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article