Motivations for and barriers to innovation in non-profit organizations: The case of nursing homes in Northern Portugal

Abstract

To contribute to the empirical literature on innovation in non-profit organizations, this study examines innovation in Private Social Solidarity Institutions with social responses for the elderly in Northern Portugal. It enriches the literature by clarifying the concept of innovation applied to non-profit organizations, which represents a perspective different from the business context. Moreover, it is important to support the innovation decision-making process in similar non-profit organizations.

For this study, the population was surveyed through questionnaires based on the PUBLIN research project, which has already been applied in different countries, and the targets were employees of organizations with social responses for the elderly. Our sample is small, with 28 respondent institutions and 51 employees, but it is representative, as it includes institutions from all districts in Northern Portugal. The study employed a quantitative approach, particularly factor analysis, multiple linear regression, and correlation analyses, using scales already applied in other dimensions of the social sector, to understand the effect of each innovation dimension/determinant on creativity and innovation in non-profit organizations. The results show that in these organizations with social responses for the elderly, learning orientation, risk-taking, and job satisfaction have a positive impact on innovation.