Assessment of Organisational Innovation: An Analytical Framework for Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

This study analyses the degree of organisational innovation (OI) in Spanish universities and its relationship with institutional competitiveness, proposing a robust analytical framework for its assessment. A mixed, sequential and explanatory design was used, integrating a documentary analysis of R&D indicators, semi-structured interviews with 15 university managers and the validation of an OI questionnaire applied to 387 engineering students and graduates. Qualitative data were analysed with ATLAS.ti 9 and quantitative data were analysed using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM) in AMOS v.27, obtaining satisfactory fit indices (CFI = 0.970; RMSEA = 0.051). The results reveal moderate development of OI (Organisational Innovation), with significant differences between institutions according to their level of digitisation, strategic policies and organisational culture. Creativity emerged as the main predictor of key competencies such as active learning and technological design, while excessive institutional openness had negative effects on self-management.