Conservative culture, innovative culture, and innovative performance: a multi-group analysis of the moderating role of the job type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the effect of organisational culture by its two dimensions (innovative organisational culture and conservative organisational culture) on innovative performance and also investigate the moderating role of the job type on innovative performance in the relationship between innovative organisational culture and conservative organisational culture. Design/methodology/approach For this study’s purposes, 321 questionnaires from employees of Jordanian private universities were analysed. Convergent validity and discriminant validity tests were performed. Data reliability was confirmed. A bootstrapping technique was used to analyse the data. The multi-group analysis was performed to investigate the moderating role of job type. Findings The results of this study indicate that the innovative organisational culture will improve innovative performance and that a conservative culture reduces innovation opportunities. Moreover, innovative organisational culture promotes innovative performance for all employees regardless of who holds administrative positions. Research limitations/implications This cross-sectional study provides a snapshot at a given moment in time, a methodological limitation that affects the generalisation of its results. Moreover, this study adopted subjective measures and the results are limited to one country, Jordan. Practical implications This paper contributes to drawing the attention of senior management to the importance of innovation culture in the performance of innovation at Jordanian private universities surveyed, in particular, and other organisations in general. Social implications The social impact of this study is to respond to the challenge of building an innovation-based culture and to limit the effects of a conservative culture that limits the response to innovation. Originality/value This study has important implications for leaders in general. It also highlights the need for organisations to develop an orientation towards innovative organisational culture instead of the classic approach based on the conservative culture of all its members (both administrative and non-administrative employees) and to invest in training that supports this trend, thus increasing their innovative performance, which contributes to raising their capabilities to excel, compete and achieve high levels of performance.