Organizational culture and innovation capacity in micro-enterprises in the La Maná canton.
Keywords:
Organizational culture, innovation capacity, microenterprises, leadership, organizational changeAbstract
This article analyzes the relationship between organizational culture and innovation capacity in microenterprises in the La Maná canton, Ecuador, highlighting their relevance for local competitiveness. The study adopts a quantitative approach, with a non-experimental, cross-sectional, and correlational design. A structured survey was administered to 290 microenterprise owners selected by convenience, using Likert scales to measure dimensions of organizational culture (leadership, shared values, internal communication, and openness to change) and innovation capacity (product innovation, process improvement, and technology adoption). Analyses included reliability testing using Cronbach’s alpha, frequency analysis, Spearman correlation, and Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric tests. Results indicate that all dimensions are at a medium level, suggesting that organizational culture and innovation are present but not fully consolidated. Correlations between dimensions were low or negligible, with slight relationships observed between leadership and process improvement, and between openness to change and technology adoption. No significant differences were found among commercial, service, or production enterprises, indicating structural homogeneity in the local context. It is concluded that strengthening participative leadership, promoting openness to change, and improving internal communication are key strategies to enhance innovation in these microenterprises. Finally, the study recommends the development of public policies and training programs aimed at organizational and innovative development, to improve competitiveness, adaptability, and sustainability of microenterprises in local contexts. This research provides empirical evidence on internal factors influencing innovation and serves as a basis for future interventions to strengthen organizational structure and innovation capacity in small businesses.
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