Investigating organizational innovation in Iran's higher education system

The purpose of this study was to investigate organizational innovation in Iran higher education system. It was an applied-descriptive study using a survey method. The statistical population consisted of heads and deputies of universities authorized by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, Ministry of Health, Medical Education and Islamic Azad University of Khorasan Razavi including 320 individuals. 175 individuals were selected using cluster random sampling. The standard questionnaire of Ismail (2002) was used to collect data. The reliability coefficient of the questionnaire was calculated 0.947 using Cronbach's alpha. Face and content validity was calculated using experts’ opinion and construct validity was verified using confirmatory factor analysis. For statistical analysis of the data, one-sample t-test, kurtosis and elongation test, Friedman test, confirmatory factor analysis were used in Smart Pls, Spss software. Findings indicated that organizational innovation in the studied society is at an undesirable level (lower than the average), and the components of organizational innovation did not have the same ranking. The environment-feedback component had the highest rank in the population. Interpersonal feedback and environmental innovation, individual innovation, individual-feedback, evidence-driven learning and leadership innovation were ranked next, respectively (p-value <0.05). Given the unfavorable status of organizational innovation, it is recommended that universities and higher education institutions should enhance and improve organizational innovation and removing existing obstacles.