Product and Service Innovation as Predictors of School Performance

Abstract

Every business organisation strives to consistently improve performance with a view to enjoy competitive advantage within the industry. One of the major forces that effectively position organisations in the market place and enhance performance is innovation. Therefore, innovation is a major driver of organisational performance. This study investigated the relationship between product/service innovation and school performance. The study was conducted as a census study of 98 private primary schools in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The study employed the mean and standard deviation for univariate analysis, while the pearson correlation was used for test of hypothesis. The result of the test for the relationship between product/service innovation and the measures of school performance reveals that product/service innovation, plays a key role in the outcome of school performance. The test affirms to a significant relationship and positive influence of product/service innovation on related measures of school performance comprising enrolment growth, financial stability, parent satisfaction, and academic performance. The result reveals that product/service innovation, enhances these measures, contributing immensely to the outcome of school performance. This indicate that product/service innovation plays a crucial role in the extent to which the private primary schools are able to drive their overall performance.Thus, it is the conclusion of this study, that strengthening product/service innovative practices and behaviour in private primary schools, is useful in enhancing the performance of such schools. The study therefore recommends that administrators and managements of private primary schools should focus on creating the required supportive framework that allows for and encourages product/service innovation in the operations and activities of the schools, especially in line with the development of content and services. This is crucial as it contributes to the creative pool of the school and enhances its performance outcome.