ABSTRACT
The study investigated the relationship between innovation and organizational resilience in
selected manufacturing firms in Enugu state, Nigeria. The study aimed to achieve the following
specific objectives: to determine the extent to which process innovation affect organizational
response; to ascertain the effect of product innovation on business vulnerability; to determine
the nature of the relationship between service innovation and adaptive capacity; and to
ascertain the extent of the relationship between radical innovation and organizational recovery.
The study was conducted using the survey design. The population of the study was 1400
employees from Nigeria Breweries Limited, Innoson Technical and Industrial Company Limited,
Juhel Nigeria Limited. A sample of 302 respondents was drawn from the population using Stat
Trek’s planning wizard tool. The sources of data were both primary and secondary. The primary
data were collected through questionnaire and interview schedule while secondary data were
sourced from relevant journals, textbooks and internet materials. Questionnaire as the
instrument for data collection was designed on a five-point likert scale according to the
objectives of the study. Content validity was used to ensure that the variables were adequately
covered.
The reliability of the instrument was done through the use of pilot study yielding a
reliability index of 0.89 which indicated a high degree of items consistency. Regression analysis
was used to test hypotheses one and two while Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used
was used to test hypothesis three and four. The study found that process innovation affects
organizational response to a great extent; product innovation significantly reduces business
vulnerability; there existed a positive relationship between service innovation and adaptive
capacity; there is a significant relationship between radical innovation and organizational
recovery. The study concluded that when innovative activities are encouraged in organizations,
it enhances the resilient stance and capacities of the organization. Based on the findings of the
study, it was recommended that organizations through institutionalized policies can effectively
manage their innovative tendencies and activities; organizations should create an enabling
environment which encourages employee creativity and innovative capacities.
