Strategic Learning Capability and Innovativeness of Private Hospitals in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

This study examined the relationship between Strategic Learning Capability and innovativeness in private hospitals in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. External Focus and Customer-Centric Strategy were adopted as dimensions of Strategic Learning Capability, while Product Innovativeness and Process Innovativeness were adopted as measures of Organizational Innovativeness. Seventy (70) employees from a sample of 72 and a population of 88 returned copies of the questionnaire administered. Data were analyzed through Spearman’s Rank Order Correlation Coefficient, using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Results showed that External Focus has a positive and significant relationship with Product Innovativeness (rho = .801) and Process Innovativeness (rho= .712). Results also showed that Customer-Centric Strategy has medium positive relationship with Product innovativeness (rho = .359) and Process Innovativeness (rho = .430). Based on the results, it was found out that Strategic Learning Capability of the hospitals significantly and positively influences their ability to innovate. This study is in consonance with earlier studies. It was recommended that hospitals should increase their strategic learning capability by designing strategic learning programmes for their employees, create an environment for employees to take decisions about their work and reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks. It was suggested that further studies should be carried out using other dimensions of strategic learning capability and measures of innovativeness, and in other sectors of the economy.