Internal factors affecting the innovativeness of service enterprises

Abstract

The aim of this article is to indicate internal factors which affect the enhancement of corporate innovativeness. The Author attempts to identify the main factors by creating a model, subsequently verifying the theoretical assumptions in the context of empirical studies. The aim of the article determines its structure, which is divided into two basic parts: the theoretical and the empirical. The first part consists of the considerations of the main factors of innovativeness in the service enterprises and ends with the presentation of a model. The second part presents the results of two conducted surveys; specifically: the Author’s survey performed on a group of 215 tourist enterprises (hotels, touroperators and transport enterprises) in Poland carried out in years 2006-2008 and the survey performed on a group of 42 innovative touroperators carried out in 2011-2012. The respondents were asked to indicate the most important internal factors from 7 ones of importance for the innovation process. In order to achieve the objective, the questionnaire method was used. The study showed the following - there are determinants of innovativeness in the internal environment of respondents. The owner play a major role but the network internal cooperation is very important, too. This study presents the original results with implications for both research and practice.