Innovation in the financial services industry in Malta

Abstract

The financial services sector in Malta has experienced rapid growth in the last 12 years and developed from a low rated offshore regime to a reliable and reputable financial services centre in the Mediterranean Region. The main objective of the dissertation is to investigate innovation in organizations operating in the financial services industry in Malta. The conceptual framework and research instruments were designed following an in depth analysis of literature on the subject. The research was conducted by means of a questionnaire administered to the whole population. The instrument used was pilot tested for reliability and validity. The data collected was analysed using statistical techniques. The results of this research demonstrate that the major stumbling blocks in building organisational innovation within the financial services sector in Malta are organisational culture and time constraints. Investment in innovation, including investment in twining, rewards, recognition and adequate resource allocation, is perceived to be low. Respondents perceive ideas originating from external sources to be more valuable than ideas generated internally while resources allocated to cross-functional project teams are very limited. For organisations in the financial services sector to compete through innovation more investment and organisational commitment is required in innovative activities including training and development of human resources in entrepreneurship, creativity and know ledge sliming skills, allocation of adequate resources together with setting up of formal systems for the storage and selection of innovative ideas.