Assessing the impact of Innovation, Imitation, and Invention on the Decisional Roles of Managers in Multinational Corporations [MNCs]

This study assessed the impact of innovation, imitation, and invention on the decisional roles ofmanagers in multinational corporations (MNCs) operating in Nigeria. The motivation for theresearch stemmed from the growing importance of knowledge-based and technology-drivenmanagement practices in enhancing decision-making efficiency, adaptability, andcompetitiveness in a globalized business environment. The study aimed to determine how thesethree dimensions of creativity and strategic adaptation influence managerial decisions indynamic organisational contexts. Grounded in the Innovation Diffusion Theory and DynamicCapabilities Framework, the study adopted an explanatory research design with a quantitativeapproach. Data were collected through structured questionnaires distributed to 260 managersand staff across selected MNCs, out of which 235 valid responses were retrieved, representing a90% response rate. Statistical analysis using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling(PLS-SEM) was employed to test the hypothesized relationships.The results showed thatinnovation was the most influential factor with a positive impact on decision positions ofmanagers (0.557, p < 0.05), then invention (0.248, p < 0.05) and imitation (0.201, p < 0.05).These findings demonstrate that creative and adaptive practices are highly important inenhancing the efficiency of managerial decisions made, strategic planning and responsivenessto market dynamics. The paper concludes that it is necessary to be consistent in investing ininnovative capability and organizational learning systems in order to increase managerialperformance in multinational enterprises. Its recommendations are that the corporate leadersand policy makers initiate formulated innovation policies, institute capacity-building schemes,and pursue digital transformation strategies as a way of enhancing decision quality and globalcompetitiveness in the multinational industry.