Organizational Innovation Culture, Digitalization and Perceived Food Safety Control Performance in a Malaysian Public Regulatory Agency

Food safety regulatory agencies must respond to changing risks while maintaining consistent statutory controls. This study examines Organizational Innovation Culture (OIC) and Digitalization Initiatives as two focal predictors of perceived Food Safety Control Performance (FSCP) among 211 Food Technology Officers in Malaysia’s Food Safety and Quality Division (FSQD), Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH). The cross-sectional questionnaire included 10 retained OIC items, five separate digitalization items, and 12 performance items. In the thesis PLS-SEM model, transformational leadership was also included as an adjustment predictor. OIC was positively associated with perceived performance (β = 0.265, p < .001), while the digitalization path was positive but not statistically significant (β = 0.084, p = .212). The three-predictor model explained 73.6% of variation in perceived performance (R² = 0.736); this figure cannot be attributed to the two focal predictors alone. The findings suggest that innovation culture merits attention in regulatory practice, while the distinct contribution of digitalization needs further study.

Organizational Innovation Culture; Digitalization Initiatives; Food Safety Control Performance

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