The integrated effect of Kaizen and innovation culture on the police performance: an empirical investigation

PurposeLimited use of Kaizen practices in police agencies, together with very few studies that investigated the link between it and police performance, gives a gap and good indication to conduct this study. Thus, this study seeks to explore and examine this relationship through the lens of innovation culture as a mediating factor.Design/methodology/approachThis paper was based on a survey with 352 effective participants, including the head section officers of the Dubai Police in the UAE. A structural equation modelling technique was used for statistical analysis.FindingsResults indicate that Kaizen was positively associated with police performance. Innovation culture also plays a mediating role in the relationship between Kaizen and police performance.Originality/valueThis paper has theoretical and practical contributions. It is one of the first studies to create and test the direct and indirect associations between Kaizen and police performance, providing evidence on the mediating role of innovation culture with regard to Kaizen and performance in the policing field.