Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

Innovation in SMEs the impact of strategic orientation and environmental perceptions

Innovation in SMEs the impact of strategic orientation and environmental perceptions Purpose To investigate the role and impact of strategic orientation and environmental perceptions on innovation and supporting mechanisms such as process technologies and management practices, in SMEs.Designmethodologyapproach A quantitative approach based on a random sampling methodology of 1,000 SMEs. Construct validity was tested in the qualitative phase of the research.Findings SMEs can be categorised as either prospectors or defenders. This polarisation was confirmed in this study. For example, prospectors are more likely to engage in new product development, whereas defenders are five times more likely to modify an existing product than introduce a newly patented product. Prospectortype firms tend to deploy more new process technologies and leading management practices compared with defender type firms, particularly in a turbulent operating environment. Defenders recognise the need to catch up and indicate that they intend to introduce process technologies over the next two years. Firms tend to place a greater emphasis on innovation in turbulent operating environments.Research limitationsimplications The study was restricted to two different sector types engineering and electronics. Future studies should examine other sectors and their sub sectors, possibly augmented by qualitative indepth case studies or an ethnographic approach.Practical implications The practical implications of the study are outlined in the paper. Chief executives are encouraged to align their strategic orientation with their innovation strategy. In addition, defender type firms should consider the greater use of process technologies and management practices.Originalityvalue This paper contributes to the integration of strategic orientation and innovation. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management Emerald Publishing

Innovation in SMEs the impact of strategic orientation and environmental perceptions

Loading next page...
 
/lp/emerald-publishing/innovation-in-smes-the-impact-of-strategic-orientation-and-LLF1BMehLl

References (66)

Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © Emerald Group Publishing Limited
ISSN
1741-0401
DOI
10.1108/17410400510576595
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Purpose To investigate the role and impact of strategic orientation and environmental perceptions on innovation and supporting mechanisms such as process technologies and management practices, in SMEs.Designmethodologyapproach A quantitative approach based on a random sampling methodology of 1,000 SMEs. Construct validity was tested in the qualitative phase of the research.Findings SMEs can be categorised as either prospectors or defenders. This polarisation was confirmed in this study. For example, prospectors are more likely to engage in new product development, whereas defenders are five times more likely to modify an existing product than introduce a newly patented product. Prospectortype firms tend to deploy more new process technologies and leading management practices compared with defender type firms, particularly in a turbulent operating environment. Defenders recognise the need to catch up and indicate that they intend to introduce process technologies over the next two years. Firms tend to place a greater emphasis on innovation in turbulent operating environments.Research limitationsimplications The study was restricted to two different sector types engineering and electronics. Future studies should examine other sectors and their sub sectors, possibly augmented by qualitative indepth case studies or an ethnographic approach.Practical implications The practical implications of the study are outlined in the paper. Chief executives are encouraged to align their strategic orientation with their innovation strategy. In addition, defender type firms should consider the greater use of process technologies and management practices.Originalityvalue This paper contributes to the integration of strategic orientation and innovation.

Journal

International Journal of Productivity and Performance ManagementEmerald Publishing

Published: Mar 1, 2005

There are no references for this article.