DO SMES CLUSTER AROUND INNOVATION ACTIVITIES? DISCOVERING ACTIVE, INCREMENTAL AND OPPORTUNISTIC INNOVATORS

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (07) ◽  
pp. 1650062
Author(s):  
GIAN LUCA CASALI ◽  
ROXANNE ZOLIN ◽  
SUKANLAYA SAWANG

Do SMEs cluster around different types of innovation activities? Are there patterns of SME innovation activities? To investigate we develop a taxonomy of innovation activities in SMEs using a qualitative study, followed by a survey. First, based upon our qualitative research and literature review we develop a comprehensive list of innovation activities SMEs typically engage in. We then conduct a factor analysis to determine if these activities can be combined into factors. We identify three innovation activity factors: R&D activities, incremental innovation activities and cost innovation activities. We use these factors to identify three clusters of firms engaging in similar innovation activities: active innovators, incremental innovators and opportunistic innovators. The clusters are enriched by validating that they also exhibit significant internal similarities and external differences in their innovation skills, demographics, industry segments and family business ownership. This research contributes to innovation and SME theory and practice by identifying SME clusters based upon their innovation activities.

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (02) ◽  
pp. 1650018
Author(s):  
Svetlana Panikarova ◽  
Maxim Vlasov

The aim of the research is to develop theory and practice of strategic planning in the field of knowledge generation as competitiveness factors of economic entities. The paper presents results of empirical researches of knowledge generation strategies that the Russian industrial enterprises realise. This study focuses on analysis of microdata (enterprise level) as the key instrument to reveal facts and hypotheses describing the innovation activities depending on different types of changed resource, quantity of new products made by the company, structure of costs for different types of knowledge, profit growth. The idea locates about strategies generation of different types of knowledge (operational, structural, functional) considerably differ. The authors prove that effective innovative company development, particularly in the difficult economic condition, stresses the importance of organising optimal cost structure for different types of knowledge. It is strategic knowledge management based on company strategy, its aims and growth trends that gives the most significant effect in the field of providing competitiveness.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-128
Author(s):  
Vanda Marakova ◽  
Anna Wolak-Tuzimek ◽  
Zuzana Tuckova

The competitive advantage of enterprises in the conditions of market economy is not generated merely by ensuring high quality products and services. Therefore, in their strategies, they need to involve elements such as corporate social responsibility. The aim of the paper is to identify the key sources of competitive advantage of large enterprises. In the empirical research, the hypothesis has been tested to determine if the application of corporate social responsibility by enterprises has a statistically significant effect on gaining competitive advantage in the market. The hypothesis is verified on the basis of the authors’ study of 253 large enterprises operating in Poland by means of exploratory factor analysis, the statistical method of reducing the number of classifying empirical variables, i.e. of discovering a structure in their interrelations. The procedure enabled the selection of the factors with the greatest statistical shares in explaining variability. To this end, the input space was rotated in accordance with the Varimax criterion, with the number of determined factors specified by means of the Kaiser criterion and Cattell’s scree test. The application of an exploratory factor analysis enabled the authors to construct an original factor model of sources of enterprise competitive advantage, with three factors identified: marketing, innovation activity and corporate social responsibility. This indicates that marketing activities, innovation activities and the application of corporate social responsibility are the key sources of competitive advantage in large enterprises operating in the market.


Author(s):  
Thorsten Meyer ◽  
Margret Xyländer

This chapter examines how which cases and parts of illness narratives are selected for a specific use in practice. It takes the perspective of qualitative researchers and apply ideas of sampling and generalizability to this question. It discusses the different types of sampling strategies in qualitative research and the relevance of each towards making generalization statements. It then reflects on the different roles that qualitative researchers might take in using illness narratives in practice, including the roles of agency or that the media might take. In light of these perspectives this chapter argues that decisions on how illness narratives are selected should be guided by the same rigour used in the conduct of a qualitative study. In short, criteria for their selection should be explicit and transparent.


2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Scheibelhofer

This paper focuses on gendered mobilities of highly skilled researchers working abroad. It is based on an empirical qualitative study that explored the mobility aspirations of Austrian scientists who were working in the United States at the time they were interviewed. Supported by a case study, the paper demonstrates how a qualitative research strategy including graphic drawings sketched by the interviewed persons can help us gain a better understanding of the gendered importance of social relations for the future mobility aspirations of scientists working abroad.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-69
Author(s):  
Ghada Awada

Abstract The study was set to examine the differences between religion and religiosity and to explore how communities can be protected against religious violence. The study also intended to investigate the motives and the effect that religious violence has had throughout history. The study employed the qualitative research method whereby the researcher carried out a meta-analysis synthesis of different research findings to make conclusions and implications that could answer the study questions. Using the literature review they conducted, the researchers carried out data collection. As such, the researcher employed the bottom-up approach to identify the problem and the questions along with the investigation framework of what they decided to explore. The findings of the study revealed that religious backgrounds should be the cornerstone to realize the diff erence between religion and religiosity. Religion is of divine origin whereas religiosity is specifically a humanistic approach and a behavioral model. The religious violence phenomenon is formed by interlocking factors such as the interpretation of religious texts which clearly adopt thoughts and heritage full of violence camouflaged by religion. It is recommended that governments use a strong strategy employing the educational system, summits and dialogs to successfully overcome religious violence. The summits on religion should result in starting a dialog that ensures acceptance of the different religions.


Author(s):  
Anatoliy Ivanovich Bogdanenko

In the monograph the theoretical identification of concepts and categorical series of state regulation of investment-innovation processes are investigated; the directions of optimization of the state policy of innovation and investment development management in Ukraine are determined; the organizational and legal principles of the state regulation of development of intellectual potential of the population are substantiated; the areas of development and improvement of the national innovation system as an object of state policy are highlighted and assessed. The monograph will be interesting for scholars, lecturers, doctoral and graduate students, and will also be useful to practical politicians, journalists and media workers and a wide range of readers interested in investment and innovation activities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 384 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-145
Author(s):  
Zh. Abylkassimova ◽  
G. Orynbekova ◽  
М. Alibayeva ◽  
O. Osadchaya

The article noted that the development of the innovation potential of enterprises in the regions of Kazakhstan contributes to the transition of the innovation economy, where goods with high added value will be produced. The article examines the factors affecting the innovation activity of the regions, considers the dynamics of innovation activity and identifies problems and tools for the development of innovative entrepreneurship. Key words: innovation, innovation activity, region, industrialization, human potential, infrastructure


2021 ◽  
pp. 026975802110106
Author(s):  
Raoul Notté ◽  
E.R. Leukfeldt ◽  
Marijke Malsch

This article explores the impact of online crime victimisation. A literature review and 41 interviews – 19 with victims and 22 with experts – were carried out to gain insight into this. The interviews show that most impacts of online offences correspond to the impacts of traditional offline offences. There are also differences with offline crime victimisation. Several forms of impact seem to be specific to victims of online crime: the substantial scale and visibility of victimhood, victimisation that does not stop in time, the interwovenness of online and offline, and victim blaming. Victims suffer from double, triple or even quadruple hits; it is the accumulation of different types of impact, enforced by the limitlessness in time and space, which makes online crime victimisation so extremely invasive. Furthermore, the characteristics of online crime victimisation greatly complicate the fight against and prevention of online crime. Finally, the high prevalence of cybercrime victimisation combined with the severe impact of these crimes seems contradictory with public opinion – and associated moral judgments – on victims. Further research into the dominant public discourse on victimisation and how this affects the functioning of the police and victim support would be valuable.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 4561
Author(s):  
Yabin Yu ◽  
Hua Cheng

Climate change and environmental conditions call for more attention to be paid to eco-friendly economic behavior. As a market-oriented environmental regulation, environmental tax can stimulate and guide enterprises’ environmental innovation in a neutral way. However, what elements connect the environmental tax and enterprise innovation activity together? Are all the enterprises’ innovation activities affected by the environmental tax in the same way? To answer the questions, the study uses the data of Chinese textile listed companies between 2004 and 2018 to explore the intermediary role of manpower and capital investment in the innovation chain and further analyze the influence of the heterogeneous factors such as property right, segmented industry, and region. The results show that the environmental tax can effectively promote the innovation capital input of Chinese textile enterprises, and the innovation manpower input plays a partial mediation role. At the same time, environmental tax can effectively promote the innovation performance output of Chinese textile enterprises, and innovation capital input plays a complete mediation role. In addition, heterogeneous factors such as property right, segmented industry and region will affect the relation of environmental tax to innovation input and output quality and greenness to varying degrees. The study makes a profound analysis of the relation of environmental tax on Chinese textile enterprises innovation by using the microdata at the enterprise level, providing a more targeted reference for making policies in the future.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 149
Author(s):  
Magdalena Pichlak ◽  
Adam R. Szromek

The paper aims to analyze the environmental aspects of innovation activity undertaken by companies and, in particular, to assess sustainable business leaders’ propensity to generate eco-innovation. The research described in the paper was descriptive and, to some extent, diagnostic. It was based on a non-random sample and was conducted—using the Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) method—in 2019 among 54 of the most eco-innovative Polish companies. The results of the research indicate that they are more likely to generate radical rather than incremental changes. Moreover, the most eco-innovative companies are those developing technologies for biodiversity protection. The results further indicate that companies with more than 50 employees have a higher propensity to develop incremental and radical eco-innovation than smaller firms with relatively fewer resources. Finally, this study shows that adopting an open innovation strategy strengthens the propensity to generate eco-innovation, especially radical ones. Moreover, developing such changes is dominated by the adoption of strategic and operational forward supply chain collaboration, involving the absorption of knowledge and information streaming directly from the market. The results can provide a frame for developing new business models incorporating collaboration in eco-innovation activities, especially in the situation of a post-pandemic recovery of the economy.


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