It is widely acknowledged that technological advances and scientific innovation are the most important sources of productivity growth and competiveness, as well as social and economic wellbeing. Increasingly, research and policy attention has come to focus on the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector as a key source of new product development, innovation and suppliers of new technologies. However, despite being recognised as vital parts of a dynamic process of the knowledge-based economy, there is relatively little known about the contemporary factors that contribute to the innovativeness, internationalization, economic performance and growth of SMEs. Increasingly firms are moving away from the 'closed innovation paradigm' in which most R&D is carried out in-house, in isolation and secrecy, to a more open way of working in which firms actively collaborate with other companies and institutions. It has been claimed that this new form of collaboration provides access to technologies and facilities that would otherwise take years and major investment to acquire in-house. This 'open innovation' is of great benefit to any company, but is incredibly useful for SMEs in particular. Although open innovation is receiving more attention in academic research, the existing literature is largely qualitative and focused on the practices of high-technology multi-national firms and generally ignores the work being carried out in this area by SMEs. Using a combination of theory and cutting edge empirical (quantitative) investigation, Pooran Wynarczyk strives to address this major gap in current literature.
Focussing on the relatively few small firms which grew rapidly, this book, originally published in 1993 uses face-to-face interviews as well as published records to identify and analyse the managerial factors most closely associated with successful small firms. The volume concentrates on the following key managerial issues: In what respects do the managerial backgrounds and aspirations of the founders of fast-growth small firms differ from those of non-fast-growth small firms? How is the process of growth managed? What incentives, remuneration packages and communication systems are instituted? How do these characteristics and experiences differ in fast-growth small firms from both the traditional small firm and large-firm sector? To what extent is it possible to explain the relative economic performance of small firms in terms of differences in their ownership, organizational and management structures.
This study, originally published in 1987, addresses the question of small firm performance. Drawing on an extensive database containing financial, employment and ownership data for several thousand small firms, the book examines whether small firms do actually provide jobs, whether they grow and why small firms fail. Guidance is given on how to spot the signs of impending failure in a small business, which is of use to accountants small business PR actioners and government grant providers.
Focuses on the challenges facing women who seek to create innovative entrepreneurial ventures, whilst also celebrating their scientific activities and contribution to technological advancement, society and economic development as a whole. This book investigates and demonstrates the innovative and inventive achievements of women.
Focussing on the relatively few small firms which grew rapidly, this book, originally published in 1993 uses face-to-face interviews as well as published records to identify and analyse the managerial factors most closely associated with successful small firms. The volume concentrates on the following key managerial issues: In what respects do the managerial backgrounds and aspirations of the founders of fast-growth small firms differ from those of non-fast-growth small firms? How is the process of growth managed? What incentives, remuneration packages and communication systems are instituted? How do these characteristics and experiences differ in fast-growth small firms from both the traditional small firm and large-firm sector? To what extent is it possible to explain the relative economic performance of small firms in terms of differences in their ownership, organizational and management structures.
This study, originally published in 1987, addresses the question of small firm performance. Drawing on an extensive database containing financial, employment and ownership data for several thousand small firms, the book examines whether small firms do actually provide jobs, whether they grow and why small firms fail. Guidance is given on how to spot the signs of impending failure in a small business, which is of use to accountants small business PR actioners and government grant providers.
Any successful business depends on the quality of its management team. But for a very small firm the relationship between management and economic performance is often more visible. Understanding the workings of this relationship can be difficult, particularly when studying small firms that have become highly successful in a short space of time, so developing more complex management structures. This study offers a systematic analysis of this important labour market, drawing on themes of organizational behaviour, strategy and leadership and addresses the public policy issue - the people gap. By exploring aspects of ownership, motivation, promotion, incentives and training, this study discusses how these issues have very different implications when related to the context of small firms rather than that of large firms. A central question posed is how far economic performance is likely to be affected by these different patterns of ownership, organizational and management structures.
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