Do SMEs cluster around innovation activities? Discovering active, incremental and opportunistic innovators

Casali, Gian Luca; Zolin, Roxanne; Sawang, Sukanlaya

Abstract

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.

• Online Publication Date: Sep 12, 2017
• Publication Date: 2017-11
• Deposit Date: Aug 24, 2023
• Publisher: World Scientific Publishing
• Pages: 419-444
• Book Title: Promoting Innovation in New Ventures and Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises
• Chapter Number: 17
• ISBN: 978-1-78634-347-5
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1142/9781786343482_0017
• Keywords: Innovation, innovation activities, taxonomy, SME, factor analysis, cluster analysis