The innovativeness of Thessalian wood and furniture SMEs : towards an understanding of internal and external drivers
Part of : MIBES Transactions : international journal ; Vol.4, No.1, 2010, pages 31-48
Issue:
Pages:
31-48
Abstract:
The international literature has dealt extensively with innovativeness, both in theory, as well as in a plethora of empirical studies. Radical innovations encompass high quality action that contributes to the creation of new sectors, products or markets. Cooper (1998) adds that as long as innovations become more radical, they lead to evident and risky removal from existing practices. It is obvious that this kind of innovation does not appear at the level of the wood and furniture industry which is characterized as a low - tech industry (OECD, 2002). For this particular reason the present study turns to the search of characteristics and capabilities that contribute to the growth of innovation in the Thessalian wood and furniture enterprises using the Schumpeterian concept of innovation. In this paper Innovation is related to a firm's ability to trace and absorb external information, knowledge and technologies. A recent trend in the innovative performance of a firm is to be related with the information gathered by customers and suppliers, competitors, universities, and public research organizations or the one stemming from internal sources such as production and sales. Empirical data was acquired via a recent study of 45 Thessalian small and micro wood and furniture companies. Descriptive statistics expose their mediocrity, regarding the use and exploitation of the above mentioned internal or external drivers. Regression analyses examine the differentiation of enterprises regarding their innovativeness, based on the Technological Innovation Capabilities. Parameters of exterior environment that contribute or deter the innovativeness of Thessalian wood and furniture enterprises were statistically compered.The results show that Thessalian wood and furniture enterprises are not particularly innovative. Where mechanisms for innovation exist, they are lactated within the firms' production activities and their own supply chain. Furthermore, the local enterprise support environment does not contribute positively to the growth of innovative action: the enterprises do not approach or show trust for the institutions that support innovation and often appear not to know of their existence.
Subject:
Subject (LC):
Keywords:
innovativeness, business environment, technological innovation capabilities, wood and furniture industry
Notes:
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