Nature and strategy of product innovations in SMEs: A case study-based comparative perspective of Japan and India
MH Bala Subrahmanya
Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
PP: 104
Abstract
This paper traces the nature and strategy of product innovations of two SMEs in two different economic environments - one each in Japan and India.
While the background of entrepreneurs and internal environment are similar, what distinguishes the two is the external environment. Though external sources of support appear similar outwardly, Indian external sources lack the much needed reputation for the capability of delivering productive assistance for technological innovations in manufacturing enterprises. That is why the Japanese SME could take advantage of its external sources but not the Indian SME. Further, the domestic market has ably supported and absorbed innovated products of the Japanese SME whereas the Indian SME has increasingly targeted its innovated products at the international market[i].
[i] The Japanese and Indian case studies used in this paper have been earlier used separately for two different papers in two different journals, namely, (i) Asia Pacific Tech Monitor (2006) January-February: 40-44, and (ii) International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management (2005) 5(5/6): 401-420, respectively.
Keywords
SMEs, technological innovation, entrepreneurship, Ota, Japan, Mysore, India
References
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