Archives
Innovativeness in small firms: An exploratory study of the perspectives of growth oriented owner-managers
Tim Mazzarol
University of Western Australia, WA
Abstract
The present paper is an exploratory study that examines the findings of a sample of 137 growth-oriented owner-managers of Australian small to medium enterprises in terms of their attitudes toward innovativeness among their employees. It considers the possible relationship that may lie between a set of factors identified as having relevance to the successful development of small businesses.
The paper suggests that enhanced innovative behaviour among employees is likely to take place in conjunction with other variables that influence overall organisational culture within the firm and highlights the importance of the owner-manager as a leader and role model.
Keywords
leadership, innovation, owner-managers, organizational culture, SMEs
References
Ansoff HI (1987) Strategic Management of Technology, The Journal of Business Strategy 7(3): 28-39.
Appleby A and Mavin S (2000) Innovation not imitation: Human resource strategy and the impact on world-class status, Total Quality Management 11(4-6): S554-S561.
Autio E and Lumme A (1998) Does the innovator role affect the perceived potential for growth? Analysis of four types of new, technology-based firms, Technology Analysis & Strategic Management 10(1): 41-45.
Badaway MK (1985) How To Prevent Creativity Mismanagement, Research Management pp.28-35.
Baran S, Zandan P and Vanston JH (1986) How Effectively are we Managing Innovation? Research Management January-February: 23-25.
Brunner GF (2001) The Tao of innovation, Research Technology Management 44(1): 45-51.
Burgelman RA (1984) Managing the Internal Corporate Venturing Process, Sloan Management Review Winter: 33-48.
Byron DL (1994) How internal venture groups innovate, Research Technology Management 37(2): 38-42.
Chaharbaghi K and Newman V (1996) Innovating: Towards an integrated learning model, Management Decision 34(4): 5-13.
Chandler GN, Keller C and Lyon DW (2000) Unraveling the Determinants and Consequences of an Innovation-Supportive Organizational Culture, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice Fall: 59-76.
Chin WW and Newsted PR (1999) Structural Equation Modeling Analysis with Small Samples Using Partial Least Squares, in Hoyle RH, Statistical Strategies for Small Sample Research. Thousand Oaks, Sage Publications, pp.307-322.
Coyne WE (2001) How 3M innovates for long-term growth, Research Technology Management 44(2): 21-24.
Cronbach LJ (1951) Coefficient Alpha and the Internal Structure of Tests, Psychometrica 16: 297-334.
Drazin R and Shoonhoven CB (1996) Community, population, and organization effects on innovation: A multilevel perspective, Academy of Management Journal 39(5): 1065-1083.
Foster WK and Pryor AK (1986) The Strategic Management of Innovation, The Journal of Business Strategy 7(1): 38-42.
Freel M (2000) Barriers to product innovation in small manufacturing firms, International Small Business Journal 18(2): 60-80.
Gibb AA (2000) SME policy, academic research and the growth of ignorance, mythical concepts, myths, assumptions, rituals and confusions, International Small Business Journal 18(3): 13-35.
Gresov C (1984) Designing Organizations to Innovate and Implement: Using Two Dilemmas to Create a Solution, Columbia Journal of World Business 3(Spring): 63-67.
Hair JF, Anderson RE, Tatham RL and Black WC (1992) Multivariate Data Analysis With Readings. New York, Macmillan.
Hall D (1992) The Hallmarks for Successful Business: Survival-Change-Growth. Oxfordshire, Mercury Books.
Hart SL and Quinn RE (1993) Roles executives play: CEOs, behavioral complexity, and firm performance, Human Relations 46(5): 543.
Holbert NB and Speece MW (1993) Practical Marketing Research: An Integrated Global Perspective. New York, Prentice-Hall.
Kaiser HF (1974) An Index of Factorial Simplicity, Psychometrika 39: 31-36.
Kanter RM (1989) When Giants Learn to Dance. New York, Touchstone.
Lorsch J W (1986) Managing Culture: The Invisible Barrier to Strategic Change, California Management Review 28(2): 95-109.
Lowe A (1995) The basic social process of entrepreneurial innovation, International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research 1(2): 54-76.
Markides C (1998) Strategic innovation in established companies, Sloan Management Review 39(3): 31-42.
McIntyre SH (1982) Obstacles to Corporate Innovation, Business Horizons January-February: 23-28.
Norris WC (1981) Developing Corporate Policies for Innovation: A Program of Action, Long Range Planning 14(4): 34-42.
North D and Smallbone D (2000) The innovativeness and growth of rural SMEs during the 1990s, Regional Studies 34(2): 145-157.
Papadakis V and Bourantas D (1998) The chief executive officer as corporate champion of technological innovation: An empirical investigation, Technology Analysis & Strategic Management 10(1): 89-109.
Pearson AE (1988) Tough-Minded Ways to Get Innovative, Harvard Business Review May-June: 99-106.
Perry TS (1995) How small firms innovate: Designing a culture for creativity, Research Technology Management 38(2): 14-20.
Pfeffer J (1994) Competitive Advantage Through People, California Management Review Winter: 9-28.
Porter ME (1990) The Competitive Advantage of Nations. New York, MacMillan Press.
Quinn JB (1980) Managing Strategic Change, Sloan Management Review Summer: 3-2.
Quinn JB (1985) Managing Innovation: Controlled Chaos, Harvard Business Review May-June: 73-84.
Raudsepp E (1987) Establishing a Creative Climate, Training and Development Journal pp.50-53.
Riddle D (2000) Competitive strategies set the stage for successful innovation, International Trade Forum 2: 22-23.
Scott SG and Bruce RA (1994) Determinants of innovative behavior: A path model of individual innovation in the workplace, Academy of Management Journal 37(3): 580.
Senge PM, Carstedt G and Porter PL (2001) Innovating our way to the next industrial revolution, MIT Sloan Management Review 42(2): 24-38.
Sonnenberg FK (1991) Strategies for Creativity, The Journal of Business Strategy January-February: 50-53.
Stein R and Pinchot G (1998) Are you innovative? Association Management 50(2): 74-77.
Stewart DW (1981) The Application and Misapplication of Factor Analysis in Marketing Research, Journal of Marketing Research 18: 51-62.
Stringer R (2000) How to Manage Radical Innovation, California Management Review 42(4): 70-88.
Takeuchi H and Nonaka I (1986) The New Product Development Game, Harvard Business Review January-February: 137-146.
Thwaites A and Wynarczyk P (1996) The economic performance of innovative small firms in the South East region and elsewhere in the UK, Regional Studies 30(2): 135-49.
Tushman M and Nadler D (1986) Organizing for Innovation, California Management Review 28(3): 74-92.
VanDenVen A (1986) Central Problems in the Management of Innovation, Management Science 32(5): 590-607.
Vossen RW (1998) Relative strengths and weaknesses of small firms in innovation, International Small Business Journal 16(3): 88-94.
eContent Home