Based on a random sample of 500 South Yorkshire non-hi-tech manufacturing small, medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) the quantitative findings support the hypothesis that size, strategic, and market ...orientation associate with innovation. The results show that prospectors are medium-sized companies and small companies, defenders. Prospectors are more innovative and market-oriented than defenders. The findings reveal that to succeed in an intense competitive environment, non-hi-tech manufacturing SMEs have to be proactive toward market opportunities, receptive to innovation and take the lead in new product innovation. However, their weaknesses include a lack of flexibility, a partial open culture and an organizational structure that impedes sustained innovation. This study addresses a gap in the literature, by linking innovation to the strategic orientation of the firm instead of examining firms' specific characteristics or the effects of external environment and structural factors. The research focuses on non-hi-tech manufacturing SMEs.
This article evaluates the international location decisions made by public listed Chinese firms during the period 2006–2008, using a Poisson count data regression model. Further, we categorize the ...firms into state-controlled and privately owned according to majority ownership. We find that the determinants of internationalization differ based on ownership. State-controlled firms are attracted to countries with large sources of natural resources and risky political environments. Private firms are more market seekers. Although all firms have strategic intent, the attraction is commercially viable technology rather than core research content. Our findings also show that existing theories can sufficiently explain the actions of private Chinese firms, but adjustments are needed to understand the behavior of state-controlled multinationals.
Innovation studies concentrate on factors contributing to innovation. However, governments seek clearer understanding of innovation outcomes in their appraisal of the costs and benefits of policies ...to promote innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This study examines organizational innovation (OI) outcomes in SMEs. Based on company interviews and a mail survey, the findings reveal OI results in enhanced productivity, margin, market leadership, and working environments. However, OI does not lead to operational efficiency and employees’ retention. Organizational innovation leads to companies operating outside their core competency but does not have an adverse environmental impact. Organizational innovation has greater impact on small firms. The paper includes practical and theoretical implications.
Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of organisational culture (OC) on organisational innovation performance (OIP) in family small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It ...seeks to establish the type of culture that lead to high innovation performance in family firms.
Design/methodology/approach
– A postal survey of family SMEs across sectors in the UK is conducted. The study employs multiple regression analyses to test which family business culture has an effect on OIP. Among the family business cultures tested are: an external cultural orientation, a flexible and open OC as well as an organisational climate based on open communication and trust, the founder culture, and a long-term cultural orientation.
Findings
– The findings show that a paternalistic and founder culture type do not have a positive effect on family firm innovation performance, but an entrepreneurial-like culture does, i.e. one that is externally oriented, flexible, proactive (refer to an open culture) and long-term oriented. Similarly, an inward focus culture such as, the founder culture impedes innovation; while an outward focus culture such as, an external orientation culture has a positive effect on family firm innovation performance.
Originality/value
– This study makes valuable contributions to the understanding of theory and practices of innovation in family businesses. It provides future research directions.
Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and develop a comprehensive theoretical framework of how innovation occurs, the end result, ...and impact on business financial performance, focusing on three types of innovations.Design methodology approach - The study uses a grounded methodology. Interviews with entrepreneurs from across industries inform the development of the research propositions.Findings - Besides market environment, business and quality aspects, for SMEs innovation is driven by a desire to be successful, and improve working conditions. Positive outcomes of innovation include an enhancement of SMEs' reputation and image, an increase in operational efficiency and cost benefits, resulting in a better business financial performance, recruitment of a more skilled workforce, and greater in-house expertise leading to further innovation. The negative outcomes of innovation relate to management, operational issues, and financial risks; including costs, uncontrollable business growth, companies' image and reputation loss, employees and customers' issues as well as health, safety, and environmental impacts. Further hypotheses emerge from executives' interviews, regarding specific outcomes of new product development, process innovation, and new ways of working.Research limitations implications - Future research is required to examine how negative outcomes can be managed overall, and specific to types of innovation, as well as determining the financial cost and benefit of having a company-wide innovation.Originality value - This study contributes to the theoretical basis for understanding organisational innovation in SMEs. The proposed framework is focused and comprehensive, enabling a better understanding of innovation.
Purpose - The purpose of this study is to examine characteristics and factors affecting innovation in young and old family-owned businesses. The research focuses on three important factors to ...innovation: organisation type, age and size; covering gaps in existing literature.Design methodology approach - A postal survey of 500 small family-owned businesses across sectors in the UK is conducted. The study uses regression analysis to test effects of environment, innovation strategy, family culture, family involvement, owners' background and learning on innovation in young and old family businesses as well as innovation effect on their financial performance.Findings - The findings suggest social capital theory to be extended to include non-family employees in the innovation process of family firms, and formal learning has a positive impact on young firms' innovation. Market condition, industry sector, business goal and long-term orientation positively affect family firm innovation.Originality value - This paper makes valuable contributions to the understanding of theory and practices of innovation in family businesses. It has policy implications.
Purpose - The aim of this study is to investigate the market status for online mobile banking in China. With the recent and forecasted high growth of Chinese electronic banking, it has the potential ...to develop into a world-scale internet economy and requires examination.Design methodology approach - The demographic, attitudinal and behavioural characteristics of online and mobile bank users were examined. Respondents from six major Chinese cities participated in the consumer survey.Findings - The results showed Chinese online and mobile bank users were predominantly males, not necessarily young and highly educated, in contrast with the electronic bank users in the West. The issue of security was found to be the most important factor that motivated Chinese consumer adoption of online banking. Main barriers to online banking were the perception of risks, computer and technological skills and Chinese traditional cash-carry banking culture. The barriers to mobile banking adoption were lack of awareness and understanding of the benefits provided by mobile banking.Originality value - This study offers an insight into online mobile banking in China, which has not previously been investigated. Distinct differences and common trends between Chinese and other countries were observed with clear indication of marketing strategy to be deployed by the service providers.
Purpose - The purpose of this paper was to examine the effects of size, strategic orientation and market orientation on innovation.Design methodology approach - A mail survey was conducted on a ...random sample of 60 South Yorkshire non-high-tech small, medium-sized manufacturing enterprises. A hypothesised model, stating company size, strategic and market orientation affect innovation was tested using multiple linear regression analysis.Findings - The results confirm customer orientation has a positive effect on innovation at product, process and organisational level. While it was found size and strategic orientation have an effect on process innovation. Size also has an impact on strategic orientation and strategic orientation on market orientation. Overall, medium-sized firms are prospectors and small firms, defenders. Prospectors are customer focused while defenders are competitors and environmental technology-led. Process innovation is important to defenders. The findings reiterate that customers are the drivers for organisational innovation; while firms' strategic orientation determines their market orientation.Originality value - This paper addresses a gap in the literature by that showing size, strategic orientation and market orientation are interrelated and, that customer orientation has a direct impact on innovation the most.
Many consumer goods firms have a wide brand portfolio. If these are not carefully managed, it can lead to brand proliferation, and result in complex organisational structure, lack of focus and ...resource constraints. Drawing on previous work on the role of leaders in effective brand management, this study explores the effects of organisational culture on brand portfolio performance. Based on a mail survey of consumer goods companies, the findings show that leadership, company vision, staff rewards, motivation and ownership are crucial to brand portfolio performance. Likewise, a brand orientation helps brand focus, coordination, and emphasises shared vision and the long-term orientation. This study contributes to the organisation-wide approach to brand portfolio management.
This paper examines Chinese and British consumers’ evaluations of Chinese, and international brands, and factors affecting their brand choice. The results support recent findings of a decline in ...Western brands’ preference in China. But, these are attributed to several factors. The findings show country of origin does not affect Chinese brand choice, has a great effect on British choice between Chinese and other brands; brand value, and brand familiarity influence Chinese choice whereas brand reputation, and brand trust determine British choice. Implications for Chinese domestic and international expansion strategies, demographics’ influence, and cultural differences are discussed.
