The decision to innovate; Literature and propositions

This study investigate what makes individuals (entrepreneurs, employees in organisations) decide to proceed with innovative ideas. This is an important topic as practitioners in organisations (managers, entrepreneurs) and policy makers face the challenge of realising continuous innovation. Three main arguments are proposed to be directly associated with the decision to innovate: perceived pay-off, situation control and intrinsic motivation. The three main arguments provide a basis for a cumulative, three-componential theory of an individuals decision to proceed with innovative ideas.

How can leaders trigger bottom-up innovation?

The current study explores what particular leader behaviour enhances the innovative behaviour of employees. Last year we made an extensive literature review. We also performed a number of in-depth interviews with managers and entrepreneurs to explore if and how they stimulate innovative behaviour (see De Jong & Den Hartog, 2003). This resulted in an inventory of thirteen types of leader behaviour that may affect employees suggestions and implementation efforts. We also identified some control variables that are likely to affect whether employees generate and implement ideas, including an innovative workclimate and having frequent external contacts.

Competition and innovative intentions: A study of Dutch SMEs

This paper explores the complex relationship between competition and innovation. Traditional measures of competition using industry statistics are often challenged and found wanting. This paper distinguishes between three types of competitive forces: internal rivalry among incumbent firms in an industry, bargaining power of suppliers, and bargaining power of buyers. Using survey data from 2,281 Dutch firms, we apply new perception-based measures for these competitive forces to explore how competition relates to firms innovative intentions. We also investigate the influence of innovation strategy as a contingency variable. Results show that specific innovative intentions, i.e. to invest in product and process innovation, are related to different competitive forces. Process innovation is correlated with the bargaining power of suppliers, while intentions to invest in product innovation are associated with buyer power. Finally, intended product innovation is related to internal rivalry, but only when firms have no innovation strategy.

The decision to innovate: Antecedents of opportunity exploitation in high tech small firms

The current paper explores the antecedents of small business owners' decision to exploit identified opportunities for innovation. Drawing on social psychology, entrepreneurship and organizational behavior literature three potential antecedents are proposed: attitude towards the opportunity, subjective norms of close ties, and perceived behavioral control. It is hypothesized that each of these constructs correlates with the decision to innovate. Drawing on multiple-source survey data of 160 high tech small business owners in the Netherlands, it is found that subjective norms and perceived behavioral control are positively related to the decision to innovate. Moreover, a three-way interaction is estimated and confirmed, suggesting that when all antecedents are simultaneously present, opportunity exploitation is significantly more likely. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

Measuring innovative intensity

Beschrijving van gangbare indicatoren voor de innovatie-intensiteit van een MKB-bedrijf. Ook komt de vraag aan de orde of deze indicatoren tot één samenvattende score gecombineerd kunnen worden. Allereerst wordt een kort overzicht gegeven van eerdere studies naar het meten van innovatie-intensiteit. Vervolgens wordt ingegaan op de resultaten van een empirisch onderzoek.

Determinants of the innovative ability of SMEs

Onderzoek naar de factoren die het innovatievermogen van midden- en kleinbedrijven bepalen. De conclusie luidt dat ondernemers zelf behoorlijke invloed kunnen uitoefenen op het innovatievermogen van hun bedrijf. Aan bod komen het innovatievermogen in relatie tot onder meer ondernemerseigenschappen, strategie, ondernemingscultuur, -structuur en marktkarakteristieken.

Organizing Successful New Service Development: A Literature Review

How should one organize new service development? This is an important topic for decision-makers in service firms. The numerous publications on this subject are highly fragmented. This paper classifies current literature on organizing new service development (NSD) into two evolutionary stages: managing key activities in the NSD process, and creating a climate for continuous innovation. For both stages, its consequences for the initiation and implementation of new services are discussed.

Geographical distance of innovation collaborations

This paper explores the geographical distance of innovation collaborations in high tech small firms. We test if absorptive capacity is a key determinant. Drawing on survey data from a sample of 316 Dutch high-tech small firms, engaging in 1.245 collaborations, we find most partners to be ‘local’. However, controlling for a variety of potential influences, higher R&D expenditure is positively related to collaboration with more distant organisations.  

Determinants of product innovation in small firms: A Comparison Across Industries

A plethora of studies has investigated the determinants of product innovation in small firms, suggesting product, firm, market and innovation process factors as its key drivers of success. Variations across industries relating to the determinants of product innovation are often suspected, but due to a lack of data this area is underresearched. In case of major differences much previous work will be flawed. Drawing upon of database of 1250 small firms across seven industries, this paper explores if any differences are found in the presence and impact of various firm-level determinants. Controlling for size and age differences, the analysis reveals some major differences to the extent small firms use innovative practices, and their connection with new product introductions.

Intrapreneurship; Conceptualizing entrepreneurial employee behaviour

This paper discusses the similarities and differences between intrapreneurship and independent entrepreneurship. Most but not all of the activities and behavioural aspects of the latter are also typical of the former phenomenon. Key differential elements of independent entrepreneurship are the investment of personal financial means and the related financial risk taking, a higher degree of autonomy, and legal and fiscal aspects of establishing a new independent business. Based on this discussion an integral conceptual model of intrapreneurial behaviour is presented. The paper closes with conclusions.