Title: Antecedents of SMEs' product innovation performance: a configurational perspective

Authors: Yiannis E. Spanos

Addresses: Management Science and Technology Department, Athens University of Economics and Business, 47A Evelpidon & Lefkados 33, 113 62 Athens, Greece

Abstract: This study examines antecedents of product innovation performance in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Drawing on the resource-based theory, it is argued that because innovation is a complex and highly demanding activity, the capacity to innovate should be viewed as a configuration of tightly coupled functional and administrative competencies that together, not in isolation, explain product innovation. In addition, it is hypothesised that technological collaboration with third parties is an effective means for SMEs to overcome their key liability with respect to innovation, that is, their endemic resource scarcity. Empirical results obtained from a sample of Greek manufacturing firms confirm these predictions. The study's main contribution is to provide a more holistic view of SME's innovation behaviour by adopting a configurational perspective.

Keywords: small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; innovation capacity; competencies configuration; technological collaboration; product innovation performance; resource-based theory; Greece; manufacturing industry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIRD.2012.046577

International Journal of Innovation and Regional Development, 2012 Vol.4 No.2, pp.97 - 128

Received: 03 Mar 2011
Accepted: 24 Jun 2011
Published online: 23 Aug 2014 *

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