Title: Innovation culture and the economic performance of Tunisian ICT firms

Authors: Alistair R. Anderson; Sana El Harbi; Mériam Amamou

Addresses: Centre for Entrepreneurship, Aberdeen Business School, The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, AB10 7QG, UK ' University of Sousse, Faculté de Droit et de Sciences Economiques et Politiques de Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia ' University of Sousse, Faculté de Droit et de Sciences Economiques et Politiques de Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia

Abstract: Innovative culture can enhance high-tech firms' performance, but context may influence the culture and ensuing innovation practices. We surveyed innovation culture in 92 Tunisian small ICT companies. Our multinomial logit regression found that although some innovation culture values were positively related to performance, others appeared counterproductive. We conclude that an innovative culture positively influences performance but that local conditions prevail. Successful companies favoured managing and controlling employees rather than creating a supportive and enabling environment. Indeed, the imperatives of competition mean that management practices were centred on cost containment.

Keywords: information and communications technology; ICT firms; Tunisia; innovation culture; firm performance; economic performance; technology management; management practice; information technology; cost containment; small firms; entrepreneurship.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEIM.2012.051902

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 2012 Vol.16 No.3/4, pp.191 - 208

Received: 09 Aug 2010
Accepted: 21 Mar 2011
Published online: 31 Jul 2014 *

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