Title: Innovative vs. non-innovative manufacturing SMEs: do strategies and goals differ?

Authors: Nuno Carvalho; Vítor Raposo; Miguel Torres Preto; Luísa Carvalho

Addresses: Câmara Municipal de Seia, Gabinete de Projetos, Largo Dr. António Borges Pires, Seia, 6270-494 Portugal ' Faculdade de Economia, Universidade de Coimbra, Av. Dias da Silva, 165, Coimbra, 3004-512 Portugal ' Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal ' Universidade Aberta, Rua da Escola Politécnica 141-147, Lisboa, 1269-001 Portugal

Abstract: This paper aims to understand if innovative and non-innovative manufacturing small and medium size enterprises (SME) reveal similar or different goals and strategies. This research uses an AMOS SPSS multigroup analysis with data from the community innovation survey (CIS) 2012 to test goals and strategies' similarities. An independent samples t-test is performed to all variables that do not load in the theoretical model. Results suggest similarities in goals (all enterprises value goals that, eventually, can translate in financial gains). With regard to the strategies, results suggest three similar strategies to all enterprises and five different ones that are more associated to innovative enterprises. Results can be important for managers and policy makers since it was possible to uncover a set of strategies that are more common in 'innovative enterprises'.

Keywords: community innovation survey; CIS; small and medium size enterprises; SMEs; strategies; goals; innovative enterprises; non-innovative enterprises.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBIR.2019.100076

International Journal of Business Innovation and Research, 2019 Vol.19 No.2, pp.251 - 284

Received: 03 Oct 2017
Accepted: 14 Feb 2018
Published online: 06 Jun 2019 *

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