Title: The influence of innovation stimulus, facilitating factors and support mechanisms on innovation performance in Brazilian small textile firms

Authors: Giancarlo Gomes; Antonio Majocchi; Joaquín Alegre; Linda Jessica De Montreuil Carmona

Addresses: Department of Management, Regional University of Blumenau, R. Antonio da Veiga, 140–Sala D102 – Itoupava Seca, Blumenau – SC, cep 89012-900, Brazil ' Department of Economics and Management, Faculty of Economics, University of Pavia, Via S. Felice, 5 27100 Pavia – Italy ' Department of Management Juan José Renau Piqueras, Faculty of Economics, University of Valencia, Avinguda Tarongers, s/n, 46022, Valencia – Spain ' Department of Management, Regional University of Blumenau, R. Antonio da Veiga, 140–Sala D102 – Itoupava Seca, Blumenau – SC, cep 89012-900, Brazil

Abstract: The ability of the organisation to develop new products is crucial in rapidly changing business environments, and thus, customer demographics, consumers' expectations and buying behaviour play an important role. Hence, exploring the antecedents of innovation performance becomes more important. This study analyses the relationships among innovation stimulus, facilitating factors and support mechanisms for innovative performance in the textile industry of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The sample included 128 respondents, who were all employees of five small and medium-sized textile firms; data were analysed using structural equation modelling. We found that innovation stimulus, facilitating factors and support mechanisms are correlated, while support mechanisms have no influence on innovation performance. The results also highlight a concern regarding the cost and time spent on developing innovation projects. This research contributes to innovation performance literature by analysing innovation antecedents including visions of innovation as both a process, represented by efficiency, and a result, represented by efficacy.

Keywords: innovation stimulus; innovation facilitating factors; innovation support mechanisms; innovation performance; textile industry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEIM.2020.108252

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 2020 Vol.24 No.4/5, pp.393 - 412

Accepted: 09 Apr 2019
Published online: 07 Jul 2020 *

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