Title: Macroenvironmental organisational practices adopted by innovative small and medium enterprises: a study with Brazilian entrepreneurs

Authors: Daniel Luis Arenhardt; Eugenio De Oliveira Simonetto

Addresses: Center of Social and Humans Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, Av. Roraima, 1000, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil ' Center of Social and Humans Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, Av. Roraima, 1000, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil

Abstract: Despite the large number of existing researches on innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), few studies have so far deepened the organisational practices that innovative SMEs adopt in their daily lives, especially in developing countries. Based on in-depth interview data, and preceded by an extensive literature review, this study presents organisational practices used by innovative SMEs operating in Brazil. The results demonstrate that the use of public funding, cooperation/collaboration with customers, suppliers, universities and research institutes, the presence in the international market and the location close to the logistics chain are procedures adopted by small innovative companies in the country. On the other hand, the findings evidenced that the excess of bureaucracy to access public resources, to establish partnerships with universities and export procedures interfere in the performance of innovative companies. In addition, participation in corporate networks and location in an innovative environment are not important for the companies participating in the survey.

Keywords: innovative small and medium enterprises; organisational practices; bureaucracy; entrepreneurs; SMEs; small and medium-sized enterprises; corporate networks; public funding; cooperation with customer and suppliers; cooperation with universities; international market presence.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEV.2021.119142

International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing, 2021 Vol.13 No.5, pp.479 - 507

Received: 30 Mar 2020
Accepted: 27 Oct 2020
Published online: 24 Nov 2021 *

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