Title: Innovation, complementarities and performance in micro/small enterprises

Authors: Anna Comacchio, Annachiara Scapolan, Sara Bonesso

Addresses: Department of Business Economics and Management, University 'Ca' Foscari' of Venice, San Giobbe, Cannaregio 873, Venice 30121, Italy. ' Department of Business Economics and Management, University 'Ca' Foscari' of Venice, San Giobbe, Cannaregio 873, Venice 30121, Italy. ' Department of Business Economics and Management, University 'Ca' Foscari' of Venice, San Giobbe, Cannaregio 873, Venice 30121, Italy

Abstract: This paper gives an empirical contribution to the debate on new organisational forms, complementarities and their relation to a firm|s competitiveness by means of a study on the organisational evolution of Micro/Small Enterprises (MSEs), which represent more than 90% of European firms but are not yet well analysed from the organisational point of view. This paper, based on a survey on a sample of 147 Italian MSEs, investigates firstly the diffusion of a set of organisational and technological innovations. Secondly, the question is asked whether entrepreneurs invest in only one type of innovation or if there is a simultaneous adoption of coherent set of innovations. Finally, the relationship between the adoption of a system of innovations and the dynamic of firm|s performance measured by sales and product innovation is investigated.

Keywords: innovation; new organisational forms; complementarities; competitiveness; performance; entrepreneurship; small enterprises; micro enterprises; MSEs; Italy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEIM.2007.012171

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 2007 Vol.7 No.1, pp.5 - 28

Published online: 27 Jan 2007 *

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