Title: Innovation management technique (IMT) for very small-enterprises: concept, development and application

Authors: Dimitris Skalkos; Ioannis Bakouros

Addresses: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of The Aegean, Myrina, Lemnos, 81400, Greece. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mater Lab, University of Western Macedonia, Kozani, 50100, Greece

Abstract: Open innovation suggests that the ability to absorb external knowledge has become a major driver for competition among enterprises. However, little attention has been paid to how very small enterprises (VSEs) deal, and handle innovation. In fact, most of the VSEs are not capable to implement innovation themselves. Innovation management techniques (IMTs) are methodological approaches aiming at the improvement of enterprises| competitiveness by means of knowledge management. In this paper, we develop, test and evaluate a new methodology of IMT indented for VSEs of less developed regions such as the region of North Aegean of Greece. The method developed includes five phases of implementation and a plan for each VSE actions. The results of the pilot IMT application showed that there was a positive react by the entrepreneurs. This study proves the theory that the application of innovations depends on the human innovative resource rather the size of the company.

Keywords: innovation management; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; very small enterprises; VSEs; product innovation; process innovation; incremental innovation; radical innovation; very small firms; knowledge management; regional development; Greece; human resources; entrepreneurship.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIRD.2011.043462

International Journal of Innovation and Regional Development, 2011 Vol.3 No.6, pp.573 - 603

Received: 06 Sep 2010
Accepted: 18 Mar 2011
Published online: 29 Nov 2014 *

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