In modern technological society small businesses are expected to have an innovative role in the emerging knowledge economy, especially at an international level (EC, 2005; BERR, 2008). In fact the effective use of technological innovation is considered to be a prerequisite for small business survival (Packham, 2002; Packham et al, 2005). It has long been recognised that the small business sector is important for economic growth and it has been noted that there is a need for an international focus on small businesses having access to international markets (OECD, 2005). Within this context it has been acknowledged that small business development programmes and assistance should enable them to take advantage of innovative
global technologies (OECD, 2005). Although significant opportunities are presented to small businesses through the adoption of new technologies there needs to be awareness to the barriers of implementation and this has led researchers to focus on adoption factors (Parasuraman, 2000). Indeed, there has been little success linking the determinants of adoption in small businesses with expected outcomes such as
innovation, apart from specialised research and development (R&D) intense sectors (Thomas and
Simmons, 2010).
Small businesses with an above average absorptive capacity tend to exhibit experience, knowledge, a skills base, knowledge creation and sharing processes (Cohen and Levinthal, 1990; Zahra and George, 2002; Gray, 2006). Their effective use of networking and an optimal use of technological innovation are the focus of this first volume. It is therefore hoped that this volume will provide a greater understanding of these innovation processes for small businesses.
References
Cohen, W. and Levinthal, D. (1990) Absorptive Capacity: A New Perspective on Learning and Innovation, Administrative Science Quarterly, 35(1), 128-152.
Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) (2008) Business Plan 2008–2011, June, London.
European Commission (EC) (2005) Implementing the Community Lisbon Programme – Modern SME
Policy for Growth and Employment (COM) (2005), 551 final, November, Brussels.
Gray C. (2006) Absorptive capacity, knowledge management and innovation in entrepreneurial small
firms, International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research, 12(6), 345-360.
OECD. (2005) Small to Medium-Sized Business (SME) and Entrepreneurship Outlook, OECD, Paris.
Packham, G., Brooksbank, D., Miller, C. and Thomas, B. (2005) Climbing the Mountain: Management
Practice Adoption in Growth Oriented Firms in Wales, Small Business and Enterprise Development, 12, 482-497.
Packham, G. (2002) Competitive Advantage and Growth: The Challenge For Small Firms, International Journal of Management and Decision-Making, 3, 165-179.
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Innovation and Small Business: Volume I