This study explores the patterns of growth, acquisition and failure amongst a sample of UK small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) over the period 1997-2002 using the 1997 panel data collected by the Centre for Business Research at Cambridge University. The research explores the determinants...

Innovation is highly important to the competitiveness and productivity levels of advanced capitalist economies. It has long been recognised that innovation is a key motor of economic change, as it stimulates intense forms of competition. New products command a premium price, and as others seek...

The government’s objective under this strategic theme is to improve the growth capability of small businesses by helping businesses to raise performance across key areas, particularly innovation, management skills and the adoption of best practice.The purpose of this section is twofold:• To...

Die Entwicklung innovativer Produkte wird für Unternehmen in einem zunehmendenWettbewerb immer wichtiger. Insbesondere Innovationen mit einem hohen Neuigkeitsgrad,so genannte „Breakthroughs“ bieten einem Unternehmen die Möglichkeit, sich von seinenWettbewerbern nachhaltig abzusetzen.Zu...

In this paper, we report the complete and unabridged results of an exploratory study oftypical front-end activities in 28 innovation projects in German and Japanesecompanies. We further reveal differences in the practice of innovation management inboth countries. Based on these, we develop first...

In research as well as in practice, process models are an expatiated element of innovation management. They fulfill different tasks. In practice, for instance, process models are used as a management tool to standardize development activities. Researchers try to identify activities to be found...

Strong market orientation is essential for innovation success!” Although both academics and market research practitioners would generally accept this statement, alignment with the needs of the customer often results in conservative innovation strategies. Due to their focus on what is currently...