How micro-firms innovate: a qualitative study on the role of networks

Arcangela Ricciardi*, Daniele Cerrato, Fabio Antoldi

*Autore corrispondente per questo lavoro

Risultato della ricerca: Contributo in libroContributo a convegno

Abstract

Despite an increasing scholarly attention on innovation in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), we still know relatively little about the factors motivating and supporting innovation in such firms. This qualitative study joins this conversation by investigating the controversial role played by networks in fostering innovation in the specific context of micro-firms. Building on 32 semi-structured interviews conducted with micro-entrepreneurs and network managers, our results identify several influencing factors carrying both a positive and a negative effect on innovation and detect three main ways in which micro-entrepreneurs make sense of the network’s influence on the overall innovation process. This study offers two primary contributions. First, we shed light on the varying effects of the network’s characteristics on innovation in micro-firms. Second, we further our understanding of how micro-entrepreneurs frame the role of networks in driving innovation. Thus, we develop a framework on the joint effect of network-level characteristics and the micro-entrepreneur’s sensing of the network’s role as key drivers of the impact of networks on innovation in micro-firms.
Lingua originaleEnglish
Titolo della pubblicazione ospiteEURAM 2023 “Transforming Business for Good”, Dublin (Ireland), 14th-16th June 2023 Conference Proceedings
Pagine1-30
Numero di pagine30
Stato di pubblicazionePubblicato - 2023
EventoEURAM 2023 Conference “Transforming Business for Good” - Dublin (Ireland)
Durata: 14 giu 202316 giu 2023

Convegno

ConvegnoEURAM 2023 Conference “Transforming Business for Good”
CittàDublin (Ireland)
Periodo14/6/2316/6/23

Keywords

  • small business, innovation, networks

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