Description
Book SynopsisInnovation is crucial for small enterprises to become and remain competitive in the global economy. In this book, the authors have combined theoretical insights with comprehensive case studies on innovation among small-scale enterprises in developing countries, paying particular attention to technological change in clusters of small firms.
The authors deliberately use a broad definition of innovation in order to emphasise the fact that technological change and innovation adoption takes place on a wider scale and in a greater number of forms than is frequently assumed. The unusual case studies such as the Kenyan food processing sector, furniture making in Nicaragua and tile manufacturing in Indonesia highlight the patterns of innovation adoption and diffusion, and serve as a unique and fascinating backdrop to the study. The authors pay specific attention to innovation by small enterprises in times of economic crisis and go on to assess the mechanisms employed to promote innovation. They demonstrate that although radical innovation among small enterprises occurs on a limited scale, innovation through gradual incremental improvements in production processes and products is continuous.
Innovation and Small Enterprises in the Third World will be widely read by academics, researchers and policymakers concerned with innovation adoption and diffusion, and third world development issues.
Table of ContentsContents 1. Innovation and small enterprise development in developing countries Meine Pieter van Dijk and Henry Sandee Part I FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING INNOVATION DIFFUSION 2. Small enterprise development in developing countries: innovation or acquisition of technological capability? Henny Romijn 3. Cluster trajectories and the likelihood of endogenous upgrading Peter Knorringa Part II CASES OF SMES AND INNOVATION 4. Trying to innovate far from international frontiers: case study from the small-scale briquetting industry in India Joy Clancy 5. Competitive response, innovation and creating an innovative milieu in the manufacturing industry in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe A.H.J. Bert Helmsing 6. Innovation and small enterprise development examples from Burkina Faso, Ghana and Zimbabwe Meine Pieter van Dijk Part III INNOVATION IN TIMES OF ECONOMIC CRISIS 7. Innovation and competitiveness within the small furniture industry in Nicaragua Mario Davide Parrilli 8. Why do(n’t) they innovate? Explaining diverse SME adjustment strategies after an external shock Regine Qualman 9. The impact of the crisis on small-scale enterprises in Java, findings from selected case studies Henry Sandee Part IV MECHANISMS FOR INNOVATION DIFFUSION 10. Enhancing innovation capabilities in SME clusters: evidence from a service centre in Spain Manuel Albaladejo 11. Linkages between small and large firms in the Kenyan food processing sector Dorothy McCormick and Rosemary Atieno 12. The role of a research and development institute in the development and diffusion of technology Bert Bongenaar and Adam Szirmai 13. Social capital and technological innovation processes in the South Árni Sverrisson Part V CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 14. Enterprise co-operation, technology partnerships and S&T policies for the promotion of innovation for SMEs Meine Pieter van Dijk 15. Innovation and small enterprise development in developing countries: some conclusions Meine Pieter van Dijk and Henry Sandee Index
