Fast tracking innovation in manufacturing SMEs

Many SMEs have difficulties achieving successful innovation, despite having significant investment in research and development. This paper explores the innovation process within the context of strategy, organizational culture and leadership styles in an effort to fast-track effective innovation in SMEs. The domain of the study is the electronics and engineering sectors. The analysis confirms the close association between strategy, organizational culture, leadership and innovation. It also depicts the attributes of each concept associated with innovation. The analysis also confirms that high performing firms place a much higher emphasis on strategy attributes and have stronger and more defined leadership and culture styles compared with low performing firms. The paper provides systematic steps to enable managers to effectively manage and deploy innovation. It is unique in that it fills the 'how to...' gap for SMEs. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.