Proceedings of the 19th International Academic Conference, Florence

FROM DEMAND-PULL AND TECHNOLOGY-PUSH INNOVATIONS, TOWARDS KNOWLEDGE-BASED INNOVATION SYSTEMS. EVIDENCE FROM ALBANIAN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES.

ERIND HOTI, GENTIAN HOXHALLI

Abstract:

This paper focuses at small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which are facing growing competition. Technological innovation and the increasing role of knowledge exploitation in the enterprise, provide an important source of innovation and competitive advantage. Technological innovation is being perceived to a greater extent as a continuous, collaborative, multi-actor process requiring new collaboration-supporting technologies and focusing on knowledge and social dynamics perspectives. This paper tries to determine if any relationships do exist between measures for adapting technological innovation in SMEs and whether these are caused by a technology-push or demand-pull. It also aims at verifying if activities related to knowledge management in the enterprise lead to planned or incidental innovations. In doing so we get insights on how different activities could affect technological innovation and it contributes to the small business management literature by adding to the body of knowledge on technological innovation adaption and utilization in SMEs. The empirical investigation is carried out in an emerging market nation such as Albania

Keywords: SMEs, technology innovation, knowledge management, emerging market economy

DOI: 10.20472/IAC.2015.019.061

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