Skip to main content

Innovation Management and Innovation Potential of Croatian SMEs

  • Conference paper
Innovation, Finance, and the Economy

Part of the book series: Eurasian Studies in Business and Economics ((EBES,volume 1))

Abstract

The purpose of the paper has been to determine to what extent Croatian SMEs gear to accept innovations in the processes, products or organization in general. The aim has been to highlight the importance of innovation management and absorption and diffusion of innovation by SMEs in fostering growth and development of the organization itself. In the first part of the paper a literature review is provided. The empirical research was conducted to determine a present state in Croatian SMEs regarding innovation, perception of innovations and innovation absorption and diffusion. The primary data, collected through questionnaire, was used to find responses on the factors influencing innovations in organizations. The second part of the paper reveals research results. The National strategy of innovation for the period 2014–2020 was used as a frame which determines ways of improvements in innovation capacity and innovation management in Croatian SMEs. It was used also as a base to make a comparison with older EU members.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Afuah, A. (2003). Innovation management strategies: Implementations and profits. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Albaladejo, M., & Romijin, H. (2000). Determinants of innovation capability in small UK firms: An empirical analysis. Eindhoven: Eindhoven Centre for innovation studies. Working paper series 00.13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alloca, M. A., & Kessler, E. H. (2006). Innovation speed in small and medium-sized enterprises. Creativity & Innovation Management, 15(3), 279–295.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Auerswald, P. E., & Quadric, I. Z. (2014). Innovations. MIT Press Journal [online]. Available at: http://www.mitpressjournals.org/loi/itgg. Accessed July11, 2014.

  • Bakovic, T., & Perić Ledić, D. (2011). Uloga inovacija u poslovanju malih i srednjih poduzeća [The role of innovation in operation of SMEs]. Poslovna Izvrsnost [Business Excellence], 15(1), 27–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bessant, J., & Tidd, J. (2013). Innovation and entrepreneurship (2nd ed.). West Sussex: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cassiman, B., & Veugelers, R. (2006). In search of complementarity in innovation strategy: Internal and external knowledge acquisition. Management Science, 52(1), 68–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Castrogiovanni, G. J. (1996). Pre-startup planning and the survival of new small businesses: Theoretical linkages. Journal of Management, 22(6), 801–823.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Centre for Policy Development of SMEs and Entrepreneurship. (2013). Report on Croatian SMEs–2013 [online]. Available at: http://www.cepor.hr/Izvjesce%20o%20malim%20i%20srednjim%20poduzecima%202013_CEPOR.pdf. Accessed July 15, 2014.

  • Crespell, P., & Hansen, E. (2008). Managing for innovation: Insights into a successful company. Forest Products Journal, 58(9), 6–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Damanpour, F., Szabat, K. A., & Evan, W. M. (1989). The relationship between types of innovation and organizational performance. Journal of Management Studies, 26(6), 587–602.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drucker, P. E. (1998). The discipline of innovation. Harvard Business Review, 76(6), 149–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Commission. (2013a). Annual report on European SMEs 2012/2013 [pdf]. Belgium: European Commission. Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/facts-figures-analysis/performance-review/files/supporting-documents/2013/annual-report-smes-2013_en.pdf. Accessed July 17, 2014.

  • European Commission. (2013b). Innovation statistics [online]. Available at: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Innovation_statistics. Accessed August 1, 2014.

  • European Commission. (2014). Innovation union scoreboard [pdf]. Belgium: European Commission. Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/innovation/files/ius/ius-2014_en.pdf. Accessed July 20, 2014.

  • European Union. (2013). Business innovation observatory trend report. Un-locking the potential of business and societal innovation; how to scale-up successful new business and production models? Brussels: European Union.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall, B. H. (2011). Innovation and productivity. National bureau of economic research [online]. Available at: http://www10.iadb.org/intal/intalcdi/pe/2011/08562.pdf. Accessed July 15, 2014.

  • Hanush, H., & Pyka, A. (2007). Elgar companion to Neo – Schumpeterian economics. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hess, E. D. (2012). Creating an innovation culture: Accepting failures is necessary [online]. Available at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/darden/2012/06/20/creating-an-innovation-culture-accepting-failure-is-necessary/. Accessed July 7, 2014.

  • Humanitarian Innovation Fund. (2014a). The innovation process [online]. Available at: http://www.humanitarianinnovation.org/innovation/process. Accessed July 11, 2014.

  • Humanitarian Innovation Fund. (2014b). Types of innovation: The ‘4PS’ [online]. Available at: http://www.humanitarianinnovation.org/innovation/types. Accessed July 8, 2014.

  • International Data Corporation. (2013). IDC market scape: Worldwide innovation management solutions 2013 vendor analysis [online]. Available at: http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=240823. Accessed July 8, 2014.

  • Le Bars, A., Mangematin, V., & Nesta, L. (1998). Innovation in SMEs: The missing link [pdf]. Available at: ftp://ns1.ystp.ac.ir/YSTP/1/1/ROOT/DATA/PDF/SME/WP9809VM.PDF. Accessed July 10, 2014.

  • Madrid-Guijarro, A., et al. (2009). Barriers to innovation among Spanish manufacturing SMEs. Journal of Small Business Management, 47(4), 465–488.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministarstvo gospodarstva RH [Croatian Ministry of Economy]. (2013). Nacrt prijedloga inovacijske strategije RH 2014–2020. [The draft proposal of Croatian innovation strategy 2014–2020].

    Google Scholar 

  • Monk, R. (2000). Why small business fail? CMA Management, 74(6), 12–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oksanen, J., & Rilla, N. (2009). Innovation and entrepreneurship: New innovations as source of competitiveness in Finish SMEs. International Journal of Entrepreneurship, 13(1), 35–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter, M. E., & Stern, S. (1999). The new challenge to America’s prosperity: Findings from the innovation index [online]. Washington: Council on Competitiveness. Available at: http://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Publication%20Files/Downloads_Porter_index1_el_be68d54c-4990-45da-88c0-ee754c99ffdb.pdf. Accessed July 15, 2014.

  • Pozzi, A. (2010). Study of innovation potential of FIDIBE partners regions. FIDIBE.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP. (2012). How to drive innovation and business growth? Leveraging technology for sustainable growth [pdf]. Available at: http://www.pwc.com/en_US/us/supply-chain-management/assets/pwc-oracle-innovation-white-paper.pdf. Accessed August 26, 2014.

  • Rammer, C., Czarnitzki, D., & Spielkamp, A. (2009). Innovation success of non R&D performers: Substituting technology by management in SME. Small Business Economics, 33(1), 35–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schumpeter, J. A. (1934). The theory of economic development: An inquiry into profits, capital, credit, interest and business cycle. Harvard College: Harvard Economic Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shwab, K., & Sala-i-Martin, X. (2012). The global competitiveness report 2012–2013 (Full Data ed.). Geneva: World Economic Forum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tabas, J., Beranova, M., & Vavrina, J. (2011). Barriers to development of the innovation potential in the small and medium sized enterprises. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 59(7), 447–458.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tidd, J., Bessant, J., & Pavitt, K. (2005). Managing innovation: Integrating technological, market and organizational change (3rd ed.). West Sussex: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomljenović, Lj. (2007). Upravljanje promjenama u funkciji povećanja uspješnosti malih i srednjih poduzeća. [Managing change in the function of increasing the success of SMEs] Rijeka: Faculty of Economics Rijeka.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trott, P. (2008). Innovation management and new product development (4th ed.). Harlow: Pearson Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verhees, F. J. H. M., & Meulenberg, M. T. G. (2004). Market orientation, innovativeness, product innovation, and performance in small firms. Journal of Small Business Management, 42(2), 134–154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vieites, G. A., & Calvo, J. L. (2011). A study of the factors that influence innovation activities in Spanish big Firms. Technology and Investment, 21(2), 8–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Roberta Kontosic .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this paper

Cite this paper

Golja, T., Kontosic, R. (2015). Innovation Management and Innovation Potential of Croatian SMEs. In: Bilgin, M., Danis, H., Demir, E., Lau, C. (eds) Innovation, Finance, and the Economy. Eurasian Studies in Business and Economics, vol 1. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15880-8_8

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics