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New product development within small-medium sized enterprises : innovation report
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Udeh, Jennifer (2012) New product development within small-medium sized enterprises : innovation report. EngD thesis, University of Warwick.
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Official URL: http://webcat.warwick.ac.uk/record=b2683315~S1
Abstract
Innovation is of increasing importance for raising the productivity, competitiveness and growth
potential of modern economies (BIS 2010). New products are a form of innovation and New
Product Development (NPD) is the term used to describe the innovation process of
commercialising a new product idea. Due to the nature of innovation small-medium sized
enterprises (SMEs) produce, typically ‘novel’ new-to-the world offerings that provide the
highest potential contribution to the economy and businesses themselves, there is an increasing
emphasis on NPD within SMEs. Despite this, there is a gap between existing knowledge of the
requirements of success and their application in practice. Furthermore, there is increasing
recognition within the literature that the process of innovation requires on-going maintenance,
disciplined audit and renewal (Leonard-Barton 1995). SMEs in particular are finding the
implementation of NPD success factors challenging(Humphreys, McAdam et al. 2005; Owens
2007) and there are limited in-depth studies on how this is achieved in practice.
The research provides an understanding of the challenges SMEs face in adopting NPD success
factors and develops an approach to overcome these challenges and support sustained success.
The research consists of two cycles of action research involving active engagement within two
independent SME contexts. The first cycle provided practical insights into challenges including
factors relating to: people, process, politics and technology within SMEs. As a result the research
focus was refined to consider learning as a mechanism to support the implementation and the
renewal of successful NPD practices. A new model is developed, namely Logical Learning, which
facilitates the development of: knowledge, skills and attitude within SMEs, for this purpose. The
second cycle of action research developed a unique NPD programme that implemented the
Logical Learning model within SMEs. Moreover, a comprehensive and rigorous framework for
learning evaluation is developed and formally validated the significance of the model. Evidence
has been generated that links the application of the model to learning within SMEs, learning to
changes in behaviour and NPD practices, and changes in behaviour to organisation results.
Logical Learning was initially applied through a regional programme in the West Midlands, UK,
which supported innovation within SMEs. Following success over an 18 month period, the
programme competed for and won a national contract to continue to deliver this support.
Therefore a nationwide roll-out is currently planned. The implementation of the model has
impacted on the commercial success of SMEs, so far resulting in 8 new product introductions to
market. These product innovations have generated actual sales of between £50,000 and £14
million within individual SMEs for the period 2011-2012, with businesses forecasting
significant increases of over 400% in the year ahead. Collectively these SMEs have generated 93
additional jobs within the West Midlands, which contribute to economic development within
the UK. Additionally the SMEs have developed NPD capabilities including the implementation of
more formalised approaches and effective resource management. Moreover, these SMEs report
further business development achievements including establishing partnerships with marketleading
organisations, international distribution agreements and further private investment to
support business growth. The research proves how learning is at the heart of these
achievements and provides a new perspective on how it is facilitated, to successfully improve:
knowledge, skills and attitudes and ensure SMEs are better equipped to sustain NPD success.
Item Type: | Thesis (EngD) | ||||
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Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor H Social Sciences > HF Commerce |
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Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | New products, Small business, Technological innovations | ||||
Official Date: | March 2012 | ||||
Dates: |
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Institution: | University of Warwick | ||||
Theses Department: | Warwick Manufacturing Group | ||||
Thesis Type: | EngD | ||||
Publication Status: | Unpublished | ||||
Supervisor(s)/Advisor: | Garside, John; Maggs, Steven | ||||
Sponsors: | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) (EP/G049971/1) | ||||
Extent: | 1 volume (various pagings) : charts. | ||||
Language: | eng |
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