Managing to Avoid Innovation: Problems of Technology Transfer in Small Firms

This paper addresses differences in the way that the problems of small UK firms are construed by policy makers on the one hand, and by the executives of small companies on the other. The authors employ a discursively-based analysis of interviews carried out with managers of small manufacturing compa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Industry & higher education 1999-02, Vol.13 (1), p.25-32
Main Authors: Vaux, J. H., Gomes, M. P. S. F., Grieve, R. J., Woolgar, S. W.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:This paper addresses differences in the way that the problems of small UK firms are construed by policy makers on the one hand, and by the executives of small companies on the other. The authors employ a discursively-based analysis of interviews carried out with managers of small manufacturing companies in the West London area. They suggest that SME executives construe their attitudes to advanced technology and innovation within the terms of some clear, but implicit management values which tend to lead to the perception of innovation as a risk to be managed, rather than an opportunity to be exploited. It is suggested this has significant implications for attempts to change small company culture.
ISSN:0950-4222
2043-6858
DOI:10.1177/095042229901300104