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Process innovation in small businesses: the self-employed as entrepreneurs

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Plotnikova

    (Aberystwyth University)

  • Isidoro Romero

    (Universidad de Sevilla)

  • Juan A. Martínez-Román

    (Universidad de Sevilla)

Abstract

Innovation is one of the key attributes that sets the entrepreneurs apart from the rest of self-employed people. This paper attempts to distinguish between these two categories by means of exploring the determinants of process innovation in small businesses using a survey of self-employed workers in Andalusia, Spain. The theoretical framework adopted distinguishes between three types of factors affecting the innovative activities: (1) personal characteristics of the self-employed, (2) business characteristics and (3) the characteristics of the external environment. A Heckman-type model of the extent of process innovation that accounts for sample selection bias is estimated.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Plotnikova & Isidoro Romero & Juan A. Martínez-Román, 2016. "Process innovation in small businesses: the self-employed as entrepreneurs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 47(4), pages 939-954, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:47:y:2016:i:4:d:10.1007_s11187-016-9743-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-016-9743-8
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    2. Walid A Nakara & Karim Messeghem & Andry Ramaroson, 2019. "L’innovation produit et service dans un contexte de pauvreté : une analyse multiniveau," Post-Print hal-02519418, HAL.
    3. Adriana Burlea-Schiopoiu & Laurentiu Stelian Mihai, 2019. "An Integrated Framework on the Sustainability of SMEs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-22, October.
    4. Richard J. Paulsen & Neil Alper & Gregory Wassall, 2021. "Arts majors as entrepreneurs and innovators," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 639-652, August.
    5. Ding Hu & Xianming Fang & Yuting Meng DiGiovanni, 2023. "Technological progress, financial constrains, and digital financial inclusion," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(4), pages 1693-1721, December.
    6. Walid A. Nakara & Karim Messeghem & Andry Ramaroson, 2021. "Innovation and entrepreneurship in a context of poverty: a multilevel approach," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 56(4), pages 1601-1617, April.
    7. Friday Ogbu Edeh & Nurul Mohammad Zayed & Vitalii Nitsenko & Olha Brezhnieva-Yermolenko & Julia Negovska & Maryna Shtan, 2022. "Predicting Innovation Capability through Knowledge Management in the Banking Sector," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-12, July.
    8. Isidoro Romero & Igone Porto Gómez & Jon Mikel Zabala-Iturriagagoitia, 2019. "‘Cookpetition’: Do restaurants coopete to innovate?," Tourism Economics, , vol. 25(6), pages 904-922, September.
    9. Xiaoyu Yu & Xiaotong Meng & Laura Stanley & Franz W. Kellermanns, 2024. "Self-employment and life satisfaction: The contingent role of formal institutions," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 63(1), pages 135-163, June.
    10. Xu Wang & Li Cai & Xiumei Zhu & Shengliang Deng, 2022. "Female entrepreneurs’ gender roles, social capital and willingness to choose external financing," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 21(3), pages 432-457, July.
    11. Nguyen, Phuc Canh & Nguyen, Bach & Thanh, Su Dinh, 2022. "The importance of export diversification for national entrepreneurship density," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 114-129.
    12. Dafna Kariv & Norris Krueger & Gavriellea Kashy & Luis Cisneros, 2024. "Process innovation is technology transfer too! How entrepreneurial businesses manage product and process innovation," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(5), pages 1762-1786, October.

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