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IT capabilities for product innovation in SMEs: a configurational approach

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  • Louis Raymond

    (Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières)

  • Sylvestre Uwizeyemungu

    (Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières)

  • Bruno Fabi

    (Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières)

  • Josée St-Pierre

    (Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières)

Abstract

With the advent of globalization and the knowledge-based economy, industrial SMEs must constantly innovate to remain competitive. Now, an important research issue in this regard concerns the role played by IT capabilities in enabling innovation processes such as new product development, and in determining the product innovation performance of these organizations. Using a configurational approach grounded in the resource-based view, contingency theory, and the notions of “fit” and equifinality, we argue that IT capabilities can be leveraged for innovation purposes to the extent that they are coaligned and thus constitute IT capability configurations. This paper presents the results of a survey of 588 Canadian industrial SMEs designed to further analyze this issue. Three IT capability configurations were thus empirically identified, that is, IT Defenders (n = 234), IT Analyzers (n = 91) and IT Prospectors (n = 263), the last two being associated to greater product innovation performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Louis Raymond & Sylvestre Uwizeyemungu & Bruno Fabi & Josée St-Pierre, 2018. "IT capabilities for product innovation in SMEs: a configurational approach," Information Technology and Management, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 75-87, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:infotm:v:19:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1007_s10799-017-0276-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10799-017-0276-x
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    2. Timon B. Heinis & Jan Hilario & Mirko Meboldt, 2018. "Empirical study on innovation motivators and inhibitors of Internet of Things applications for industrial manufacturing enterprises," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 1-22, December.
    3. Aboobucker Ilmudeen, 2022. "Leveraging IT-enabled dynamic capabilities to shape business process agility and firm innovative capability: moderating role of turbulent environment," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 16(8), pages 2341-2379, November.
    4. Soluk, Jonas & Kammerlander, Nadine & Darwin, Solomon, 2021. "Digital entrepreneurship in developing countries: The role of institutional voids," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    5. Hernita Hernita & Batara Surya & Iwan Perwira & Herminawaty Abubakar & Muhammad Idris, 2021. "Economic Business Sustainability and Strengthening Human Resource Capacity Based on Increasing the Productivity of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Makassar City, Indonesia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-36, March.
    6. Haili Zhang & Yufan Wang & Michael Song, 2019. "Does Competitive Intensity Moderate the Relationships between Sustainable Capabilities and Sustainable Organizational Performance in New Ventures?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-18, December.
    7. Sohaib S. Hassan & Konrad Meisner & Kevin Krause & Levan Bzhalava & Petra Moog, 2024. "Is digitalization a source of innovation? Exploring the role of digital diffusion in SME innovation performance," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 62(4), pages 1469-1491, April.
    8. Uwizeyemungu, Sylvestre & Poba-Nzaou, Placide & St-Pierre, Josée, 2022. "Back-end information technology resources and manufacturing SMEs’ export commitment: An empirical investigation," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(5).

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