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Evolution, innovation and learning: evidence from case studies

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  • Mark S. Freel

Abstract

Whilst considerable work has addressed the characteristics of innovative small firms and their aggregate contribution to economic growth and development, the internal processes of learning and innovation have remained relatively neglected. Drawing upon evolutionary ideas within economics and the broader social sciences, this paper begins the development of an appropriate process theory of learning within innovative small firms. The theory conceptualizes; the skills of the firm in terms of organizational routines. These routines are subject to self--reinforcing, path--dependent development which result in the tendency towards lock--in within product innovative small firms. Amongst other things suggested by the paper are the need to augment the knowledge bases of technically driven firms and the need for training policy differentiation between product innovative small firms and their more mainstream counterparts.

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  • Mark S. Freel, 1998. "Evolution, innovation and learning: evidence from case studies," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(2), pages 137-149, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:entreg:v:10:y:1998:i:2:p:137-149
    DOI: 10.1080/08985629800000008
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    Cited by:

    1. Josefina Novejarque Civera & Mabel Pisá Bó & José Fernando López-Muñoz, 2021. "Do contextual factors influence entrepreneurship? Spain’s regional evidences," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 105-129, March.
    2. Purificación Galindo & Teresa Noronha Vaz & Peter Nijkamp, 2011. "Regional Innovation Performances of Firms in Portugal," ERSA conference papers ersa10p886, European Regional Science Association.
    3. Baum, Matthias & Schwens, Christian & Kabst, Ruediger, 2015. "A latent class analysis of small firms’ internationalization patterns," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 50(4), pages 754-768.
    4. Eric de Noronha Vaz & Teresa de Noronha Vaz & Peter Nijkamp, 2013. "The Spatial-Institutional Architecture of Firms’ Innovative Behaviour," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 13-102/VIII, Tinbergen Institute.
    5. Hans Löfsten & Anders Isaksson & Heikki Rannikko, 2023. "Entrepreneurial networks, geographical proximity, and their relationship to firm growth: a study of 241 small high-tech firms," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(6), pages 2280-2306, December.
    6. Purificacion Vicente Galindo & Teresa de Noronha Vaz & Peter Nijkamp & Eric de Noronha Vaz, 2011. "Analysis of Regional Innovation Performance in Portugal - Results from an External Logistic Biplot Method," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 11-106/3, Tinbergen Institute.
    7. Teresa de Noronha & Purificación Vicente Galindo & Peter Nijkamp & Eric de Noronha Vaz, 2013. "The Firms behind the Regions: Analysis of Regional Innovation Performance in Portugal by External Logistic Biplots," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 13-133/VIII, Tinbergen Institute.
    8. Mike Raco, 1999. "Competition, Collaboration and the New Industrial Districts: Examining the Institutional Turn in Local Economic Development," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 36(5-6), pages 951-968, May.

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