Competing through Innovation:
Essential Strategies for Small and Medium-Sized Firms
Bertrand Bellon & Graham Whittington
“Innovation is change that happens in a planned manner; new processes, new procedures or new ways of organising; from the tiniest improvement to the radical rethink.
It is a specific action that is identified, discussed and agreed, which begins with an idea and ends with that idea being put into practice.
Nine out of every 10 innovations are never completed; 99 out of every 100 don’t really change anything.
But the one which succeeds makes the other 99 worth the effort.”
Innovation is both necessary and risky. It does not merely involve products and processes, but requires the whole organisation to be able to think, learn and react in new ways. Small firms simply cannot afford to ignore the sweeping changes brought on by new technologies and new work practices. Standing still has become a dangerous strategy.
Competing through Innovation shows how change can be effectively managed. It is not a “how to do it” manual, but rather a stimulating and practical examination of the strategic and organisational skills needed if innovation is to flourish. In addition to providing a clear understanding of what innovation really is, it analyses the different stages of an innovation project, looks at how small firms can use their strengths to build partnerships and develop “innovation as a state-of-mind” and describes the different forms of innovation support that are available to businesses across Europe.
For most small to medium-sized firms, the ability to learn faster than their competitors may be their only sustainable competitive advantage. Competing through Innovation will be essential reading for those who take and implement key decisions in these firms, and for anyone interested in the different strategies that the best businesses in Europe have developed and tested with a view to overcoming the obstacles to their growth.
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€25, pb
ISBN 1-86076-035-X
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