Title
Together or separately? Direct and synergistic effects of Effectuation and Causation on innovation in technology-based SMEs
Date Issued
01 December 2021
Access level
metadata only access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Publisher(s)
Springer
Abstract
Technology-based SMEs develop their activity in changing environments with strong competitive pressures. These conditions make them much more likely to innovate but also make the innovative process more challenging due to greater complexity of decisions about resources and establishment of actions to achieve favorable innovation results. Although prior studies have analyzed diverse factors that impact the innovative dynamics of this type of firm, little advance has been made in exploring the problem from the perspective of decision-making. This study seeks to close this research gap using Effectuation Theory, one of the most-cited theories emerging in the field of entrepreneurship. More specifically, we analyze the use of causal and effectual decision-making logics to evaluate their direct and ambidextrous effects on innovation in technology-based SMEs. Our results provide evidence that not just one path, but rather a pool of alternatives, supports product and process innovation development. More specifically, when technology SMEs pursue product innovation, both effectuation and causation can be used as predominant mechanisms to achieve positive innovation results. If firms also seek to develop process innovations, however, they may obtain better results with an ambidextrous approach.
Start page
1917
End page
1943
Volume
17
Issue
4
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Sistemas de automatización, Sistemas de control
Negocios, Administración
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85100823918
Source
International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal
ISSN of the container
15547191
Sponsor(s)
Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, Gobierno de España (ECO2016-80677-R), European Regional Development Fund y European Commission
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus