Innovation under uncertainty: who holds the upper hand? An empirical study of Armenian SMEs

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Innovation under uncertainty: who holds the upper hand? An empirical study of Armenian SMEs
Authors: Mane Beglaryan, Anush Drampyan, Parandzem Sargsyan
Source: International Journal of Innovation Science. 17:334-355
Publisher Information: Emerald, 2023.
Publication Year: 2023
Subject Terms: 5. Gender equality, 9. Industry and infrastructure, 0502 economics and business, 05 social sciences, 8. Economic growth
Description: Purpose Innovation is considered as an important tool to succeed and survive in periods of great uncertainty such as COVID-19 crisis. This paper aims to empirically examine the propensity to engage in product, process and organizational innovation under uncertainty among small and medium enterprises and how that propensity varies depending on the gender of the manager. Design/methodology/approach Using the results of 213 responses by managers of Armenian small and medium enterprises in the scope of GLOBE-2020 survey, the authors investigate the role of manager’s gender in encouraging innovative attitude under uncertainty. To measure the relationship between uncertainty and innovation (product, process and organizational), Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated between managers’ perception about the uncertainty and their perceptions of innovation within their companies compared to the players in the external environment. In addition, a linear regression was run between the three innovation types and uncertainty. Findings The results of our analysis confirmed the positive relationship between uncertainty and innovation. Moreover, our results indicate that male managers have a higher tendency to undertake innovation under external turbulence. Originality/value This study fills the gap in the literature by studying the relationship between uncertainty and innovation, focusing on SMEs during adversarial times, which in contrast to bigger companies are limited in terms of their resources and, hence, capacity to innovate. The paper examines the gender dimension as an internal factor affecting innovation under uncertainty in an under-researched country context of Armenia, where female entrepreneurs deal with unique challenges to engage in innovative activities.
Document Type: Article
Language: English
ISSN: 1757-2231
1757-2223
DOI: 10.1108/ijis-10-2022-0197
Rights: Emerald Insight Site Policies
Accession Number: edsair.doi...........61137f6daee27d9d133e77c15527eaee
Database: OpenAIRE
Description
Abstract:Purpose Innovation is considered as an important tool to succeed and survive in periods of great uncertainty such as COVID-19 crisis. This paper aims to empirically examine the propensity to engage in product, process and organizational innovation under uncertainty among small and medium enterprises and how that propensity varies depending on the gender of the manager. Design/methodology/approach Using the results of 213 responses by managers of Armenian small and medium enterprises in the scope of GLOBE-2020 survey, the authors investigate the role of manager’s gender in encouraging innovative attitude under uncertainty. To measure the relationship between uncertainty and innovation (product, process and organizational), Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated between managers’ perception about the uncertainty and their perceptions of innovation within their companies compared to the players in the external environment. In addition, a linear regression was run between the three innovation types and uncertainty. Findings The results of our analysis confirmed the positive relationship between uncertainty and innovation. Moreover, our results indicate that male managers have a higher tendency to undertake innovation under external turbulence. Originality/value This study fills the gap in the literature by studying the relationship between uncertainty and innovation, focusing on SMEs during adversarial times, which in contrast to bigger companies are limited in terms of their resources and, hence, capacity to innovate. The paper examines the gender dimension as an internal factor affecting innovation under uncertainty in an under-researched country context of Armenia, where female entrepreneurs deal with unique challenges to engage in innovative activities.
ISSN:17572231
17572223
DOI:10.1108/ijis-10-2022-0197