Knowledge absorption and innovation in UK SMEs: a study by economic sector and place

Shaw, Gareth ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7135-2105 , Murphy, David F. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8416-5627 , Marshall, Alison ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6816-2362 , Rosiello, Alessandro ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2338-6746 , Sena, Vania ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4375-6591 and Li, Junxiong (2024) Knowledge absorption and innovation in UK SMEs: a study by economic sector and place. Small Business International Review, 8 (2). e626.

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Abstract

This study focusses on knowledge absorption in SMEs and their abilities to develop innovations. It does so by examining SMEs in three different economic sectors, namely, manufacturing, high-tech and services. In doing so it provides one of the first comparative studies of SMEs within these different sectors. It also examines variations by place and compares the performance of SMEs across four distinct places within the UK. The research is based around both a quantitative analysis of firm performances followed by a detailed in-depth qualitative study. Our results focussed on the stages of knowledge transfer from acquisition, assimilation, through to the transformation and exploitation of knowledge. The findings draw attention to the significance. of management practices within SMEs and recognised the importance of open innovation. The study indicates that place alone does not play a key role, compared with the industry sector.

Item Type:	Article
Journal / Publication Title:	Small Business International Review
Publisher:	Asociación Española de Contabilidad y Administración de Empresas
ISSN:	2531-0046
Departments:	Institute of Business, Industry and Leadership > Applied Transformative Education and Leadership Institute of Health > Continuing Development and Health Leadership
Additional Information:	David F. Murphy, Associate Professor of Sustainability & Collaborative Leadership, Institute of Business, Industry and Leadership, University of Cumbria. Alison Marshall, Professor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Institute of Health, University of Cumbria. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Depositing User:	Anna Lupton
Date Deposited:	03 Dec 2024 14:01
Last Modified:	03 Dec 2024 14:15
URI:	https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/8528

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