A Relationship between Innovation Capability and Performance: Differences in Firm Development Stages

중소기업의 기술혁신역량과 혁신성과의 관계: 성장단계별 차이

  • Received : 2018.01.10
  • Accepted : 2018.04.27
  • Published : 2018.04.30

Abstract

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) endeavor to overcome the adverse resource conditions and secure competitive advantage through technological innovation capability. Prior studies have focused on the overall or specific dimensions of technological innovation capability, and examined their performance impact. However, there has been less scholarly attention on the dynamic characteristics such as the relative importance of technological innovation capability or its performance impact at the different growth stages of a firm. In this vein, this study investigates the relationship between SME innovation capability and innovation performance at each growth stages of a firm. Based on the empirical analysis of manufacturing SMEs in Korea, we found that all dimensions of technological innovation capability had positive effects on innovation performance. However, each dimension of technological innovation capability had different effect on innovation performance by the growth stages. The planning capability can improve innovation performance at the growth and maturity stages. Manufacturing capability can have positive effect on innovation performance at the maturity stage. Both of new product development capability and commercialization capability contribute to innovation performance at all of the growth stages. This study suggests the guidelines for enhancing technological innovation capability at the different growth stages of SMEs. It also provides policy implications for the design and operation of growth-stage specific programs. Finally, the limitations of the research and future research directions are presented.

중소기업들은 기술혁신과 기술혁신역량 확보를 통해 불리한 자원규모나 경쟁여건을 극복하고 경쟁우위를 확보하기 위해 노력한다. 기존 연구들은 총체적인 기술혁신역량이나 특정 기술혁신역량 차원들에 초점을 두고 각 혁신역량과 성과간의 관계를 살펴보고 있다. 반면 성장단계별 기술혁신역량의 상대적 중요성이나 성과 영향의 차이와 같은 동태적 특성에 대한 관심은 미흡했다. 본 연구는 중소기업 기술혁신역량과 성과간의 성장단계별 차이를 실증적으로 살펴보고자 한다. 국내 중소제조기업들에 대한 설문조사 분석결과, 중소기업 기술혁신역량의 모든 세부 차원들은 혁신성과에 정의 유의한 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 그러나 성장단계별로는 기술혁신역량의 세부 차원별로 혁신성과에 상이한 영향관계를 보여준다. 기획역량은 성장기와 성숙기에서 혁신성과를 향상시키는 것으로 나타났다. 제조역량은 성숙기에서 혁신성과를 향상시키는 것으로 나타났다. 신제품개발역량과 사업화 역량은 모든 성장단계에서 혁신성과를 높이는데 기여하는 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구는 중소기업들의 성장단계에 따라 실무적 기술혁신역량 강화를 위한 가이드라인을 제시한다. 또한 성장단계별 정책적 지원프로그램 설계와 운영을 위한 시사점을 제공한다. 마지막으로 본 연구의 의의와 연구한계 및 향후 연구과제들을 제시했다.

Keywords

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