Facoltà: Ingegneria Gestionale per la Produzione Industrial
Collocazione: 8706
Autore: Uberti Lorenzo
Data: 07/10/2010
Titolo: Innovation: a driver for the internationalization of smes
Relatore: Manzini Raffaella
Correlatore: Buonanno Giacomo
Autorizzazione per la consultazione: NO
Le tesi si possono consultare unicamente in sede
The aim of this research is to identify if innovation is a driver for the internationalization of SMEs. To find an answer to this question, the author divided the dissertation in 4 sections. The first section analyses the literature on, the internationalization of SMEs, the innovation process of SMEs, the benefits of global innovation and the main resources of international knowledge. Through this analysis the author was able to identify the main important variables that have an impact on this strategic decision, such as, leader commitment, level of foreign language of the Top Management Team, SMEs already working in the international market, etc. After the identification of the main variables, the author analysed, by evaluating benefits and risks, the different methods available to investigate the topic, such as interviews, focus groups and questionnaire. The result of this analysis brought the author to decide for a self administered questionnaire with closed questions. The third section presents, the data collected through the questionnaire and an analysis of those, by comparing the findings with the results of the literature. The discussion of the data, identified that SMEs that do international innovation are mainly exporter, market focus, incremental innovator, with no formal innovation process. Moreover, the results showed that usually SMEs cooperate, on this kind of projects, with customers and suppliers and usually with either an informal alliance or with one regulated by a contract. Furthermore, the results showed that SMEs that engage their self in international innovation are usually able to stretch their competences and increase their ability to answer to market requests. Lastly, the author developed the conclusion of the dissertation by creating a model that identifies the main results of the research.
