Innovation in the microfirm context | Limited awareness by owner/managers Owner/manager dominant role Incremental innovation and potential for development |
The role of the external environment - articulation of change | Environmental determinism Marketing technology Owner/manager direct market sensing |
Mental models and imaginative strategy | Emergence from business community Surfacing of mental models New markets |
People relationships and customer service | Owner/manager shares local expertise Owner/manager shares hobby Owner/manager symbolic representation of firm |
Operational capability | Opportunities through craft capability and market sensing via market proximity Challenges of over immersion in operational work to neglect of strategy |
Nature of micro firm leadership | Culture shaping limited evidence/possibly tacit in nature Paternalism utilising employees as resource Delegation - limits and opportunities Resilience |
Resource pools | Family as potential resource yet barrier to innovation Gap between policy makers and owner/managers Resource limits and limited managerial capability to leverage resources Stakeholder ties and opportunities and limits |