The study at hand investigates innovation systems at small and medium enterprises (SMEs) focusing on innovation culture, organization and company goals at the early stages of innovation process. Past research studies suggest the early stages of innovation process are critical for the overall innovation ability, however, there is a lack of literature on the specifics of innovation systems at SMEs. Case studies of 3 companies provide an overview of characteristics of innovation systems at a typical SME as well as a solid basis for drawing business implications relevant for establishing or improving its innovation system. Furthermore, the findings reveal that people management at the early stages of innovation process is missing, and that a foreign subsidiary of an international SME is relevant for an effective corporate innovation process. Implications for further research on the topic are also discussed.

Background: Existing literature has declared migrant integration as social stress putting communities under pressure. Dynamics of social innovations and digital technologies can provide solutions to the pressing matter of migrant integration, yet the academic literature is obscure about processes that organisations employ in this matter. Purpose: This study aims to investigate how the process of digital social innovation unfolds in organisations. The main purpose of this study seeks to answer the research question: How do organisations undertake the process of digital social innovations in relation to migrant integration? Method: To answer the research question, a qualitative research approach was chosen. Multiple case study was carried out, and the empirical data was gathered through semi-structured interviews. The content of the company websites and other additional material were used as a complementary source of information. The scope of participants was delimited to Sweden and Germany due to a high level of immigration in these countries. After data collection, the analysis was carried out in an abductive manner. Conclusion: The findings showed that the social innovation process is intertwined with the context where the actor acts as a mediator between the two. Two models were combined to gain both theoretical and practical insights without excluding one another. A suggested digital social innovation process model was then introduced in pursuit of providing a model that could be used in academia to annex scattered literature and to use the model in practice as a foundation for the innovation process.

Nesta pesquisa foi estudada a utilização do corporate foresight como forma de suporte ao processo de inovação empresarial. Assim, dentre os objetivos de pesquisa encontram-se: analisar quais são os principais métodos de prospecção utilizados pelas empresas; se existe um foco em alguma inovação específica, podendo ser essas: inovação de produto, processo, marketing, organizacional e/ou modelo de negócio; além de estudar a relação existente entre o corporate foresight e a inovação nas empresas. A metodologia de pesquisa é descritiva exploratória de caráter quantitativo, tendo como principal intuito, entender e descrever a relação entre as variáveis estudadas. Os dados foram coletados a partir de uma amostra não probabilística por tratar-se de uma amostragem selecionada intencionalmente de atuais executivos do mercado. Referente aos resultados ligados ao corporate foresight foi identificado que as empresas utilizam com maior frequência os métodos de Pesquisa de Mercado; seguido de Cenários; Previsões e Projeções de Executivos e Palestra com Especialistas. Quando se trata do horizonte de tempo, nota-se que dos quatro métodos mais utilizados, três visam a prospecção em curto prazo, trazendo assim, a visão de as empresas terem de antecipar-se ao futuro próximo devido ao crescimento tecnológico acelerado. Os resultados de inovação mostram que as empresas estão utilizando com maior frequência as inovações de produto, processo e o crescimento da utilização da inovação de modelo de negócios que demonstra a preocupação das empresas em não só inovar, mas sim em gerar valor para o seu consumidor final. Outro ponto é o modo que as empresas inovam, que, por meio dessa pesquisa, foi possível observar que existe uma tendência em utilizar a inovação aberta de forma individualizada e em conjunto com os modos centralizado e descentralizado. Por meio dos resultados ligados ao suporte que o corporate foresight fornece ao processo de inovação empresarial, foi possível observar que os executivos enxergam os métodos de prospecção como uma forma de suporte à inovação, e que esse suporte é utilizado com maior ênfase nas fases iniciais do processo, como a identificação de inovações estratégicas e em menos frequência na fase de construção de um cronograma factível quando a inovação já foi executada. Além disso, o nível de integração entre os métodos de prospecção e o processo de inovação mostra tendência de ser cada vez mais integrado, tornando essa relação mais madura e desenvolvida. Por fim, os executivos encontram-se, em sua maioria, satisfeitos com a utilização do corporate foresight como forma de apoio ao processo de inovação. / The use of corporate foresight as a way to support the business innovation process has been studied in this research. Therefore, among the research objectives are: to analyze which are the main foresighting methods used by the companies; if there is a focus on some specific innovation, such as: product, process, marketing, organizational innovation and/or business model; in addition to studying the relationship between corporate foresight and business innovation process. The research methodology is descriptive exploratory and quantitative, as main concern, to understand and to describe the relation between the variables studied. The data were collected from a non-probabilistic sample because it was an intentionally selected sample of current market executives. Regarding the results related to corporate foresight, it was identified that companies use Market Research methods more frequently; followed by Scenarios; Executive Predictions and Projections and Lectures with Specialists. When it comes to the time horizon, it can be seen that of the four most used methods, three are aimed at short-term prospecting, thus bringing the view that companies have to anticipate the near future due to accelerated technological growth. Innovation results show that companies are increasingly using product, process, and business innovations that demonstrate the concern of companies to not only innovate, but to aggregate value for their final customers. Another point is the way companies innovate, which, through this research, it was possible to observe that there is a tendency to use open innovation in an individualized way and together with centralized and decentralized modes. Through the results related to the support that corporate foresight provides to the process of business innovation, it was possible to observe that executives see prospection methods as a form of support for innovation, and that this support is used with greater emphasis in the initial phases of the process, such as the identification of strategic innovations and less frequently in the construction phase of a feasible schedule when the innovation has already been implemented. In addition, the level of integration between prospecting methods and the innovation process shows a tendency to be increasingly integrated, making this relationship more mature and developed. Finally, executives are mostly satisfied with the use of corporate foresight to support the innovation process.

The diploma thesis is focused on the evaluation of the impact of innovation activities and their impact on labor productivity in the selected company. The theoretical part is dedicated to the literary review of terms like innovation, human capital, and efficiency. The practical part contains a description of the chosen company, financial analysis, and Human Resources management. The most significant innovations in the past seven years were selected for the examination of the influence on labor productivity.

Purpose – The purpose of this master thesis is to enhance knowledge about how business model innovationcan be managed in a structured way within large companies. Method – We used a single case study design with an abductive research approach were the main data collection consisted of semi-structured interviews and a focus group, with a total of 29 informants. The data was analysed using a thematic analysis. Findings – The findings show that the developed business model innovation process for large companies differ from previously presented theories. Integrating our empirical investigation with prior literature, the business model innovation process that we recommend consists off our overall phases: (1) clarification, (2) team mobilisation, (3) development and (4) implementation. Theoretical contribution – The findings extend prior literature by suggesting that: (1) The responsibility for business model innovation should be shared between top managers and operational managers; (2) The current business model innovation process should be extended by adding a completely new phase, namely Clarification; (3) Several of the tasks within the original business model innovation process should be split; (4) A new task should be added after composing a project team that defines the projects specific fixed and variable elements of a business model; and (5) The development phase should have a completely iterative design. Practical implications – This study provide top managers with a framework for how large companies can work with business model innovation in a structured way and guidelines for operational managers on how they can manage the actual execution of business model innovation. By using our business model innovation process, managers are provided with a structured working process to streamline their work with business model innovation, by considering business model innovation without using too much resources. Limitations of the study – This study focused on attention to detail and depth rather than providing statistical generalisable findings. Based on different predefined criteria the case study company selected projects and individuals to participate in the empirical investigation which limited the study as it may have affected the scope and result of the study. Furthermore, there may have been ambiguity about which project we asked about during the interviews as several informants were part of several projects, affecting the transferability of the study.

<p>This thesis examines innovation and design processes in small established companies. There is a great interest in this area yet paradoxically the area is under-researched, since most innovation research is done on large companies. The research questions are: How do small established companies carry out their innovation and design processes? and How does the context and novelty of the process and product affect the same processes?</p><p>The thesis is built on three research papers that used the research method of multiple case studies of different small established companies. The innovation and design processes found were highly context dependent and were facilitated by committed resources, a creative climate, vision, low family involvement, delegated power and authority, and linkages to external actors such as customers and users. Both experimental cyclical and linear structured design processes were found. The choice of structure is explained by the relative product and process novelty experienced by those developing the product innovation. Linear design processes worked within a low relative novelty situation and cyclical design processes worked no matter the relative novelty. The innovation and design processes found were informal, with a low usage of formal systematic design methods, except in the case of design processes for software. The use of formal systematic methods in small companies seems not always to be efficient, because many of the problems the methods are designed to solve are not present. Customers and users were found to play a large and important role in the innovation and design processes found and gave continuous feedback during the design processes. Innovation processes were found to be intertwined, yielding synergy effects, but it was common that resources were taken from the innovation processes for acute problems that threatened the cash flow. In sum, small established companies have the natural prerequisites to take advantage of lead-user inventions and cyclical design processes. Scarce resources were found to be the main factor hindering innovation, but the examined companies practiced several approaches to increase their resources or use existing scarce resources more efficiently in their innovation and design processes. Examples of these approaches include adopting lead-user inventions and reducing formality in the innovation and design processes.</p>

<p>Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the innovation process of companies, and to analyse how important success factors and obstacles are in their innovation process.</p><p>Method: The investigation strategy used for this essay was to interview companies that work with innovations. The essay has a qualitative approach. Both primary – in the form of interviews - and secondary data – literature found in books, scientific articles and internet - have been used to achieve our results.</p><p>Results: The result of this essay is: there is not just one inovation process that is applicable to all companies. On the other hand, there are some guidelines that could be followed in the process. Some success factors are more important than others and companies do not take given obstacles into consideration.</p>

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the innovation process of companies, and to analyse how important success factors and obstacles are in their innovation process. Method: The investigation strategy used for this essay was to interview companies that work with innovations. The essay has a qualitative approach. Both primary – in the form of interviews - and secondary data – literature found in books, scientific articles and internet - have been used to achieve our results. Results: The result of this essay is: there is not just one inovation process that is applicable to all companies. On the other hand, there are some guidelines that could be followed in the process. Some success factors are more important than others and companies do not take given obstacles into consideration.

In einem durch das Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung geförderten Projektes wurde untersucht, wie Nachhaltigkeit in unternehmerische Innovationsprozesse integriert werden kann. Als konkretes Untersuchungsfeld wurde der Maschinen- und Anlagenbau gewählt, da sich die Nachhaltigkeitsintegration in Innovationsprozesse in diesem Industriezweig auf alle Produktlebensphasen auswirkt. Der Untersuchungsschwerpunkt wurde auf kleine und mittlere Unternehmen gelegt, weil bei diesen ein besonders großer Zielkonflikt zwischen marktgetriebenen kurzfristigen wirtschaftlichen Interessen und der langfristigen Orientierung auf Nachhaltigkeit erwartet wurde. Dies lies sich durch empirische Untersuchungen bestätigen. / In research project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research it was investigated how sustainability can be integrated in corporate innovation processes. As the specific field of investigation the construction of machinery had been chosen since the integration of sustainability in innovation processes in this field has an impact on all product life cycle. The focus of the study was on small and medium-sized companies because of its present conflict between market-driven short-term economic interests and long-term focus on sustainability. This was confirmed by the empirical study.

Background: Due to several threats that are facing our planet a hybrid business form has emerged throughout the recent decade, the social enterprise (SE). A SE is created with one purpose, to create social value. However, it is also aiming for financial profit to be able to fulfill its social mission. The dual focus of SEs differentiates them from other business forms and much remains to understand how they manage this over time. Little is known about SE business models (BMs) and how they develop over time. Problem Discussion: Globalization has led to increased business competition, which in turn has led to an increased attention of business model innovation (BMI) as a tool to create and/or sustain competitive advantage. Since BMI can be a key process in all industries it is relevant to understand BMI in order to manage it successfully and achieve a good result. Unfortunately little attention has been given to the BMI process, how BMI unfolds over time. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore how BMI unfolds over time at GodEl. This will be done by: (1) looking at how the BM components have changed over time from the establishment of the firm until present, and (2) identifying main events that have triggered these changes. Methodology: This study is a qualitative single case study. The data has been collected via 16 semi-structured interviews, two focus groups, as well as via historical archives. The findings have been analyzed in a within-case analysis. The case organization is GodEl, a Swedish electric retailer. Empirical Findings: The findings contain a complete review of the company history and BMI between 2001 and 2015, based on the collected data. It is structured in identified time periods. Conclusions: It can be concluded that BMI at GodEl between its establishment and present day has been achieved by small incremental changes in the BM components one step at a time. It has been a continuous process of trial-and- error. Future Research: Further research is needed in order to deepen the understanding of BMI process.