THE ANTECEDENTS OF INNOVATIVENESS IN MANUFACTURING SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES: A QUALITATIVE APPROACH

Abstract

The paper sought to establish the factors that influence firm innovativeness within manufacturing
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nairobi County, Kenya. A descriptive instrumental multi
case study design was adopted. The cases were purposively identified from manufacturing SME
firms within Nairobi County. The paper identified factors that influenced innovativeness in the
case firms, which were then themed on the basis of previously identified constructs. This paper
corroborated previous research that attributes entrepreneurial orientation as being a contributor
to firm innovativeness in SMEs across many countries. Being an in-depth paper on the reviewed
cases, the research added to the existing body of empirical literature thereby being knowledge
extending. The paper recommended further qualitative studies for the construct of innovativeness
within SMEs. It further recommended that active decision-making on the basis of internal and
external circumstances as being very important for a firm to be innovative. The paper also
discusses a raft of policy considerations that seek to address the diffusion of innovation across
various SME segments.