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Updated: Aug 11, 2025
14:14
The Innovation Arena: A Method for Comparing Innovative Problem-Solving Across Groups
Published on: May 13, 2022
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Structured mathematical modelling on innovation management in project-oriented small construction firms
Chen Wang1, Yutong Tang1, Yiyi Mo1
1Intelligence and Automation in Construction Fujian Province Higher-Educational Engineering Research Centre, College of Civil Engineering, Huaqiao University, 361021, Xiamen, China.
Heliyon
|February 9, 2023
Summary
Innovation management in small construction firms boosts business performance. Entrepreneurship and networking drive technological and non-technological innovation, leading to success.
Area of Science:
- Business Management
- Innovation Studies
- Construction Management
Background:
- Innovation management is crucial for business growth across various sectors.
- Empirical research on innovation in small, project-oriented service firms, especially construction, is limited.
- Understanding innovation drivers in small construction firms is essential for performance enhancement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how innovation management enables small construction firms to pursue innovation.
- To determine the impact of innovation management on business performance in small construction firms.
- To identify key factors influencing innovation and performance in this sector.
Main Methods:
- Empirical survey data collected from 157 small construction firms.
- Development of a conceptual framework.
- Structural equation modeling (SEM) used for data analysis.
Main Results:
- Entrepreneurship significantly influences both technological and non-technological innovation.
- Networking positively impacts technological and non-technological innovation.
- Both entrepreneurship and networking have a direct and considerable influence on firm performance.
Conclusions:
- Entrepreneurship and networking are key enablers of innovation in small construction firms.
- Effective innovation management, driven by these factors, leads to improved business performance.
- Findings provide valuable insights for small construction businesses seeking to enhance their innovative capacity and competitiveness.
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