الملخص الإنجليزي
Abstract:
Purpose: This study focused on studying factors that influence innovation among
SMEs operating in the Kingdom of Bahrain to come up with a measurement tool that
can be used by policymakers to measure innovation in the business sector on a
systematic basis.
Design/Methodology/Approach: This study followed a deductive approach based on
existing theories and research done on innovation. A sample of 316 was collected
through survey interviews responding to structured questions, and a quantitative
approach was followed to analyze the data using SPSS.
Findings: the results of the study found a significant relationship between influencing
factors and innovation except for the Funding and Public Support factor which found
no correlation with innovation. Other factors, knowledge flow, cooperating partners,
entrepreneur's character, investment in innovation, and COVID-19 Impact all had a
significant positive relationship with innovation for SMEs operating in the Kingdom of
Bahrain.
Research Contribution: this research provides a framework for measuring innovation
that can be used by official bodies to measure innovation activity taking place in the
Kingdom of Bahrain to improve innovation activity in the country. The research can be
used by entrepreneurs of SMEs to improve innovative activities taking place inside their
firms. This can be used as well by academic researchers to build on and study further
factors that influence innovation and enrich the scientific research supporting economic
development in the country.
Recommendations: Policymakers to adopt a measurement tool to measure innovation
in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and entrepreneurs to review these factors and implement
strategies to improve innovation activity inside their companies. Academic researchers
study further factors that might influence innovation and enrich the scientific
background supporting the innovation infrastructure in the country.
Keywords: Innovation, Disruptive Innovation, incremental Innovation, Product
Innovation, Process Innovation, Organizational Innovation, Marketing Innovation,
Object/Subject Innovation, Knowledge Flow, Investment on Innovation, entrepreneur's
Character, COVID-19, Cooperating Partner.
