Ameliorating effect of competitive intelligence on SME innovativeness in emerging economies

Authors

  • Kagiso Mashego College of Economic and Management Sciences, Department of Business Management, University of South Africa, Tshwane, South Africa
  • Nisha Sewdass College of Economic and Management Sciences, Department of Business Management, University of South Africa, Tshwane, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37380/jisib.v13iSpecial%20Issue%201.1136

Keywords:

Competitive intelligence, Innovativeness, SMEs, Emerging economies

Abstract

For many years SMEs growth and survival in emerging economies depended on resources deployment including financial, skills, infrastructure etc. Such resources are undoubtedly important, but insufficient. The increase and heightened competition in the market requires innovativeness in SMEs. However, innovativeness is unthinkable without the consideration of competition information. Along with these efforts, SMEs could infuse competitive intelligence to ameliorate its innovativeness. The aim of this study was to investigate how can competitive intelligence ameliorate innovativeness of SMEs in emerging economies. An exploratory, interpretivism, and qualitative design was followed to collect data via semi-structured interviews from SMEs in an emerging economy, South Africa. The findings enlighten on how SMEs in an emerging economy use competitive intelligence to ameliorate its innovativeness, and a model of innovativeness in SMEs is proposed. Practical implications are made to key stakeholders and future research directions are offered.

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Published

2023-12-24