Investing in workplace innovation pays off for SMEs: a regional innovation initiative from The Netherlands

Authors Peter Oeij, Ernst de Vroome, Astrid Bolland, Dr. Rob Gründemann, Lex van Teeffelen
Published in International Journal of Social Quality
Publication date 2014
Research groups Decent Work
Type Article

Summary

From 2009 to 2013 the workplace innovation project “My Enterprise 2.0” was carried out in the region of Utrecht in the Netherlands in order to strengthen the workplace innovation capability of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Participating enterprises completed a questionnaire regarding the “workplace innovativeness” of their company. A workplace innovation intervention was then implemented by some of the companies, while other companies chose not to take part. At the end of the project, a second questionnaire indicated that those companies that implemented interventions had a significantly higher score with regard to overall workplace innovativeness. The companies without such interventions reported a small decrease. While the companies in the region had higher workplace innovativeness scores relative to a national reference group both before and after the project, the increase in the “workplace innovativeness” of the regional SMEs that experienced interventions suggests that the project proved beneficial to their continued “workplace innovativeness.” Moreover, these companies also reported positive effects on company performance, achieving company goals and improving labor productivity.

On this publication contributed

  • Lex van Teeffelen
    Lex van Teeffelen
    • Professor
    • Research group: Financial-Economic Advice in Innovation

Language English
Published in International Journal of Social Quality
Year and volume 4 2
Key words Midden- en kleinbedrijf; werkplek innovatie
Page range 86-106

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