Full metadata record
| DC Field | Value | Language |
|---|---|---|
| dc.contributor | Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering | en_US |
| dc.creator | Leung, Chi-on | - |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/5665 | - |
| dc.language | English | en_US |
| dc.publisher | Hong Kong Polytechnic University | - |
| dc.rights | All rights reserved | en_US |
| dc.title | Development of methods and apparatus for innovation capability audit and strategic positioning for small and medium enterprises | en_US |
| dcterms.abstract | Innovation capability is vital for manufacturing enterprises to develop competitive products in the markets. Technological innovation is believed as a black box although it has been studied for decades. This black box processes thousands of ideas and brings only one successful new product. The failures of thousands of new ideas are usually due to technically infeasible or relatively low contribution in commercial value. However, there is a lack of audit tool and apparatus for supporting manufacturing enterprises to assess the innovation capability and strategic positioning. This is particularly true for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in manufacturing industries which are lack of resources. As a result, SME needs audit tools and methods to find out its strategic and current innovation position, intangible composition of the innovating capability and their reliability, and the performance of innovation activities. This dissertation aims to develop methods and apparatus to audit the innovation capability of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in manufacturing industries. It throws some light for the SME to align its innovation capability with planned strategic position. In this study, a new model named interactive innovation model is developed. This model focuses on organization internal factors in a close system of innovation. Employee ideas are generated in the wide end and innovation outcome, product or process, are synthesized and come out from the narrow end of the system. To assess the innovation capability, all inputs, processes, and outcomes in the model are measured by both quantitative and qualitative methods using both top down and bottom up approaches. To examine the strategic view and actual performance of innovation capability and the employee perceived organizational innovativeness, the enterprises are divided into three levels which include top, middle and bottom. Gap analysis is used to determine the potential strategic dissonance in the innovation capability. Besides, a stock taking of the intellectual capital (IC) components in different innovation core processes is conducted to determine the reliability of the available innovation related best practices. To realize the capability of the new method, a trial implementation has been done in a selected reference site. The reference site is a SME for toy, juvenile and stationary products manufacturing business. It involves in OEM and ODM manufacturing for more than ten years and steps in the OBM business recently. There is about forty employees in headquarter office in Hong Kong and two to three thousands employees in its manufacturing plant in Mainland China. A full audit is implemented and significant results about strategic dissonance and deficiency in organizational innovativeness for its R&D operation are observed during the process audit and work enviromnent audit. Besides, the result of its overall innovation capability is marginal and significant gap for improvement is identified with action items. The audit tool assists the top management to derive two approaches of action plan, one for its OBM business and another one for its OEM/ODM business. Moreover, the initial stock take of intellectual capital in the process audit also gives the top management a template for further development of innovation capability in a sustainable manner. The results show that the method is applicable on the selected SME and able to provide direction to align its innovation capability to the planned strategic position. At the end of this study, suggestion for further work is provided. This study provides a quick and holistic initial diagnosis method for innovation capability of SMEs in manufacturing industries with immediate available action items and long-term improvement plan. As there is lack of study about the development of related methods and apparatus, this dissertation has provided significances in the related field. | en_US |
| dcterms.extent | xi, 137 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. | en_US |
| dcterms.isPartOf | PolyU Electronic Theses | en_US |
| dcterms.issued | 2010 | en_US |
| dcterms.educationalLevel | All Master | en_US |
| dcterms.educationalLevel | M.Sc. | en_US |
| dcterms.LCSH | Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations | en_US |
| dcterms.LCSH | Management audit -- Research | en_US |
| dcterms.LCSH | Small business -- Technological innovations -- Management. | en_US |
| dcterms.LCSH | Strategic planning -- Management. | en_US |
| dcterms.accessRights | restricted access | en_US |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b2353106x.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 16.43 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
Copyright Undertaking
As a bona fide Library user, I declare that:
- I will abide by the rules and legal ordinances governing copyright regarding the use of the Database.
- I will use the Database for the purpose of my research or private study only and not for circulation or further reproduction or any other purpose.
- I agree to indemnify and hold the University harmless from and against any loss, damage, cost, liability or expenses arising from copyright infringement or unauthorized usage.
By downloading any item(s) listed above, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the copyright undertaking as stated above, and agree to be bound by all of its terms.
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/5665