dissertation in pdf-format - Aalto-yliopisto

CONTENTS
PART 1: Overview of the dissertation
1 Introduction ............................................................................. 5
1.1 Relevance of the studies .......................................................................... 5
1.2 Research aims, objectives and questions ............................................... 9
1.3 Outline of the studies ........................................................................... 11
1.4 Key concepts and abbreviations used in the studies ........................... 14
2 Literature review and conceptual framework ......................... 15
2.1 Entrepreneurship, innovation and performance research ................. 15
2.2 Innovativeness and growth .................................................................. 19
2.2.1 Context, innovativeness and growth ............................................ 19
2.2.2 Characteristics of innovative growing SMEs ...............................22
2.2.3 Resources and innovative growing SMEs .................................... 23
2.3 Characteristics of HGS SMEs and methodological challenges ........... 25
2.3.1 Characteristics of HGS SMEs ........................................................ 25
2.3.2 Methodological challenges of analysing HGS SMEs ................... 27
2.4 The development of HGS SMEs ......................................................... 30
2.5 Innovation and growth policy support initiatives ............................... 31
2.6 Conceptual framework ......................................................................... 33
3 Research methodology ........................................................... 35
3.1 Methodology applied in the studies ..................................................... 35
3.2 Research strategy and design .............................................................. 37
3.3 Data and analytical methods ............................................................... 37
3.3.1 Data ................................................................................................ 37
3.3.2 Analytical methods ...................................................................... 40
3.4 Models and operationalization of variables ....................................... 42
3.5 Validity and reliability in mixed method studies ................................43
4 Results, evaluation of the studies and concluding remarks .... 48
4.1 Summary of the results and conclusions ............................................ 48
4.2 Theoretical and practical contributions and implications ................. 54
4.3 Limitations ........................................................................................... 57
4.4 Avenues for future research ................................................................ 58
References ................................................................................ 60
Appendixes ............................................................................... 74
PART 2: Articles