Innovation and Management in MSMEs: A Literature Review of Highly Cited Papers

Abstract

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) play a large role in different economies; hence the relevance of research on the factors that may leverage MSMEs competitiveness such as innovation and management. This research aims to review highly cited articles in the Web of Science database regarding management and/or innovation in the context of MSMEs. Besides showing MSMEs classifications across regions, this review also showed that variables employed in the highly cited papers have correspondences with excellence/quality management factors and traditional innovation types, which hence still serve as theoretical frameworks for research on MSMEs competitiveness. Moreover, theoretical relations were identified among all variables, being the strongest among networks-open innovation, information-knowledge, and product and process innovations. The results indicated that MSMEs competitiveness is related to sustainability, information-knowledge, and networks-open innovation; hence MSMEs managers and owners should pay attention to these factors. Finally, future research directions were also gathered and discussed.