Small Business Economics ( IF 7.096 ) Pub Date : 2021-01-27 , DOI: 10.1007/s11187-021-00450-3 Beldina Owalla , Cristian Gherhes , Tim Vorley , Chay Brooks
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the lifeblood of economies around the world. They play an important role in productivity growth, which is crucial for developed economies as they adjust to major trends such as the industrial revolution, an ageing population and changes in the nature of work. This study maps the SME productivity research landscape by way of a systematic literature review focusing on the direct, indirect and mediating/moderating factors that enable or constrain productivity in SMEs. We review 109 empirical studies and highlight the fragmented nature of the extant research in this field. Our thematic analysis identifies six key themes, namely organisational environment, organisational capabilities, investments, types of innovation, external knowledgebase and commercialisation. By taking stock of existing knowledge, we highlight critical gaps and methodological issues that limit our understanding of SME productivity. We propose a future research agenda to address current shortcomings and advance knowledge on this topic. Implications for policy are also discussed.
中文翻译:
绘制中小企业生产力研究图:对经验证据和未来研究议程的系统回顾
中小型企业(SME)是全球经济的命脉。它们在生产率增长中起着重要作用,这对发达经济体至关重要,因为它们适应了主要趋势,例如工业革命,人口老龄化和工作性质的变化。这项研究通过系统的文献综述来绘制中小企业生产力研究前景图,该文献着重于能够或限制中小企业生产力的直接,间接和中介/调节因素。我们回顾了109项实证研究,并强调了该领域现有研究的分散性。我们的主题分析确定了六个关键主题,即组织环境,组织能力,投资,创新类型,外部知识库和商业化。通过评估现有知识,我们强调了限制我们对中小企业生产力的理解的关键差距和方法论问题。我们提出了一个未来的研究议程,以解决当前的不足并提高对此主题的认识。还讨论了对政策的影响。