Technology-based SMEs develop their activity in changing environments with strong competitive pressures. These conditions make them much more likely to innovate but also make the innovative process more challenging due to greater complexity of decisions about resources and establishment of actions to achieve favorable innovation results. Although prior studies have analyzed diverse factors that impact the innovative dynamics of this type of firm, little advance has been made in exploring the problem from the perspective of decision-making. This study seeks to close this research gap using Effectuation Theory, one of the most-cited theories emerging in the field of entrepreneurship. More specifically, we analyze the use of causal and effectual decision-making logics to evaluate their direct and ambidextrous effects on innovation in technology-based SMEs. Our results provide evidence that not just one path, but rather a pool of alternatives, supports product and process innovation development. More specifically, when technology SMEs pursue product innovation, both effectuation and causation can be used as predominant mechanisms to achieve positive innovation results. If firms also seek to develop process innovations, however, they may obtain better results with an ambidextrous approach.

基于技术的中小企业在竞争激烈的环境中发展自己的活动。这些条件使它们更有可能进行创新，但由于有关资源的决策和采取行动以取得有利的创新成果更加复杂，因此创新过程也更具挑战性。尽管先前的研究已经分析了影响这种类型企业创新动力的各种因素，但从决策角度探讨问题的进展甚微。本研究力图使用效应理论来弥补这一研究空白，效应理论是企业家领域新兴的理论之一。进一步来说，我们分析了因果关系和有效决策逻辑的使用，以评估它们对基于技术的中小企业创新的直接和灵活的影响。我们的结果提供了证据，表明不仅有一条途径，而且还有一系列备选方案都支持产品和流程创新的发展。更具体地说，当技术型中小企业追求产品创新时，实现和因果关系都可以用作实现积极创新成果的主要机制。但是，如果公司也寻求开发流程创新，那么他们可以采用兼顾各方利益的方法来获得更好的结果。实现和因果关系都可以用作实现积极创新成果的主要机制。但是，如果公司也寻求开发流程创新，那么他们可以采用兼顾各方利益的方法来获得更好的结果。实现和因果关系都可以用作实现积极创新成果的主要机制。但是，如果公司也寻求开发流程创新，那么他们可以采用兼顾各方利益的方法来获得更好的结果。