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The purpose of this paper is to explore whether collaborating with public research organizations (PROs) contributes to strengthening the innovation culture of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). We examine to what extent their innovation culture is reinforced by collaborations with research organizations and investigate the type of organizational strategies that enhance this effect of collaboration. The empirical study is based on a survey of firms that collaborate with the largest Spanish PRO, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). Our results indicate that SMEs differ greatly in their capacity to strengthen their innovation culture through collaboration with research organizations. We show also that firms with formal innovation plans that develop internal and external search strategies are more likely to improve their innovation culture as a result of collaboration with PROs. These findings provide managers with new insights into how to strengthen their firms' innovation culture through collaboration with research organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reason most frequently adduced by SMEs to avoid the implementation of CSR programs is their shortage of material resources. In this paper we propose the possibility that biotech SMEs supply the RSC with something they've got in abundance, that is, knowledge. Popular science thus becomes the focus of these programs, an affordable resource that can benefit them, and not only in reputation. Our study focuses on 32 SMEs settled in four Technology Parks in Andalusia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to test the individual effects of total quality management (TQM) on customer results, people results, society results and quality performance in a small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) context. The research is based on information from 85 ISO 9000 certified SMEs in Spain. A number of regression analyses are applied in order to examine the impact of TQM on these four results and identify which factors of TQM have the greatest effect. After analysing the survey data, 10 SMEs were randomly selected for individual visits, in order to check the results. The results show that TQM may improve customer results, people results, society results and quality performance. TQM factors related to training and specialist training are showed to be the most significant predictors of quality outcomes. The contribution of this paper is to study this association in SMEs in Spain. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a first-hand experience in Software Process Improvement within a Spanish Company which, since 2002, has been involved in an improvement programme led by our research group. We discuss the experience and the results of this improvement programme, as well as the lessons learned to deal with new future improvement initiatives in other companies of our environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main proposal of the paper is to analyze the human resources management practices adopted by some Spanish SMEs in order to promote and develop corporate entrepreneurship. A case study method is used to explore the corporate entrepreneurship activities developed by three SMEs. The main results show the importance of establishing good relationships among companys' members, creating an appropriate working environment. Also, the relevance of promoting risk attitudes and the participation of employees in corporate entrepreneurship activities is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) usually have wide cooperation networks. High levels of cooperation facilitate the acquisition of knowledge by clients, suppliers and competitors. The objective of this paper is to analyze the influence trust, compromise, knowledge, the management team, and the expected benefits have on three levels of cooperation (suppliers, clients and competitors). The results indicate that whilst expected benefits are the key to moving on to further levels of cooperation, trust is needed. Satistical confirmation of the hypothesis was carried-out using a logistical polytomic regression model, and the data came from 88 SMEs in Murcia, Spain. An additional investigation in other regions, to analyze the interrelation of different forms of IT cooperation in SMEs and large enterprises, could help improve the rigor of the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]