Stephen Roper
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Innovation success in small and larger firms: Does persistence and diversity in R&D matter when building a unique knowledge base? Open
This paper examines the research and development (R&D) strategies used by small and larger firms to build a unique knowledge base and drive innovation. We focus on two key strategic choices firms face: (1) Whether to engage in persistent o…
Understanding rural business resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic Open
The survival and performance of businesses depend in part on their resilience when confronted with crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on a unique, large-scale survey of 2600 non-farm rural businesses conducted during the COVID-1…
Balancing act or two roads to travel: Evaluating the trade-offs between digitalization and net zero innovation in SMEs Open
As firms face the dual challenges of digitalization and net zero innovation to combat climate change, understanding how these twin transitions relate is crucial. This study examines potential synergies or trade-offs between digital technol…
Trade-offs and complementarities between regional, sectoral, and national support policies for firms’ innovation Open
Public support for R&D can play a crucial role in addressing systemic failures that hinder the functioning of innovation systems, whether national, sectoral, or region-specific. However, little is known about the trade-offs and complementa…
Organizations offering line manager training in mental health and presenteeism: A secondary data analysis of organizational‐level data Open
Presenteeism ( working while ill ) due to mental ill‐health is estimated to be one of the largest economic costs to employers. We seek to investigate the relationship between line manager training in mental health (MH) and presenteeism tre…
Two birds with one stone: can public financial support help firms to address financial and non-financial obstacles to research and innovation? Open
Financial, knowledge and market obstacles can restrict firm-level research and innovation (R&I). Public financial support for R&I can clearly help firms that face financial obstacles to invest in R&I. Building on the literature concerning …
The relationship between line manager training in mental health and organisational outcomes Open
Background Line manager (LM) training in mental health is gaining recognition as an effective method for improving the mental health and wellbeing of workers. However, research predominantly focuses on the impacts of training at the employ…
Line manager training and organizational approaches to supporting well-being Open
Background Employee mental health and well-being (MH&WB) is critical to the productivity and success of organizations. Training line managers (LMs) in mental health plays an important role in protecting and enhancing employee well-being, b…
Typology of employers offering line manager training for mental health Open
Background Mental ill health has a high economic impact on society and employers. National and international policy advocates line manager (LM) training in mental health as a key intervention, but little is known about employer training pr…
Do Digital Technologies Enable Firms that Prioritize Sustainability Goals to Innovate? Empirical Evidence from Established UK Micro‐businesses Open
This paper examines the importance of sustainability within firms’ strategic goals and its links with innovation in the context of micro‐businesses. Micro‐businesses provide an appropriate context for investigating this relationship becaus…
Understanding the geographical distribution of innovation in England: density, accessibility and spillover effects Open
We examine the role of population density and accessibility in shaping innovation intensity in the 32,000 lower super output areas (LSOAs) in England. Our analysis focuses on firms’ registered intellectual property – patents, trademarks an…
The dynamics of abandoned innovation activities: Learning from failure or learning to prevent failure? Open
We contribute to the literature on abandonment and innovation by showing the dynamic nature of the linkage between abandoned innovation activities and subsequent innovation outcomes at firm level. Based on a balanced panel of Spanish manuf…
Estimating the innovation benefits of first-mover and second-mover strategies when micro-businesses adopt artificial intelligence and machine learning Open
Digital technologies have the potential to transform all aspects of firms’ operations. The emergence of advanced digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning raises questions about whether and when micro-busine…
From adversity to advice: Survival threats as a trigger for sustained engagement with external business support in small firms Open
This article analyses the relationship between the experience of a crisis and advice seeking in small firms. Although the benefits of business advice and support to smaller firms are well documented, smaller firms are often reluctant to se…
FIRMS’ INNOVATION OBJECTIVES AND KNOWLEDGE ACQUISITION STRATEGIES Open
External partnerships play an important role in firms’ acquisition of the knowledge inputs to innovation. Such knowledge acquisition may be interactive - involving exploration and mutual learning - or non-interactive - involving exploitati…
View article: Issue Information
Issue Information Open
The Journal of Product Innovation Management is the leading academic journal devoted to the latest research, theory, and practice in innovation and new products (goods, services, and hybrid solutions) development.The scope of the journal i…
R&D and innovation after COVID-19: What can we expect? A review of prior research and data trends after the great financial crisis Open
How did the great financial crisis (GFC) of 2008–2010 impact on R&D and innovation in the United Kingdom and internationally? What can we learn about the likely innovation effects of the COVID-19 crisis on small and medium enterprises (SME…
Using RCTs as a research method for SME policy research: the UK experience Open
Randomised control trials (RCTs) have a number of theoretical advantages over more standard quasi-experimental or econometric research methodologies, particularly the avoidance of selection bias. In the UK, recent budgetary pressures have …