Leading to innovation: Developing Leadership Capability Framework for Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been one of the sectors hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the adverse consequences are expected to continue for many years. According to a 2022 survey conducted by the OECD, SMEs and entrepreneurs are anxious about the impact of Covid-19 on their business survival. The survey provides evidence of severe disruptions and concerns among small businesses; for example, 92% of Japanese SMEs have been negatively affected by the pandemic, and the number of COVID-19-related bankruptcies has sharply increased by 15% (OECD, 2022).

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) have always been a significant contributor to the economy and employment, accounting for over 70% of the working population and a considerable portion of economic output. However, SMEs have faced numerous challenges, including a lack of access to financial support, which has resulted in comparatively low investment in innovation. While over 70% of Research and Development (R&D) is funded, SMEs only account for less than 10% of this funding, according to the OECD’s Science, Technology, and Industry Scoreboard in 2020. These numbers should be concerning, given that SMEs were expected to be the future growth engines for the country's economy.

Therefore, this research aims to explore the role of leadership behaviour that fosters business innovation in SMEs after the COVID-19 crisis and, consequently, to develop a Leadership Capability Framework that enhances the innovation performance of SMEs.

Research Questions:

• What role does leadership play in nurturing and enhancing innovation in SMEs in a post-COVID-19 era, and how does this occur?
• What are the leadership qualities that lead to significant innovation and in turn, improve the operation of SMEs after the Post Covid-19 crisis?
• Based upon the answers to the two questions above, how can such leadership qualities be developed into a Leadership Capability Framework to enhance the innovative behaviours among SMEs’ managers and employees?

How to apply

Formal applications should be submitted through the University of Bradford web site; applicants should create an account and choose 'Full-time PhD in Business and Management' as the course.

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