Embracing the “fail fast and learn fast” mindset: conceptualizing learning from failure in knowledge-intensive SMEs

Nikolina Koporcic (), David Sjödin (), Marko Kohtamäki () and Vinit Parida ()
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Nikolina Koporcic: Laurea University of Applied Sciences
David Sjödin: Luleå University of Technology
Marko Kohtamäki: Luleå University of Technology
Vinit Parida: Luleå University of Technology

Small Business Economics, 2025, vol. 64, issue 1, No 9, 202 pages

Abstract: Abstract “Fail fast and learn fast” is a principle commonly advanced to quickly grow and scale startups and SMEs. However, the literature lacks detailed insights into how such learning is organized. The paper aims to investigate how knowledge-intensive SMEs learn from failures through organizational learning processes. To answer this question, we present in-depth case studies of three SMEs that operate in a dynamic context where quick adaption to changes, failures, and learning are natural modes of practice. Our findings present the learning from the failure process, which includes three phases: (1) failure recognition, (2) interactive sensemaking, and (3) organizational adaptation. We condense our insights into a framework disentangling how SMEs succeed and fail and how they can learn from failures through their underlying learning processes. We contribute to prior literature on organizational learning in SMEs by focusing on knowledge-intensive SMEs and practices that enable effective learning from failures.

Keywords: Knowledge-intensive SMEs; Organizational learning and innovation; Learning from failure; Fail fast and learn fast mindset; Experimentation; Business model innovation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D83 L26 M13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s11187-024-00897-0

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