Innovation capabilities and learning mechanisms: insights from Ghanaian fresh fruit processing enterprises

Charity Osei-Amponsah

Innovation and Development, 2022, vol. 12, issue 2, 259-277

Abstract: Strengthening the capabilities of agro-processing enterprises to be innovative and competitive has been a long-term industrial development challenge. This is mainly because, there is limited empirical insight on the ability of the enterprises to assimilate and use knowledge to create innovations. The effectiveness of policy in supporting capability building is also often contested. This paper employs a multi-case qualitative research approach to understand innovation capability building processes. It argues that learning mechanisms required differ with agro-enterprise size. Findings reveal the acquisition of knowledge in the micro- and small enterprises is embedded in learning-by-doing and informal mechanisms that require context-specific development interventions. Therefore, knowledge supply organizations must understand these peculiarities to support these enterprises with ‘easy-to-understand-and-use’ technologies and practical managerial information. Policy-makers need to formulate and implement strategies that can effectively facilitate partnerships, technology development and transfer within an enabling industrial policy environment, for enhanced capability building and a competitive industrial sector.

Date: 2022
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/2157930X.2020.1845481 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:taf:riadxx:v:12:y:2022:i:2:p:259-277

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.tandfonline.com/pricing/journal/riad20

DOI: 10.1080/2157930X.2020.1845481

Access Statistics for this article

Innovation and Development is currently edited by K J Joseph (Editor-in-chief), Cristina Chaminade, Gabriela Dutrénit, Judith Sutz, Tim Turpin and Susan Cozzens

More articles in Innovation and Development from Taylor & Francis Journals
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Chris Longhurst ().