Standardizing SME's Innovation Management Process: Insights from Innovation Experiences

In 2019, the ISO 56002 standard for managing innovation systems was published, based on the common opinion that effective management of innovation requires a systematic approach. Standardizing would enable organizations to perform innovation processes in a structured way, making them controllable and repeatable. ISO states that standardization can be pursued also by SMEs, although various studies underline that generally SMEs follow a non-systematic approach to innovation. Hence, we need to understand whether a structured approach such as that proposed by ISO can be suitable for SMEs. To provide information on the potential and drawbacks of standardizing innovation processes in SMEs, the paper discusses the findings of a study on innovation projects carried out by 13 Italian metalworking SMEs. By contrasting the approach suggested by the ISO clauses with that of the investigated companies, it provides food for thought about the applicability of such standard by SMEs.