Study of factors impacting innovative practices amongst micro units at Kolkata and Howrah
Student name: Ms Manita Raut
Guide: Dr Sapna Narula
Year of completion: 2015
Host Organisation: Foundation for MSME Clusters (FMC)
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Ms Sangeeta Agasty
Abstract: Micro units from leather, foundry and hosiery sectors in Kolkata and Howrah face a number of challenges day to day such as financial, infrastructural, managerial, technological, raw material and skill related. In order to deal with these challenges, some units come up and adopt new practices while others continue without innovation. The decision of micro units to innovate is driven by a number of factors and constrained by others mainly financial and infrastructural. As a result, innovation in micro units is incremental. Innovation can be a solution to solve problems encountered by micro units. Existing studies in innovation focuses on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises as a single entity. Studies on innovation among micro units are limited. In this context, this research aims to explore the factors impacting innovative practices among micro units at Kolkata and Howrah. The research is organized in five chapters. First chapter gives introduction to innovation and micro units followed by literature review in second chapter. Third chapter presents objectives and research questions emerged from the literature review. Fourth chapter presents the results and analysis by identifying innovations carried out in the micro firms. Factors impacting innovation are studied by finding reasons behind innovation and constraining factors to innovation. Benefits received and impacts of innovation are determined in the same chapter. The final chapter presents concludes the research and recommends micro units as well as government, financial institutions and research & development organizations to work together to promote innovation among micro units in Kolkata and Howrah.
Key Words: Innovation, Micro Units, Factors affecting Innovation, Challenges, Impacts
