1. INNOVATIVE LEARNING CULTURES IN SME: THE STUDY 1.1 Framing the project: putting workers back into the innovation story In light of the strong government focus on innovation and learning, this study examines how Singaporean Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) can create learning opportunities for innovation, and the kinds of organisational processes, conditions and cultures that enable innovation and learning to flourish. This study also seeks to inform stakeholders particularly employers, managers, and business leaders on how innovation and learning can be better supported within an enterprise. Singapore has approximately 215,600 local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which account for 99% of its business establishments, employ 70% of its workforce and generate almost half its GDP (SPRING Singapore, 2015). SMEs thus play an important role in creating jobs and producing economic growth. Operating in an era of economic and technological change, Singaporean SMEs continue to face deep challenges as a result of tight labour markets, rising costs of operation, and business uncertainties (DP SME Survey 2009-2017). In order to “survive”, SMEs are encouraged to innovate by collaborating with partners including SIMTech, SPRING, polytechnics and universities to transform their businesses, tap into public resources, and expand overseas. Former Manpower Minister, Mr. Lim Swee Say stated that Singapore will have to make “better and faster use of innovation to stay ahead of the competition” (Today, 2017). Innovation here typically refers to digitalization and automation processes that create a competitive advantage by enhancing and/or exploiting connectivity, mobility, and novelty.
“It’s not just about faster or cheaper, it’s about being able to do things that were previously not doable” (Prof. Chua Chee Kai, Head, Centre for 3DPrinting, NTU. “Disruption: What lies ahead”, 2016, pg.41).
In these narratives and exhortations, innovation is manifested through a trajectory of experimentation, discovery, and implementation. The stories of ingenuity, grit, perseverance, chance etc. which tend to elevate charismatic technopreneurs and imaginative scientists as heroes who solve the world’s perplexing problems may perhaps overstate individual efforts and talents, and overlook organisational and societal factors, and labour market dynamics.
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