Evaluating Innovation and Export Capabilities of SMEs: Toward a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Methodology

Abstract

A large number of studies have demonstrated the strong influence of and correlation between innovation and export activities as key factors of the firm’s competitiveness. However, these two activities have usually been considered independently of each other in terms of management and support. This paper relies on the characterization of a conceptual innovation/export common space representing the synergistic effects between these two activities. A hybrid AHP/Flowsort MCDM-methodology is proposed in order to model this common space through the evaluation of a framework of joint practices related simultaneously to the innovation and export capabilities of SMEs. The relevance of this methodology is tested through the design of a decision-making tool applied to a French exporting and innovative SME. This case study opens up further research perspectives and points to areas for improvement in the evaluation of SMEs’ capabilities.