Innovation as a Tool for Sustainable Development in Small and Medium Size Enterprises in Slovakia

Abstract

Background: In the current global market, innovations are one of the tools of sustainable development. Therefore, companies must change their attitudes toward innovation strategies in accordance with international and national environmental standards, laws, and market requirements. We often come across, in particular, the evaluation of economic factors of sustainability, which cannot capture the attitudes of companies to the solved issue of the perception of innovation as a tool of sustainable development. Therefore, the Kano model and cluster analysis are used to evaluate the attitudes of Slovak small and medium-sized enterprises towards innovation, and the aim of this paper is to evaluate innovation as a tool of sustainability in enterprises in Slovakia. Methods: This article’s main research method is the Kano model and cluster analysis. Conclusions: The findings of this paper reveal how small and medium-sized enterprises in Slovakia perceive innovation as a tool for sustainable development. Based on the results, we can state the positive attitude of small and medium-sized enterprises towards innovations supporting sustainable development, focusing on frugal innovations characterized by cost reduction, as well as innovation targeting functions, standards, laws, and performance optimization. They perceive these innovations as attractive and their implementation in corporate structures as a basic function for sustainable development through innovation.

The Green Flexible Job-Shop Scheduling Problem Considering Cost, Carbon Emissions, and Customer Satisfaction under Time-of-Use Electricity Pricing

“…Rising energy costs play a substantial role in the overall increase in manufacturing production cost. Moreover, small businesses tend to adopt innovations that promote sustainable development, with a specific focus on frugal innovations prioritizing cost reduction [19]. Consequently, streamlining the energy cost of production systems can enhance overall cost-effectiveness, aligning with broader sustainability objectives.…”