Innovations and Innovators in the Balkan

Mediterranean Area

This survey Innovation and Innovators in the BalkanMed Region, collects information on
your enterprise’s innovations and innovation activities in the past 12 months. It also collects
information on your current business practice, the external environment and the internal
innovativeness of your enterprise.

The survey is administrated for the purpose of the project INNOPLATFORM (Innovations
Platform and Tools for increasing the innovation capacity of SMEs in the Balkan
Mediterranean Area), a project from the 1st call of Interreg Balkan Mediterranean Program
(2014-2020).

Through the survey we collect information which will help InnoPlatform to improve the
competitiveness of the BalkanMediterenean region by advancing existing knowledge on
innovations and business model innovations through developing know how and a set of tools
(InnoTools) for improving SMEs capacities in introducing product and process innovations.

Please complete all questions, unless otherwise instructed.

If there are any queries regarding the form, please contact us at: innoplatform@knowledge-
center.org

Thank you for your Time!

InnoPlatform Team
1. What is your level of agreement with the following statements?
Strongly Strongly
Agree Neutral Disagree
Agree Disagree
I know the product/service offerings of
my enterprise.
I know my enterprise's source of
income.
I have been, or am involved in
developing new product/services.

2. New product/service

A product innovation is the market introduction of a new or significantly improved good or

service with respect to its capabilities, user friendliness, components or sub-systems. 

• Product innovations (new or improved) must be new to your enterprise, but they do not
need to be new to your market. 

• Product innovations could have been originally developed by your enterprise or by other
enterprises or organisations.

A good is usually a tangible object such as a smartphone, furniture, or packaged software, but
downloadable software, music and film are also goods. A service is usually intangible, such
as retailing, insurance, educational courses, air travel, consulting, etc. 

2.1 During the past 12 months, did your enterprise introduce:

Yes No

2.1.1. Goods innovations: New or significantly improved goods (exclude the simple resale
of new goods and changes of a solely aesthetic nature)

2.1.2. Service innovations: New or significantly improved services

2.2. Were any of your product innovations (goods or services) during the past 12 months:

Yes No

2.2.1. New to your market? Your enterprise introduced a new or significantly improved
product onto your market before your competitors (it may have already been available in
other markets)

2.2.2. Only new to your enterprise? Your enterprise introduced a new or significantly
improved product that was already available from your competitors in your market
3. Process Innovation

A process innovation is the implementation of a new or significantly improved production

process, distribution method, or supporting activity.

• Process innovations must be new to your enterprise, but they do not need to be new to your
market. 

• The innovation could have been originally developed by your enterprise or by other
enterprises or organisations.

3.  During the past 12 months, did your enterprise introduce:

Yes No

3.1. New or significantly improved methods of manufacturing for producing goods or

services

3.2. New or significantly improved supporting activities for your processes, such as
maintenance systems, or operations for purchasing, accounting, or computing

3.3. New or significantly improved logistics, delivery or distribution methods for your
inputs, goods or services

4. Co-operation for product and process innovation activities

4.1. During the past 12 months did your enterprise co-operate on any of your innovation activities
with other enterprises or organisations

 Yes

 No

5. Organisational Innovation

An organisational innovation is a new organisational method in your enterprise’s business

practices (including knowledge management), workplace organisation or external relations
that has not been previously used by your enterprise.

• It must be the result of strategic decisions taken by management.

• Exclude mergers or acquisitions, even if for the first time.

5. During the past 12 months, did your enterprise introduce:

Yes No

5.1. New business practices for organising procedures (i.e. first time use of supply chain
management, business re-engineering, knowledge management, lean production, quality
management, etc.)

5.2. New methods of organising work responsibilities and decision making (i.e. first time
use of a new system of employee responsibilities, team work, decentralisation, integration
or de-integration of departments, education/training systems, etc.)

5.3. New methods of organising external relations with other enterprises or public
organisations (i.e. first time use of alliances, partnerships, outsourcing or sub-contracting,
etc.).

6. Marketing Innovation

A marketing innovation is the implementation of a new marketing concept or strategy that

differs significantly from your enterprise’s existing marketing methods and which has not
been used before.

• It requires significant changes in product design or packaging, product placement, product

promotion or pricing. 

• Exclude seasonal, regular and other routine changes in marketing methods.

6. During the past 12 months, did your enterprise introduce:

Yes No

6.1. Significant changes to the aesthetic design or packaging of a good or service (exclude
changes that alter the product’s functional or user characteristics – these are product
innovations)

6.2. New media or techniques for product promotion (i.e. first time use of a new
advertising media, a new brand image, introduction of loyalty cards, etc.)

6.3. New methods for product placement or sales channels (i.e. first time use of franchising
or distribution licenses, direct selling, exclusive retailing, new concepts for product
presentation, etc.)

6.4. New methods of pricing goods or services (i.e. first time use of variable pricing by
demand, discount systems, etc.).
7. Other changes focused on the Existing Business Model
7.1. In the past 12 months your enterprise …

Yes No

7.1.1. Served customers in a different demographic segment (new age, gender,

educational segment among the customer markets, or a segment of business customers
coming from different industry and size of company);

7.1.2. Served new customers in a different geographical area;

7.1.3. Started to collaborate with new business partners;

7.1.4. Provided new complementary products/services to existing partners;

7.1.5. Was supplied by new complementary products/services by existing partners;

7.1.6. Introduced new revenue streams apart the new methods for pricing, product
placement and promotions as described in the marketing innovations;

7.1.7. Introduced new cost structure reducing variable and/or fixed costs;

7.3. In the past 12 months, your enterprise invested in the following New Resources …

Yes No

7.3.1. In-house R&D - Research and development activities undertaken by your enterprise
to create new knowledge or to solve scientific or technical problems (include software
development in-house that meets this requirement)

7.3.2. External R&D - Your enterprise contracted-out R&D to other enterprises (include
enterprises in your own group) or to public or private research organisations

7.3.3. Acquisition of physical resources - Acquisition of advanced machinery, equipment,

software and buildings to be used for new or significantly improved products or processes

7.3.4. Acquisition of knowledge - Acquisition of existing know-how, copyrighted works,

patented and non-patented inventions, etc. from other enterprises or organisations for the
development of new or significantly improved products and processes

7.3.5. Training for innovative activities - In-house or contracted out training for your
personnel specifically for the development and/or introduction of new or significantly
improved products and processes

7.3.6. Market introduction of innovations - In-house or contracted out activities for the
market introduction of your new or significantly improved goods or services, including
market research and launch advertising
 Yes No

7.3.7. Design - In-house or contracted out activities to alter the shape, appearance or
usability of goods or services

7.3.8. Other - Other in-house or contracted out activities to implement new or significantly
improved products and processes such as feasibility studies, testing, tooling up, industrial
engineering, etc.

8. Business Practice
8.1. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements. Your enterprise ...

Strongly Strongly
Agree Neutral Disagree
Agree Disagree

8.1.1. Has a well-defined vision, mission and

strategic objectives;

8.1.2. Practices use of procedures and tools for

strategic planning;

8.1.3. Practices marketing, financial,

operational, HR planning;

8.1.4. Has quality management standards in

place;

8.1.5. Has environmental standards in place;

8.1.6. Has innovation management standards in

place;

8.1.7. Uses Enterprise Architecture in mapping

business processes

8.2. Your business can be described using Canvas model or other similar models (STOF and etc).
Have you ever used such models?

o Yes

o No

8.4. To what extent do you frequently use the following business tools to support innovations
 Never Once Sometimes Very Often Intensively

8.4.1. Computer-based tools.

8.4.2. Paper-based tools

8.4.3. Spreadsheets (Excel, or other).

8.4.4. Other

8.5. Innovations in your enterprise are:

Strongly Strongly
Agree Neutral Disagree
Agree Disagree

8.5.1. Introduced by the management team –

strategic top down approach.

8.5.2. Done with trial-and-error process (organic)

8.5.3. Done in teams, either internally or by

collaborating with external partners.

8.5.4. Done with assistance of consultants and

external experts.

8.6. Innovation Activities in your enterprise are financed by….

Yes No

8.6.1. Company’s own funds

8.6.2. Bank loans, creditors

8.6.3. Equity funds

8.6.4. Other Investors, including business angles

8.6.5. National public funding for innovations

8.6.6. EU funds and programmes

9. Innovativeness
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements which describe your
enterprise ....

Strongly Strongly
Agree Neutral Disagree
Agree Disagree

9.1.1. We understand customer needs

9.1.2. We have clear customer satisfaction

objectives

9.1.3. We measure customer satisfaction

9.2.1. Is a place where salespeople share

competitor information

9.2.2. Responds rapidly to competitors' actions

9.2.3. Is a place where managers discuss

competitors' strategies

9.3.1. Values individual’s ability to learn is a key

competitive advantage

9.3.2. Is a place where employee learning is seen

as an investment instead of cost

9.3.3. Is a place where employee learning is a top

priority

9.4.1. Company direction is being agreed upon

across levels, functions, and divisions

9.4.2. Employees are considered partners of

business unit

9.4.3. Sharing company direction is considered

important for management

9.5.1. Managers encourage employees to "think

outside of the box"

9.5.2. Our company culture is focused on constant

innovation

9.5.3. Original ideas are highly valued

9.6.1. Accept risks

 Strongly Strongly
Agree Neutral Disagree
Agree Disagree

9.6.2. Undertakes strategic planning activities

9.6.3. Is able to identify new opportunities

9.7.1. Challenging the existing way of doing

business is central to the strategy

9.7.2. Providing new products/services for

customers is central to the strategy

9.7.3. Creating changes in the industry is central

to the strategy

10. Environmental Turbulence

10. Describe the environment in which your enterprise operates in

Strongly Strongly
Agree Neutral Disagree
Agree Disagree

10.1.1. Price competition is very high

10.1.2. Product offerings are similar between

enterprises

10.1.3. Competitor's reactions to our initiatives

are very frequent

10.2.1 Customer preferences change very

frequently

10.2.2. Our clients look for new products all the

time

10.2.3. Our customer's needs are very different to

common customers

10.3.1. Technology in this sector is changing

rapidly

10.3.2. A high number of advanced technological

products have been developed lately

10.3.3. Technological development in this sector

has increased rapidly
11. Business Performance
11.1. To what extent do you agree, or disagree, that the following items are important as an
indicator of your enterprise's business performance

Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree

11.1.1. Market Share

11.1.2. Sales Quantity

11.1.3. Procuct / service quality

11.1.4. Customer Loyalty

11.1.5. Market Value.

11.1.6. Net Profit Margin

11.1.7. Efficiency (sales to total assets)

11.2. Compared to competitors, my enterprise….

Strongly Strongly
Agree Neutral Disagree
Agree Disagree

11.2.1. Introduces more products and/or services

at annual level

11.2.2. More frequently improves the quality of

existing products and services at annual level

11.2.3. Has more products and services to meet

different customer tastes and demands

11.2.4. Is faster in changing the priority products

and services to meet the changing market demand

11.2.5. Has a higher profit margin

11.2.6. Has a larger market share

11.2.7. Has a higher growth in sales revenues

11.2.8. Is more efficient (sales compared to total

assets)