DOMINANT INNOVATIONS OF SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION MICRO, SMALL, AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (CMSMES) IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

Abstract

Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)/ construction micro, small, and medium enterprises (CMSMEs) are reported to be responsible for considerable number of innovations across the world. However, the predominant types of innovations among surviving and successful CMSMEs, and the impacts of such innovation(s) on the success of the CMSMEs is unclear. This paper aims at exploring the predominant types of innovations among the successful construction micro, small, and medium enterprises in northern Nigeria. The research employed qualitative research method to exploratively determine the types of innovations. Recorded interviews constituted the research data from 17 CMSMEs spanned through 14 states out of the 19 states constituting northern Nigeria. While semi structured interview with opened ended questions were used to collect data through judgemental and snowballing sampling technique at stage 1 and 2 respectively. Data were transcribed, open and axial coded and analysed. The result reveal product innovation as the predominate type of innovation among other types of innovation and mostly responsible for the success of the CMSMEs studied. The result of the research enriches body of knowledge in respect of common types of innovations within CMSMEs and implies that successful CMSMEs in Northern Nigeria pay more attention to product innovation to trigger their success and other forms of innovations. Furthermore, the result of the research suggested failing CMSMEs can survive when they concentrate on product innovation.