Management Control of Innovative Activities: Research Results from Czech Manufacturing Industry

Abstract

The paper investigates how owners and/or managers are currently performing innovation activities and simultaneously managing performance and measures they are currently using to facilitate these dimensions. To achieve the goal the author evaluates and interprets the results of survey conducted in 2014 within research project 13-20123P sponsored by Czech Science Foundation. To gain data the quantitative methodology was applied in the form of on-line questionnaire survey. This data and the information collected through their further process were completed with primary qualitative data from personal interviews and secondary data from previous studies. The main conclusion of the paper rests in empirical findings that the continence still prevails in Czech business practice. Managers use modern management control tools, but usually in combination with tradition methods. Results of this study are limited to analysis of a single case study, representing starting point for further research in other industries and countries. Moreover, the results of this study are exploratory and are not to be interpreted as the only possible answer to the research questions.The paper investigates how owners and/or managers are currently performing innovation activities and simultaneously managing performance and measures they are currently using to facilitate these dimensions. To achieve the goal the author evaluates and interprets the results of survey conducted in 2014 within research project 13-20123P sponsored by Czech Science Foundation. To gain data the quantitative methodology was applied in the form of on-line questionnaire survey. This data and the information collected through their further process were completed with primary qualitative data from personal interviews and secondary data from previous studies. The main conclusion of the paper rests in empirical findings that the continence still prevails in Czech business practice. Managers use modern management control tools, but usually in combination with tradition methods. Results of this study are limited to analysis of a single case study, representing starting point for further research in other industries and countries. Moreover, the results of this study are exploratory and are not to be interpreted as the only possible answer to the research questions.