A cultural perspective on innovation in international manufacturing

This paper presents the results of a survey administered across 24 countries that examines innovation in manufacturing firms by adopting Hofstede's national cultural framework. The purpose of this study is to test the validity of the “culture-specific” argument as an explanatory construct for innovation performance in international manufacturing. Data was collected in 2006 as part of the International Manufacturing Strategy Survey IV (IMSS) by relying on a questionnaire addressed to firms classified by ISIC codes (rev.3.1) Divisions 28-35. From the findings it emerges that the “culture-specific argument” is a useful explanatory construct for innovation performance.