ABSTRACT
It is clear from the discussion in this book concerning the wide range of research and theories developed in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship, that it is inadequate to reduce the studies to one factor such as characteristics of entrepreneurs or the intramural organisation of firms. Approaches like that do not generate a substantive explanation of the dynamics of innovation and entrepreneurship. Innovation activity is driven by collaboration between individuals within firms and institutions, as well as between firms and/or institutions. The collaboration generates groups or social units which become autonomous and collectively form their aims and strategies. Innovation activity is, therefore, usually a process of collaboration evolving on the basis of interactive and purposeful thought of the participants of the innovation activity. Furthermore, it is part of the societal processes and cultural context in which it takes place. Thus, it is reasonable to regard innovation and entrepreneurship as being ‘collective’ (see I. Jonsson, 1991c, p. 109, 1994b and 1995).
