Diverse diversities—Open innovation in small towns and rural areas

Meili, Rahel; Shearmur, Richard (2019). Diverse diversities—Open innovation in small towns and rural areas Growth and Change, 50(2), pp. 492-514. Wiley-Blackwell 10.1111/grow.12291

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It is generally accepted that cities and other forms of geographic agglomerations are conducive to innovation because their density and variety of firms, sectors and individuals create a diverse environment. However, a growing body of work shows that innovation also occurs in peripheral regions and small towns. Furthermore, work on rural social networks shows that diversity is multidimensional, and that along certain dimensions networks developed in rural areas are more diverse than those observed in cities. In this paper, we develop these arguments, then report our observations of seven successful firms in Swiss small towns. These firms benefit from at least three types of diversity: internal diversity; multiplexed interactions between workers at different hierarchical levels; and external diversity as firms reach beyond the region. We conclude that diversity conducive to firm-level innovation is not a specifically urban attribute: at least some of its dimensions are present in small towns and more peripheral areas.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	Business School
Name:	Meili, Rahel0000-0002-1185-2781 and Shearmur, Richard
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
ISSN:	0017-4815
Publisher:	Wiley-Blackwell
Language:	English
Submitter:	Rahel Meili
Date Deposited:	25 Mar 2022 10:07
Last Modified:	25 Mar 2022 10:07
Publisher DOI:	10.1111/grow.12291
ARBOR DOI:	10.24451/arbor.16687
URI:	https://arbor.bfh.ch/id/eprint/16687