The Impact of Learning Processes on Radical Innovation in Less Successful Innovator Countries : Turkey, Macedonia, Slovenia, and Serbia

Competition that has been accelerating rapidly in domestic and international markets in last decades compels firms to apply new ideas to their activities in order to increase value on their products and processes. Innovation which is a key driver of a success and survival of enterprises provides them competitive adventure in the markets. Learning processes on radical innovation, which is one of the most valuable innovation types is crucial. In this paper we examined the relationship between radical innovation and type of learning processes (learning by doing, learning by training, and learning by searching) with using probit model and firm level data (BEEPS) in relatively less successful innovator countries, namely Turkey, Macedonia, Slovenia, and Serbia. According to our results, the impact of learning process on making radical innovation varies in the less successful innovator countries. Any of the learning processes do not affect radical innovation in Macedonia while Serbia and Slovenia make radical innovation only with learning by searching. Turkish enterprises are making radical innovation with their top manager's experience (learning by training) and their success in export performance (learning by doing)