Understanding entrepreneurial competence and capability product innovation management in agriculture: a qualitative system dynamics perspective

Abstract

There are insights to be gained from the examination of innovation processes conducted by entrepreneurs in low and medium technology (LMT) sectors such as agricultural production. The research question addressed in this paper is: How can agricultural entrepreneurs innovate with largely undifferentiated and low-margin products? The research objective is to better understand the emerging articulation of factors regarding competencies and capabilities agricultural production entrepreneurs can mobilise to innovate in LMT. The syntax of qualitative system dynamics (QSD) is used to present a dynamic hypothesis of competence and capability development by agricultural entrepreneurs. The contribution is an analysis of the underlying feedback loop structure in support of knowledge management practice in LMT product, characteristic and process innovation by agricultural entrepreneurs, and could generally be useful to understand innovation management in other LMT sectors more generally.