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Results from an exploratory study to identify the factors that contribute to success for UK medical device small- and medium-sized enterprises

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journal contribution
posted on 2009-05-22, 13:45 authored by Paul Hourd, David Williams
This paper reports the results from an exploratory study that sets out to identify and compare the strategic approaches and patterns of business practice employed by 14 UK small- and medium-sized enterprises to achieve success in the medical device sector of the health-care industry. An interview-based survey was used to construct individual case studies of the medical device technology (MDT) companies. A cross-case analysis was performed to search for patterns and themes that cut across these individual cases. Exploratory results revealed the heterogeneity of MDT companies and the distinctive features of the MDT innovation process that emphasize the importance of a strategic approach for achieving milestones in the product development and exploitation process and for creating value for the company and its stakeholders. Recognizing the heterogeneity of MDT companies, these exploratory findings call for further investigation to understand better the influence of components of the MDT innovation process on the commercialization life cycle and value trajectory. This is required to assist start-up or spin-out MDT companies in the UK and worldwide to navigate the critical transitions that determine access to financial and consumer markets and enhance the potential to build a successful business. This will be important not only for bioscience-based companies but also for engineering-based companies aiming to convert their activities into medical devices and the health- and social-care market.

History

School

  • Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering

Citation

HOURD, P.C. and WILLIAMS, D.J., 2008. Results from an exploratory study to identify the factors that contribute to success for UK medical device small- and medium-sized enterprises. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part H: Journal of Engineering in Medicine, 222 (5) pp. 717-735

Publisher

Professional Engineering Publishing / © IMechE

Version

  • VoR (Version of Record)

Publication date

2008

Notes

This is an article from the journal, Proceedings of the IMechE, Part H: Journal of Engineering in Medicine [© IMechE]. It is also available at: http://journals.pepublishing.com/content/119779/?p=c1a87ea34226470fb2ed1eaf34176b5d&pi=0

ISSN

0954-4119

Language

  • en