The impact of innovation on small and medium-sized enterprises

Ovim diplomskim radom nastoji se utvrditi povezanost poduzetništva i inovacija te sam učinak inovacija na mala i srednja poduzeća u Republici Hrvatskoj. Prilikom pisanja rada korištena je deskriptivna metoda koja podrazumijeva opisivanje različitih predmeta i pojava kao i njihove temeljne karakteristike. Rad se sastoji od pet poglavlja. Prvo poglavlje je uvod u rad u kojem je definiran cilj rada, izvori podataka te sadržaj i sama struktura rada. Drugo poglavlje obuhvaća pojmovno određenje poduzetništva i poduzetnika kroz povijesni razvoj kao i analizu vrsta poduzetništva i tipove poduzetnika. Treće poglavlje je usmjereno na pojmovno definiranje inovacija, osnovne vrste inovacija, njihovu važnost te kako one stvaraju konkurentsku prednost poduzeća. U četvrtom poglavlju povezuju se inovacije i poduzetništvo kroz prikaz poduzetništva u Republici Hrvatskoj. Zadnje poglavlje obuhvaća zaključak cjelokupnog rada. Stručni doprinos diplomskog rada vidljiv je u teorijskoj analizi poduzetništva i poduzetnika, analizi važnosti inovacija u stvaranju konkurentske prednosti, ali isto tako i u analizi veze između te dvije komponente (poduzetništva i inovacija) kod malih i srednjih poduzeća.This thesis seeks to determine the connection between entrepreneurship and innovation and the effect of innovation on small and medium enterprises in Croatia. When writing the paper, a descriptive method was used, which involves describing various objects and phenomena as well as their basic characteristics. The paper consists of five chapters. The first chapter is an introduction to the paper in which the goal of the paper, data sources and the content and structure of the paper are defined. The second chapter includes the conceptual definition of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs through historical development as well as the analysis of types of entrepreneurship and types of entrepreneurs. The third chapter focuses on the conceptual definition of innovations, the basic types of innovations, their importance and how they create a competitive advantage of the company. The fourth chapter connects innovation and entrepreneurship through an overview of entrepreneurship in the Republic of Croatia. The last chapter covers the conclusion of the entire paper. The professional contribution of the thesis is visible in the theoretical analysis of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs, analysis of the importance of innovation in creating a competitive advantage, but also in the analysis of the relationship between these two components (entrepreneurship and innovation) in small and medium enterprises