Survey of Innovation and Business Strategy (SIBS) 2009
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Percentage of enterprises indicating the long term strategy most important to their enterprise
Main focus on good or service positioning (e.g., product leadership, market segmentation, product diversification, improving quality)
78.6
B
4.1
86.1
A
0.8
77.0
B
5.0
Main focus on low-price and cost leadership (e.g., mass market)
21.4
B
4.1
13.9
A
0.8
23.0
B
5.0
Percentage of enterprises indicating the statement that best describes the strategic focus of their enterprise with respect to its goods or services
Focus on maintaining or expanding the sales of existing goods or services
77.1
B
3.1
60.2
A
1.1
80.9
B
3.8
Focus on introducing new or significantly improved goods or services regularly
18.8
B
3.0
35.8
A
1.1
14.9
B
3.7
Do not know
4.1
A
0.9
4.0
A
0.5
4.1
A
1.1
Percentage of enterprises indicating the statement that best describes the strategic focus of their enterprise with respect to its marketing practices or methods
Focus mainly seeks to maintain or intensify existing marketing practices or methods
54.6
B
4.5
54.3
A
1.2
54.6
B
5.5
Focus mainly seeks to introduce new or significantly improved marketing practices or methods
30.5
B
4.1
35.9
A
1.1
29.2
B
5.0
Do not know
15.0
B
3.3
9.7
A
0.7
16.2
B
4.1
Percentage of enterprises indicating the statement that best describes the strategic focus of their enterprise with respect to its operations and business activities
Focus mainly seeks to maintain or optimize its current operations and business activities
58.5
B
4.3
51.7
A
1.2
60.0
B
5.3
Focus mainly seeks to introduce new or significantly improved business activities or processes to its operations
33.7
B
3.7
44.0
A
1.2
31.4
B
4.5
Do not know
7.8
B
3.0
4.4
A
0.5
8.6
B
3.7
Percentage of enterprises indicating the statement that best describes the strategic focus of their enterprise with respect to its organizational and management practices
Focus mainly seeks to maintain or optimize its current organizational and management practices
59.9
B
4.2
56.2
A
1.2
60.7
B
5.2
Focus mainly seeks to introduce new or significantly improved management practices or change its organizational structure
Percentage of enterprises that introduced product, process, organizational or marketing innovations during the three years 2007 to 2009
n.a.
66.8
B
4.4
81.2
A
0.9
63.6
B
5.4
Percentage of enterprises that introduced process innovations during the three years 2007 to 2009
Introduced new or significantly improved methods of manufacturing or producing goods or services
17.3
A
2.0
49.7
A
1.2
9.9
A
2.5
Introduced new or significantly improved logistics, delivery or distribution methods for their inputs, goods or services
12.0
A
2.1
15.7
A
0.8
11.1
B
2.6
Introduced new or significantly improved supporting activities for their processes
25.5
B
3.7
31.4
A
1.1
24.2
B
4.5
Percentage of enterprises whose introduction of process innovations during the three years 2007 to 2009 required changes to enterprise activitiesFootnote 1
Required changes to marketing activities
27.2
B
5.2
28.3
A
1.4
26.7
E
7.6
Required changes to operational activities
80.0
B
4.9
83.6
A
1.2
78.3
B
7.3
Required changes to organizational activities
55.0
B
6.3
51.2
A
1.5
56.8
E
9.3
Percentage of enterprises that introduced organizational innovations during the three years 2007 to 2009
Introduced new business practices for organizing procedures
23.5
A
2.4
44.9
A
1.2
18.6
B
2.9
Introduced new methods of organizing work responsibilities and decision making
27.4
B
3.5
38.6
A
1.1
24.8
B
4.3
Introduced new methods of organizing external relations with other firms or public institutions
15.0
A
2.1
19.8
A
0.9
13.9
A
2.5
Percentage of enterprises whose introduction of organizational innovations during the three years 2007 to 2009 required changes to enterprise activitiesFootnote 2
Required changes to marketing activities
28.9
B
5.0
26.9
A
1.3
29.7
B
7.0
Required changes to operational activities
82.1
B
4.0
81.5
A
1.2
82.4
B
5.5
Percentage of enterprises that introduced goods or services innovations during the three years, 2007 to 2009
Introduced new or significantly improved goods
18.1
A
1.5
42.6
A
1.1
12.6
A
1.9
Introduced new or significantly improved services
24.5
B
4.0
21.7
A
1.0
25.1
B
5.0
Percentage of enterprises whose introduction of goods or services innovations during the three years 2007 to 2009 required changes to enterprise activitiesFootnote 3
Required changes to marketing activities
59.5
B
7.2
52.6
A
1.6
62.0
E
9.7
Required changes to operational activities
67.7
B
7.4
71.4
A
1.5
66.4
E
9.9
Required changes to organizational activities
50.3
B
6.8
44.2
A
1.6
52.4
E
9.2
Required the introduction of new production processes
49.9
B
6.4
67.2
A
1.5
43.8
E
8.1
Percentage of enterprises with marketing innovations during the three years 2007 to 2009
Significant changes to the aesthetic design or packaging of a good or service
11.3
A
1.5
17.0
A
0.8
10.0
A
1.8
New media or techniques for good or service promotion
23.9
B
3.7
20.4
A
0.9
24.7
B
4.6
New methods for good or service placement or sales channels
14.0
B
2.9
13.6
A
0.8
14.1
B
3.6
New methods of pricing goods or services
15.8
B
3.0
17.5
A
0.9
15.4
B
3.7
Percentage of enterprises whose marketing innovations introduced in 2009 involved…Footnote 4
Existing goods or services
83.3
B
7.0
79.2
A
1.5
84.3
E
8.9
New or significantly improved goods or services during the years 2007 to 2009
Percentage of enterprises that indicated they faced market size obstacles to innovation in 2009
Faced obstacles
17.2
A
2.4
25.5
A
1.0
15.3
B
2.9
Measures were taken to overcome obstaclesFootnote 1
91.5
B
2.9
93.3
A
1.0
90.8
B
4.0
Measures were successful in mitigating all obstaclesFootnote 2
29.8
B
7.4
35.0
A
2.2
27.7
E
10.2
Used government support programs to overcome obstaclesFootnote 2
18.7
B
3.7
28.9
A
2.1
14.7
B
4.6
Percentage of enterprises that indicated they faced internal financing obstacles to innovation in 2009
Faced obstacles
22.8
B
2.6
35.1
A
1.1
20.0
B
3.2
Measures were taken to overcome obstaclesFootnote 1
95.2
A
0.8
89.4
A
1.3
97.5
A
0.8
Measures were successful in mitigating all obstaclesFootnote 2
52.2
B
7.0
45.6
A
2.0
54.6
E
9.3
Used government support programs to overcome obstaclesFootnote 2
15.0
B
3.8
31.3
A
1.9
9.1
B
5.1
Percentage of enterprises that indicated they faced external financing obstacles to innovation in 2009
Faced obstacles
16.2
B
2.6
24.9
A
1.0
14.2
B
3.2
Measures were taken to overcome obstaclesFootnote 1
96.3
A
0.8
91.7
A
1.3
98.2
A
0.8
Measures were successful in mitigating all obstaclesFootnote 2
58.5
E
9.6
45.4
A
2.4
63.3
E
12.9
Used government support programs to overcome obstaclesFootnote 2
19.8
E
8.3
25.3
A
2.1
17.7
E
11.4
Percentage of enterprises that indicated they faced obstacles to innovation due to a lack of skills within their enterprise in 2009
Faced obstacles
26.0
B
3.7
27.6
A
1.0
25.6
B
4.5
Measures were taken to overcome obstaclesFootnote 1
87.8
B
5.1
89.3
A
1.5
87.4
B
6.3
Measures were successful in mitigating all obstaclesFootnote 2
62.6
E
8.0
52.2
A
2.3
65.2
E
9.8
Used government support programs to overcome obstaclesFootnote 2
9.9
B
4.2
19.0
A
1.7
7.6
B
5.2
Percentage of enterprises that indicated they faced obstacles to innovation related to finding and reaching agreements with external collaborators in 2009
Faced obstacles
11.0
A
2.4
9.8
A
0.7
11.2
B
3.0
Measures were taken to overcome obstaclesFootnote 1
97.7
A
0.9
91.7
A
2.3
98.9
A
0.8
Measures were successful in mitigating all obstaclesFootnote 2
57.4
E
12.4
52.1
B
3.7
58.3
E
14.6
Used government support programs to overcome obstaclesFootnote 2
11.9
B
6.1
14.8
B
2.6
11.4
B
7.2
Percentage of enterprises that indicated that uncertainty and risk was an obstacle to innovation in their enterprise in 2009
Faced obstacles
36.6
B
4.3
47.2
A
1.1
34.3
B
5.3
Measures were taken to overcome obstaclesFootnote 1
77.5
B
7.0
83.5
A
1.3
75.6
E
9.2
Measures were successful in mitigating all obstaclesFootnote 2
48.1
B
7.4
38.7
A
1.7
51.4
E
9.7
Used government support programs to overcome obstaclesFootnote 2
11.5
B
3.2
18.5
A
1.3
9.1
B
4.2
Percentage of enterprises that indicated that regulatory issues were an obstacle to innovation in their enterprise in 2009
Faced obstacles
15.9
A
2.2
17.7
A
0.8
15.5
B
2.7
Measures were taken to overcome obstaclesFootnote 1
80.3
E
7.8
89.7
A
1.8
77.9
E
9.6
Measures were successful in mitigating all obstaclesFootnote 2
36.6
E
8.0
35.7
B
2.6
36.9
E
10.3
Used government support programs to overcome obstaclesFootnote 2
11.0
B
5.0
11.4
A
1.5
10.9
B
6.5
Percentage of enterprises that indicated that intellectual property protection was an obstacle to innovation in their enterprise in 2009
Faced obstacles
4.5
A
1.4
8.0
A
0.6
3.6
A
1.7
Measures were taken to overcome obstaclesFootnote 1
95.8
A
1.6
91.0
A
2.0
98.2
A
1.3
Measures were successful in mitigating all obstaclesFootnote 2
74.7
E
8.8
60.5
B
3.9
81.2
E
9.9
Used government support programs to overcome obstaclesFootnote 2
5.5
A
2.3
10.0
A
2.4
3.5
A
2.3
Percentage of enterprises that indicated that government competition policy was an obstacle to innovation in their enterprise in 2009
Faced obstacles
3.9
A
0.8
5.3
A
0.5
3.6
A
1.0
Measures were taken to overcome obstaclesFootnote 1
88.4
B
5.0
88.7
B
2.6
88.3
B
6.6
Measures were successful in mitigating all obstaclesFootnote 2
41.4
E
12.6
39.5
B
5.1
–
F
–
Used government support programs to overcome obstaclesFootnote 2
Percentage of enterprises indicating they have a systematic process or procedure to resolve problems associated with production of goods or delivery of services
n.a.
86.2
A
1.0
77.2
A
1.5
64.7
A
1.4
Average number of key production performance indicators monitored in the enterpriseFootnote 1
n.a.
18.5
B
13.3
9.4
E
16.2
–
F
–
Percentage of enterprises indicating the frequency that production performance indicators are shown to managers of operations in their enterpriseFootnote 2
Advanced computerized design and engineering in their enterprise in 2009
22.2
A
2.5
42.2
A
1.1
17.7
B
3.0
Advanced computerized processing, fabrication, and assembly technologies in their enterprise in 2009
15.9
A
2.3
36.1
A
1.1
11.3
B
2.8
Advanced computerized inspection technologies in their enterprise in 2009
8.1
A
1.7
14.8
A
0.8
6.6
A
2.1
Advanced communication technologies in their enterprise in 2009
28.0
B
4.4
23.7
A
1.0
29.0
B
5.4
Advanced automated material handling technologies in their enterprise in 2009
7.0
A
0.9
15.7
A
0.8
5.0
A
1.1
Advanced information integration and control technologies in their enterprise in 2009
13.5
A
2.2
19.7
A
0.9
12.0
B
2.7
Advanced biotechnologies or bioproducts in their enterprise in 2009
0.9
A
0.3
2.0
A
0.3
0.7
A
0.3
Advanced nanotechnologies in their enterprise in 2009
0.3
A
0.2
0.9
A
0.1
0.2
A
0.2
Advanced green technologies in their enterprise in 2009
8.4
A
2.1
8.7
A
0.6
8.3
B
2.6
Other advanced technologies in their enterprise in 2009
6.3
A
1.6
2.9
A
0.4
7.1
A
2.0
Percentage of enterprises indicating their enterprise acquired or integrated the advanced technologies (equipment or software) they indicated were in use in their enterprise in 2009Footnote 1
by purchasing off-the-shelf advanced technology
83.4
A
2.0
74.8
A
1.3
86.0
A
2.4
by leasing off-the-shelf advanced technology
10.1
A
2.5
11.1
A
0.9
9.8
B
3.3
by licensing advanced technology
12.9
B
2.8
17.5
A
1.1
11.5
B
3.5
by customizing or significantly modifying existing advanced technology
23.0
B
3.5
33.7
A
1.4
19.8
B
4.3
by developing new advanced technologies either alone or in conjunction with others
16.3
B
3.3
20.5
A
1.1
15.0
B
4.2
through merger or acquisition of another enterprise with advanced technologies
Percentage of enterprises indicating their enterprise had business activities outside of Canada in the three years 2007 to 2009
n.a.
24.7
A
2.2
47.5
A
1.1
19.5
B
2.7
Percentage of enterprises with business activities outside of Canada that relocated business activities from Canada to another country in the three years 2007 to 2009Footnote 1
n.a.
7.8
B
3.3
11.0
A
0.8
6.1
B
5.1
Percentage of enterprises indicating a business activity was relocated from Canada to another country in the three years 2007 to 2009Footnote 2
Production of goods
–
F
–
79.9
B
3.4
–
F
–
Provision of services
–
F
–
18.7
A
2.4
–
F
–
Distribution and logistics
12.0
B
5.3
22.2
B
3.2
1.8
A
1.8
Call centers and help centers
–
F
–
8.5
A
1.5
–
F
–
Marketing, sales and after sales service
12.7
B
5.6
20.4
B
2.7
5.1
B
4.7
Software development
–
F
–
7.1
A
1.6
–
F
–
Data processing
–
F
–
12.0
A
2.3
–
F
–
Information and communication technology (ICT) services
–
F
–
12.2
A
2.1
–
F
–
Legal services
3.1
A
1.5
5.5
A
1.4
0.7
A
0.9
Accounting and book-keeping
9.3
B
4.1
16.5
A
2.3
2.2
A
2.0
Human resource management
6.0
B
3.0
10.8
B
2.9
1.2
A
1.2
Financial management
7.6
B
3.5
14.8
A
2.5
0.6
A
0.6
Engineering and related technical services
9.6
B
4.3
16.0
A
2.5
3.1
B
2.9
Research and development (R&D)
7.6
B
3.4
13.1
A
2.2
2.2
A
2.1
Other business activities
0.1
A
0.1
0.3
A
0.2
0.0
A
0.0
Percentage of enterprises with business activities outside of Canada that outsourced (contracted out) business activities from Canada to another country in the three years 2007 to 2009Footnote 1
n.a.
16.8
B
3.6
21.2
A
1.3
14.3
B
5.6
Percentage of enterprises indicating a business activity was outsourced (contracted out) from Canada to another country in the three years 2007 to 2009Footnote 3
Production of goods
53.0
E
11.6
80.5
B
2.7
–
F
–
Provision of services
25.3
B
6.2
21.9
B
3.1
28.2
E
12.0
Distribution and logistics
18.0
B
4.9
19.3
B
3.0
16.9
E
8.3
Call centers and help centers
4.2
A
1.6
3.8
A
1.4
4.5
B
2.7
Marketing, sales and after sales service
21.4
E
8.2
16.1
B
2.9
–
F
–
Software development
–
F
–
7.1
A
2.0
–
F
–
Data processing
–
F
–
3.6
A
0.7
–
F
–
Information and communication technology (ICT) services
Average estimated percentage of total sales from the enterprise's highest selling good or service in 2009 by geographic regionsFootnote 1
Local Market
63.4
A
3.3
33.1
A
2.5
70.2
A
3.6
Rest of the Province or Territory
17.9
B
9.9
21.6
A
3.0
17.0
B
12.7
Rest of Canada
9.5
B
11.9
17.5
A
2.8
7.7
E
18.0
United States
6.6
B
6.3
21.2
A
3.0
3.3
B
14.9
Europe
1.1
E
29.2
2.3
B
7.8
–
F
–
Asia Pacific
0.7
B
12.0
2.1
B
8.1
0.4
E
24.8
Rest of World
0.8
B
12.1
2.1
B
8.4
0.5
E
22.1
Percentage of enterprises indicating the number of competitors they faced in their main market for their highest selling good or service in 2009
1
3.1
A
1.2
3.9
A
0.4
2.9
A
1.5
2
5.8
B
2.8
4.9
A
0.5
6.1
B
3.4
3
13.0
A
1.8
9.0
A
0.6
13.9
A
2.3
4 to 5
12.5
A
1.3
24.4
A
1.0
9.8
A
1.5
6 to 10
27.9
B
3.6
23.2
A
1.0
28.9
B
4.4
11 to 20
16.0
B
3.6
9.8
A
0.7
17.4
B
4.4
more than 20
21.8
B
2.6
24.8
A
1.0
21.1
B
3.2
Percentage of enterprises indicating that there were new competitors that entered their enterprise's main market for its highest selling good or service in 2009
n.a.
32.4
B
4.3
31.1
A
1.1
32.7
B
5.2
Percentage of enterprises indicating that there were new competitors that entered the main market for their highest selling good or service in 2009 and in response to this increase in the number of competitorsFootnote 2
Changed the quality of the good or service
37.7
E
7.6
35.7
A
2.0
38.2
E
9.2
Adopted a new technology or process
17.6
B
4.2
39.2
A
2.1
13.0
B
4.9
Changed marketing expenditures
33.3
B
7.3
38.6
A
2.1
32.2
E
8.8
Introduced a new good or service
40.1
B
7.4
37.4
A
2.0
40.7
E
8.9
Speed up the introduction of a new good or service