Small Business International Review | 2026
Authors: Beglaryan M.; Drampyan A.; Ghazarian A.
DOI: 10.26784/sbir/a3ea9995
Journal: Small Business International Review
Year: 2026
Publisher: Asociación Española de Contabilidad y Administración de Empresas
Document Type: Article
Open Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access
Cited by: 0
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of firm innovativeness as a means of surviving and succeeding during periods of extreme uncertainty. This paper examines the role of managerial capabilities as a driver of innovation under uncertainty in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In particular, we analyze how the propensity to innovate under uncertainty varies according to managers’ seniority, educational background, and functional area. Our analysis draws on data from the GLOBE-2020 survey, which includes 213 responses from managers of Armenian SMEs. The results indicate that managers in strategic and support positions demonstrate a higher tendency to pursue innovation under conditions of external turbulence, whereas educational background and seniority do not significantly affect this relationship. This study addresses a gap in the literature by examining the role of managerial characteristics in driving innovation during a crisis within an under-researched developing country context, using Armenia as a case study. The findings underscore the importance of strategic orientation for fostering an innovative firm mindset, as well as the role of entrepreneurial education and the joint efforts of lower-, middle-, and upper-level management in promoting innovation. © 2026 Mane Beglaryan, Anush Drampyan, Anoush Ghazarian Published by AECA (Spanish Accounting and Business Administration Association) and UPCT (Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena).
Armenia; entrepreneurship; innovation; managerial capabilities; small and medium-sized enterprises; uncertainty