Social innovation and ´Working Smarter´ are both fairly abstract concepts, but very important to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), even if they are often not aware of it! When these abstract terms are translated into changes in the allocation of work and responsibilities, fresh approaches to management and - for example - flexibilising working times they suddenly become more appealing, but still appear difficult to get a handle on from a distance. “This does not apply to our company - we are too small for that!” is often the SME response when these issues are raised. But the opposite is the case.

Changes in the allocation of work and responsibilities and working time management certainly do have an effect on business performance. In fact, productivity growth at companies which adopt “Working Smarter” is 9% higher on average than at companies which do not! Turnover and operating profits also appear to increase substantially, according to recent research conducted by EIM on behalf of the Innovation Platform (IP). The IP thereby recommends - also on behalf of the steering group consisting of Melek Usta (Colourful People, IP member), Alexander Rinnooy Can (social and Economic Council, IP member), Loek Hermans (MKB-Nederland) and Anja Jongbloed (FNV Bondgenoten, NCSI) - that more should be done to encourage “Working Smarter” at SMEs. The recommendation is that a special long-term programme be initiated in which the NCSI (Netherlands Centre for Social Innovation), Syntens and sectors work together in order to help SMEs with ‘Working Smarter’.

‘Working Smarter’ research

In recent months the IP has commissioned extensive research into the use, the possibilities and the benefits of ‘Working Smarter’ in practice. The research company EIM interviewed 650 SMEs (5 to 250 employees). The NCSI has identified the existing tools, best practices and regional initiatives. A-advies carried out a quick-scan to examine the activities of sectors and social innovation. The conclusions of the research are that there is a great deal of potential, and working smarter pays off!

‘Working Smarter’ recommendation: a long-term action programme for SMEs

In order to encourage more companies to work smarter it is proposed that a special long-term action programme be developed for SMEs. Such a programme might include: an education campaign to make companies more aware of the benefits, a special scan and toolbox in order to get to started quickly, advice programmes and vouchers and a monitoring programme. Syntens and the NCSI have been asked to draw up an implementation plan for this by the end of 2009.