Subtheme: Entrepreneurship, Small Businesses and Human Resource Development. Title of Paper: Role of Entrepreneurs in Enhancing Innovation.

Name of Author: Daniel Nderi Organization and Affiliation: Lecturer KIM- Meru Branch Address: dnderius@yahoo.com, Tel No. 0721 986 343 1. Abstract This paper critically examines the role played by entrepreneurs in enhancing innovations within their respective industries. This paper raises the questions of why most of the industrial innovations tend to be related to the small entrepreneurs within the industry. Many multinationals and national firms have been found to either source for competitive linkages with these entrepreneurs or take over the businesses or products developed by these innovative entrepreneurs. In Kenya the mobile service providers are relying on platforms developed by the entrepreneurs to serve their clients, for example the money transfer softwares developed by entrepreneurs have enabled these companies to offer financial products. This study investigates whether it is the flexibility afforded by their start up business, the environment of operation, the size and structure of the organization, ability to evaluate and attract the right kind of personnel, or is it due to the risk taking nature of the small entrepreneurs. This study will rely on secondary data collected through review of current literature on entrepreneurship and innovation Key words I. II. III. IV. V.

Entrepreneurship Innovation Product development Creativity Flexibility