1. RIBS Business and Innovation Compass and Navigation Tool

2. Respondents – Sample criteria - 25 respondents representing firms in the region should be selected - Of these 25, 8 should represent "front-runners" in their specific line of industry/business - By "front-runners" we understand firms with a proven success record during (at least) the previous three year period in different lines of industries/businesses - If possible; select "front-runners" from both your regional centre AND its surrounding/ periphery (e.g. distributed on four + four respondents)

3. Sample criteria (cont.) - Remaining 17 firms/respondents may represent different lines of businesses/industries - Try to pick respondents located to both your regional centre and its surroundings/periphery (if possible with a 50-50-distribution) - Also strive for sample diversity in terms of line of business/industry (manufacturing and service), target market (regional-national-international), the leading entrepreneur as a person (male/femali, old/young, well educated/less educated, etc) as well as the firm's level of technology/knowledge/sophistication (high-low).

4. Sample criteria (cont.) For both the sample of 8 firms and the 17 firm sample - Select respondents you know and talkative and reflective (and not only answers "yes" or "no" to all questions) -... and who run businesses with 3-100 employees started AT LEAST three years ago.

5. An model

6. Compass vectors Product Process Administration Marketing Creative work environment Strategy

7. Compass vector: Product The product vector is about: –Wide application of new product or new technology –Commercialization of new product or new technology –Reputation in product innovation –Firm’s products lead the industry –Awards for product innovation –New ideas for product innovation –Diversification of products

8. Compass vector: Process The process vector is about: –New technology for improved process –New method for improved process –Adjusting production in a short time –Fast adjustment to customer demand –Use of slack resources –New technology knowledge

9. Compass vector: Administration The administration vector is about: –Empowerment –Participative working environment –Administrative support

10. Compass vector: Marketing The marketing vector is about: –External relationships –Innovative advertisment –Recieved promotion activities –Marketing activity lead industry development –Marketing activities –Awards for advertisment

11. Compass vector: Creative work environment The creative work environment vector is about: –Creative culture –Encourage new problem-solving –Support of creativity –Incentives for creativity

12. Compass vector: Strategy The strategy vector is about: –Mastering market change –Mastering customers and their demand –Mastering competitor’s strategy

13. Operationalizations

14. The Navigation Tool

15. These criteria will be operationalised into a semi-structured form allowing the interviewer to (preferably) "tick a box" for characteristics such as - "front-runner" versus "others" - Line of industry/business (several alternatives) - Location (regional centre vs. periphery) - Firm age (3-10 yrs, 11-20 yrs, 20+ yrs) - Age of the entrepreneur (-30, 31-50, 51+) - Sex of the entrepreneur (male, female) - Education level of the entrepreneur (upper secondary level/gymnasium, university, more?) - Technology/knowledge level of the firm (low-medium-high; indicators?) - Target market (regional, national, international) - Export share (-5%, 6-50%, 51+%) - Firm size (3-10, 11-20, 21-50, 51-100)

16. March 1st May 1stJune 8-9 Finalising questionnarie, test interviews Data collection in each region. Compiling data and sending it to LTU Data anlalysis & presentation of first results