Guest editorial: Boundary pushing innovative business models and entrepreneurial small businesses

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) comprise the largest cohort of businesses and are considered critical in creating jobs, innovation and entrepreneurial skills (Lobo et al., 2023). According to the International Labour Organization (2024), SMEs contribute more than 50% of the OECD country’s GDP. However, SMEs are often at a disadvantage compared to larger organisations (Lohrke and Landstrom, 2016). This is primarily the case because of their limited resources (Zahra et al., 2006; Karmeni et al., 2022), and constrained internal and external knowledge capabilities (Lobo et al., 2023). Additionally, SMEs endure other challenges including small product ranges, smaller market size, diminished market power and limited opportunities for economies of scale (Andersén et al., 2015). Their often informal organisational structures with lesser leadership capabilities and limited strategic capabilities restrict their ability to invest comparatively (Andersén et al., 2015; Benyayer and Kupp, 2017). While the constraints are well-known, it is also important to recognise that SMEs are at an advantage with regards to understanding of their strategic landscape, greater flexibility, strategic agility and opportunities for innovation (Arbussa et al., 2017; Miroshnychenko et al., 2024). [Opening paragraph]