Abstract

In 1959, Penrose highlighted how the firm's organisation of economic activity is based on its perception about the adjustment of production to the market, more than on objective evaluation. So, he underlined not just the importance to identify the nature of the determinants of firm behaviour, but also how the assessment of these factors must consider the production context where they originate. Now, this context for Penrose has to be considered as an "image" in the mind of the entrepreneur of the possibilities and restrictions. In line with this view, and with the recent approach to innovation policies, this work analyses the survey data collected in 2008 on the innovation needs of Sicilian firms, highlighting the stylised facts useful to explain and interpret their innovation choices.