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Full-Text Articles in Business

Smes “Growing Smart”: The Complementarity Of Intangible And Digital Investment In Small Firms And Their Contribution To Firm Performance, Eva Erjavec, Tjaša Redek, Črt Kostevc Dec 2023

Smes “Growing Smart”: The Complementarity Of Intangible And Digital Investment In Small Firms And Their Contribution To Firm Performance, Eva Erjavec, Tjaša Redek, Črt Kostevc

Economic and Business Review

Like large companies, small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) are turning to new digital technologies and knowledge-based capital to bolster their productivity and growth. However, data show that smaller companies lag significantly in implementing new Industry 4.0 technologies and in the intensity of their use. Lack of skills and human capital is often cited as one of the biggest barriers. This paper examines the benefits of digital technologies, intangible capital, and in particular the role of complementary investments in new technologies and intangible capital to maximize the impact on productivity growth. The analysis draws on extensive firm-level datasets combining business and …


Adaptation Of Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises In The Food Sector During The Pandemic: Position The Brand As Part Of The Community, Hardian E. Nurseto, Nila A. Windasari, Prasanti W. Sarli Sep 2023

Adaptation Of Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises In The Food Sector During The Pandemic: Position The Brand As Part Of The Community, Hardian E. Nurseto, Nila A. Windasari, Prasanti W. Sarli

Journal of Global Business Insights

This study explains how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the food sector adapted during the pandemic. In-depth, semi-structured, hybrid interviews were conducted with fifteen SME owners in the food sector in Bandung, Indonesia. The study describes five business adaptation strategies using service-dominant logic (S-DL) and structural-functionalism theory: (a) relationship adaptation with suppliers and landlords, (b) employee adaptation, (c) product and sales adaptation, (d) operations adaptation, and (e) promotion adaptation. Findings show a holistic view of actor involvement in the business adaptation process linked to altruism, in which the business and all actors (i.e., suppliers, landlords, customers, employees, government, online …


A Comparative Study On Contract-Based And Coproduction-Based Entrepreneurship Training Programs: A Study Case Of Jakarta Province, Fazlur Rahman Hassan, Muhammad Rizqy Anandhika, Maulana Fajrul Izzi May 2023

A Comparative Study On Contract-Based And Coproduction-Based Entrepreneurship Training Programs: A Study Case Of Jakarta Province, Fazlur Rahman Hassan, Muhammad Rizqy Anandhika, Maulana Fajrul Izzi

BISNIS & BIROKRASI: Jurnal Ilmu Administrasi dan Organisasi

Training is essential to guide and equip SMEs with the necessary skill sets to adapt to the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. The budget limitation urged DKI Jakarta Provincial Government (DJPG) to change their conventional training program for SMEs and arrange an IT-based platform enabling all city entities, including private and non-private sectors, to participate in a coproduction scheme. This study employed the performance outcomes framework to examine the impacts of coproduction in entrepreneurship training for SMEs by comparing contract-based and coproduction-based training conducted by DJPG, including the impacts on the deliverables and budget. The results indicate that overall, coproduction-based …


Determinants Of The Adoption Of Islamic Finance By Cameroonian Smes: Case Study From A Psycho-Sociological Characteristics Of Managers, Jérôme Gonne, Yaouba Mohamadou May 2022

Determinants Of The Adoption Of Islamic Finance By Cameroonian Smes: Case Study From A Psycho-Sociological Characteristics Of Managers, Jérôme Gonne, Yaouba Mohamadou

The Journal of Entrepreneurial Finance

Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) today form the backbone of the African economy in general and Cameroon in particular. However, Cameroonian SMEs encounter many difficulties, one of the most important is the access to so-called conventional financing. Faced with this situation, some of them will seek alternative means such as Islamic finance. Despite its development over the past two decades, Islamic finance is struggling to find a place in the financial decisions of Cameroonian SMEs’ Managers. This study aims at highlighting the psycho-sociological characteristics of policymakers in directing their decision towards the Islamic finance product. Data collected from a sample …


Many Flowers Make A Bouquet: A Recipe For Women Entrepreneurs In Smes, Karam Zaki, Hany Shared Mar 2022

Many Flowers Make A Bouquet: A Recipe For Women Entrepreneurs In Smes, Karam Zaki, Hany Shared

Journal of Global Business Insights

Women’s participation and activation of their role in societies are central goals among the UN’s global aims. This research accomplished the following objectives: first, expands the existing knowledge of women’s intentions and their startup desirability for small projects; second, explores the perceived outcomes; and third, develops an action plan based on the current constraints women face when leading small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) projects. Data were collected from an online questionnaire of 433 entrepreneurs based in Saudi Arabia (26.3% university staff, 23.1% project starters, 22.9% bank loan holders, 16.2% university students, and 11.5% leaders). The partial least squares path modeling …


The Impact Of Assets Structure And The Components Of Cash Conversion Cycle On The Egyptian Smes Financial Failure Predictability, Dr. Hassan Mounir El-Sady, Hatem Ahmed, Dr. Hosny Hamdy Jan 2022

The Impact Of Assets Structure And The Components Of Cash Conversion Cycle On The Egyptian Smes Financial Failure Predictability, Dr. Hassan Mounir El-Sady, Hatem Ahmed, Dr. Hosny Hamdy

The Journal of Entrepreneurial Finance

This study investigates determinants of Egyptian SMEs financial failure predictability based on a sample of 32 failure SMEs and 28 non-failure SMEs for the period 2013 and 2019. The determinants of SMEs financial failure are categorized into four groups; Working Capital, Asset Structure, Liquidity, and Leverage. The factor and logistic regression analysis are employed to identify the most significant independent variables that classify between failure and none-failure Egyptian’s SMEs and determine the driver of SMEs financial failure. Our findings significantly show that failing SMEs suffer from long cash conversion cycles resulting from long inventory holding period, average collection period, and …


Developing A Structured Ojt Program: The Case Of A Small Manufacturing Company In A Rural Region, Raymond A. Dixon Ph.D. Dec 2021

Developing A Structured Ojt Program: The Case Of A Small Manufacturing Company In A Rural Region, Raymond A. Dixon Ph.D.

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

This study explored the process followed by a small manufacturing company in a rural area to implement a planned training program to develop the technical skills of its engineering/production workers as the company expands its operation. A case study design was used. Data was collected over an eight-month period by the examination of documents, direct observation, and interview. Findings indicate the process followed were consistent with elements of the Talent Development Architecture. The growth of the company presents learning opportunities for both the owner and his management team. The job analysis provided inputs to implement a planned training program and …


Social Entrepreneurship In Smes: A Note On Three Essential Questions, Andrés Felipe Cortés, Younggeun Lee Jan 2021

Social Entrepreneurship In Smes: A Note On Three Essential Questions, Andrés Felipe Cortés, Younggeun Lee

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Purpose – This research note discusses three essential and practical questions related to social entrepreneurship and social activities in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): What motivates SMEs to undertake social activities? What are the obstacles faced by SMEs when undertaking social activities? What are the types of social activities that SMEs undertake? The article presents preliminary answers and provides research suggestions related to these questions. Design/methodology/approach – The authors search and review articles that study social entrepreneurship and social activities of SMEs and synthesize their findings based on the three main topics of interest. Findings –The authors synthesized findings based …


Information Searching And Satisficing Process For It Decision Making Process Of Smes, Mohammed A. Enagi, Jean-Paul Van Belle Apr 2019

Information Searching And Satisficing Process For It Decision Making Process Of Smes, Mohammed A. Enagi, Jean-Paul Van Belle

The African Journal of Information Systems

Information Technology (IT) can provide Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with competitive advantage, effective management, and improved business performance. Decision making is an integral process of achieving a successful IT investment. SME owner-managers are usually the key IT decision makers despite the fact that they often do not possess sufficient IT skills. This study examines how SME managers search and prioritise information that guides their IT decisions. This study adopted a qualitative research method and conducted interviews with eleven SME owner-managers in Nigeria and South Africa to understand the process of IT investment based on the information available to the …


Knowledge Transfer And Boundary Conditions: A Study Of Smes In Business Incubation Centers In China, Juana Du, Rong Wang Jan 2019

Knowledge Transfer And Boundary Conditions: A Study Of Smes In Business Incubation Centers In China, Juana Du, Rong Wang

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine innovative practices and emphasize the mechanism of knowledge transfer across knowledge boundaries. By comparing and discussing the emerging boundary issues in knowledge transfer among small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) registered in the incubation centers in China, this paper identified the main knowledge transfer approach and several contextual and organizational factors impacting knowledge transfer. Design/methodology/approach – The authors conduct 39 semi-structured in-depth interviews with employees working within business incubation centers in China. The study uses thematic analysis for data analysis. Findings – Our results contribute to the literature of knowledge transfer …


Small And Medium Enterprises' Risk Exposures And Mitigation Approaches In Nigeria, Joshua Solomon Adeyele, Olubunmi Florence Osemene Jan 2018

Small And Medium Enterprises' Risk Exposures And Mitigation Approaches In Nigeria, Joshua Solomon Adeyele, Olubunmi Florence Osemene

The Journal of Entrepreneurial Finance

Risks militating against small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have been on the increase due to how risks mitigations are conducted by the owners/operators. Although thorough understanding of businesses undertaken by the owners of SMEs enables them to have a clear picture of risks affecting their businesses so as to act in proactive manner in order to mitigate or avoid the impending risks. To assess the risk exposures of SMEs, a random sampling technique was used to select 209 SMEs within Lagos and Benin City. Both descriptive and inferential statistics such as Phi and Gamma were used to analyse the data …


Relational Ties In Emerging Markets: What Is Their Contribution To Sme Growth?, Natalya Totskaya Jan 2015

Relational Ties In Emerging Markets: What Is Their Contribution To Sme Growth?, Natalya Totskaya

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Prior studies argue that social capital is vital for firm growth. Adding to this line of research, this paper provides more evidence regarding the contribution of bonding and bridging social ties to various aspects of small-l and medium-sized enterprise (SME) development. Building on the original data from Russia, this paper investigates the effects of firm-internal and firm-external relational ties on SME performance and geographic expansion. The findings indicate that horizontal bridging ties facilitate specific strategies of SME growth. Thus, this paper supports prior research conducted in the Asian context, and allows for extending the outcomes of bonding and bridging social …


Effect Of Deposit Money Banks' Credit On The Performance Of Micro, Small And Medium Enterprises In Nigeria, G. O. Evbuomwan, V. O. Okoruwa, A. E. Ikpi Jun 2013

Effect Of Deposit Money Banks' Credit On The Performance Of Micro, Small And Medium Enterprises In Nigeria, G. O. Evbuomwan, V. O. Okoruwa, A. E. Ikpi

Economic and Financial Review

This paper set out to empirically evaluate the effect of deposit money banks' credit on the performance of MSMEs in Nigeria, with the aid of a vector autoregression and error correction mechanism (ECM) technique. Results of the empirical investigation confirmed credit had a positive effect on GDP of MSMEs in Nigeria as the coefficient of CAM (credit to MSMEs) was positive (1.0569) and significant at 1.0 per cent level. It was, therefore, recommended that every effort should be made to improve access to credit by MSMEs, so that they could play their potential roles of employment generation and wealth creation …


Calibrating Growth In The Ambitious Sme: Growth Mapping As A New Direction In Business Model Visualisation, Pat Daly, James S. Walsh Jan 2013

Calibrating Growth In The Ambitious Sme: Growth Mapping As A New Direction In Business Model Visualisation, Pat Daly, James S. Walsh

Irish Business Journal

Research relating to management assumptions1 has largely being confined to mature industries where they are readily recognisable as influential business variables in finance, economics, organisational and business development. These studies have primarily considered senior managerial assumptions as part of the cognitive architecture of the firm, driving many developmental and growth processes of the organisation. This perspective of assumptions acting as intellectual assets of the organisation supporting the firm and its development is however largely absent from entrepreneurial and small business research. This is somewhat surprising given that research on the small firm suggests that entrepreneurs tend to operate on a …


Understanding Sme Intention To Use The Internet For Managing Supplier Information, Kevin Celuch, Anna Walz, Carl Saxby, Craig Ehlen Jan 2011

Understanding Sme Intention To Use The Internet For Managing Supplier Information, Kevin Celuch, Anna Walz, Carl Saxby, Craig Ehlen

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

There is strong consensus that the Internet has the potential to positively impact firms, and SMEs in particular; however, not all firms have realized benefits from adoption. The present study extends research in the area by addressing the need to examine the “chain” of variables explaining Internet adoption. We do this by exploring SME owner/manager Internet-related usefulness and ease-of-use cognitions and intention to use the Internet for supplier information management. We also explore the influence of behavioral norms and two broader strategic perspectives, market and learning orientation, on the Internet-related cognitions. Findings have implications for researchers and practitioners by identifying …


Corporate Parents, Initial Legitimacy, And Resource Acquisition In Small And Medium Firms: An Empirical Examination, Gregory Murphy, Neil M. Tocher Jan 2011

Corporate Parents, Initial Legitimacy, And Resource Acquisition In Small And Medium Firms: An Empirical Examination, Gregory Murphy, Neil M. Tocher

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) commonly struggle to acquire needed financial, human, and technological resources. The above being stated, recent scholarly research argues that SMEs that are able to successfully navigate the legitimacy threshold are better able to gather the resources they need to survive and grow. This article provides an empirical test of that claim by examining whether the presence of a corporate parent positively influences SME resource acquisition. Results of the study show that SMEs with corporate parents, when compared to like-sized independent SMEs, have higher credit scores, have more complete management teams, use more computers, and are …


Global Challenges For Smes In Sri Lanka And Pakistan In Comparative Perspectives, S.W.S.B. Dasanayaka Jan 2011

Global Challenges For Smes In Sri Lanka And Pakistan In Comparative Perspectives, S.W.S.B. Dasanayaka

Business Review

The Small and Medium Scale Enterprises/Industries (SMEs) function as a lifeline in informal sectors of Pakistan and Sri Lanka due to their immense contribution in areas such as employment generation, exports, equitable income distribution, social stability, efficient domestic resources usage and regional development. However, a large number of SMEs in both countries are struggling to survive in today's global competitive market. Their sustainable growth is threatened by the impact and challenges of rapid globalization. Absence of any networking and cooperation among the SMEs and lack of linkages with large scale industries have aggravated these problems. In spite of the various …


Smes And Poverty Alleviation In Nigeria: Marketing Resources And Capabilities Implications, Olalekan U. Asikhia Jan 2010

Smes And Poverty Alleviation In Nigeria: Marketing Resources And Capabilities Implications, Olalekan U. Asikhia

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

This article seeks to identify the mediating role of marketing resources and capabilities in small and medium enterprises (SMEs)—poverty alleviation relationship. A qualitative approach of conceptualization of the interconnectedness of the major variables of the study is undertaken. Despite several development programs of SMEs and poverty alleviation, the poverty level of Nigerian SMEs has dragged with incidence of high SMEs failure. Marketing resources and capabilities are suggested as probable missing links between SMEs and profitable exchanges that lead to wealth creation, thus alleviating and eradicating poverty. While empirical study in this direction is vital, the current conceptual model shows that …


The Development Of Informal Sector Small And Medium Scale Enterprises Through Formation Of Cluster And Networking: A Case Study Based On Sri Lanka And Pakistan, S.W.S.B. Dasanayaka Jul 2009

The Development Of Informal Sector Small And Medium Scale Enterprises Through Formation Of Cluster And Networking: A Case Study Based On Sri Lanka And Pakistan, S.W.S.B. Dasanayaka

Business Review

In recent years Pakistan has faced a rapidly growing services sector which has lead some observers to believe that there is a transfer of resources occurring in Pakistan from the tradable to the non-tradable sector, hence causing the Dutch Disease in the economy. However no precise response has been offered on this subject. This paper seeks to provide empirical evidence on the question of the existence of Dutch Disease in Pakistan by using Linda Kamas's model on Dutch Disease. The percentage change in the growth of the tradable and the non-tradable sectors in Pakistan is calculated by using data from …


Factors Affecting Business Success Of Small And Medium Enterprises (Smes) In Bangladesh, Muhammad Aminul Islam, Ejaz Ahmad Mian, Muhammad Hasmat Ali Jan 2009

Factors Affecting Business Success Of Small And Medium Enterprises (Smes) In Bangladesh, Muhammad Aminul Islam, Ejaz Ahmad Mian, Muhammad Hasmat Ali

Business Review

The concepts of cluster and networking emerged in 1960s in Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) literature but the formation of SME clusters and networking is a very new strategy for Sri Lanka started in 2001 and Pakistan started in 2003. But it shows some positive sign of growth by increasing competitiveness of SMEs by opening-up new opportunities due to good innovative networking, common facility usage and collective efficiency of economies of scale, scopes and synergies, etc. The problem of many SMEs in both countries is not their size, but being isolated and working in enclave nature, therefore SMEs individually …


Strategic Flexibility And Smes: The Role Of Information Technology For Managing Internal And External Relations, Stephen K. Callaway, Kevin Celuch, Gregory B. Murphy Jan 2009

Strategic Flexibility And Smes: The Role Of Information Technology For Managing Internal And External Relations, Stephen K. Callaway, Kevin Celuch, Gregory B. Murphy

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

The purpose of the current study was to assess the impact of information technology on strategic flexibility for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Results of the study show that under conditions of low environmental dynamism, IT capabilities are associated with greater reactive strategic flexibility. Specifically, IT capabilities enabling the management of internal activities was significant. Under conditions of high environmental dynamism, IT capabilities are associated with greater proactive strategic flexibility. Specifically, IT capabilities enabling the management of competitor information was significant. Managerial as well as future research implications are discussed.


Smes In Globalized World: A Brief Note On Basic Profiles Of Pakistan’S Small And Medium Scale Enterprises And Possible Research Directions, Sarath W.S.B. Dasanayaka Jan 2008

Smes In Globalized World: A Brief Note On Basic Profiles Of Pakistan’S Small And Medium Scale Enterprises And Possible Research Directions, Sarath W.S.B. Dasanayaka

Business Review

The Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) are playing very significant role in almost all the economies around the world in irrespective of the countries development stage. However it is obvious that SMEs function as a lifeline in informal sector in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe due to their contribution to overall economy in many aspects such as employment generation, exports, tax income, innovation, competitiveness, equitable income distribution, social stability, domestic resources usage, regional development and ultimately it is the main source of economic growth. The Pakistan is no exception to this phenomenon as a developing country located …


Proof Of Concept Fund Approach To Small And Medium Enterprise Franchising And Marketing Research Findings., Omolara O. Akanji Oct 2006

Proof Of Concept Fund Approach To Small And Medium Enterprise Franchising And Marketing Research Findings., Omolara O. Akanji

Bullion

Over the past 20 to 25 years small scale enterprises have exploded in the informal sector of the Nigeria's businesses. The informal sector study (CBN, NISEK 2000) showed that over 25,000 small scale enterprises were in existence in the agro industrial production sector of the economy during the year 2000. This paper proffers a model of funding called "Proof of Concept Fund" as a bridging credit facility to research institutes and small scale industrialist who would want to patent/franchise budding research findings to commercialization. The study reveals that there are substantial empirical studies of countries that have used the Proof …


Collaboration Among Smes As A Mechanism For Innovation: An Empirical Study, Mario J. B. Franco Jan 2003

Collaboration Among Smes As A Mechanism For Innovation: An Empirical Study, Mario J. B. Franco

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

The interest for collaboration among small and mediumsized enterprises and innovation has been highlighted, in recent times, due to the acceleration of technological changes and to increasing international competitiveness. Many small firms, with rigid structures and weak entrepreneurial dynamics, experienced difficulties in becoming innovators. Some of these firms can adopt collaborative agreements because these relationships enable them to get the necessary innovative activities, know-how, and exploit opportunities, which they cannot achieve alone. This study examines the motives for the formation of collaborative agreements in industrial Portuguese SMEs and presents some empirical evidence concerning collaboration as an important vehicle for the …


The Region And The Smaller Enterprise: A Discussion Of Appropriate Investigative Methodologies, Ian Pownall Jan 2003

The Region And The Smaller Enterprise: A Discussion Of Appropriate Investigative Methodologies, Ian Pownall

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Regional policy instruments are typically driven by economic rationales, from either a firm or industrial perspective. Yet too often, these rationales are taken as ex ante to the contexts within which firms and industries compete. Recent regional development research has urged a better link be developed between the individual, the firm, and their context, so as to understand the role of regions in supporting effective competitiveness of organizations. In this article, recent research themes are explored that may shed light on the nature of this relationship and that can be developed into an investigative methodology that could aid policy practitioners …


Marketing Orientation In Smes: Effects Of The Internal Environment, Richard C. Becherer, Diane Halstead, Paula J. Haynes Jan 2003

Marketing Orientation In Smes: Effects Of The Internal Environment, Richard C. Becherer, Diane Halstead, Paula J. Haynes

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Marketing orientation refers to a culture in which organizations strive to create superior value for their customers (and superior performance for the business) by focusing on customer needs and long-term profitability. Some studies have found that firms with a high degree of marketing orientation experience improved performance; others have found mixed or nonsignificant results. The marketing orientation of small businesses has not been thoroughly investigated, however. This study of more than 200 small business CEOs examines the marketing orientation levels of small to medium-sized firms (SMEs) as well as the impact of various internal variables (sales/profit performance, company characteristics, and …