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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Small and Medium Enterprise (SME)'
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Buleje, Miguel. "The Impact of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems on Small and Medium Enterprises." NSUWorks, 2014. http://nsuworks.nova.edu/gscis_etd/108.
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Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are considered the price of entry in today's business environment, and the number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) retiring legacy systems in favor of ERP systems is increasing exponentially.
However, there is a lack of knowledge and awareness of ERP systems and their potential benefit and effect on performance, and overall value to SMEs. While ERP adoption costs and potential benefits are high, it is not apparent whether the end result will translate into higher productivity for SMEs.
The goal of this study is to evaluate the benefits that accrue to a firm on adoption of an ERP system. In the context of SME, a production function approach is used to assess benefits over short and long term. In addition to the production function approach, a variety of related methods such as those based on stock market valuation and Tobin's Q are examined.
Data were collected using the well-known CRSP datasets for SMEs. Analysis of data suggests that ERP implementation has no effect on firm's performance as measured by profit margins, Tobin's Q ratio and Labor productivity. In fact, ERP investments do not yield noticeable improvements on the performance measures even four years after implementation. Weaknesses in data suggest that the conclusion may be seen as tentative. The results of this research study, added value to the academic knowledge base by helping to understand the effects ERPs have on SMEs overall performance.
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Magad, Ahmad Mohamed. "Strategic planning in SMEs in Singapore : SME multi-agency alliance, environmental impact and SME performance." Thesis, Henley Business School, 2003. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.274792.
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Brower, Marlon. "Phases of sustainable development in small and medium enterprise (SME) retail outlets." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018506.
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SMEs play a vital role in the country. For the purpose of the study the focus was on SMEs in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Jurisdiction. Businesses which met the SME criteria (refer to Chapter 1, Section 1.7.1), (Du Plessis, 1996: 162; Marx et al., 1998: 728) were included in this study. The study is formed around the aspects of business which contribute to the growth of the business in the long term. A specific study was conducted on the ethnic entrepreneur and the aspects that influence business growth. There are many factors which influence the growth of the business; for the purpose of this study, a specific focus was placed on: (1) knowledge with regard to business; (2) entrepreneurial culture; (3) brand management; (4) location of the business; (5) business relationships; and (6) cultural influences. These variables will determine how the growth of the business is ultimately influenced. The research can also discover from respondents what they view as important in their lives. The study then goes further to analyse whether the independent variables, as reacted to by the respondents, have a significant or non-significant effect on growth.
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Nazari, Shahriar. "Small to Medium Enterprise Business Leaders Managing Change." ScholarWorks, 2017. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/4393.
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Organizational change is necessary for businesses to survive and prosper. One of the main reasons organizational change is unsuccessful is the inadequate leadership style used by business leaders. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore leadership strategies business leaders used to manage change. The target population comprised a purposeful sample of 15 business leaders from various businesses located in the metropolitan area of Southern California. The conceptual framework for this study was the transformational leadership theory, which holds that leaders can use inspiration and motivation to inspire employees, especially during times of organizational change. A pilot study confirmed that all research questions were relevant to the research topic. Data were collected through face-to-face semistructured interviews and company document reviews. Data analysis included identifying relevant themes using a thematic approach to pinpoint, record, and examine patterns. Data were compared during each phase of the data collection process, revealing themes of managing employee's needs, mentoring/training programs, motivation, influence, and communication. Member checking was used to validate themes and strengthen the trustworthiness of the interpretations. The results from this study may assist business leaders in facilitating organizational change. The implications for positive social change include the potential to contribute to job growth and employee prosperity in local communities.
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Mitchell, Leslie. "Development of manufacturing strategy for the small-medium enterprise (SME) : theory and practice." Thesis, University of Hertfordshire, 1995. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.296543.
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Ozalp, Dizem. "Small And Medium-sized Enterprises And Banking Sector In Turkey." Master's thesis, METU, 2006. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12607995/index.pdf.
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This study has the objective of arguing the fact that the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise
(SME) lending is developing, relevant to the evolution of the business environment and banking
sector, during the period between 2001 –
2006 years. The thesis is testing this claim on two data sets. First
the financial data of CBRT during the period of 2001 - 2006 is evaluated. Then, the SME data of a Bank is evaluated. The thesis also covers the arguments on SME definition, the literature survey for SME development policies, SME lending infrastructure, the banking sector, as the main source of finance for SME, and the SME profile of Turkey. The thesis concludes on two things: The share of SMEs in the total credit volume is rising during the period between 2001 &
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2006 years. And the share of medium-term credits is rising, while the short-term credits&
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is decreasing. In addition to these, the study criticizes the recent SME definition of KOSGEB.
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Sari, Burak. "Methodology Development For Small And Medium Sized Enterpise Sme) Based Virtual Enterprises." Phd thesis, METU, 2006. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12607308/index.pdf.
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This dissertation presents the results of a Ph.D. research entitled as methodology development for SME based virtual enterprises. The research addresses the preparation and set up of virtual enterprises and enterprise networks. A virtual enterprise (VE) can be perceived as a customer solution delivery system created by a temporary and re-configurable information and communications technology (ICT) enabled aggregation of competencies.
The main achievements of the research include:
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Clarification and definition of the concept for virtual enterprises and enterprise networks including preparation of these. o A fast and efficient setup of virtual enterprises can be enabled through the establishment of an enterprise network in which an appropriate type and degree of work preparation can be established prior to the set up of virtual enterprises. &
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Development of a framework and a reference architecture for virtual enterprises named as Structured Methodology and ICT Reference Architecture respectively. o Structured Methodology structures the body of knowledge related to preparation, set up and operation of virtual enterprises and enterprise networks. o ICT reference architecture consists of three levels with seven layers to portray in a diagrammatic fashion how different enterprises may exchange and use information between their respective organizations&
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specific proprietary systems and a central server. &
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Development of a methodology for virtual enterprise named as Virtual Enterprise Methodology (VEM) o VEM consists of a set of guidelines, which systematically describes activities that enterprises should consider in relation to set up and preparation of own enterprise networks with the aim to set up virtual enterprises. &
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Testing and validation of the developed VEM with the realization of a virtual case study and establishment of a validation platform respectively. o Virtual case study demonstrates the application of the developed VE methodology with the illustration of the key activities related to setting up breeding environment, setting up &
operating VE and dissolution of VE. o The findings in the research can be validated through the various activities as meetings, conferences, presentations and publication of journals.
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Lashley, Jonathan Graham. "The internationalisation of the small-to-medium sized enterprise (SME) : a critical realist approach." Thesis, University of Northampton, 2001. http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/2790/.
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The Small- to Medium- Sized Enterprise (SME) has attracted the attention of researchers and governments because of the increasingly important role it is playing in national and international economies. The current research is directed towards understanding the internationalisation of this important economic unit, specifically the internationalisation of SMEs in the East Midlands region of the United Kingdom. The research adopts a critical realist philosophy, used by researchers to explain the decision-making process, and applies it in a different context to provide insights into the internationalisation process of the SME. A critical realist approach is used as it enables an understanding of the roles of structures and the contingent environment in facilitating differing levels of SME internationalisation. These are factors that are believed to operate at a level below that of the observable. The study adopts a mixed methodology (a questionnaire survey and two company case studies) that identifies three main issues, including, the international orientation of the industry, previous international experience of management, and the age of the firm. The survey also identified two other issues, perceptions of competition levels, and technology. All of these factors heavily influenced the differing internationalisation levels seen. The two case study companies were used to illustrate the issues at a real level, highlighting the effect of the structures of the capitalist mode of production and the supply chain. The roles of these structures were shown as not deterministic, as the affect of structure was only exhibited under particular contingent conditions in the external and internal environments
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Trad, Barbara. "Motivations for Business Structure Choice for Australian Small and Medium Enterprises." Thesis, Griffith University, 2022. http://hdl.handle.net/10072/420610.
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Knowledge about legal business structures and how to use and combine available structures to the advantage of clients is an important task of a small and medium enterprise (SME) advisor. An SME advisor, when assisting clients choose a business structure at the inception stage of the business, may focus on various substantive elements including tax considerations, limiting personal liability, asset protection, access to equity funding, and compliance costs. The choice of business structure can have significant implications, including how equity can be raised, legal obligations, and how tax is imposed. Currently, there is a gap in Australian literature about the driving motivations for this decision.
This gap is addressed by exploring the reasons behind the business structure choices adopted by SMEs, and the desired attributes of such choices. This thesis also examines why SMEs have been using discretionary trusts extensively, and whether discretionary trusts provide certain attributes not offered by other business structures. Using a review of the literature to develop the key research questions, the study in this thesis employed a sequential mixed methods approach. Initially, a qualitative stage of semi-structured, indepth interviews with 10 SME advisors (accountants and lawyers) was conducted, and this formed the basis for the 12 scenarios in Stage Two. The second, and core, stage of the research involved an experimental case study design (12 scenarios) to test the integrity of the reasons provided by advisors. Forty-eight experienced SME advisors (lawyers and accountants) were interviewed and surveyed.
Three key findings have emerged from the study. First, the findings from the case studies demonstrate that, overwhelmingly, advisors recommended, for most businesses, a combination of structures for one business operation. It is through this combination that a number of key tax and non-tax attributes are achieved. Second, the data from both the case study and the surveys indicate that discretionary trusts are used to gain tax advantages. Third, the findings ultimately demonstrate that, while discretionary trusts could offer favourable attributes to SMEs, which are not offered by other business structures, a number of issues were identified concerning the use of discretionary trust for business operations.
The findings provide strong evidence that tax considerations are an important factor for the chosen business structure. They also demonstrate that advisors perceived that there are factors other than tax which can be considered important attributes for the choice of business structures for SMEs. This knowledge provides information on what characteristics are needed for an ‘effective business structure’. The qualitative and quantitative results are drawn on to recommend tax policy reform to improve the taxation
of SMEs in Australia. To address the issue of tax structure biases, and to tackle the issue of income splitting, one of the recommendations is the adoption of the family as a unit of taxation rather than taxing individuals. Furthermore, through this analysis, recommendations are articulated to tackle some of the issues that challenge SME operators. The thesis recommends that Australia’s tax system be reformed to provide greater equity in taxing business income, regardless of the chosen legal structure.Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Dept Account,Finance & Econ
Griffith Business School
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M'zungu, Simon David Munyaradzi. "SME Brand Management: Strategic and Operational Perspectives." Thesis, Griffith University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10072/367331.
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Corporate brands are widely accepted as valuable intangible assets of organisations, which require competent management to create and safeguard their equity. There is a large body of corporate branding literature, which is fragmented along several disciplinary domains and biased towards large organisations. While the economic contribution of the small-to-medium enterprise (SME) sector in both emerging and developed economies is recognised, corporate branding research has neglected this sector. SME corporate brand management research could enhance the economic efficiency of the sector. However, SME branding research is still in an emergent phase and in need of further research. The main objective of this research study is to develop a holistic understanding of SME corporate brand management, incorporating both strategic and operational perspectives. A holistic model of corporate brand management, which considers both strategic and operational perspectives of SME brand management, could not be found in the current corporate branding literature. Consequently, prior to this study a theoretical framework on which to base the study of corporate brand management in the SME sector is still missing.
Therefore, another objective of the research study is to develop a coherent holistic process-based conceptual model of corporate brand management that incorporates strategic and operational perspectives, based on the available corporate branding literature. The preliminary conceptual model that was developed as the conceptual framework for the study of SME brand management consists of five stages namely, (1) strategic front end, (2) corporate strategy-operations/internal brand management interface, (3) operations/internal brand management, consisting of internal brand communication, brand enabling and ensuring consistent brand delivery, (4) brand performance and (5) environmental feedback. The conceptual model is the investigative lens employed to study SME corporate brand management practices. It serves several purposes including guiding data collection and data analysis, as well as providing a preliminary framework for answering the primary and subsidiary research questions.Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Griffith Business School
Griffith Business School
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Heang, Rasmey. "THE NEEDS AND CHALLENGES OF ADOPTING BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISE (SME)." Thesis, Högskolan i Halmstad, Akademin för ekonomi, teknik och naturvetenskap, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-33509.
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Nowadays, managing business performance is becoming a relatively difficult and complex process for managers since it is undertaking major change both in research and practice. With the growing global interest in Business intelligence (BI), it has also been identified as an important role for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to satisfy their customer’s needs by analyzing through BI system. However, the limited financial resource and lack of human capital are becoming the constraint for SMEs to invest in Business Intelligence system; as well the return of their investment in BI system is still being considerable for SMEs to invest in the system. This study proposes an innovative approach for assessing and prioritizing the use of BI, which can help SME owners to prioritize their customer’s needs and communicate with their stakeholder by using Kano model. This paper is prepared in a way to define and convey the idea of Kano Model and its application to aspiring organizations.
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Smith, Mark T. "Eco-design innovation in small and medium sized enterprises." Thesis, Open University, 2000. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.341364.
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Taylor, Scott. "Managing people in smaller organizations." Thesis, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2001. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.340861.
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Montesinos-Rosales, Andrea, Sebastian Salas-Villacorta, David Mauricio-Sanchez, and Carlos Raymundo-Ibañez. "Cloud-based open-source enterprise content management model at a SME operating in the manufacturing sector." Association for Computing Machinery, Inc, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/10757/656282.
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El texto completo de este trabajo no está disponible en el Repositorio Académico UPC por restricciones de la casa editorial donde ha sido publicado.Every year, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) expand their participation in the Peruvian market, while facing high internal disorganization issues that stifle their growth. This problem is rooted on the fact that the contents generated by these companies are not usually adequately recorded, managed, and exploited, and thus negatively affecting the organization and their competitiveness levels. Now, although most of this issue may be solved through enterprise content management (ECM) solutions, they are not affordable for most SMEs because of their high prices. Within this context, this study proposes the implementation of a cloud-based open-source ECM model at a manufacturing SME in Peru. Through this model, the company was able to access the benefits of an ECM to restructure the way they manage content, gaining 67% more efficiency, establishing a collaboration channel between employees, suppliers, and customers, and reporting a 93% model adaptation rate among staff members.
Revisión por pares
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Ofoegbu, C. A. "Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) adoption in a hybrid service and manufacturing Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) : an action case study." Thesis, University of Salford, 2016. http://usir.salford.ac.uk/38665/.
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There is a growing need for understanding business process re-engineering within SMEs such as the service management companies and this calls for more research focusing on Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and implementation. The aim of this study is to highlight the impact of an in-depth business process analysis during the pre-adoption and implementation of an ERP system in a hybrid service and manufacturing Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME). Service management SMEs are identified as lacking in research focus especially in service operations, and in hybrid organisations that combine manufacturing and service provision. The study extends the existing knowledge in business process analysis and ERP adoption research by drawing upon the interpretive action case and Organisational Information Processing Theory (OIPT). The emphasis is on the impact of appropriate business process analysis during the pre-adoption decision making of an ERP system in a hybrid service and manufacturing SME. Primary data was collected using an online survey with 72 customer responses, questionnaires for in-company observations and third party meetings conducted at an SME in the North West of England, UK. OIPT specifically states that organisations are structured around information and the flow of information in order to minimise uncertainties. The theory suggests the use of information processing needs and information processing capabilities of an organisation to find an optimal performance. The theory however made no suggestion of how to find this optimal performance. Customising OIPT as the theoretical framework, the current study identified two variables a) information processing needs and b) information processing capability of the case organisation and used Value Stream Mapping (VSM) to analyse both variables in order to obtain an optimal fit during IS/IT pre-adoption decision making. The current study takes an original approach by combining and customising OIPT with VSM to the needs of the current study. It also highlights existing wastes in the business process and areas of improvement are suggested while mapping the information processing needs and information processing capabilities of the organisation. The study used action case methodology to provide a rich insight into business process analysis and ERP pre-adoption in a hybrid service and manufacturing SME. The current study was conducted over a period of two years from January 2010 to December 2011. The author was fully immersed into the study as both a participant and a researcher. The action case provided an environment where information processing needs and information processing capabilities as well as the application of VSM could be studied while analysing the resultant implications. Using action case, the current study was able to focus on pre-adoption decision making and monitored the initial impact of action on the case. The key finding is that OIPT and VSM are compatible and offer an opportunity of closing the weaknesses of not being able to identify the optimal fit when using OIPT alone during business process analysis. The contributions to knowledge are: i) Modification of OIPT in the form of OIPT2.0 to reproduce the current state as well as develop the future state value stream to suggest the optimal fit between the information needs and capability of an organisation. ii) Emphasis on extensive scoping during an IS/IT pre-adoption process aids the identification and adoption of an ERP system which best fits the business process and also suggests areas of the business process which could benefit from improvement. iii) The study also creates more awareness of action case methodology by demonstrating how it provides a rich insight into the process of ERP pre-adoption decision making in a hybrid SME. iv) Recommendation is made to the definition of hybrid service and manufacturing SME.
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Janrattana, Jirasak. "How can Small and Medium Enterprise retail business in Thailand successfully compete through Business Model Innovation?" Thesis, University of Manchester, 2017. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/how-can-small-and-medium-enterprise-retail-business-in-thailand-successfully-compete-through-business-model-innovation(4bf8547d-7a76-49ee-9776-e9ed7dbf0c39).html.
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Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) retail businesses in many countries, including Thailand, are facing challenges of high competition, as modern retail formats have grown rapidly in many Asian countries such as Singapore, Taiwan, China and Thailand (Howard, 2009). Thus, SME retail Businesses are facing an "innovate or die" situation, as non-adapting retail firms have always been and will continue to be driven out of the business (Evans, 2011). A new critical capability of retail business is the ability to configure and reconfigure its processes into a coherent blueprint - known in other words as a Business Model (Sorescu et al., 2011). The research question becomes "How can SME retail Business in Thailand successfully compete through Business Model Innovation?" Business Model Innovation requires system wide changes, since modifying one component always has network effects on other components (Tikkanen et al., 2005). There is no fixed method or successful formula that all companies will adopt; therefore disciplined experimentation and adaptation is recommended (Berman, 2011; Chesbrough, 2010; McGrath, 2010; Mitchell et al., 2003; Teece, 2010). However, most past studies on innovation are about large companies (Tim, 2004) and not many articles cover empirical studies on Business Model Innovation. In particular, few studies address the dynamic view (Demil and Lecocq, 2010; Svejenova et al., 2010; Sosna et al., 2010).This research focuses on the implementation of Business Model Innovation within SME retail business. The research uses a methodology called Action Research, and was conducted within the researcher's organization, which is a SME retail business in Thailand. This overcomes the practical challenges of studying SME business, which is related to limited opportunity to conduct empirical research. The study was conducted over the 4 year period from October 2010 to August 2014 by implementing Business Model Innovation in order to exploit opportunities in rural areas. Business Model concepts were employed as sources of innovation and units of analysis. Action Research consists of multiple cycles of changes and adaptation. It was found that Business Model concepts can be represented at different levels of abstraction from reality. At a high level of abstraction, the Business Model Canvas helps to understand the overview of the firm's business logic in a broad way, and provide ideas about what can be adapted. At the operational level, the Retailing Business Model provides a structural approach to the conceptualisation, planning and implementation of activities that support high level changes. In all, Business Model Innovation can be conceptualised as an ongoing learning process similar to the iterative cycles of Action research. These cycles consist of constructing actions, planning, taking actions and evaluating actions. The Business Model concepts at different levels of abstraction can be used for understanding and planning, as well as to capture learning experiences, both on the high level and on the operational level. Therefore, Business Model Innovation is a dynamic process where changes and learning happen continuously. Such a process enables SME retail businesses to improve their understanding of their Business Model and thus improve their chances of success?
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Cakmak, Aslihan. "Internationalization Strategies of Service Sector Small and Medium Enterprises in Turkey." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/4717.
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Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have a significant role in most emerging and developing economies. To increase the probability of survival of their SMEs and achieve sustainable growth, some SME leaders expand their business operations beyond national borders by implementing internationalization strategies. Internationalization is crucial to SME survival. The conceptual framework of this study consisted of a multitheory model including stage model, network theory, and new venture theory. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies that Turkish information communication technology (ICT) SME leaders used to internationalize their business operations. Ten SME leaders, who led a variety of high-tech service SMEs operating in the ICT service sector in Turkey, served as participants for this study. The company documents, reports, and government documents were used to triangulate the interview data. Yin's 5-step method to data analysis resulted in the development of 5 themes: Turkish SME leaders have an active role in internationalization, geographical distance and culture are the 2 main factors of consideration when developing internationalization strategies, managerial attitude supports internationalization, Turkish SME leaders choose low commitment entry methods when entering foreign markets, and relationships is the main source the SME leaders rely on when internationalizing. The findings of this study may help SME leaders to implement successful internationalization strategies to their business operations and achieve sustainable growth of their SMEs, which may contribute to social change by improving both local and host country economies and the well-being of their citizens.
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Bernroider, Edward, and Michel J. Leseure. "Enterprise resource planning (ERP) diffusion and characteristics according to the system's lifecycle. A comparative view of small-to-medium sized and large enterprises." Institut für Informationsverarbeitung und Informationswirtschaft, WU Vienna University of Economics and Business, 2005. http://epub.wu.ac.at/1354/1/document.pdf.
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This report represents the next step of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)related research at the Department of Information Business at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Adminstration following previous work on the selection process. Based on 209 datasets originating from a primary, national and industry independent survey, it provides a descriptive oriented overview of main characteristics of ERP in all stages of the system's lifecycle, emphasising differences between small-to-medium sized and large enterprises (SMEs and LEs). The given research topics in particular comprise software diffusion, resources allocated, strategic project guidance, investment drivers, considered and chosen solutions, team structures, selection criteria, information gathering, methodical support, implementation approaches, acompanying business strategies, implementation problems, perceived utilisation of ERP benefits, firm level ERP impact, and the role of ERP systems as technology enabler. Future work based on the gathered data will document analytical projects undertaken in particular focusing on ERP success, enterprise integration, organisational fit of ERP, and BPR/BPI related questions.Series: Working Papers on Information Systems, Information Business and Operations
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Fischer-Smith, Ruth. "Policy implementation in a transition economy : two decades of small and medium enterprise (SME) development in Ukraine." Thesis, University of Canterbury. National Centre for Research on Europe, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10092/10274.
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Current theoretical frameworks for assessing policy implementation have been developed almost exclusively in the context of market-based, pluralist democracies. The lack of applicable implementation theory outside this ‘western’ setting inspired this research to investigate policy processes in more diverse contexts. This research thus applied existing implementation theory to the post-Soviet sphere, utilising current frameworks to test conditions in a post-communist context. This policy lens approach was applied through two in-depth case study policies within the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, in order to improve practical understanding of the ongoing transitional complexities in the region. The choice of SMEs as policy targets shed particular light on the development of the middle class, which in turn contributed insights regarding post-Soviet nations’ continued transition towards more liberal democracies. This research examined implementation effectiveness through fieldwork conducted in Ukraine (2012), using an amalgamated list of criteria for ‘perfect’ policy implementation as a theoretical framework (Allison & Halperin, 1972; Gunn, 1978; Mazmanian & Sabatier, 1983). Empirical data was collected through both qualitative and quantitative methods, including interviews (141), surveys (178) and primary source collection. Data was analysed through a combined approach of interview coding, process-tracing and cross-tabulation. Findings confirmed that incorporating certain socio-economic features, specific to a post-Soviet environment, into existing implementation models resulted in a more accurate picture of actual policy processes. Research conclusions thus included a new theoretical model for assessing policy implementation effectiveness in the region (Fischer-Smith Policy Implementation Measurement for Post-Soviet States). For theoreticians, this research may inform structural considerations when conducting policy research outside of a pluralist democracy. For practitioners, it may allow for better identification of implementation obstacles, in order to more effectively target mitigation efforts. Ultimately, the new considerations presented in this thesis may inform the wider field of policy implementation studies, both in transition regions and developing nations, as well as in the western pluralist societies where implementation theory originated.
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Peters, Yvette Julianne. "Exploring Leadership Skills for the Sustainability of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises." ScholarWorks, 2019. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/6854.
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Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) contribute to the stability and growth of economies by creating employment in rural and urban areas. More than 60% of SMEs do not survive for longer than 5 years; a lack of leadership skills is among the key problems. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the leadership skills owners-managers used to sustain their businesses for longer than 5 years. Research participants were 4 owners-managers of SMEs from the manufacturing industry in Trinidad and Tobago that sustained their businesses for at least 5 years. The contingency leadership model and the skill-based leadership model formed the conceptual lens for this study. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and direct observations. Data were analyzed using Miles and Huberman's analytical strategies and Morse's cognitive process of coding, pattern matching, interpreting, and summarizing the data. Five themes emerged from the data analysis: leadership skills, leadership values, development of leadership skills, leadership challenges, and improvement in leadership skills. The findings from this study could influence positive social change by providing insights on leadership skills SME leaders could use to sustain their operations for the longer term, resulting in reduced failure of SMEs. A decrease in the failure rate of SMEs might contribute to improved economic conditions, leading to the reduction of poverty in families and communities.
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Tomás, Rafael da Fonseca. "Export intensity and financial performance of Portuguese Small and Medium Enterprises (SME)." Master's thesis, Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestão, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/8723.
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Mestrado em FinançasO objectivo desta investigação é estudar a intensidade exportadora das Pequenas e Médias Empresas (PME) em Portugal. A relação entre a intensidade exportadora e o desempenho financeiro é analisado em detalhe. A análise empírica é baseada na amostra das PME da indústria transformadora obtida através dos dados contabilísticos do Sistema de Contas Integradas das Empresas (SCIE). São analisados dois modelos de intensidade exportadora das PME, linear e probit, tendo em conta dois tipos de variáveis dependentes: (i) a percentagem das vendas no mercado externo (considerando-se; e (ii) uma variável binária que mede a predominância exportadora (valor 1 para percentagens de vendas externas superiores a 50%). Como variáveis explicativas foram testadas variáveis relacionadas com as características das empresas (por exemplo, dimensão, nível tecnológico, custos salariais) e com o desempenho financeiro (por exemplo, endividamento, autonomia financeira). Os resultados são mistos dependendo do modelo e da amostra estudada, no entanto, no geral, o retorno sobre os activos, a produtividade, o resultado líquido e o rácio da dívida têm uma relação positiva com a intensidade exportadora. A dimensão e o nível tecnológico também têm um impacto positivo. O salário médio por trabalhador tem um efeito negativo na intensidade exportadora, sugerindo uma competitividade internacional baseada nos custos.
The purpose of this investigation is to explain the export intensity of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) in Portugal. The relation between export intensity and financial performance is analyzed in detail. The empirical analysis is based on a sample of SME firms from the manufacturing sector obtained from the firm-level accounting data Sistema de Contas Integradas das Empresas (SCIE). Two models of export intensity of SMEs are analyzed, linear and probit, considering two kinds of dependent variables: (i) the percentage of foreign sales (considering; and (ii) a binary variable that measures the predominance (value 1 for percentages of foreign sales higher than 50%). As explanatory variables are tested variables related to company characteristics (e.g. size, technological level, wage costs) and to financial performance (e.g. debt, financial autonomy). Results are mixed depending on the model or sample studied, however, in general, return on assets, productivity, net result and debt-to-equity ratio have a positive relationship with the export intensity. Size and technological level also impacted positively. Average wage has a negative effect on export intensity, suggesting an international competitiveness based on costs.
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Havrilenko, N. G. "The Social Responsibility in the Development Entrepreneurship SME (SMALL and MEDIUM BUSINESS)." Thesis, Київський національний університет технологій та дизайну, 2017. https://er.knutd.edu.ua/handle/123456789/8453.
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Bača, Slavomír. "Comparative analysis of business environment conditions for small and medium-sized enterprises within V4 countries." Master's thesis, Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze, 2013. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-198434.
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The main aim of the master's thesis is to clarify the problematic of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), analyse relevancy and historical development of selected ratios influencing business environment conditions for SMEs, and determine the best country within V4 region in terms of favourableness of selected business environment conditions for 2014. Theoretical part of the thesis discusses the problematic of SMEs from different points of view emphasizing on the approach of European Union. Based on literature relevant indicators are selected and presented for each V4 country individually. Analytical part of the thesis analyses external environment conditions for SMEs within V4 region in 2014 through five groups of indicators: Taxation, Labour Cost, Demand, Corruption and Law Enforcement, and Easy of Doing Business. The whole analysis is conducted based on secondary data and method of indexes. All of the five groups of indicators are analysed separately and based on these results the final ranking is created. The results of the study show relatively similar business conditions for SMEs within V4 area with Poland having the best SMEs business environment in 2014.
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Palacios-Rodriguez, Roberto. "A systemic approach to understanding SME development : applying TSI in the Mexican context." Thesis, University of Lincoln, 1998. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.263957.
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Pownall, Ian Edward. "The application of EU small firm policy in peripheral regions : competitiveness and regional development in the Mid West of Ireland." Thesis, Staffordshire University, 2001. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.342576.
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Rutter, Kenneth Alan. "Strategic issue interpretation among managing directors of UK boat building companies." Thesis, University of Portsmouth, 1999. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.310461.
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Bishop, Desmond M. III. "How to Build a Climate of Quality in a Small to Medium Enterprise: An Action Research Project." Scholar Commons, 2018. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/7476.
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Quality Management (QM) in one of its many forms has become an integral part of contemporary business. Most research in this field was conducted within the context of large business. This study is one of the first to examine QM for small to medium enterprises (SMEs). This article used the action research methodology to explore how a SME located in the southeastern United States implemented a climate of quality. QM implementation in this company was executed in two separate interventions. In the first intervention, the factors of top management commitment, collaboration, data-centered decision making and process focus were implemented using tactics that resulted in an 80% decrease in defects and substantial cost savings. In the second intervention a training system was developed that resulted in a 60% reduction in defects over the measured time period. The study provides an illustrative example of how small businesses can implement a QM climate, and the potential benefits of such climate for the organization.
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Watse, Dije Umaru. "Sources of Financing for Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria." ScholarWorks, 2017. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/4690.
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Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which account for 96% of businesses in Nigeria are often forced to close because they lack access to funds. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the sources of funds available for the development and growth of SMEs in Nigeria. The conceptual framework guiding this study was the pecking order theory. Data were gathered from company documents and through semistructured interviews of a target population of 3 leaders of 3 SMEs from the oil and gas industry in Abuja, Kano, and Lagos in Nigeria, with a capitalization of between N5 million to N500 million. Data were compiled and organized, disassembled into fragments, reassembled into a sequence of groups, and interpreted for meaning. Member checking and triangulation of sources between the interviews and company documents added to the trustworthiness of the findings. Two themes morphed from the study: sources of business finance for SMEs and constraints of sourcing of finance for business. The implications for positive social change include the potential to create employment opportunities for youths in the communities by enabling SMEs in Nigeria to succeed and expand through the identification of sources of funding.
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Haddad, Monther I. S. "Strategies for Implementing Innovation in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/6035.
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Inefficient processes for innovation implementation can prevent owners of small and medium-sized enterprises from realizing goals and growth potential. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies that managers of small and medium-sized enterprises use to implement innovation in their organizations to improve performance. The population for this study consisted of 5 managers from 4 small and medium-sized enterprises operating in Dubai. The resource-based view theory was the conceptual framework of this study. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and review of companies' documents. Data were analyzed using Yin's 5-step process. After transcribing the interviews and coding the resulting transcripts, the key themes that emerged included: the role of the top management in cultivating an innovative culture, the identification of ideas as the starting points for innovation, and the recognition of customers as resources for the company. Managers of small and medium-sized enterprises might benefit from the results of this study by implementing the recommendations and strategies to improve performance. Implications for social change include the potential to create employment opportunities and improve the living conditions of the employees in Dubai through economic growth.
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Gäck, Madeleine, and Mahmutovic Emma Rijalda. "Belöningsystem i Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) : Vilken påverkan har belöningar på medarbetarnas motivation i SME företag?" Thesis, Högskolan i Halmstad, 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-45205.
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Sammanfattning Titel: Belöningssystem i Small and Medium- Sized Enterprises (SME) - Hur påverkarbelöningar medarbetarnas motivation? Ämne: Kandidatuppsats i företagsekonomi - inriktning verksamhetsstyrning, 15 HP Författare: Madeleine Gäck & Emma Rijalda Mahmutovic Nyckelord: Motivation, motivationsteorier, SME, Belöning. Problemformulering: Vilken påverkan har belöningar på medarbetarnas motivation i SMEföretag? Syfte: Uppsatsens syfte är att få en djupare förståelse för hur belöningar används i SME företagför att anställda ska känna motivation i sitt arbete samt undersöka för- och nackdelarna som uppstår när belöningar används för att motivera sina anställda. Vi vill undersöka hur medarbetarna upplever motivation kopplat till belöningarnas utformning och om det är någonskillnad på om belöningarna är finansiella eller icke finansiella. Metod: Studien utgår från en abduktiv forskningsansats och en kvalitativundersökningsmetod genom intervjuer med anställda från tre företag som verkar i olikabranscher, för att skapa en djupare förståelse hur belöning påverkar anställdas motivation. Slutsats: Det som tydligt har framkommit med vår studie är att icke finansiella belöningar ärdet som påverkar anställdas inre motivation på en längre sikt. Det har framkommit attfinansiella belöningar som lön även skulle kunna uppfattas som en icke finansiell belöning,eftersom de anställda upplever lön som ett bevis på uppskattning.
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Kajtazi, Ariana. "A case study of InterAdria; regarding security strategy of a SME." Thesis, Växjö University, School of Mathematics and Systems Engineering, 2008. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:vxu:diva-2266.
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Today, security strategy has a crucial role in society, which does not imply only to large companies, but also and especially to Small Medium Enterprises (SME’s).
The intention of this thesis is to provide instructions and help enterprises that need assistance in applying proper security strategy. This thesis comprises the most crucial areas of security within an enterprise. Its aim is to study more deeply the situation of the current security strategy, of a telecom and a software development enterprise, by which the enterprise can extract enough information to provide a proper system. The purpose is to study, analyze, explore and bring some conclusions with new ideas on how to improve and propose a new security strategy that can fit and that can be appropriate for this enterprise.
Regarding the exploration and research for the enterprise, “fragile assets” are the target to be taken in consideration such as “software”, “databases” and “important data”.
The method which is used in this thesis, is the case study method, which has best suited the purpose of this thesis by covering the logic of design, data collection techniques and data analysis. As a theory the OCTAVE-sm approach was applied. This approach has three phases which each contains its own processes. These processes were followed and used for the evaluation of the current state in one Small Medium Enterprise (SME) called InterAdria. The use of OCTAVE-sm approach in this thesis can be a guide to all other Small Medium Enterprises (SME’s) that struggle with their security strategy same as the enterprise mentioned above. The conclusion was based on the entire data gathering that was done by following the steps of the Octave-sm approach.
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Steele, Laura. "Corporate social capital creation and transfer among small to medium sized enterprise (SME) owner-managers in two recreational settings." Thesis, Ulster University, 2013. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.603574.
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Corporate Social Capital theory has been used as a prism through which diverse economic issues have been explored (Leenders and Gabbay 1999). This thesis draws upon it once again, to provide a framework for understanding the attitudes to business networking held by the owner-managers of Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Northern Ireland. Using a multiple case study approach as outlined by Yin (2009), the research was conducted in Rotary clubs and golf clubs, which have traditionally fostered such exchanges but in secondary function to wider social welfare or sporting aims. Through the use of in-depth interviews the individual's opportunities to engage with others, motivation for doing so and ability to produce value from the interactions were explored (Adler and Kwon 2002). Respondents provided clear examples of when their business had benefited (or indeed suffered) as the result of their social network. The overarching themes emerging from the data are increased access to information that could be converted into competitive advantage and the accelerated development of trust among network members. This, however, was tempered by frequent mention of the ‘dark side' (Gargiulo and Benassi 1999) where an unpropitious reputation is easy to form but difficult to shed and the very idea of overt networking is still considered by some to be uncouth. The research identified five factors that impacted on an individual SME owner-managers ability to generate social capital, specifically: the location and age profile of the club and the gender/ occupation and personality of the SME owner-manager. This thesis provides a new perspective on the experiences of the SME owner-manager in a time of continued economic uncertainty.
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Jomaraty, Mosfeka. "Firm growth by women-owned Small and Medium Enterprises in a developing economy setting." Thesis, Federation University Australia, 2015. http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/96339.
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The growth experiences of women-owned Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the context of a developing economy are examined through the lens of pragmatism. This approach views a businesswoman’s ‘belief’, ‘habit’ and ‘doubt’ as critical for researching gender related issues in entrepreneurship. This study explains the growth aspects of women-owned manufacturing and services SMEs of Bangladesh with the aim of addressing two neglected research issues. One is the scarcity of studies on growth oriented women entrepreneurs in developing countries. The other is the lack of focus on very successful high-growth women-owned firms in the context of a strong male-dominated economy. This study adopts a framework developed out of the Diana International Project to evaluate the factors influencing the growth of these successful, growing, Bangladeshi women-owned businesses. In order to evaluate the growth process itself, this framework was then modified with growth resources and actions as explained by Edith Penrose in her 1959 seminal book The Theory of Growth of the Firm. This allows for the investigation of the effects of managerial and entrepreneurial abilities in growth, and the identification of how firms achieve growth. A multiple-case design is adopted, covering sixteen successful growth-oriented firms in the manufacturing and services sector. SMEs were studied as the basis for firm growth from initial venture creation, while the sector concentration on manufacturing and services reflects the urban nature of the study in examining firms that exist in the capital city of Dhaka. Data from in-depth interviews and supporting documents were used for the case studies and integrated with the theoretical framework. Themes were categorised and patterns compared against the framework. The results of this research suggest that SME growth is a process which is gradual and iterative, comprising a series of growth strategies and approaches. The framework identifies interactive connection between different growth variables and highlights how industry sector and the national context of a growing economy facilitate growth of women-owned SMEs. The case study based research seeks to advance scholarship in relation to women’s entrepreneurship globally and contribute to the understanding of growth oriented women’s entrepreneurship. Building upon existing knowledge, this research endeavours to generate new insights and advance theoretical discourse by providing richness and subtlety to the knowledge of growth process and opening up new avenues for future research.Doctor of Philosophy
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Blake, Hugh Anthony. "Strategies to Sustain Small and Medium-size Manufacturing Enterprises in Jamaica." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/6172.
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Jamaica's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have a high failure rate. In 2016, the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) recorded Jamaica's SME start-up rate at 4.06% and the discontinuance rate at 9%. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive multiple case study was to explore the strategies some Jamaican SME owners used to achieve business sustainability in the manufacturing sector for longer than 5 years of operation. The conceptual framework used was the entrepreneurship theory, which provided insights into business sustainability. A purposive sample of 5 owners of SMEs who had achieved business sustainability in the manufacturing sector for longer than 5 years of operation were the participants in this study. Semistructured interviews of participants and review of company documents produced in-depth insights into the strategies they used to achieve business sustainability. Coding keywords, sentences, and ideas from the interviews and company documents and categorizing them was the approach taken for data analysis, using methodological triangulation. The themes from the study were entrepreneurial characteristics, competitive advantages, resource management, customer relationship management, quality management, and marketing. Implications for social change include the potential to provide strategies that support SMEs' business sustainability and lead to greater job creation and ultimately the Jamaican government's ability to fund social projects.
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Skřivánek, Václav. "Kritické faktory implementace IS v SME." Master's thesis, Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze, 2008. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-12538.
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The topic of this diploma thesis is "Critical success factors of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises" Firstly, the terms enterprise resource planning system, small and medium sized enterprise and critical factor are defined. Part of this thesis is also dedicated to the importance of those systems in small and medium sized enterprises and the supply of products on the market is described as well. The importance of enterprise resource planning systems for this segment of customers is still growing and the number of products offered is quite wide. Customers have unambiguously preferred Czech solutions. Next part of the thesis contains critical factors literature search -- analysis of two studies. Conceptual model of critical factors is made on the basis of findings and comparison of those two studies. The relevance of this model is verified by the analysis of case studies of enterprise resource planning system implementations in small and medium sized enterprises. These case studies were downloaded from websites of system vendors. On the basis of new findings, new model was designed. Each critical factor is described in each part of the thesis to help understand under which circumstances it was used. Finally, the model is assessed.
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Liu, Mengdi Mandy. "Financial and non-financial information transfer and communication within small and medium enterprises." Thesis, University of Canterbury. School of Commerce, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10092/10346.
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This participant-observation study explores the process of gathering and evaluating both financial and non-financial information and communication and transfer of that information within a medium-size Electrical Company in Christchurch, New Zealand. The previous literature has established the importance and the main characteristics of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), mainly studying manufacturing companies. However, there has been little research done in New Zealand on the overall communication process and the financial and non-financial information usage in a small-medium enterprise.
Face-to-face interviews were carried out with all the office employees and two partners, along with a ten month participant-observation in the Electrical Company in order to understand how financial and non-financial information is communicated and processed in an SME. Also, research in an SME that has overcome the 2008 economic depression and several major earthquakes allows a deep understanding of lessons learned and what is valued by the Electrical Company. The research has found characteristics of this SME similar to those that have been mentioned in previous literature. However, the partners of the Electrical Company understand the importance of financial management and use financial information extensively to ensure the business expenses are under control. Moreover, the partners use more than just financial information to manage the company. They gather non-financial information through talking to their accountant, their customers and people in the same industry and they keenly follow the news on the rebuilding of Christchurch.
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Deprey, Brynn Darin. "The internationalisation process of small and medium-sized management consultancies in the UK." Thesis, Anglia Ruskin University, 2011. http://arro.anglia.ac.uk/211610/.
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This thesis focuses on how small to medium-sized management consultancies internationalise, as this is an under-researched area. Investigation focuses on identifying the factors that facilitate international market success for these small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the challenges they encounter, and how those challenges have been overcome. The relevance of SME internationalisation theories is explored for SME management consultancies in the UK. The study is exploratory, phenomenological and framed within an interpretive research paradigm. Primary data was gathered qualitatively using multiple (9) case studies, collected principally through semi-structured interviews. This empirical research, one of the first to focus solely on SME management consultancies, finds the owner/founders as the key driver of internationalisation. Their past experience enables an international outlook and brings established networks to firm formation. The findings highlight the relevance of intangible resources: the firms’ skills, competencies and networking capabilities, as integral to successful internationalisation. Additional key critical success factors are niche market specialisation, firm reputation, firm location, ability for service provision modification and the role of technology. There are observed firm size-related differences in the challenges these firms face, with smaller-sized firms being more vulnerable to challenges from the external environment, including the 2008 financial crisis. Firms are able to overcome these challenges with the help of their networks. Other challenges stem from the firm’s service provision: difficulty in finding skilled staff and communication with clients. The findings suggest applicability for other knowledge-intensive firms. The research contributes to closing the gap in literature on how firms successfully provide services internationally and in so doing advances theoretical understanding of SME service internationalisation. This theory-building research demonstrates partial relevance of Stage Theory, Networking Theory, and Born Global Theory, but overall the resource-based view was found as the most relevant to understanding the internationalisation process of SME management consultancies. This sets a foundation for further research on the internationalisation process of other knowledge-intensive firms.
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Alfaadhel, Saud. "An empirical study of critical sucess factors for small and medium enterprises in Saudi Arabia : challenges and opportunities." Thesis, University of Bradford, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10454/4909.
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Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are considered to be a most efficient tool which is able to push economic and social development to experience significant progress and development as they offer useful services to consumers, and provide much needed employment. With this in consideration, they are useful for training, acquiring experience and technical and managerial skills. The objectives of this research are to identify the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) for SMEs in Saudi Arabia. Based on the literature review, 20 factors have been identified and subsequently structured into three groups, namely entrepreneurial, enterprise and environmental factors. The study also focuses on the SMEs Support Programme by identifying the current situation and accordingly providing recommendations based on those made by the support providers. Data have been collected by utilising a mixed method approach: first, 146 postal questionnaires with SME owners/managers have been analysed by using SPSS; second, in order to gain further understanding of the situation and particular challenges, 15 in-depth interviews with support providers have been conducted; and third, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) has been used to analyse the pairwise comparison of the factors. The main findings of this study are that, for the CSFs for SMEs in Saudi Arabia, three factors are deemed to be important both for owners/managers and support providers. These factors are quality of the product and service, customer satisfaction, and business planning. The findings also indicate that there are many 'important support gaps' which show that existing support needs to be addressed in order to improve and develop the support structure.
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Eriksson, Johan, and Muyu Li. "Success factors of entrepreneurial small and medium sized enterprises in the Gnosjö municipality." Thesis, Mälardalens högskola, Akademin för ekonomi, samhälle och teknik, 2012. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-18277.
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Date of final Seminar: June 8th, 2012 Title: Success factors of entrepreneurial small and medium sized enterprises in Gnosjö municipality Authors: Johan Eriksson and Muyu Li Group Number: 2898 Supervisor: Michaël Le Duc Examiner: Ole Liljefors Research Question: What important factors affect the success of entrepreneurial SMEs in the Gnosjö municipality? Background: With the economic crisis and recession, the world has begun to take notice of SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises). With an unemployment rate of just 1% and about 1500 companies - most of them successful by almost any definition and with a population of 9500, if there is such a thing as an SME region in Sweden, the Gnosjö municipality is it. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to describe and analyze some of the factors that influence the success of companies with a special focus on entrepreneurial SMEs in the Gnosjö municipality. Method: The main method of this study is to use primary data in the form of interviews with local company owners or executives, with the interview questions being based on theories generated from the critical literature review. The authors are able to distinguish successful SMEs with an entrepreneurial focus among companies located in the Gnosjö municipality. By utilizing the method of semi-structured interviews, the authors gathered data from a sample of 20 top performing companies. With the theory generated from literature, the authors analyze the primary data, thus being able to find the answer to the research question. Conclusion: There is a relationship between general company success factors and factors driving success for companies in Gnosjö. However, compared to best-in-class, there is definite room for improvement, with regards to company operations as well as to the external factors that affect companies in Gnosjö. Keywords: Gnosjö, definition of entrepreneur, definition of success, success factors.Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank our kind and dedicated supervisor Michaël Le Duc for his aid and assistance in the process of authoring this thesis.
The authors would also like to thank not only our thesis group colleagues who have provided us with valuable insights and good advice but also the participating companies in the Gnosjö municipality for their kind contributions to the interviews that form the basis of this thesis.
Finally, the authors would like to thank our beloved family members for their great support throughout the creation of this thesis.
Without all of you, this thesis could not have been done.
Thank you all very much!
Johan Eriksson and Muyu Li
June 20, 2012
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Vorel, Lukáš. "Internet marketing in SME." Master's thesis, Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze, 2009. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-18169.
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This thesis aims to explore concrete ways of application of internet marketing for promotion of a small service oriented business-to-business (B2B) company in broader context of the so-called new economy. To support the validity of the presented applications the thesis first draws on well-established theory of marketing concepts. In the second part of the paper, the role of internet marketing in business strategy of small and medium sized enterprises is explored. The thesis then continues with detailed description of particular tools of internet marketing and discusses their relevance and most appropriate application in the chosen field. In the application part of this thesis, the tools of Google Search Engine Marketing, which are perceived as the most efficient agent of small business promotion, are field-tested in a real small business promotion campaign. Finally, the thesis concludes with discussion of possibilities of future development in the field of internet marketing and sums up the overall findings of this paper. Throughout this thesis, the examined new technologies are regarded through the lenses of practical experience reported by their users and, at the same time, with consideration to established theoretical framework.
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Cunliffe, Harold. "Relationships between action learning and small and medium enterprises (SMEs): development a broker role to help enterprise." Thesis, University of Salford, 2005. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.491042.
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This thesis accepts the argument that small to medium sized enterprises are a major force in the present UK economy, along with the forecasting that claims future UK growth in numbers from 3.7 million 1 (existing) to 4.5 million in the next ten years. This thesis argues that the action 1 learning process yields a "trinity of benefits" including hard and soft benefits together with emotional intelligence, which assist small and medium sized organisations to be more competitive and overcome the barriers faced in a changing economy. The thesis also argues that on another level action learning can help the Government to bridge the SME Gap of Engagement in UK Enterprise Policy, because the process offers a top down bottom up approach to engagement through collaboration, provided the traditional role of the set adviser is radically revised.
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Dlodlo, N., and C. Mafini. "Internet marketing benefits for South African SME owner-managers." Journal for New Generation Sciences, Vol 12, Issue 1: Central University of Technology, Free State, Bloemfontein, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11462/651.
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Published ArticleWith the recent explosion of global marketing strategies, business enterprises have to contend with severe and escalating competition. To sustain competitiveness, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa should produce high-quality, customised goods and services efficiently. Adoption of Internet marketing technologies is fundamental towards meeting this challenge. However, the adoption and diffusion of technologies in marketing practices is the outcome of purposeful processes emanating from the realisation by SMEs that adoption of these technologies yields significant paybacks. The purpose of this study was to establish the managers' perceptions of the benefits of Internet marketing adoption in small and medium enterprises. Using a quantitative approach, a questionnaire was administered to owner-managers of small and medium enterprises in the Vaal Triangle in South Africa. A total of 269 questionnaires were completed, returned and considered useful for the survey. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and factor analysis in order to establish the factors considered to be the salient Internet marketing benefits. Four underlying factors were extracted namely: customer relationship building, information gathering, promotion and enhanced productivity. The mean scores indicated that information gathering was perceived as most important, but after sturdier tests for association were applied to the data set, customer relationship management demonstrated the most significant and positive correlation with SME productivity. As such, there is need for the small and medium enterprises to develop strategies to expand and sustain the identified benefits of Internet marketing.
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Kashim, Abdul Rashid. "Exploring the Strategies for Accessing Microloans Used by Small and Medium Enterprises." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/5359.
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The inability of small and medium enterprises to access microloans from microfinance banks is a major concern in business growth and development in Nigeria. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to explore strategies for accessing microloans from microfinance banks by owners of small and medium enterprises for business growth and survival. Using the conceptual framework on social capital theory, I selected 20 small and medium enterprises owners who have accessed microloans from microfinance banks and have operated their businesses beyond 5 years with significant growth were interviewed using face-to-face semistructured interviews. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and reviews of company documents. The use of member checking strengthened the trustworthiness of the interpretation of the participants' responses. A phenomenological approach was used for the qualitative interview with data analysis using a descriptive method. Nine themes emerged from this study: Obtaining a saving account before accessing microloans, group members serving as collateral, business social networks, business sustainability strategies, historical financial health, maintaining loan repayment deadlines, archiving business documents, use of competent guarantors, and strength and weakness analyses. The findings of the study may contribute to positive social change to create awareness among SMEs leaders in federal and state government, and individuals on how to gain access to microloans, thereby improving profitability, generating employment, reducing poverty, and enhancing standards of living among SME owners in Nigeria.
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Setia, Diarta. "Small and Medium Sized Enterprise(SME) in Social and Political Context： A Case of Metal-working Industry in Indonesia 1980s-2015." Kyoto University, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/2433/235976.
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Chambers, Donald G. "Cultural Factors: Entrepreneurial Orientation or Not-Here Comes Innovation in Small to Medium Sized Enterprises." Case Western Reserve University Doctor of Management / OhioLINK, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casedm1568628001000225.
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Petrovski, Viktor, and Yinjie Shi. "A Cross-Country Case Study : Comparison of the Internationalization Processes Between Swedish and Chinese Small and Medium Enterprises." Thesis, Halmstad University, School of Business and Engineering (SET), 2009. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-2500.
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Due to the globalization trend, the internationalization of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) has become a common practice in the last decades. The previous literature suggested that there are many different determinants of the internationalization process. However, in this research study, we focused on only three determinants – institutions, networks, and entrepreneur and their influence on the internationalization process. More specifically, we identified the significance of the three determinants and tested their influence on the internationalization process and compared the similarities and differences between the SMEs in Sweden and China.
A qualitative study was carried out to help determine the purpose of the paper, where data was collected through four case studies – two from each country, within the toy industry. The primary data was collected through personal phone-interviews with the CEOs of the four toy companies, complemented with secondary data collected from the companies’ web sites.
The empirical findings and analysis brought some interesting conclusions. The three determinants – institutions, networks and entrepreneur influence the internationalization process in one way or another. Firstly, institutions influence both networks and entrepreneur, but there is no evidence showing that networks and entrepreneur influence institutions. The institutions are also the key determinants of the internationalization process of Chinese SMEs. Secondly, networks and entrepreneur are interrelated to each other and play a key role in the internationalization process of Swedish SMEs, and somewhat influence the Chinese SMEs as well.
Thus, these three determinants are extremely important for the internationalization process and they have to be taken into consideration during the international expansion.
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Perkins, Graham Michael. "Factors external to the individual encouraging idea generation in SME contexts." Thesis, University of Plymouth, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/3039.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis sets out to explore factors external to the individual that encourage creative idea generation in SME environments, understanding their importance in a variety of organisational contexts. The original contribution to knowledge made by this thesis is the creation of a framework which aids understanding by splitting the various factors into those responsible for initiating and sustaining idea generation. Literature concerning creative idea generation is continuously developing and contains a broad spectrum of topics and understandings. Key amongst these are leadership, the nature of creative idea generation, theories such as the ‘strength of weak ties’, collective creativity and the concept of ‘flow’. Fieldwork followed a primarily qualitative, inductive approach, using exploratory surveys, semi-structured interviews and participant observation to develop rich narrative ‘stories’ of idea generation for ten different organisations. Data was analysed in accordance with the principles of grounded theory and resulted in numerous novel findings such as the importance of internal organisational contacts to the development of ideas, the notion that organisational visions can be used to guide idea generation and the effect that physical distance has on the development of interpersonal ties. Leadership also featured heavily within the analysis process with it being found that a combination of transformational and servant qualities best enables idea generation in SME contexts. These and other findings were reflected in the final framework produced by this thesis. From a practical perspective findings from this study arguably have implications for both organisational and leadership development in SME contexts, although overall generalisability is hindered by the chosen sample. Future studies could potentially focus on applying quantitative methodologies to verify the final framework or extend understandings by interlinking organisational factors discussed by this thesis with individual characteristics, mental process and/or experiences that are also known to drive creative idea production.
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Salah, Kabanda. "E-commerce and small and medium enterprises (SME) in least developed countries : the case of Tanzania." Doctoral thesis, University of Cape Town, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/5646.
Full textAbstract:
Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references.
The purpose of the study was to investigate the E-Commerce phenomena in Tanzania with the goal of understanding how E-Commerce is typically made sense of by Tanzanian SMEs and how the sense making is produced, sustained and affected by environmental and organisational conditions. Structuration theory was used as a theoretical lens from which the social construction of the E-Commerce phenomena could be understood. The study primarily adopted a subjective interpretive stance. A preliminary quantitative study using questionnaires and interviews was done to gain an initial understanding of the E-Commerce status quo in Tanzania. The main study was qualitative in nature and used interviews with 33 Tanzanian SMEs as the data collection method.
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Ali, Madadi Jani Siavash. "The Role of Knowledge in Internationalization of Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises." Thesis, Umeå universitet, Handelshögskolan vid Umeå universitet, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-45564.
Full textAbstract:
Internationalization is one of the most complicated elements in Small- and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) expansion. Researchers seem to agree more and more that none of the theories in this field can solely explain the dynamics of the internationalization of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises particularly small knowledge- and service-intensive firms. There are different theories and approaches toward the SMEs‘ internationalization; however there is one predictor in common among them: Firm‟s knowledge resources (Yli-Renko, Autio, & Tontti, 2002).Since the value-adding processes of firms are increasingly based on the creation and exploitation of knowledge, the natural focus of attention shifts from the control of static, firm-specific resources to the acquisition, assimilation, and exploitation of firm-specific knowledge (Bettis & Hitt, 1995; Grant, 1996; J.Nahapiet & Ghoshal, 1998). In today‘s global competitive landscape, firms succeed not because they have control over scarce resources, but because they have the ability to gain the knowledge, learn and use this learning more efficiently than others. In comparison with big companies SMEs have relatively less resources, which make knowledge very vital for their survival and growth. (Mejri & Umemoto, 2010)There has not been much empirical research on knowledge resources and capabilities although the importance of knowledge-related process is widely acknowledged. There is a notable limitation in SME literature on influence of knowledge that can only offer limited insight into firm‘s foreign market operations. In other words, there is a gap in the literature about the different types of knowledge and their role in the internationalization process and therefor this research has set it goal to answer the aforementioned issues.This research has used qualitative approach and case study research design, and six semistructured interviews were conducted with small Swedish firms that involved in international activities. Since this is an exploratory study, the data from the six cases was quite managable. Analysis was conducted by coding the interviews and categorization of the codes. The codes were interpreted and three types of knowledge were extracted based on both the data and theories; Technological Knowledge, Business Knowledge and Market-specific Knowledge. The main characteristics of each company were put together with regard to the three types of knowledge. The next step in analysis was to find out if there were any differences or similarities between the companies when it came to internationalization process. By using the aforementioned results a farmework was developed. The framework presents the role of each Knowledge in the internationalization process and is the key finding of this research.The results from this study indicate the significant role of different types of knowledge as the main source of competitive advantage for SMEs to go to international markets. However the result of this study also designates that the role of knowledge in the internationalization process must be understood in the context of the industry, the company and the people involved.
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Hervé, Annaële. "lnternationalization and Digitalization of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises." Thesis, Université de Lorraine, 2021. http://www.theses.fr/2021LORR0011.
Full textAbstract:
L'avènement des technologies numériques a radicalement transformé les entreprises et les sociétés. Ces transformations sont particulièrement disruptives au regard de la nouvelle réalité du commerce international "connecté". Cependant, les théories traditionnelles sur l'internationalisation des entreprises ne traitent pas spécifiquement des effets omniprésents des technologies numériques. L'objectif de la thèse sur articles est d'étudier l'internationalisation et la numérisation des entreprises et contribuer aux connaissances sur la réalisation d'activités internationales entrepreneuriales et compétitives dans un contexte numérique. Le projet de recherche suggère de relier les dimensions d'intérêt par les comportements entrepreneuriaux des entreprises et des individus et développe un processus conceptuel global qui démontre comment les technologies numériques impactent les comportements entrepreneuriaux et comment façonner de nouvelles opportunités pour améliorer l’intensité d'internationalisationIn recent years, the advent of digital technologies has radically transformed the business world and societies paradigms. The current transformations are particularly disruptive with regard to the new reality of digital connected global trade. However, traditional theories and models on internationalization of firms do not specifically address the pervasive effects of digital technologies. The purpose of the paper-based dissertation is to study the internationalization and digitalization of firms and to contribute to the knowledge on achieving entrepreneurial and competitive international activities in a digital context. By investigating entrepreneurial behaviors of firms and individuals, the research project suggests to link the dimensions of interest through an overall conceptual process that demonstrates how the use of digital technologies impact entrepreneurial behaviors and how this might shape new opportunities to enhance the propensity for internationalization