• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.8
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• pp.47-56
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• 2021

ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) was established in 2015 from 10 countries to realize the ultimate (adopted in 1997), which aimed to transform ASEAN into a stable, prosperous, and highly competitive region with equitable economic development, reduced poverty, and socioeconomic disparities. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of knowledge level on the AEC of Vietnamese small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the textile and apparel industry towards attitudes, readiness, and performance. This study uses convenience sampling to get questionnaires from 150 SMEs in Hanoi, Vietnam. Then, the paper applies SPSS-AMOS 24 to process data. The empirical results show that AEC's implementation only has a small impact on improving SME performance. However, SMEs have adequate knowledge, attitude, and readiness about AEC. The structural modeling findings indicate that the knowledge factor has an indirect effect on SMEs' performance. This finding is to provide new insight into the roles of attitude and readiness in the case of Vietnam. These factors are needed to mediate the effect of attitudes and readiness in the relationship between knowledge and business performance, a framework strategy of business organizations, and can be used as a conceptual model to improve SMEs' performance.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.101-109
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• 2023

This study examined the relationships among owner-manager characteristics, e-commerce adoption, and performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. Although the growth of e-commerce was encouraging in many countries, studies of e-commerce adoption among SMEs in developing countries such as Malaysia are insufficient. Furthermore, studies that investigated individual characteristics and e-commerce adoption are still low in number. This study specifically employed the technology-organization-environmental (TOE) framework to develop its research model. The sample was selected by using a non-probability judgmental sampling technique because the desired population frame was unavailable. A total of 111 owner-managers of SMEs were surveyed using online self-administered questionnaires. Subsequently, the data was analyzed through partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results revealed significant relationships between owner-manager characteristics and e-commerce adoption, as well as between e-commerce adoption and the performance of SMEs. The findings suggested that owner-manager characteristics played an important role in determining e-commerce adoption among SMEs. Moreover, e-commerce adoption was crucial in affecting the performance of SMEs. This paper provided new insights into factors affecting e-commerce adoption and firm performance. It could further benefit the government and SMEs in strategizing e-commerce adoption and development, especially in the era of Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0) and the post-COVID-19 pandemic.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.81-102
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• 2022

Although more than 99% of all Korean companies are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which accounts for a large part of the national economy, they are having difficulties in securing information protection capabilities due to problems such as budget and manpower. On the other hand, as 97% of cyber incidents are concentrated in SMEs, it is urgent to strengthen the information protection management and response capabilities of SMEs. Although the government is promoting company-wide information security consulting for SMEs, the need for supplementing it's procedures and consulting items is being raised. Based on the results of information security consulting supported by the government in 2020, this study attempted to derive improvement plans by interviewing SME workers, information security consultants, and system operators. Through the research results, it is expected to create a basis for SMEs to autonomously check the information security management system and contribute to the reference of related policies.

• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing-Green Technology
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.659-670
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• 2018

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) confronts industrial manufactures with economic, ecological, as well as social benefits and challenges, referring to the Triple Bottom Line of sustainability. So far, research has mainly investigated its dimensions in isolation or economic aspects have not been compared with ecological and social perspectives. Further, research misses studies that are devoted to the special characteristics and requirements of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). This study aims to contribute to close this research gap, providing a research context that encompasses all three dimensions of sustainability. The results are based on data obtained from 329 SMEs, 222 in Germany and 107 in China, therefore allowing for a comparison of the concepts "Industrie 4.0" and "Made in China 2025" in the context of SMEs. In general, German SMEs expect a lower impact through "Industrie 4.0", perceiving the concept as more beneficial for larger enterprises. We further find that Chinese SMEs foremost see social benefits. Challenges whilst introducing "Industrie 4.0"by German SMEs as well as several frame conditions are perceived more relevant than for "Made in China 2025", as seen by Chinese SMEs. The paper closes with implications for research and practice based on these findings.

• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.34
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• pp.135-156
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• 2007

Trade Portal Site(TPS) is one of the essential tools which can make it possible for small and medium enterprises(SMEs) to perform international trade activity more efficiently using newest information and communication technology including the Internet. Therefore, Korean SMEs need to utilize TPS more actively to enhance their export competitiveness. In this context, this article analyzes the determinants of export performances of Korean SMEs in utilizing the service of TPS based on the Service Quality Model. As a result of an empirical research by using regressive analysis, various measures of service reliability such as reliability, empathy, and tangibilities have positive effects on SMEs export performance in utilizing TPS. These results provides many useful implications to the TPS managers, e-trade related government agency, along with managers of SMEs using TPS.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.277-286
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• 2020

Research on employee commitment to the organization is necessary for human resource management, and the result is applied in practice to improve organizational effectiveness. The aim of the present study is to explore factors affecting organizational commitment at the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam. Besides, the relationship between organizational commitment and job performance is examined as well. The research was conducted on a sample consisting of 67 white-collar workers and 260 blue-collar workers at SMEs. A total of 327 valid complete questionnaires were input into SPSS 20 database for processing to provide evidence. The research model and hypotheses were tested using the technique of the hierarchical multiple regression analysis. The research resultsrevealed that income, reward and welfare, direct manager, working environment, coworker, and promotion opportunity tended to associate positively with organizational commitment. Besides, the finding also showed that, when the employee has a high organizational commitment, it would lead to high job performance. The main findings of this study provided some managerial implications for SMEs, in general, and managers, in particular. It implies that Vietnam's small and medium-sized enterprises should improve these six factors to retain employees as well as enhance their job performance.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.12
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• pp.107-115
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• 2021

Currently, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are accounting for about 98% of the total number of enterprises in Vietnam. Each year, SMEs create over one million new jobs, utilize up to 51% of the labor force in the society, and contribute more than 40% of GDP to the country. The study aims to analyze factors affecting the management competency of directors in small and medium enterprises in Vietnam. To achieve these research objectives, quantitative and qualitative methods were used concurrently. 300 questionnaires were sent out, but only 276 were collected and used for the quantitative analysis through SPSS 20.0 software. Cronbach's Alpha, EFA, and regression were used to further confirm the research findings. The research findings show that all four proposed factors have impacts on the management competency of SME directors, among which enterprise features and specific policies for entrepreneur development in the locality have the strongest impacts, followed by personal features and business environment. The findings of this study suggest that managers need to focus on factors affecting the management competency of directors. This paper also provides new insight into the management competency of directors. Based on the findings, some recommendations are given for SMEs to improve management competency.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.759-766
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• 2021

In this digital age, all organizational environments force businesses to adopt Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) since these technologies have immense impact on such businesses' competitiveness and productivity. Nonetheless, the productivity and the competitiveness enjoyed by such firms vary depending on the size or the organizations, context of the country; developing or developed, and what kinds of technologies are adopted. This investigation focused on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of Eastern province of Sri Lanka where such studies are scanty. The adoption of social media (SM) by SMEs is inclined to change how organizations operate, this calls for an investigation of the elements that impact SMEs to adopt SM and such investigation. Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework was based to understand the factors. Research approach was quantitative approach using questionnaire survey. Data were collected using online form to see 285 valid responses. Structural Equation Modelling was deployed to evaluate the proposed model. Results revealed that Relative Advantage, Compatibility, Complexity, Observability, Competitive Intensity, Bandwagon Pressure, and Competitive Pressure were influencing, while Trialability, Top Management Support, CEO's Innovativeness did not show statistically significant influence on SMEs' social media adoption.

• East Asian Economic Review
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.347-376
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• 2023

This study empirically examines the impacts of policy funds from three different aspects using data on Daegu city's local government loans. First, we estimate the influence of policy funds on mitigating financial constraints affecting the investment decisions of Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), yielding inconclusive results indicating no significant discernible effects of policy funds. Second, we scrutinize the ramifications of policy funds on enterprise's management stability, revealing that these funds contribute to stabilizing the operations of small-scale enterprises. Third, we explore whether policy funds engender an unintended consequence of bolstering distressed enterprises, presenting empirical evidence that suggests a delayed exit of such enterprises.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.12
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• pp.345-352
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• 2021

Guided by a resource-based theory, this study is the first one that takes a quantitative approach to identify determinants of competitiveness of women-owned small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam. The study employs time series data of Vietnamese SMEs extracted from the Vietnam Small and Medium Enterprises Survey conducted biennially from 2005 to 2015 in ten Vietnamese provinces. Firm competitiveness hereby is indicated by revenue, market share, profitability, and export volume. The research reveals a number of determining factors, of all, research and development, labor skills, business environment, technology investment are the most important factors, followed by capital and headcount. It is indicated that the determining factors have different influences on competitiveness obtained by different measurements. Therefore, it is based on specific targets and situations to make wise business decisions. The authors also make comparisons among groups of women-owned enterprises divided by their firm age, location, ownership, export, age, and educational background of business owners. The findings serve as critical empirical evidence and provide policy recommendations for improving the competitiveness of women-owned SMEs in Vietnam. The recommendations range from technology support, education and professional support for female entrepreneurs, access to capital and human resources to business environment improvement.