• International Journal of Quality Innovation
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.153-172
• /
• 2005

This study develops an exploratory model to evaluate the relationship between origins of corporate competencies and business performance, which targets small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Taiwan, analyzes 36 competence items in four functional dimensions: marketing, product design and development, manufacturing, and human resources management. The results from 760 valid samples from managers of Taiwan's SMEs reveal that in marketing competence and manufacturing competence were ranked high by Taiwan's SMEs managers. Elements contributed to manufacturing competence regarding reducing the number of suppliers has not been emphasized by Taiwan's SMEs managers. At the very top of the prevailing management competitive priority list are: (1) product or service quality, (2) timely delivery, (3) quality control improvement during the process, (4) increasing reliability of transportation, (5) introduction of new concepts and continuous improvement, and (6) improving after-sale services. The four competence dimensions are found highly correlated to business performance, which reflects the policy adjustments that Taiwan's small and medium-sized enterprises have made in the changing business environment to respond to the global market.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
• /
• v.25 no.8
• /
• pp.65-72
• /
• 2020

Big data analysis is widely used in applications such as finance and communication, whose market size is growing rapidly every year. Nevertheless, it is rarely used by SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) since the existing services are not fully customized for them while being offered at high price. To resolve this, we develop and propose a new platform to provide big data analysis services specialized for SMEs in this paper. First, we compare existing work discussing social big data analysis, and extract service features necessary to help their marketing effectively. Then, we present a prototype system implementing the extracted features, and discuss technical issues needed to develop a complete system which are obtained from the prototype implementation.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.46-55
• /
• 2015

Background: Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are often the main pillar of an economy. Minor accidents, ergonomics problems, old and outdated machinery, and lack of awareness have created a need for implementation of safety practices in SMEs. Implementation of healthy working conditions creates positive impacts on economic and social development. Methods: In this study, a questionnaire was developed and administered to 30 randomly chosen SMEs in and around Mumbai, Maharashtra, and other states in India to evaluate safety practices implemented in their facilities. The study also looked into the barriers and drivers for technology innovation and suggestions were also received from the respondent SMEs for best practices on safety issues. Results: In some SMEs, risks associated with safety issues were increased whereas risks were decreased in others. Safety management practices are inadequate in most SMEs. Market competitiveness, better efficiency, less risk, and stringent laws were found to be most significant drivers; and financial constraints, lack of awareness, resistance to change, and lack of training for employees were found to be main barriers. Conclusion: Competition between SMEs was found to be major reason for implementation of safety practices in the SMEs. The major contribution of the study has been awareness building on safety issues in the SMEs that participated in the project.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.162-169
• /
• 2015

In this research, technology innovation capability evaluation model for small and medium enterprises was developed. To develop technology innovation capability evaluation model, two analytic technic was used. First one is AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) to give weight to each main index. Second one is fuzzy set theory to represent ambiguous index to numerical value. Finally, technology innovation capability evaluation model was achieved in combination with the same weight to AHP analysis and fuzzy set theory. With these results, small and medium enterprises can know important point in terms of strengthening the innovation capability evaluation.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.19-44
• /
• 2015

This paper examines the effect of the global financial crisis on corporate investment in Korea. Specifically, the crisis was considered to have possibly constrained firm-level investment as the negative shock to the credit supply dramatically unfolded. As Duchin et al. (2010) demonstrated, if a negative supply-side shock is evident during a crisis period, larger cash holdings before the crisis will lead to fewer constraints to corporate investment, or vice versa. In order to investigate the supply-side effect of the crisis, we use firm-level financial data, including firms listed on the Korean stock market as well as small and medium-sized enterprises. We find that corporate investment declined significantly after the crisis, even if we control for factors associated with the demand side, such as contemporaneous capital productivity and cash flow. More importantly, the decline is positively and significantly related to cash holdings before the crisis, implying the negative effect of a credit supply shock. Small and medium enterprises experienced relatively sharp investment declines compared to those of larger firms, and the relationship between pre-crisis cash amounts and the degree of investment decline is greater than that in large firms. Additionally, we examine whether the negative effect persists up to the present, finding evidence that the cash-investment relationship continues in small and medium-sized enterprises.

• Journal of Information Management
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.141-159
• /
• 2006

This paper presents the response strategy taken by the both parties who possess and infringe the patent rights in the case of patent litigation occurring in local companies. It is common that many entrepreneurs suffer from patent judgment litigation related to the intellectual property rights. Response strategy on the standpoints of patentees and trespassers are discussed in several cases such as infringement and abuse of patent rights, divulgence of trade secret and invention during employment in small & medium sized enterprises.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
• /
• v.5 no.4
• /
• pp.97-106
• /
• 2003

At present, tendency of ERP(Enterprise Resource Planning) enterprises is that many ERP enterprises from abroad are rushing into capture of small and medium enterprises at home actively. SAP Korea and Korean Oracle have already showed their new product targeting domestic market of small or medium standing enterprise, and more, even MS(Micro Soft) also rushes into this market in earnest. The domestic business circle of ERP should prepare countermeasure by raising the perfection of product and having good command of minute marketing strategy to survive from aggressive strategy of SMB market. In addition, about the computerization of main affairs of business, ordering developing process was general that developing staffs analysed the affairs of each department that needed computerization and construct according to the operation process by using different tools, but condition is changing that businesses themselves are purchasing business application package from expert soft program enterprise and construct. Therefore, in this study, I try to grasp the problem of management, and define a new process that can help for more efficient management by making it an object producing and management module of enterprise 'K' that is one of domestic small and medium enterprise and that is operating ERP at present. As well, through the analysis of affair related producing, we are aiming to prepare for establishment of target, its range, and making the standard of result evaluation.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
• /
• v.8 no.12
• /
• pp.107-115
• /
• 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
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.161-170
• /
• 2021

The study aims to investigate the mediating effect of strategic planning on the relationship between managerial skills and the performance of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Punjab, Pakistan. Stratified proportionate probability sample method was used to select the 265 SMEs. The study applied a structural equation model (SEM) to analyze the proposed research hypotheses by using PLS-SEM. This research examines the direct and indirect effects of strategic planning on the performance of SMEs using the SEM test. The results indicate the positive effect of managerial skills on SMEs' performance and also suggested that strategic planning mediates the relationship between managerial skills and SMEs' performance. In addition, the role of managerial skills on the usage of the company's resources is highly influential through strategic planning. Strategic planning has been found to impact significantly and positively on the relationship between managerial skills and performance of SMEs in Punjab, Pakistan. The findings suggested that, in devising appropriate strategies for SMEs, the effect of managerial skills on the utilization of the firm's resources can be more effective to the firm's performance. In short, the utilization of a firm's resources through a proper planning is more essential for the sustainability of SMEs.

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