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Poole, Nicole Lesley. "Organisational change in Queensland small and medium size enterprises (SMEs)." University of Southern Queensland, Faculty of Business, 2009. http://eprints.usq.edu.au/archive/00006242/.
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[Abstract]A substantial amount of change management research exists internationally and in Australia in relation to the causes, processes and outcomes of organisational change in large organisations. However this does not reflect the change scenarios in SMEs. Furthermore, the academic and professional discipline of organisational change in Australia, while well-researched in some areas, remains embryonic when translatedto SMEs in a dynamic environment. Very few large scale state-wide and national surveys have been conducted in Australia. This study is filling the theoretical gap inrelation to the theory and practice relating to the nature, extent and characteristics of organisational change in Queensland Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs).The objective of this study was to examine the nature and extent of organisational change in Queensland SMEs. Five research questions were developed to inform thisresearch objective, including: What are the forces of change in Queensland SMEs?; To what extent does the main change driver (change agent) in SMEs possess effectivechange management skills?; What mental models do Queensland SME managers espouse in relation to the management of organisational change?; What is the natureand prevalence of change interventions for achieving organisational change in Queensland SMEs? ; and What is the impact of organisational size on the nature andprevalence of organisational change in Queensland SMEs? Eleven hypotheses in relation to the last research question were developed and tested.To answer the research questions, the study employed the use of quantitative data which was collected through a state-wide mail survey of 1000 Queensland SMEs. A34 percent response rate was achieved. The survey was adapted from a previous validated questionnaire measuring employee management and organisational change practices in Australian SMEs.The results indicate that by far the most important factor in the decision to introduce change in Queensland SMEs was customer expectations for quality. The survey results also show that, overall, the SMEs were able to achieve the objectives they pursued when implementing significant changes. The findings indicate that the main change drivers in Queensland SMEs possess a moderate profile in relation to change management skills. Furthermore, the findings reflect the view that managers tend tosupport forms of limited employee participation and consultation.Change practices are only moderately represented in Australian SMEs. Taken together with low participation of employees in the decision to employ these changes; low levels of union membership; a low presence of specialist HR managers in SMEs; and the fact that the majority of SMEs that do have written strategic plans do not use it to develop operational plans and drive day to day operations; a ‘transforming’ scenario in Queensland SMEs is unlikely. However, one very positive trend is the achievement by the majority of SMEs of change objectives pursued. Nevertheless, the fact that the mental models of Queensland SMEs favoured managerial prerogative is of more significance for the effectiveness of both the management of employees and the performance of SMEs.The findings show that organisational size is significant for the factors important in the introduction of organisational change, however size is not particularly significant in relation to the objectives pursued and achieved in the introduction of organisational change. Furthermore, size is also not significant in relation to the extent to which the main change driver (change agent) in SMEs possesses effective change management skills, and the mental models that Queensland SME managers espouse in relation to the management of organisational change. In contrast with these findings, the analysis suggests that organisational size is significant for the prevalence of change interventions/practices, with medium organisations employing change interventions to a significant greater extent. The thesis concludes with commentary on the practical implications for SME managers and policy and several directions for future research.
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Gebramicheal, Zelalem Berhanu, and Tsegahiwot Teketel Habtegiorgis. "Internal Control in Swedish Small and Medium Size Enterprises." Thesis, Umeå University, Umeå School of Business, 2009. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-35030.
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Small and medium size enterprises are currently the major part of economic activities through out the world. Nowadays, they represent about 99% of all types of enterprises in Sweden, with providing high job opportunities to its labour force as these enterprises need focus in their development; the internal control mechanism is a means and a way of directing, monitoring and measuring the SMEs resources. It plays an important role in preventing and detecting fraud and protecting the physical and intangible resources as well as leading to high efficiency of the business operation. one since it contributes a lot for the majority of business enterprise involved in SMEs.
This study examines and describes the effectiveness of internal control systems in Swedish small and medium size enterprises. The study focuses on the main five components of internal control and their impact on achieving the company’s objectives. In so doing, the study creates a better understanding of effective internal control that may be applicable to the context of SMEs and establish theoretically the features of an effective internal control for sampled SMEs. To achieve this objective we formulate one research question: system of SMEs comply with the principles of effective internal control? into how closely SMEs follow the virtues of effective internal control in their business operation.
Applying an inductive approach in qualitative interview, the study found out that, contrary to what is generally suggested, SMEs are aware of the importance of having a good internal control system. The findings of the research enabled the emergence of a theory grounded in the collected data. Indeed, the major features of an effective internal control system applicable for SMEs are found to be control activities, effective information and communication system, effective monitoring and evaluation system framework.
Key words: SMEs, internal control, control environment, risk management, control activities, information and communication, monitoring and evaluation
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Hung, Pui-ling Elsa. "Government support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs)." Click to view the E-thesis via HKUTO, 2003. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record/B31967206.
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熊佩玲 and Pui-ling Elsa Hung. "Government support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs)." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2003. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31967206.
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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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Alawamhleh, M. J. A. "Collaborating risks evaluation and management for small and medium size enterprises in virtual organisations." Thesis, Coventry University, 2010. http://curve.coventry.ac.uk/open/items/4f411c47-9960-ab75-4f2f-852581d150fe/1.
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SMEs in the 21 century have to cope with an increasingly dynamic and competitive environment. In order to work effectively within this environment, SMEs have to collaborate with other enterprises in forms of virtual organisations. Despite the increased interest in the area of virtual organisation collaboration, useful information is still lacking about the risk sources of virtual organisation, where the enterprise face more complicated risk threats than those in traditional enterprise due to the new form of relationships between partners. The aim of this research was to identify a risk management contribution where this research has identified key areas of risk that SMEs are likely to face when working collaboratively in VO. It also enables SMEs to understand the relative importance of these risks. A further contribution is made by use of tools (ISM and ANP) to enable SMEs to understand the inter-relationships of risk sources. Multiple analysis techniques provide triangulation of analysis results, leading to validation of results. The secondary research showed all of the risk sources identified in the relevant literature and some of the relationships between them, whilst the primary research addressed all of the direct and indirect relationships using the Interpretive Structural Modeling. Also the primary data sources from the questionnaires and the case study shed light on the relative importance of these sources using the Analytical Network Process. Areas for further research are suggested to close the gaps and to continue enriching the research.
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Kerr, Malcolm A. "The learning-decoding approach as a means of overcoming the barriers to growth in small & medium size enterprises." Thesis, Brunel University, 1997. http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/5199.
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This thesis explores how small business owners learn to learn' to overcome barriers to growth or commercial success. This learning takes place within a process which has been termed the Learning-Decoding Approach. This Approach consists of three main factors - (1) how small business owners Scan their environment for signals and cues; (2) how they Decode any signals and cues; and (3) how they Test their Mental models and Assumptions - this factor incorporates an analysis of the inclination to be Open to changing or affirming the Mental Models and Assumptions held. Further, it examines what the small business owner does with the final result from this process: that is, is it used to influence the design of some strategic plan or does it become part of an emerging one? Generally, it was found that Strategic Planning is not a function of the Learning- Decoding Approach. It is not considered a core tool for overcoming barriers to growth. Its major role is at the task or operational level rather than the business level. Further, any attempt at Strategy Planning is only used as a guide. Fifty small firms were investigated within two `knowledge-worker' sectors: the Management Consulting Sector and the Marketing Consulting Sector. Within these sectors three sizes of firms were reviewed. Thirty-eight male and twelve female owner-managers were involved in the interviews. The research identified a number of similarities and some differences between the sectors; and provided a cultural explanation for them. The daily work practices used by owner-managers showed that the sectors were different but closely aligned. A tentative Learning-Decoding Approach model was developed and comprised three spectrums. Firms can be positioned on them according to their predisposition to, and skills in, Scanning the environment for signals, and Decoding the signals and then Testing them against their Mental Models and Assumptions. Further, if learning is to occur the owner-manager must be prepared to be open to changing any Mental Models and Assumptions held. By learning the skills implicit in this process, the owner-manager can move on to learning how to overcome the barriers to growth. This suggests that the Learning- Decoding Approach can provide a helpful model for advisers to enable them to mentor, coach, counsel or facilitate small business owners in a review of their business style and practice. The main conclusion drawn from the thesis is that Scanning, Decoding and Testing are perceived as valuable activities which influence commercial success. However, a gap is evident between attitude and behaviour. Due to this, it is felt that the aims of the research are only partly met.
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Shen, Ran, and Jingyun Yu. "Internationalization Strategy of Small Medium Size Enterprises from Developing Countries : A Case Study of XINJIAHUA Export Company." Thesis, Högskolan i Halmstad, Sektionen för ekonomi och teknik (SET), 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-15821.
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The internationalization of SMEs can be expected to gain further momentum because the world economy is becoming increasingly integrated with continuing declines in government-imposed barriers and continuing advances in technology. Meanwhile, more and more SMEs from developing countries start to increase their overseas business. The purpose of this thesis is to study or investigate how SMEs develop and implement their internationalization strategies. To be able to illuminate this question in more detail, essential factors will be looked upon in this paper. We choose the export business as a main entry mode due to SMEs general lack of resources. Generic strategies and marketing mix analysis will also be discussed in the paper in order to obtain essential factors which influence performance of SMEs from developing countries which internationalize their business.Only a qualitative study was carried out to help determine the purpose of the paper, where data was collected through a real case study which was an Exporting Company from a developing country. The primary data was collected through interviews via email with the company founder, accounting manager, manufacturing manager and sales managers, complemented with secondary data collected from internet sources.The empirical findings and analysis has brought to light some interesting conclusions. Export can be a smart choice for SMEs, because they lack of resources at the initial period. Whether the choice is direct export or indirect export, the driving force of SMEs from developing countries are their natural dispositions. Mixed generic strategy can help SMEs conquer disadvantages. While marketing mix theory can also help SMEs aim at niche markets more clearly.Thus, exporting as the most suitable entry mode for SMEs, while mixed generic strategies and marketing mix theory also should be taken into consideration. Therefore the success of internationalization process will be increased for SMEs from developing countries.
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Panayiotou, Panayiotis. "Automated visual inspection in small and medium sized enterprises." Thesis, University of Sheffield, 2000. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.339935.
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Alqaoud, Faisal. "The effectiveness of marketing communication through social media on small to medium size enterprises (SMES) in Kuwait." Thesis, University of Huddersfield, 2015. http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/id/eprint/29066/.
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This thesis is concerned with two major areas: marketing communication via social media and small to medium size enterprise marketing for Kuwaiti SMEs. The researcher has been looking carefully at major social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others by opening accounts and being involved in daily interactions in them. They have been observing and witnessing the great potential of social media and that led to five questions concerning social media marketing and its usefulness to SMEs in Kuwait. (i) Can SMEs market their products and services better through using social media rather than traditional media? (ii) Can SMEs reach their target customers through social media more easily than through traditional media? (iii) What are the benefits of marketing communication in social media? (iv) Can marketing communication be more effective by using social media rather than using traditional media? (v) Can Kuwait benefit from SMEs’ empowerment to improve its economy by reducing dependency on oil production? It was from these questions, the topic of this thesis was born, which is investigating the effectiveness of marketing communication through social media for SMEs in Kuwait. Primary data were collected through depth interviews from the owners/managers of Kuwaiti SMEs. Grounded theory as Strauss and Corbin was used. Five models are developed and recommendations made to improve the effectiveness of social media marketing communications for SMEs in Kuwait.
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Fletcher, Margaret. "Internationalising small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) a learning approach." Thesis, Connect to e-thesis, 2007. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/984/.
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Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Glasgow, 2007.Ph.D. thesis submitted to the Department of Management, University of Glasgow, 2007. Includes bibliographical references. Print version also available.
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Onions, Robert L. "Auditing in United Kingdom (UK) small and medium enterprises (SMEs)." Thesis, University of Salford, 2006. http://usir.salford.ac.uk/26846/.
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The research questions are: 1. Do most SMEs receive limited systems auditing attention? 2. Do auditors pay inadequate attention to aspects of Information Technology and Security? 3. Is unreported fraud widespread within SMEs and is it growing? 4. Are Directors keenly interested in reducing fraud if they can? 5. SMEs might favour an alternative, low cost, automated auditing process? The thesis begins with a comprehensive literature review including juridical issues, a brief history of auditing, and legal standards. There is a review of auditing standards and issues in Information Systems and an examination of fraud and its effects on business. Computer Assisted Audit Tools are examined and the use of technology to assist auditors is reviewed. There is a wide-ranging review of reported fraud and a discussion about new technologies in Continuous Auditing and Expert Systems. A research questionnaire with 147 questions was sent, with Department of Trade assistance, to 2000 SMEs and the research findings are analysed and related to the thesis hypotheses. The results are then extrapolated across the UK base of nearly 3.8 million SMEs. The perceived way forward in auditing using new technologies is examined and new paradigms are suggested. There is a contribution towards these new systems in the form of an Extensible Continuous Auditing Language (XCAL) which enables experts systems to recognise generic transactions in ERP and accounting systems. A case study of a large fraud and some smaller crimes looks at the way they could have been pinpointed as they were being perpetrated instead of months later and there is a review of future research into transaction patterns in auditing and their incorporation into future electronic auditing systems.
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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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Marri, Hussain Bux. "Implementation of computer integrated manufacturing in small and medium enterprises." Thesis, Brunel University, 2000. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.311618.
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Hudson, Melanie. "Introducing integrated performance measurement into small and medium sized enterprises." Thesis, University of Plymouth, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/400.
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The thesis extends current knowledge and understanding of integrated performance measurement (PM) development into the context of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The research builds on existing knowledge of integrated PM development approaches and identifies the context-specific factors which affect its introduction into SMEs. These are used to design, develop and validate a new, continuous improvement based approach for the development of integrated PM systems, which is specifically designed for use in SMEs. First, a conceptual model of criteria for integrated PM development is synthesised from the literature and the characteristics of SMEs are established. An evaluation of current approaches for the development of integrated PM is undertaken and an approach which conforms to the conceptual model is selected for an empirical study in a SME. Along with a set of interviews examining the state of PM in SMEs, this study identifies several factors which affect integrated PM introduction in this environment. These factors enhance the conceptual model and indicate the need for a more effective development approach for SMEs. Design theory is used to inform and structure the design of the new approach, which is developed and refined for practical use through a SME case study. Two further cases are carried out to validate the new approach, in which cross-case comparisons are made. The results indicate the validity of both the new approach and the enhanced conceptual model. The formulation of an enhanced conceptual model of integrated PM development, detailing the context specific criteria for effective in use in SMEs, together with the validation of a new, continuous improvement based, approach for integrated PM system development in SMEs that conforms to the conceptual model, represents a significant contribution to both theory and practice from this research.
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Al, Rahbi Hafedh Said Abdullah. "Factors influencing social media adoption in small and medium enterprises (SMEs)." Thesis, Brunel University, 2017. http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/14514.
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The adoption and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is widely regarded as essential in contemporary organisational environments. Such technologies have substantial effects on an organisation’s productivity and competitiveness. However, the nature of the effects varies across types of organisation (small to large), by country-context (developed and developing countries) and with the type of ICT adopted. This thesis focuses primarily on Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in a less-researched developing country context, the region of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), with special reference to Oman. In terms of the ICT under investigation, recognising the emergence of more interactive forms of technology, this thesis focuses on social media applications. It is widely recognised that the adoption and use of these applications change the ways in which organisations conduct their activities and represent a critical business opportunity for SMEs. This opportunity will only be realised by SMEs if, and when, social media are adopted in their organisations. This therefore creates a requirement to understand the factors that influence SMEs in making the adoption decision. The research related to such factors is scarce, not least because the technologies are relatively new. By using the Technology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) framework, this study therefore attempted to understand the factors influencing the decision by SMEs to adopt social media. It employed a sequential, exploratory mixed method, where both qualitative and quantitative approaches were combined to meet the research objectives. In the first stage, a preliminary TOE model of 18 factors was developed from the analysis of semi-structured interviews with 18 SMEs owner-managers in Muscat, the capital city of Oman. In the second stage, a survey involving 205 SMEs in Muscat was conducted to examine empirically the preliminary model. The survey data were analysed using logistic regression (LR). Of the factors examined, compatibility, observability, trialability, trust, image, perceived lack of managerial time, market scope, customer pressure and family and friends’ support were found to have significant influence on SMEs’ decisions to adopt social media. These findings have important implications and value for the research community, SMEs and policy makers (in particular, the Public Authority for SME Development (PASMED)) in terms of formulating improved strategies for social media adoption. The resulting research model proposed in this thesis can improve these stakeholders’ understandings of why some SMEs have chosen to adopt social media technologies, while other SMEs which face similar market conditions have not.
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Elshamly, Amina Basiouny Mousa. "Developing a strategic framework in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs)." Thesis, University of Gloucestershire, 2012. http://eprints.glos.ac.uk/454/.
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Aims: The purpose is to understand the strategy process approach within SMEs to gain a better understanding of how a SME performs the strategy process. The research aims to develop a strategy process framework through the findings of a case study within a SME, by comparing those findings with the existing literature. Methodology: The research paradigm is moderate constructionism that adopts first a deductive approach to obtain the required theoretical knowledge of how strategy process (phases, activities, and tools) function and how they have been used within empirical studies, with a specific focus on case studies in SMEs. This is achieved through the establishment of a conceptual framework of the strategy process including phases and activities. Second, an inductive approach is adopted to induce from the research findings how the strategy process of the SME evolves. This mixture of deductive and inductive approaches is known as abductive. The research adopts an abductive approach culminating in a strategy process framework based on the Balanced Scorecard (BSC), the findings of the case study, and the literature. The research strategy is a single case study using semi-structured interviews during which the interviewer conversationally obtained the required information. This was complemented by documentation evidence. The data analysis process used thematic analysis and an enumeration approach. Results: Whilst the literature lays out a systematic, sequential process, the picture presented by the case study in a SME is somewhat different. The SME was involved in several different aspects of strategy as defined in the literature review, including several phases of the strategy process, and the activities within each of these phases. Some activities were more frequently performed than others, in a very ad-hoc manner. Moreover, The SME did not have a coherent strategy process. The process that the SME uses is messy; it is not systematic; it is not sequential and is not clear. These results are incorporated in a revised conceptual framework to reflect the strategy process actuals used within the SME of the present study. The reasons that explain the finding and the need of the framework may be summarized as: Ambiguous communication of information, Inability to manage development, innovation without a flexible approach, a lack of systematic methods for defining strategy, short-term cash flow issues, and high risks in the SME. Originality/value is contribution to knowledge (theory and empirical): First: a comprehensive literature review investigated and extended the strategy process phases and activities literature, by establishment of a conceptual framework of the strategy process including phases and activities. Second: this conceptual framework was revised based on these findings to reflect the strategy process actually emplaced within the SME in the present study, this aided an overall understanding of the theory of the strategy process. Third: due to the lack of formal strategy the SME had much ‘emergent’ strategy, which it failed to deal with effectively. Normatively, it should work to overcome this, by implementing a more coherent and formal approach to the strategy process framework (using the BSC framework with support of other strategic tools [QFD and SWOT analysis]). Fourth: the methodological implementation of the research paradigm of moderate constructionism and validation through crystallization.
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Crain, Michael Alan. "Asset pricing and capital structure of SMEs." Thesis, University of Manchester, 2013. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/asset-pricing-and-capital-structure-of-smes(3ce24c61-c0ae-44fc-b494-98bb176253d0).html.
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This thesis examines asset pricing and capital structure of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in three essays. Firm finance and asset pricing are areas of voluminous research in the literature. Most of this research observes firms trading on public stock exchanges. In my thesis, I examine privately-owned SMEs where relatively little research has been done. I use a proprietary database of over 16,000 SMEs that sold from 1990 to 2010, reporting market valuations and accounting information. My findings contribute to the literature on asset pricing and capital structure of private firms that benefits researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and analysts. The first essay examines whether the size effect in returns found in traded stocks is present in SMEs. The size-effect literature generally observes listed firms and finds that smaller firms tend to have higher returns. Using the SME database, I document the size effect in private firms using market valuations. I also find the size premium is concentrated in smaller SMEs. In firms smaller than $2.5 million in market value, the size effect is nearly 13 times stronger compared to larger firms. The second essay explores the effects of investor sentiment and marketwide liquidity in SME returns. Prior studies find these factors have effects in returns of listed firms. I find that SME returns are negatively related to sentiment and liquidity. As sentiment or liquidity rise, SME returns tend to fall. This study also finds that the effects of sentiment and liquidity are concentrated in smaller firms and weaken or disappear in larger SMEs. Apparently investors in smaller SMEs are more influenced by sentiment and liquidity. I also find that sentiment and liquidity have conditional effects on the magnitude of the size premium. The third and final essay examines SME capital structure. Firm capital structure has been one of the most contentious issues in finance theory for over 50 years. Relatively little research examines private firm finance and no previous studies to my knowledge have examined SME capital structure using market-based leverage ratios. I examine relations between leverage and capital structure determinants suggested by theory using market-based and book-value leverage ratios. I find support for both the trade-off and pecking-order theories. This study also finds that SMEs tend to use short-term debt much more than long-term debt and firms appear to practice maturity matching where managers tend to match borrowing terms with asset life. Evidence also suggests that capital structure determinants suggested by theory have greater explanatory power for market-based leverage ratios than for ratios based on book values.
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Jensen, Joan, and n/a. "Electronic Commerce and Small and Medium Business Enterprises." University of Canberra. n/a, 2005. http://erl.canberra.edu.au./public/adt-AUC20070517.130605.
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The aim of this research was to discover the issues influencing the adoption of e-commerce by small and medium business enterprises (SMEs) in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The demand aspect of the theory of diffusion of innovation enabled the formulation of a number of research propositions which formed the focus for this research. Seventy-five randomly-selected SMEs within the ACT were interviewed. Of these seventy five, fifty had adopted e-commerce and twenty-five had not.
Findings complemented results from other studies, but also added to them. Factors from the demand aspect of the theory of time, resources (personnel, financial, technological), business organisation, size, return on investment, push by outside agencies or clients, and communication channels were found to be of little importance. Of greater importance were characteristics of the SME operators themselves (such as their innovativeness, their relative youth and educational level), the size of their business, the number of years it had been operating, and marketing issues. A prime consideration was that of attaining and maintaining a competitive edge over their competitors. Security and privacy issues were of little consideration prior to the adoption process, but became of much greater importance once SMEs had adopted e-commerce.
Some things discovered by this research that have not appeared in the reporting of other studies included:
� The importance of tertiary education for the primary decision-makers in the organisation;
� The role banks played in the adoption process;
� The high cost and difficulty of compliance with government regulations, especially regarding the employment of staff; and
� The lack of use of specifically established communication channels, set up by government bodies or associated industry organisations to educate and inform SMEs about the potential and process of e-commerce.
Results of this research have implications for a large number of associated stakeholders � government, educational institutions, and trade, industry and professional associations � and as such deserve to be widely disseminated.
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Goh, Phaik Lan. "The implementation of total quality management in small and medium enterprises." Thesis, University of Sheffield, 2000. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/3497/.
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Oakland (1989b) argues that following the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century we are presently in the midst of the quality revolution. In the United Kingdom quality took on a new significance in 1979 with the publication of the British Standard for Quality BS5750. Since that date the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has been actively promoting quality improvements. In 1989, the DTI specially supported the implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM) in its Managing in the `90s Program. The benefits of TQM are widely recognised following reports of its successful implementation in many large companies. It has led to these companies becoming highly competitive both locally and internationally through the production of quality products that meet customer requirements at the lowest cost, significantly increasing their market share and profitability. As part of the Sheffield Regeneration effort, this thesis examines the current position of Small and Medium manufacturing Enterprises (SMEs) in Sheffield. The thesis aims to facilitate the implementation of TQM in SMEs by enabling them to benchmark their progress. The thesis examines three hypotheses: 1. SMEs do not understand the definitions or implications of TQM. 2. SMEs can be encouraged to implement TQM by a combination of training and mentoring (Uncle Concept). 3. It is possible to benchmark management styles and the relative position of a company on route to TQM using the biological classification system, Cladistics. The characteristics of SMEs and principles of TQM were closely researched to develop a TQM model based on 5 Pillars that would specifically cater to the needs of SMEs. A questionnaire was developed based on these 5 Pillars to assess the level of TQM implementation in 30 Sheffield and 10 Singapore manufacturing SMEs. The survey results based on interviews with senior management confirmed the first hypothesis that SMEs do not understand the definitions or implications of TQM. This led to the second hypothesis that SMEs can be encouraged to implement TQM through a Framework comprising a combination of training and mentoring (Uncle Concept) by a company that had already implemented TQM. The TQM Framework was applied to six SMEs in South Yorkshire. Customer and Employee surveys conducted as the prerequisite to TQM implementation provided valuable information to the companies about actions they needed to undertake in their implementation programme. All six companies proceeded to TQM Facilitator Training which was conducted by Avesta Sheffield Limited, who having successfully implemented and sustained TQM fulfilled the role of the Uncle. However, the second hypothesis was proved to be incorrect. The companies ‘cherry picked' facets of TQM and the implementation programs failed in each case. This thesis also reviews the evolution of management styles through a study of management pioneers and their principles and theories on management, organisation structures and motivation. The evolution of the bureaucratic, authoritarian and impersonal management style of Frederick W. Taylor to the flexible, open and participative management style of TQM was applied to the classification technique Cladistics to determine if it was possible to benchmark management styles and the relative position of a company along its route to TQM (Hypothesis 3). A Management Style Survey Questionnaire was developed and a structured interview was conducted with ten companies from South Yorkshire and one company from Japan. The results supported Hypothesis 3.
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Centeno, Edgar. "Exploring how brands are built in small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)." Thesis, University of Strathclyde, 2009. http://oleg.lib.strath.ac.uk:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=22003.
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Nwosu, Anthony Obioma. "E-Commerce Adoption by Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria." ScholarWorks, 2017. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/4089.
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The future survival of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is inextricably linked to their implementation of e-commerce systems. The lack of e-commerce strategies among SME business owners has contributed to a low level of e-commerce adoption by SMEs. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies that Nigerian SME business owners used to implement e-commerce systems. The population consisted of retail SMEs in Lagos, Nigeria, that have functional e-commerce systems. The conceptual framework supporting the study was dynamic capabilities framework. Data for the study were derived from semistructured interviews of 4 SME business owners/managers and documentation from the case companies. Data analysis entailed coding of the interview transcripts and analysis of documentary data to identify themes. Member checking and triangulation ensured the credibility of the study. The main themes that emerged from data analysis include service delivery strategies, dynamic marketing strategies, and learning and adaptation. The implications for social change include the potential to contribute to increased wealth creation opportunities for the business owners, their employees, and the local communities in Nigeria.
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Sieberhagen, Hester Sofia. "A qualitative literature review of the differentiated tax policies for small and medium enterprises in South Africa." Diss., Pretoria : [s.n.], 2009. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-04032009-143734/.
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Herman, Stephen Andrew. "Adaptability and survival in populations of small and medium enterprises." Thesis, University of Hertfordshire, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/2299/9930.
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There is disagreement in the literature about the relative roles of selection (competition) and adaptation in explaining industrial change. For some, the possibilities for adaptation by individual firms are highly limited, and instead the key drivers of industry-level change are the extinction of some firms and the birth of others. Others stress that survival is all about the ways in which a firm can choose to adapt to changes in the external environment and to changes in competition. This dissertation takes the view there is a false dichotomy between adaptation and selection, that they are not opposites and that adaptation is an essential an unavoidable part of any relevant evolutionary process. Even if selection generates larger industry-level outcomes, adaptability is still important. It is then an empirical matter of the relative strengths of adaptability and selection in particular circumstances. The work makes a clear distinction between an adaptation, a change to an individual (firm) that enables the individual to be better fitted to its environment, and adaptability, the potential to adjust to changes in the selection environment. In looking for causal explanations, the approach adopted here acknowledges that causes relate to potentialities or dispositions and not to effects or events. Using this approach, the adopted methodology maintains that business routines, even when defined as capacities or dispositions rather than behaviours, can still be measured and used to generate an adaptability instrument. It is then possible to look at the relationship between the adaptability instrument and survival. The research looks particularly at the adaptability and survival of small and medium size firms, as they constitute the majority of enterprises in the UK and are empirically under-represented in previous research. This thesis looks at the evolution of populations of such firms through the mix of firm-level adaptation and selection in the population. The methodology concentrated on the four constituent areas of any firm: sales and marketing, production, administration and human resources, and corporate strategy. It examined not the quantities of operation in routines as in many previous studies but the levels of adaptability firms perceive they actually achieve or believe they would experience in the face of both continuous and discontinuous internal and external change. The adaptability instrument is the composite measure of the potential to adapt routines across the four constituent areas, capturing a picture of the interactions between the strategies, structures and procedures within the firm. The methodology also involved a relatively large sample of observations of a representative set of small and medium-sized enterprises, addressing the lack of previous empirical work on datasets of a whole population of firms taken from multiple industries and sectors. It was also possible to re-sample respondents in the depths of a recession 18 months later in order to look at the relationship between previously calculated adaptability and the subsequent degree of survival. The results challenge the exclusive role of selection only in explaining industry attributes and suggest that adaptability is important for firm survival. Even if selection generates larger industry-level outcomes, adaptability is still important. The research demonstrates that both competitive selection and developmental adaptability combine to explain industrial change and that any differences in adaptability between firms are of significance. In a sharp recession, however, only the firms with more potential to adapt their output in response to falling demand, and so better protect their cash flow against any contracting credit availability, have an advantage relative to their rivals that can confer relatively greater longevity and survivability. Other factors contribute to survival more strongly in recession than in more stable times and, while adaptability still matters, the slightly lower adaptability of older cohorts of firms masks the positive value of adaptability. At the individual firm level during sharp recession, indirect competition through customers choosing not to spend, or spend scarce resources elsewhere, rapidly de-selects those with weak cash flow management, poor cash reserves or poor credit worthiness. The criteria adopted for degrees of failure were heavily dependent on the context of use but reflected common parlance among the survey respondents. The findings of this research point to the merits of a theoretical framework different from much textbook economics, strategy-choice theory and organisational ecology. The findings support an evolutionary approach that in turn corresponds with recent developments in the theoretical framework known as Generalised Darwinism.
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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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von, Axelson Jens. "Transfer of pruduction knowledge to small and medium-size enterprises : a suggested model." Licentiate thesis, KTH, Production Engineering, 2005. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-290.
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Tsorbatzoglou, Konstaninos. "Marketing in successful agri-food small and medium sized enterprises in the North of England." Thesis, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10443/503.
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Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) are vital components of many economic sectors including agri-food. However, due to their nature, SMEs face a number of developmental problems in their growth stages, including a lack of formalised marketing. Improving marketing is thus a potential source of competitive advantage for the industry and is therefore of policy interest to the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Foods (MAFF). This research is an attempt to understand SMEs marketing and identify the successful patterns of agri-food SMEs in the North of England, in terms of their marketing practices. The comparative, integrated model to marketing research, blending the process model with the contingency approach was employed. Both quantitative and qualitative techniques from the transactional and relational marketing literature were used in order to examine twenty hypotheses, and test the marketing practices of agri-food SMEs, and their influence on performance. Furthermore, the ownership status effect (subsidiary or independent) on marketing of SMEs was examined. Then, five cases were analysed to verify the survey's results, and gain a deeper understanding of how and why marketing is practised the way that it is, in successful agri-food SMEs. This research provided evidence to suggest that agri-food SMEs differ from other SMEs in terms of their marketing orientation. It also provided evidence to suggest that the most successful have a very good understanding of the fundamental marketing principles. Moreover, it showed that marketing practices differ between subsidiary and independent SMEs, in three marketing areas, namely Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats (SWOT) analysis, strategic focus, company/brand reputation. There is also an environmental difference between the two groups namely European or government regulation posing a threat to the survival of the company. The case studies showed that most successful SMEs are product oriented and pay attention to high quality, variety and service. They all operate on distinct niche markets or have a niche product in an established market. They are familiar with planning and strategy concepts, undertake many of them internally and constantly seek to strengthen their relationship with their customers. Furthermore, the independent companies do not have the tendency to spend large budgets on marketing research, but try to gain marketing information from family, friends, their sales-force and their customers. Subsidiaries, on the other hand, tend to have bigger contracts/accounts, which allow them to get information from their customers. The thesis concluded by proposing a model of successful marketing for agri-food SME, and making recommendations for policy makers. These included the following areas: 1. Emphasis on high product quality, and niche market or product; 2. Control of the marketing effort, by means of regular performance feedback meetings; and 3. The establishment of an on-going marketing information gathering system, by using all available employees who are in contact with customers, including van drivers and the sales-force.
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Okundaye, Kessington Enaye. "Adoption of Information and Communication Technology in Nigerian Small- to Medium-Size Enterprises." ScholarWorks, 2016. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/2679.
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Small- to medium-size enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role in a dynamic economy through job creation, poverty alleviation, and socioeconomic development in developed and developing countries. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore how SME leaders in Lagos, Nigeria, adopted information and communication technology (ICT) as a business strategy to increase profitability and compete globally. Organizational leaders have adopted ICT so that their organizations can become more efficient, effective, innovative, and globally competitive. This study involved 4 SMEs that had successfully implemented ICT. The participants included 5 SME leaders from each of the SMEs. The data collection method included in-person semistructured interviews of participants and review of existing company data. Data were analyzed using inductive data analysis, which included member checking to ensure trustworthiness of interpretations and occurred until theoretical saturation had occurred. The technology acceptance model (TAM), which specifies the relationship between perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitude toward computer use, and intention to use technology, was applied as a framework to explain the Nigerian SME's ICT adoption strategies. Four major themes emerged from the data analysis: ICT adoption factors, ICT roles and benefits, role of government, and SME success factors. The findings of this study may help SME leaders and government leaders address many of the factors inhibiting the adoption of ICT in SMEs. The findings of this study may positively affect social change by ensuring that SMEs are successful and able to create jobs, which in turn may help to alleviate poverty and promote socioeconomic development through adoption of ICT.
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Xu, Chenke, and Hao Hu. "Factors influencing SMEs' export performance : A case study of Chinese SMEs." Thesis, Halmstad University, School of Business and Engineering (SET), 2010. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-4786.
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Small and medium-sized enterprises play much more important roles in both domestic and international markets nowadays. The issue that factors influence their export performance (mainly the export sales and profits) also becomes much more attractive these years. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the factors which influence the SMEs’ export performance and how each factor influences the SMEs’ export performance. This study is built on a modified model of the factors influencing the SMEs’ export performance. The authors use case study to conduct this research, and one company’s (Company B’s) data is collected through the semi-structured interview. Some findings are obtained: the important factors which influence Company B’s export performance contain the trade shows, the expenses on getting the authentication, capital sources, export rebate, firm network, firm previous experience, firm competencies, personal network, international orientation and personal previous experience. In addition, the authors also find the effect of firm size is indirect. However, customs duty, transportation, as well as building up the brand do not play important impacts on export performance. Take the trade shows as an example, personal cards and product samples are sent to the customers, then the customers who are interested in the products will contact Company B. In this way, the customers are accumulated and the export sales increase. Thus, the export performance is enhanced.
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Mtigwe, Bruce. "The Internationalization process of small-to-medium size enterprises (SME's) in the African context a comparative study /." Pretoria : [s.n.], 2004. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-08262004-071707.
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Ngwa, Macdonald, and Kabangu Kabangu. "Developing Dynamic Capabilities in Emerging Markets : Comparative Multiple Case Studies of Cameroonian and Zambian SMEs." Thesis, Umeå universitet, Företagsekonomi, 2016. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-123520.
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ABSTRACT Small and Medium Size Enterprise (SMEs) have long been recognised as the major drivers of economic activities due to their entrepreneurial traits of being innovative which lead to job creation, sustaining economic growth, export expansion, and efficient allocation of resources in line with their competitive goals and their respective country’s objectives. In their pursuit as major economic drivers in their respective economies, SMEs are barely exposed to hostile environments triggering fierce competition from Multinational Corporations. This has entailed that SMEs need to enhance their capabilities in such environments to sustain their competitive advantage by reconfiguring their internal and external competences and resources in response to changing environments. Surprisingly, literature on how SMEs develop dynamic capabilities in such markets is limited and inconsistent. Therefore, this thesis explores how SMEs develop dynamic capabilities in emerging markets specifically in African markets. The central purpose of the study is to explore how SMEs in emerging markets such as Africa develop dynamic capabilities to compete alongside MNCs. Building on prior researches which conceptually suggested that market orientation, learning orientation, and entrepreneurial orientation in separate cases, enables SMEs to build dynamic capabilities in dynamic environments, this study explored this viewpoint through a qualitative case study data. Comparative multiple case studies are developed in order to have a holistic understanding of how SMEs across sectors develop dynamic capabilities. The study employs empirical data collected through the use of semi-structured interviews in which samples are purposively selected from 10 firms from separate industries in Africa, in which five were drawn from Cameroon and other five drawn from Zambia. The study follows a qualitative-deductive approach. Findings indicate that SMEs develop dynamic capabilities in emerging market principally through the lenses of market orientation and learning orientation. While entrepreneurial orientation is found lacking the potential to enable SMEs build-up the required dynamic capabilities due to the fact that it places huge demand on SMEs who are short of adequate financial resources to meet up with the contingencies of being fully entrepreneurial. That is to say, market orientation and learning orientation other than entrepreneurial orientation are the enablers of dynamic capabilities in emerging market. The findings contribute to existing literature by building an empirically-grounded synthesis of the constructs of market orientation, learning orientation and entrepreneurial orientation involved in the development of dynamic capabilities which validates earlier claims on the development of dynamic capabilities in dynamic environment. Second, the results contribute to theory by advancing an original model which brings together all standalone models in the field of dynamic capabilities development into one, thereby harmonising the polarisation of facts. Furthermore, the findings bear potential for researchers and entrepreneurs intending to invest in emerging markets such as Africa. To improve on this study, we suggest undertaking a related cross-comparative case study on similar grounds which takes into account homogeneity and age parameters at industry level from two or more countries. We believe this might provide an additional explanation on how SMEs in emerging markets develop dynamic capability and may also shed more light on whether age of a firm has an effect on the build-up of dynamic capabilities.
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Larsson, Tereza, and Charity Mashegede. "Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) : Towards the development of socially sustainable communities." Thesis, Högskolan i Skövde, Institutionen för handel och företagande, 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:his:diva-17042.
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Background: Ever since the Brundtland Commission stressed that Social Sustainability (SS) issues are often ignored, there has been mounting research on social sustainability (Boström, Vifell, Klintman, Soneryd, Hallström & Thedvall, 2015). Companies are now addressing sustainability concerns more broadly because of the increasing demand and pressure from society demanding they deal with the negative social impacts associated with their products and activities. This study is delimited to SMEs. While individual SMEs are naturally smaller and have less impact on sustainability than larger businesses, their involvement is important in achieving national SS targets (Weingaertner & Moberg, 2011). Sustainability is often regarded as the privilege of large corporations since they have sufficient funds to improve their carbon footprint (Rodgers, 2010). The activities of SMEs are not well understood and documented, including their entrepreneurial start-ups within communities, of which some are entirely based on sustainable principles (Rodgers, 2010). Given that SMEs play an important role towards sustainable development, understanding the underlying mechanisms of why SMEs are committed to SS within communities is an important research topic. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate how SMEs facilitate the ability of communities to develop socially sustainable practices that not only satisfy the requirements of current members but also support the ability of future generations to maintain sustainable communities. Method: Due to the limited literature in social sustainability in the context of SMEs embedded in diverse communities, this thesis employs an exploratory research design together with qualitative and abductive approaches. Qualitative content analysis is used in coding and analysing the empirical findings, and the abductive approach is used in developing an extended framework of social sustainability. Conclusion: The aim of this study was to gain insight into the initiatives implemented by SMEs towards socially sustainable communities and the obstacles they face. Through qualitative research in different sectors of the economy (agriculture, construction, service, retail, manufacturing) and different countries, an empirical understanding of how SMEs engage in social sustainability initiatives was derived. The empirical findings resulted in the extension of a social sustainability framework proposed by Eizenberg and Jabareen (2017). In the extended framework, community social capital was added as the fifth concept of SS and its main components include human capital, social capital, social cohesion, social inclusion, natural capital and philanthropic capital. The variety of sectors and countries enabled us to take into account contextual differences and develop an international view of social sustainability concepts relevant for communities.Bakgrund: Ända sedan Brundtland kommissionen betonade att SS-frågor ofta ignorerades, har det förekommit forskning om social hållbarhet (Boström, Vifell, Klintman, Soneryd, Hallström & Thedvall, 2015). Företagen är nu pressade att ta itu med sociala hållbarhetsfrågor och denna studie fokuserar på små och medelstora företag. Medan enskilda små och medelstora företag är naturligt mindre och har mindre inverkan på hållbarhetsarbetet än de större företagen, är deras engagemang viktigt för att uppnå nationella SS mål (Weingaertner & Moberg, 2011). Hållbarhet betraktas ofta som ett privilegium för stora företag eftersom de har tillräckliga medel för att förbättra sitt koldioxidavtryck (Rodgers, 2010). De små och medelstora företagens verksamhet är inte väl förstådd och dokumenterad, inklusive företagsetableringar inom samhällen, av vilka vissa är helt baserade på hållbara principer (Rodgers, 2010). Med tanke på att små och medelstora företag spelar en viktig roll för en hållbar utveckling är det viktigt att förstå de bakomliggande mekanismerna bakom varför små och medelstora företag är engagerade i SS inom samhällen. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur små och medelstora företag kan främja en samhällelig förmåga att utveckla socialt hållbara metoder som inte bara tillfredsställer de nuvarande medlemmarnas behov utan också stöder framtida generationers förmåga att bibehålla en hållbar samhällen. Metod: På grund av den begränsade litteraturen om social hållbarhet inom ramen för små och medelstora företag i samhället, använder denna avhandling en explorativ forsknings design tillsammans med kvalitativa och abduktiva metoder. Den kvalitativa innehållsanalysen används vid kodning och analys av empiriska fynd, och den abduktiva metoden används för att utveckla en utvidgad ram för social hållbarhet inom samhällen. Slutsats: Syftet med denna studie var att få insikt i de initiativ som små och medelstora företag genomför för socialt hållbara samhällen och de hinder de står inför. Genom kvalitativ forskning inom olika sektorer av ekonomin (jordbruk, byggande, service, detaljhandel, tillverkning) och olika länder, har en empirisk förståelse för hur små och medelstora företag engagerar sig i sociala hållbarhets initiativ härletts. De empiriska rönen resulterade i en utvidgning av en social hållbarhetsram som föreslogs av Eizenberg och Jabareen (2017). I den utvidgade ramen infördes samhälleligt kapital som det femte konceptet för SS och dess huvudkomponenter är humankapital, socialt kapital, social sammanhållning, social integration, naturkapital och filantropiska kapital. Mångfalden av sektorer och länder gjorde det möjligt för oss att ta hänsyn till kontextuella skillnader och utveckla en internationell syn på sociala hållbarhets begrepp som är relevanta för samhällen.
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El, Basha Hanan. "Internationalization Strategies for Sustainable Growth of Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/5004.
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Inadequate use of international knowledge by SME (small- and medium-sized enterprises) leaders is a prime contributing factor to failed internationalization efforts in the U.K. affecting firms' growth and survivability. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore strategies U.K. SME leaders use to expand business internationally for sustainable growth. The Uppsala internationalization process model (UIPM) served as the conceptual framework for this study. Participants consisted of 4 senior leaders and 3 international operations employees who demonstrated effective use of strategies in the operation of the SME internationalization activities. Data collection occurred through semistructured interviews and review of an archival document, complemented by member checking to strengthen the credibility and trustworthiness of the findings. Four themes emerged through thematic data analysis: applying home and foreign market knowledge, capitalization of firm characteristics, selecting psychically close markets, and conducting sequential internationalizing activities for successful and sustainable SME internationalization efforts. The conclusion is that to achieve sustainable growth, SME leaders need to understand all factors pertaining to the internationalization initiatives of the firm, inclusive of market research and data collection, using experiential knowledge, assessing firm-specific advantages, capitalizing on limited resources, and leveraging networks in international markets. Subsequent positive social change may include an increase in sustainable SME in the United Kingdom offering innovative and competitive products and services, increasing employment opportunities, contributing to the citizens' financial stability, and contributing to the community's economic prosperity.
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Uthamaputhran, Sathiswaran. "Entrepreneurs and internationalisation : a study of Malaysian high-tech small and medium enterprises (SMEs)." Thesis, University of Aberdeen, 2018. http://digitool.abdn.ac.uk:80/webclient/DeliveryManager?pid=240742.
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Sanderson, Michael. "Externality in industrial relations in small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises in Renfrewshire." Thesis, University of the West of Scotland, 1995. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.296465.
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This study attempts to examine change to the industrial relations system of Renfrewshire over the last few decades. By focusing on the area's traditional historical reliance on manufacturing industry as a vital contributor for employment in Renfrewshire, the consequences of change and its effect on the area's local industrial relations system provide the main emphasis for our research. In particular, the study adopts the concept of'externality' as a theme, and as an analytical tool for analysis, in order to comment on change experienced by Renfrewshire's distinct industrial relations system. Investigation took the form of a survey of workplace industrial relations in manufacturing small and medium sized establishments in the districts of Renfrew and Inverclyde. The main chapters of this study consider the main institutions of industrial relations support for the Renfrewshire area, such as Employers' Organisations, Trade Unions or ACAS; and the changes which have been seen to occur with regard to these bodies. We contend that an industrial relations parallel to the concept of 'branch factory syndrome' has been witnessed by these institutional bodies in relation to Renfrewshire. The main conclusion of this study is that the system has adapted, in its own way, based on its historical characteristics, especially in respect of workplace organisation. The study identifies four main factors which have a relevance on the changing face of the industrial relations system in Renfrewshire: 1. industrial re-structuring (at macro level) 2. non-unionism 3. national bargaining decline 4. organisation-level rationalisation Finally, some recommendations for further research are made
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Doole, Isobel. "How small and medium sized enterprises learn to compete effectively on international markets." Thesis, Sheffield Hallam University, 2000. http://shura.shu.ac.uk/3150/.
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This thesis seeks to develop insights into the nature of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) that are effective in competing internationally, over the longer term. It therefore aims to provide a better understanding of the behaviour that engenders this capability. Its contributory value lies in the development of the new perspectives which emerged from inductive theory development grounded in longitudinal data collected between1996-1999. Traditionally explanations for the success of SMEs in export markets, it is suggested, have been sought in the marketing mix paradigm rooted in exchange theory. This thesis draws from a range of literature in seeking an understanding of the behaviours observed. In developing a substantive theory to explain the dynamic nature of firms that sustain their competitive effectiveness on international markets this thesis then seeks explanations from the organisational learning paradigm. This study follows the tradition of the naturalistic paradigm and as such the research was a phenomenological study of an exploratory and qualitative nature. The naturalistic paradigm recognises the importance of the subjective experiences of individuals and groups. In the verstehen tradition this study stresses the importance of the informant as the primary source of information. The aim of the inquiry was to develop an ideographic body of knowledge, the emphasis being on explanation and understanding rather than the identification of general and universal laws. The epistemological stance taken required an inductive approach to theory building. Examining the firms longitudinally was the means by which the author was able to take an holistic view of the international activities of the firms studied and focus on the change processes and challenges faced in the study period. The central proposition of this thesis is that the firms that compete effectively on international markets exhibit a positive marketing orientation, and have a strong core purpose on which is generated a clear internationally based strategic direction. It is further proposed that over a period of time, through an iterative process of strategy development, firms build a sustainable competitive advantage in their international markets and develop the ability to maintain this advantage, even when faced with hostile challenges in their international markets. Firms, it is suggested through their relationships, build a virtual structure to their international markets, which provide the means through which a knowledge of their markets is acquired, and an input is made to the strategy development process by external partners. However, it is through the dynamic processes of organisational learning that SMEs develop these capabilities and so enhance their ability to sustain a competitive advantage over a period of time.
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Hagedorn, Johann, and Feras Khousrof. "Size Matters: A Comparative Study of Supply Chain Integration between SMEs and MNEs." Thesis, Internationella Handelshögskolan, Högskolan i Jönköping, IHH, Centre of Logistics and Supply Chain Management (CeLS), 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-43964.
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Background: Supplier integration is becoming increasingly important due to the increased globalisation in the business world nowadays. Today’s focal firm does not operate independently, but as a part of its supply chain which competes with other supply chains in the market. The number of the focal SMEs in Europe comprises 99% of companies operating throughout the continent. However, the vast majority of the existing literature is investigating supplier integration from MNEs’ perspectives. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to generate a new supplier integration theory for SMEs. The study aims to compare how SMEs and MNEs conduct supplier integration, spotting the similarities and differences in their approaches and finding out the reasons behind these varying approaches. Method: We choose a relativist ontology and a constructionist epistemology. Within the boundaries of these research assumptions, we follow an inductive multiple case study approach with exploratory characteristics. The case study consists out of 12 cases, six out of the plant engineering industry and six from the mechanical engineering industry. Each industry is represented by three SMEs and three MNEs. Our findings are gathered through coded and categorised interview transcripts, based on which a critical comparative discussion is done. Conclusion: Through our study we find size and industry related differences in conducting supplier integration. Next to obvious circumstances such as limited resources, we identify personal contact, trust creation and industry specifics as main drivers for variation in supplier integration approaches. Furthermore, we conclude that SMEs fit in particular cases better into the reviewed supplier integration literature, since their focus in relationships leads to a more sustainable interest into the partner’s economic well-being. Finally, our findings show mimetic behaviour in SMEs adopting MNEs’ managerial approaches, characterised by classification, evaluation and strategizing.
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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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Kirkham, Thomas David. "Business data integration framework for small to medium enterprises (BDIFS) : a service-based framework to support eBusiness data interoperability for small to medium enterprises (SMEs)." Thesis, Bangor University, 2007. https://research.bangor.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/business-data-integration-framework-for-small-to-medium-enterprises-bdifs--a-servicebased-framework-to-support-ebusiness-data-interoperability-for-small-to-medium-enterprises-smes(41d3b1aa-d2ff-483c-b9c5-162b11e23ac1).html.
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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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Kfutwa, Fukah. "Motivational Factors for Growth in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) : Information Technology Perspective." Thesis, Jönköping University, JIBS, Business Informatics, 2007. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-844.
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Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) constitute the backbone of many economies in the world today. This is because they are creating new jobs and contributing positively to their respective economies in which Sweden is not an exception and par-ticularly the municipality of Jonkoping. SMEs invest in IT to gain access to integration of transactions oriented data and business processes.
This thesis, motivational factors for growth in SMEs – (IT perspective) give an overview of how SMEs grow as a result of the introduction and implementation of IT. Information Technology (IT) is seen to be a motivational factor for the growth of SMEs. This is because it acts like an enabler to their businesses and the current business environment.
To answer the research question, I conducted an empirical study of some companies in Jonkoping that are using IT as a motivational factor for growth. Interviews were con-ducted through the use of a structured questionnaire and to a lesser extent, unstructured questionnaire.
Results from studies portrayed that, these companies introduced and implemented IT as a motivational factor for similar reasons though with different objectives.
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Zhu, Constance (Constance Siyuan). "Comparative study of financing for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in China and U.S." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/98974.
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Thesis: S.M. in Management Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 2015.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (page 32).
Financing for SMEs is a compelling issue for both China and the US. Given that SMEs in the US have been a long-standing source of innovation and driver of GDP, financing market for SMEs has stepped into a more mature stage than in China. This thesis explores the key differences in financing for SMEs in China and the US in both debt and equity financing with a comparative study based on abundant empirical case studies, literature reading and analysis, trying to identify some main takeaways from the US market for the Chinese market. However, due to different commercial environment and DNAs of the economies, different features have appeared and are playing critical roles in these two economies. It would be more crucial for Chinese policy makers to set up better-rounded law enforcement for the unique practices in China than to simply learn the practices in the US.
by Constance (Siyuan) Zhu.
S.M. in Management Research
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Ramlee, Afifah Alwani Binti. "Dynamic capabilities development : an examination of exporting small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia." Thesis, Durham University, 2017. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/12011/.
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As time has evolved, the business environment has become more dynamic and such that the original propositions of the resource based view (RBV) is being challenged for being static and neglecting the influence of market dynamism. This is particularly important for exporting small-to-medium sized firms (SMEs), firms that seek a significant competitive advantage from the use of their resources in pursuing international sales in one or multiple countries. The rapid growth of the dynamic capabilities literature and its diversity have led to a rich but still disconnected body of research pointing in dissimilar directions. Prior researchers reported that there is not much attention given to the process of how capabilities develop, emerge or evolve especially in SMEs that have limited resources, knowledge bases and expertise in building and integrating diverse capabilities. Thus, there is a question to ponder about how these small exporting firms could survive in a dynamic environment with a lack of resources and skills. Building on ideas of emerging and branching dynamic capability, this study uses a sample of 130 Malaysian exporting SMEs in manufacturing industries and hypotheses are tested using Structural Equation Modelling. A web-based survey questionnaire and return postal set of surveys were distributed to managers/founders/owners of selected exporting SMEs in Malaysian. The results suggest that operation slack has a strong positive moderation effect between learning exploration and emerging dynamic capability of sensing and moderation between innovation exploration and an emerging dynamic capability of learning. The other moderators, such as financial slack, past business performance and international diversity had resulted as negative moderators for the particular path. Furthermore, these study also proving the link between dynamic capabilities, substantive capabilities and business performance. The results show that, substantive capabilities do have direct effect towards business performance. Overall, the key finding of this study is to unpack the relationships between dynamic capabilities and business performance.
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Mohamad, Anuar Nur Izzati. "Inward and outward internationalization in Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) : a learning approach." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 2018. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/30598/.
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This thesis investigates the learning processes of internationalizing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that engage in inward internationalization (international sourcing), and outward internationalization (export). Although the notions of knowledge and learning are well addressed in the literature of internationalization, research on international sourcing from the perspectives of knowledge and learning, as well as research on the connections between international sourcing and export associated with knowledge and learning require serious attention. This research attempts to address this apparent theoretical and empirical deficiencies by providing a deeper understanding on the learning processes associated with international sourcing, export, and connections between international sourcing and export. Based on knowledge-based theories, organizational learning theories, and internationalization theories underpinned by the concept of cross-border buyer-supplier relationship, this research examines 1) the acquisition and exploitation of new knowledge from direct experience in international sourcing, and imitation of key foreign supplier, 2) the acquisition and exploitation of new knowledge from direct experience in export, and imitation of key foreign buyer, and 3) the acquisition, distribution, and exploitation of relevant knowledge by associating inward and outward internationalization. Thus, this research adopts a qualitative case study approach based on 10 case studies of the internationalizing SMEs in Malaysia. Semi-structured interviews with the Managing Director of case firms were conducted over a two-year period. Additionally, participant observations were conducted by attending the meetings related to import-export activities and documentations were gathered for data triangulation. The findings of this research contribute and extend the growing body of research on the importance of knowledge and learning on the internationalization of firm by developing conceptual framework of holistic view of internationalization which embrace inward and outward internationalization in terms of knowledge acquisition and exploitation, and the connections between inward and outward internationalization in terms of knowledge acquisition, distribution, and exploitation. Close relationship with key foreign suppliers empowered the imitation of key foreign suppliers of internationalization and technological knowledge. It also empowered firms to connect inward to outward internationalization through collaborative knowledge sharing. The distribution of knowledge through tacit-tacit and tacit-explicit knowledge sharing underpinned by formal planning was a perquisite for inward-outward internationalization connections to be established by those firms.
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Lemoussu, Sophie. "A model-based framework for innovative Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Aeronautics." Thesis, Toulouse, ISAE, 2020. http://www.theses.fr/2020ESAE0014.
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Le marché de l'aviation fait face aujourd'hui à une croissance rapide des technologies innovantes. Les drones cargo, les taxis drones, les dirigeables, les ballons stratosphériques, pour n'en citer que quelques-uns, pourraient faire partie de la prochaine génération de transport aérien. Dans le même temps, les Petites et Moyennes Entreprises (PMEs) s'impliquent de plus en plus dans la conception et le développement de nouvelles formes de système aéroporté, passant du rôle traditionnel de fournisseur à celui de concepteur et intégrateur. Cette situation modifie considérablement la portée de la responsabilité des PMEs. En tant qu'intégrateurs, elles deviennent responsables de la certification des composants et du processus de fabrication, domaine dans lequel elles n’ont encore que peu d'expérience. La certification, qui requiert une connaissance très spécifique des réglementations, des normes et standards, demeure un processus obligatoire et une activité critique pour les entreprises de l'industrie aéronautique. C’est aussi un défi majeur pour les PMEs qui doivent assumer cette responsabilité de certification avec des moyens limités. Dans cette thèse, deux besoins majeurs sont identifiés: le soutien méthodologique n'est pas facilement disponible pour les PMEs; et les exigences de certification ne sont pas facilement compréhensibles et adaptables à chaque situation. Nous examinons donc des voies alternatives pour réduire la complexité de la situation des PMEs. L'objectif est de fournir un soutien afin qu'elles puissent être plus efficaces pour comprendre et intégrer les règles, les législations et les lignes directrices à leurs processus internes de manière plus simple. Cette thèse propose ainsi une approche méthodologique pour soutenir ces organisations. Développée en étroite collaboration avec une PME française, l'approche est composée d'un ensemble de modèles (métamodèle, modèles structurels et comportementaux) couverts par un mécanisme de gouvernanceThe aviation market is facing nowadays a fast growth of innovative airborne systems. Drone cargo, drone taxi, airships, stratospheric balloons, to cite a few, could be part of the next generation of air transportation. In the same time, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are becoming more and more involved in designing and developing new forms of air transportation, transitioning from the traditional role of supplier to those of system designer and integrator. This situation changes drastically the scope of SMEs' responsibility. As integrators they become responsible for certification of the components and the manufacturing process, an area in which they have little experience. Certification mandates very specific knowledge, regarding the regulations, norms and standards. Certification is a mandatory process and a critical activity for the enterprises in the aerospace industry. It constitutes a major challenge for SMEs who have to take on this certification responsibility with only limited resources. In this thesis, two major needs are identified: methodological support is not easily available for SMEs; and certification requirements are not easily comprehensive and adaptable to each situation. We examine alternate paths, reducing the complexity and bringing one step closer to solving the problem for the innovative SMEs. The objective is to provide support so that they can be more efficient to comprehend and integrate rules, legislations and guidelines to their internal processes in a simpler way. This thesis proposes then a methodological approach to support such organisation. Developed in close cooperation with a French SME in this situation, the approach is composed of a set of models (metamodel, structural, and behavioural models) covered by a certification governance mechanism
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Dhali, Salauddin. "A study on cloud computing adopton in small and medium enterprises." Thesis, Malmö högskola, Fakulteten för teknik och samhälle (TS), 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:mau:diva-20042.
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Innovation of new technology and its adoption contributes not only increasing the businessvalues but as well facilities the business growth and agility to an organization. Cloudcomputing provides hiring, renting and provisioning exclusive use of IT services as ondemand,pay-per-use basis via Internet. This emergence technology has shifted the competitiveIT-landscapes by providing a new computational platform for effective, creativeand deliverable business value model. However, many small organizations are reluctantto deploy their IT platform to Cloud due to the diverse adoption barriers cloud suffers.Despite this the promising attributes CC offers such as of IT operational cost reduction,accessibility and instant deployment makes it a vital embarking point to adopt this technologyespecially small and medium base enterprises (SME). Since SMEs are exploringthe possibilities of adopting this technology, it is imperative for them to critically evaluatethe feasibility of this technology for their specific businesses. This paper aims to investigatecloud adoption factors which might pursue pertaining or embarking cloud integrationamong SME’s. An on line web based survey instrument using questionnaires was used toconduct the study. The conclusive findings of the study suggests that Cloud computinghas the potential to transform the existing business operation, increase the business valuesand agility, customer relationship also promote sustainable competitive business edgefor SMEs while reducing the IT capital expenditure investment cost. The findings willassist IT managers/Chief Technology and /or Information Officers(CTO/CIO) representsthe SMEs for considering a possible adoption approach to cloud services.
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van, Buuren Rudolph B. "BUSINESS INTEGRATION AS BASIS FOR GROWTH IN SMALL AND MEDIUM AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISES." Journal for New Generation Sciences, Vol 6, Issue 2: Central University of Technology, Free State, Bloemfontein, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/11462/506.
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Published ArticleIncreased diversity in the agricultural sector in South Africa is forcing farmers to focus on the production of value-added commodities in the face of mounting global competitive pressures. However, many farmers, by operating individually, are unable to expand operations to the scale necessary to become involved in value-adding processing. This requires too much capital, skills, and time. By pooling resources and forming integrated small and medium sized agricultural enterprises even small producers can enter the processing arena successfully. This paper focuses on the specific driving forces, pitfalls and strategies that agricultural SMEs need to pursue in order to survive.
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Lin, Chien Yun. "An Examination of Implementing Customer Relationship Management by Chinese-Owned SMEs." Master's thesis, Lincoln University. Commerce Division, 2007. http://theses.lincoln.ac.nz/public/adt-NZLIU20080305.051641/.
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In the last decade, the ever increasing pressure of competition faced by businesses has led to the development of Customer Relationship Management (CRM). In short, CRM is the practice of integrating all aspects of business functions for dealing with customers, with the assistance of technology, and with the intention of boosting company profitability. CRM has been widely promoted as a critical contributor to business survival. However, the high failure rate of CRM projects has also attracted research attention and many factors have been discussed as contributing to the success or failure of CRM implementation.
This research argues that CRM is not simply a software package or a computer program. CRM, instead, should be perceived as a strategic issue in order to realize its potential. In addition, this study also argues that CRM implementation is affected by organizational, strategic and cultural factors. In particular, this study was conducted within the context of Chinese small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs), with company size and culture as two major focuses in this study. SMEs were chosen as this segment has been overlooked in CRM study, yet it represents a great potential for growth in CRM adoption. Chinese culture was chosen as most of CRM studies have been conducted within a western cultural background. The Chinese culture has distinctive characteristics different from western culture, and this has strong influences on business operations.
A quantitative method was adopted for this study and a mailed survey was used to collect data to examine the relevance of these factors within this context. Research participants were recruited using a systematic sampling technique through a comprehensive Chinese business directory. Results suggest that there are positive associations between a companys CRM implementation and its practice of organizational, strategic, and cultural issues. In particular, four organizational issues organizational integration, executive commitment, system readiness, and resource availability; three strategic issues vision, planning, and customer-centric culture; and one cultural issue networking, have an impact on a companys CRM implementation.
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Netzén, Örn Marcel, and Grim Moström. "Young SMEs' Financial Constraints and Collectivism : An International Evidence." Thesis, Umeå universitet, Företagsekonomi, 2016. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-124090.
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Small and medium size enterprises (SMEs, hereafter) are important drivers of the global economic development. For the SMEs, to establish and growth, having access to the sources of finance is of great importance. Anecdotal evidence suggeststhat while the importance of having access for the SMEs is apparent, they have been disadvantageous in many different ways. The disadvantage position of the SMEs can even be worse when they are younger (e.g., The World bank, 2001, p. 6-7). Prior research documents many factors that affect the financial constraints of SMEs. In this study, we investigate the association between SMEs age and financial constraints. In addition, we test the moderating effect of collectivism on SMEs’ financial constraints, as collectivism is documented to have an effect on bank corruption. We first hypothesize that there is a negative association between SMEs’ age and financial constraints. We further propose that the negative association between SMEs’ age and financial constraints decreases as collectivism (at the country level) increases. Using a World Bank’s sample of 31422 firms across 38 countries, we find that younger firms, compared to the older firms, experience higher level of financial constraints.Further, we observe an insignificant results regarding the moderating effect of collectivism on the proposed association.We offer contribution to the existing empirical evidence onfactors that affect financial constraints. Providing such an evidence may be found relevant to the economic institutions such as the World Bank and regulatory bodies, as they are allocating resources and making macro level decisions regarding the economicdevelopment through SMEs around the world.
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Cheng, Yan. "First line management in small and medium sized enterprises in the UK and China." Thesis, University of Derby, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10545/211229.
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The research question was offered by the sponsor of this Ph.D., The National Examining Board of Supervision and Management (NEBS Management). This research is a study of the First Line Management (FLM) role in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the UK and China. Different culture background, management styles, and communication systems, can be expected to affect the roles of managers. The Chinese style of managing the organisation has long been a subject of interest to researchers and practitioners. Research studies on managerial work and managerial roles have been well established in Western countries. Until recently, the cultural and political climate in China was less conducive to research into areas that might have caused too much debate. As a result, those researching management in China tended, until relevantly recently, to be isolated from main stream academic debate. It is believed that this study is unique in focusing on the FLM in China as well as in the UK. In both countries research on the FLM in SMEs is limited. This research attempts to bridge this gap by trying to define, for the first time, the roles, functions and skills required of FLMs in SMEs in the UK and China. The study argues that it is crucial to understand the FLM's role and place it within the organisation. The FLM is a critical link in any organisation because it is at this level that managerial and non managerial employees meet face to face and work in a close relationship with each other. The evidence from the research suggests that the FLM's role in the SME is broader than that of equivalent FLM role in the large organisation. It was found that FLMs in SMEs were seen as 'non-specialist', expected to cope with whatever aspect of work came their way. The implication of this broad 'nonspecialist' role was that they were expected to be a 'master of many trades'. The skills required to perform the FLM role were not perceived, despite their breadth as specialist skills such as finance, quality, purchasing and so on. Rather they were perceived as underpinning generic key skills which could, and should, be further supported by improved training and development. The research revealed that FLMs in SMEs perform a unique and a valuable role.There has been some concern about the extent to which models and practices of supervisory management are capable of being transferred from one country to another. The UK and China have evolved supervisory management styles and systems which are rooted in their respective social, economic and political circumstances but which are now being shaped increasingly by external, international and global patterns, trends and models. The study revealed there was a surprising degree of consistency in certain aspect of the FLM role in both countries. In particular, responsibility for 'organising and managing' was perceived as the core element ·of the FLM role. Differences were reviewed in how this core role was delivered in the two countries. For example, FLMs in the UK favoured a team working approach which was not adopted to the same degree by their Chinese counterparts. Other examples of differences included greater involvement and responsibility for financial matters in China than in the UK. These and other examples arise from different social, cultural and political circumstances and help illuminate the detail differences in both countries. In conclusion, the influence of international and global trends is likely to reduce the level of difference in the future. Summarising the FLM role in the SME, the research suggests that the FLMs are both co-ordinators and human relations engineers.