Article

Technology, Innovation, Entrepreneurship and The Small Business-Technology and Innovation in Small Business: JOURNAL OF SMALL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

February 2017
Journal of Small Business Management 55(2)

DOI:10.1111/jsbm.12311

Authors:

Jonathan Linton

The University of Sheffield

George T. Solomon

George Washington University

Transformation a Poor Village into a Prosperous Tourist Destination in Indonesia

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2024
Int J Sustain Dev Plann

A new leader has inspired young people to transform an agrarian village into a popular tourist destination. The goal of this research is to explain the process of transforming an agricultural village into a tourism village, including the role of the Village Head (VH) and other actors involved. This research was conducted in Pujon Kidul (PK) village, Pujon subdistrict, Malang Regency, East Java Province, Indonesia. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with innovators, small traders, and members of society at tourist sites. Apart from conducting in-depth interviews, secondary data was also utilized to examine how the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of innovators can transform the traditional lifestyle of PK Village. This phenomenon can be explained by the Knowledge-intensive Innovative Entrepreneurship (KIE) framework, which highlights the significance of knowledge and innovation in entrepreneurial development. The study's findings enhance the KIE framework by reinforcing the significance of entrepreneurial leaders and real political support. Moreover, the government's policies that actively promote the growth of rural areas and tourism are external factors that encourage Village Heads to bring about social transformation. These policies have created an environment that nurtures the entrepreneurial spirit of all members of society. Contrary to popular belief, this article argues that village development from the grassroots level is an achievable goal.

Towards Sustainable Digital Innovation of SMEs from the Developing Countries in the Context of the Digital Economy and Frugal Environment

Article

Full-text available

May 2021

This study aims to explore the direct impact of the digital orientation, Internet of Things (IoT) and digital platforms on the sustainable digital innovation in the context of the digital economy and frugal environment. This study also investigated the mediating role of the digital platforms in these relations. The study was based on the quantitative research design and data were collected from the 397 CEOs and managing directors of Small and Medium Enterprises in Pakistan. Correlation and structural equation modeling approaches were applied for the analysis and testing of the hypotheses. Results revealed that the digital orientation, IoT and digital platform are major antecedents of the sustainable digital innovation. Results also show that the digital platforms mediate between both digital orientation-sustainable digital innovation link and IoT-sustainable digital innovation link. The rapid pace of change in the technology has forced the business organizations to think out of box and align their operational mechanism accordingly. The need for the sustainable digital innovation is a major need of the current decade for meeting the increasing demands of the society in a sustainable way. Organizations, especially SMEs, should be able to deal with these challenges and rapid technological transformations through cost effective frugal business models. The frugal innovation is an important element of sustainable digital innovation enables SMEs to reduce resources usage and waste and to enhance sustainable economic activities. In this way, they can develop and gain advantages in this highly competitive digital environment. This is the first study showing the bright harmony of the digital orientation, IoT and digital platforms for achieving the sustainable digital innovation in the rapid evolving digital economy.

Technology and Culture in Subsistence Small Businesses

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2020

The paper analyzes the connection between technological knowledge and organizational culture in small subsistence businesses (SSBs). It uses data from a proportional representative sample of 980 surveys in the canton of La Maná (Cotopaxí, Ecuador) to test if culture conditions the different components of technological knowledge in SSBs. This work verifies that the technological knowledge is a source of short-term and long-term performance, which confirm for SSBs previous works in intellectual capital. The study analyzes also the moderating effect of culture, verifying that culture does not condition the connection between technological knowledge with the short-term performance. It shows that culture is not a source of performance. However, when the research checks whether the effect of the technological knowledge increases the long-term performance, the results indicate that culture significantly limits this effect, suggesting that culture presents a certain opportunism, possibly because in the SSBs, entrepreneurs do not pay any attention to developing knowledge resources. The conclusions present some managerial and social implications to improve the functioning and management of SSBs.

Preserving Life and Health by Preventing Fraud in Healthcare - JBBS

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2019

Modular Application of Evaluation System for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education of College Students--Based on Big Data Platform Analysis

Article

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Jun 2024

Zhen Wang

Based on the objectives of innovation and entrepreneurship education for college students, this paper constructs the evaluation index system, utilizes the improved Apriori algorithm to mine the association rules between the indicators, and reflects the relevant influence between the evaluation indicators through the association rules with higher support and confidence. Meanwhile, based on the big data platform, an evaluation system for innovation and entrepreneurship education for college students is established, and the level of innovation and entrepreneurship education for students is evaluated. The analysis of the correlation rules between the evaluation indicators found that the support degree of the rule that students with stronger independent ability are better at grasping innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities is 29.97%, which provides a reference for the teachers’ teaching objectives and content development. The results of the empirical analysis of the evaluation system of innovation and entrepreneurship education show that the modular application of the evaluation system created in this paper has a positive effect, and there is a highly significant difference in the evaluation of the “Z13 personal willingness” index before and after the application (P=0.000<0.001). The correlation rule of evaluation indexes in this study lays a theoretical foundation for the effective development of innovation and entrepreneurship teaching, and the modularized application of the innovation and entrepreneurship evaluation system constructed in this paper can improve the level of innovation and entrepreneurship education in colleges and universities to a certain extent.

EFFECTIVE DIGITAL MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR INCREASED ENGAGEMENT IN REAL ESTATE

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2023

Real estate marketing has traditionally been accomplished through conventional media outlets such as print advertising since the inception of the industry. However, the digital evolution is changing the way real estate professionals engage with their customers. This doctoral study explored effective digital marketing strategies for increased engagement in real estate. The general business problem was that it was not known what digital marketing strategies were used by property managers at GildEstates to increase consumer engagement or how those marketing strategies could be improved. The specific business problem was that some Real Estate managers lack the necessary digital marketing strategies to increase consumer engagement. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to determine what digital marketing strategies were used by GildEstates to increase consumer engagement and how those marketing strategies could be improved. The analysis resulted in a total of eight themes that answered two research questions. The first research question was what digital marketing strategies are used by GildEstates to increase consumer engagement? The second research question was, how could those marketing strategies be improved? The researcher used a qualitative research method to conduct the study. The design the researcher used was a case study. The case study consisted of fifteen (15) participants currently employed as property managers at GildEstates (Pseudonym). The researcher used Braun and Clarkes 6 phase Thematic Analysis to code, search, review, define, and perform a write-up of the findings. 2 The findings concluded that participants seeking to increase consumer engagement require technology that provides a simplistic method of tracking communication with their target audience. Additionally, the property managers of GildEstates described the importance of using digital media to provide information that saves time, stay informed, and educate their client as means to help them increase consumer engagement. The findings also determined that property managers at GildEstates rely on digital media’s ability to allow customers to initiate engagement with the property managers in a non-invasive and safe manner for property managers to be able to increase consumer engagement.

The Influence of Internal and External Stakeholder Mechanisms on Entrepreneurial Success: The Moderating Role of Digital Technology Adoption

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2022

The purpose of this research is to investigate the associations of internal and external support mechanisms with entrepreneurial success, in the context of China's entrepreneurial sector from network theory perspective. The role of digital technology, as a moderator, has also been analyzed. Data has been obtained from 500 entrepreneurs in Jiangsu, a province in China. All hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. It has been found that family support, business partner support, community support and external stakeholder relationships have positive effects on entrepreneurial success. It has also been discovered that digital technology adoption strengthens the positive relationship between business partner support and entrepreneurial success. Theoretical and practical implications have been highlighted and future research suggestions have been provided.

STI and DUI innovation modes in micro-, small-, medium- and large-sized firms: distinctive patterns across Europe and the U.S.

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2020

A growing literature discusses the effectiveness of business innovation modes on innovation performance. In particular, the innovation mode based on the application of science and technology drivers -STI- (e.g. R&D; collaboration with universities) is analysed and compared to the mode based on learning-by-doing, by-using and by-interacting -DUI- (e.g. teamwork, collaboration with suppliers). These modes express the archetypical strategies firms use to innovate. The literature has long identified specificities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, in this study we segment this group of enterprises and inquire the peculiar innovation modes adopted by these firms as we expect SMEs to be less homogeneous than typically expected. Here, we distinguish between internal STI and DUI drivers, and external STI and DUI drivers as we expect firms of different sizes to compete through different combinations of drivers. Complementarily, we investigate the impact of these drivers on innovation output across these types of firms. The results show the effective adoption of internal STI drivers across micro/small firms, and the well-rounded approach taken by medium-sized firms. Large firms show a more limited effectiveness of external STI and DUI drivers, which seems to be linked to a selective approach to innovation.

PENGEMBANGAN PRODUKSI DAN DIGITALISASI PEMASARAN BAGI UMKM DI SEKTOR KULINER COOKED BY ANNISA (HASIL LUARAN PKM) [PRODUCTION DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING DIGITALIZATION FOR UMKM IN THE CULINARY SECTOR COOKED BY ANNISA (PKM OUTPUT RESULTS)]

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2025

Cooked by Annisa" is a home-based culinary business established in 2020, focusing on offering high-quality food products such as pastries and Japanese specialties. The business faces several challenges, including limited production capacity, restricted market access, and a shortage of human and financial resources. This article outlines proposed solutions to address these issues through digital marketing strategies, a pre-order and pick-up point system, new product development, operational enhancements, and the adoption of digital technologies. These initiatives aim to boost competitiveness, expand market reach, and transform the business into a sustainable and adaptive MSME in the global food sector. The article also presents risk analysis, and key lessons learned in managing a digitally driven and innovative-focused small enterprise. Abstrak Bahasa Indonesia: Cooked by Annisa" adalah usaha kuliner rumahan yang berdiri sejak tahun 2020 dan berfokus pada penyediaan produk makanan berkualitas, seperti pastry dan hidangan khas Jepang. Dalam perjalanannya, usaha ini menghadapi tantangan seperti keterbatasan kapasitas produksi, akses pasar yang terbatas, serta minimnya sumber daya manusia dan pembiayaan. Artikel ini membahas solusi yang diusulkan untuk mengatasi tantangan tersebut melalui strategi pemasaran digital, sistem pre-order dan pick-up point, pengembangan produk baru, serta peningkatan operasional dan adopsi teknologi digital. Dengan pendekatan ini, diharapkan usaha dapat meningkatkan daya saing, memperluas pasar, dan bertransformasi menjadi UMKM kuliner yang berkelanjutan dan adaptif terhadap perubahan pasar global. Artikel ini juga menganalisis risiko dan pelajaran yang dipetik dalam pengelolaan usaha kecil berbasis digital dan inovasi.

PROMOTING HANDICRAFT FAMILY BUSINESS THROUGH DIGITAL MARKETING TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE PERFORMANCE

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2024

The study aims to determine the dimensions of the adoption intention of digital marketing in handicraft family businesses towards business performance, as well as technological innovation applications in the family business for sustainable development. This study examines the theoretical insights and designs a conceptual framework based on previous studies of handicraft family businesses. In so doing, 290 survey data were collected from handicraft business owners and tourists by using face-to-face interviews through a structured questionnaire with 82.85% valid response rate. Moreover, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze data and find out the causal relationship among the constructs and hypothesis testing. As per the results of the study, among the 6 hypotheses paths all were supported along wit h 24 relationship path coefficients were noteworthy. The result shows that perceived ease of use, perceived risk, perceived usefulness, social norms, perceived behavioral control, and attitude radically influence to the adoption of digital marketing in han dicraft family businesses. The results of this study will assist the research scholars through theory and theoretical foundation for family business owners in understanding and comprehending the role of digital marketing in sustainable family business performance. Similarly, the legacy of family businesses in handicrafts or small businesses can be maintained and empowered through digital marketing to boost the economy. The study is the foremost one in discovering a sustainable business strategy through the success factors of digital marketing adoption in family businesses.

Challenges and Opportunities of Virtual Reality Technology for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education

Article

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Sep 2024

There are still some challenges and opportunities for the cultivation of innovative and entrepreneurial talents in virtual reality technology-related professions, and how to solve these problems is the key to cultivating and incubating innovative and entrepreneurial talents in virtual reality technology. The article first takes Unity3D as the basis for the construction of a virtual teaching classroom scene and utilizes particle system and A* algorithm for technical architecture to build the software platform of a virtual reality simulation teaching platform. Finally, the class of 22 business administration students in a college is used as an empirical research object to test the teaching effect. The results of the study show that virtual reality technology can better enhance students’ interest in learning, and more than 70% of the students are more willing to use virtual reality technology in the innovation and entrepreneurship education classroom. More than 75% of the students think that the use of virtual reality technology helps the conversion of two-dimensional and three-dimensional thinking, and it can improve innovation and entrepreneurship ability. Well, in the VR classroom, the language of the students is improved by 16%, of the teacher’s language is lower by 29%. The use of virtual reality technology is conducive to improving students’ innovation and entrepreneurship abilities, and it is more capable of driving innovation and entrepreneurship education.

Innovative Development Path of Hands-on Ability Cultivation for College Students Combined with SPSS Statistical Analysis Modeling Based on Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Orientation

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2024

In the context of China’s ongoing educational reform and the increasing diversity of employment options for college students, there is a growing emphasis on the practical skills of undergraduates. This study focuses on the development of these competencies, selecting a sample of 816 students from five universities to explore the requirements currently placed on Chinese college students. Utilizing factor analysis and ANOVA, we constructed a scale to assess the hands-on abilities of college students, as well as a scale for the influencing factors. The study was conducted using SPSS multiple linear regression to examine the correlations between the identified factors. The Hands-on Ability Scale consists of four primary indicators and 15 secondary indicators. Additionally, the analysis revealed that the influencing factors account for varying degrees of impact on key competencies: 23.4% on self-management ability, 13.3% on teamwork ability, 39.8% on innovation ability, and 25.5% on problem-solving ability. This study underscores the critical need for integrating practical skills training in the curriculum to better prepare students for the challenges of modern employment landscapes.

Linking Entrepreneurs’ Felt Responsibility to Ventures’ Innovation Performance: The Roles of External Learning and Shared Vision

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2023

Introduction In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, innovation has become a crucial factor for the success of entrepreneurial ventures in China. However, the mechanisms underlying the promotion of innovation by entrepreneurs are not yet fully understood. Drawing on self-determination theory, this study develops a comprehensive “motivation-behaviors-performance” model to examine the relationship between entrepreneurs’ felt responsibility for constructive change and ventures’ innovation performance. Methods Two waves of questionnaire surveys with a sample of 376 entrepreneurs in East China were conducted. Hierarchical regression analysis was performed to test the hypotheses. Results The empirical findings demonstrate that entrepreneurs’ felt responsibility for constructive change is a key driver of innovation performance in ventures. Furthermore, external learning, encompassing technological and market learning, serves as a mediator for the positive link between entrepreneurs’ felt responsibility and innovation performance. The study also reveals that entrepreneurs’ perception of shared vision moderates the relationships between entrepreneurs’ felt responsibility and both technological and market learning, such that the relationships are stronger when the perception of shared vision is higher. Discussion These results yield important contributions to the entrepreneurial psychology research and self-determination theory. The study also has managerial implications for entrepreneurs aiming to enhance ventures’ innovation performance.

The Core Attributes and Specialisations of Small and Medium Textile Enterprises in Ghana

Article

Full-text available

Jun 2023

Isaac Abraham

The growth and sustainability of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are crucial for the economic development of any nation. The government of Ghana, in recognition of this, established the Ghana Enterprises Agency to promote the growth and development of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs). This study aimed to identify the core attributes and areas of specialization of Small and Medium Textile Enterprises (SMTEs) in Ghana to provide the necessary support, identify employment opportunities, and mobilize the needed revenue for development. A descriptive research design was used for the study, with a sample size of 273 out of 300 questionnaires distributed to small and medium textile manufacturers in Greater Accra, Ashanti, Northern, and Western regions. The study employed multi-stage sampling techniques involving convenient, purposive, and stratified sampling procedures. The findings revealed that Greater Accra and the Ashanti region have the highest population of SMTEs in Ghana. The average annual earning of SMTEs in Ghana was around Gh¢18,000, which suggests more room for improvement. The study recommends that the government must provide valuable resources, particularly financial and strategic support, for the development of the private sector, particularly SMEs. The study also identified that the textile industry has significant potential for job creation and revenue generation, particularly in the face of rising youth unemployment rates in Ghana. Therefore, the government should promote investment in the textile sector, particularly for SMTEs, through policies that prioritize infrastructural development, access to finance, and targeted training programs. Overall, this study highlights the importance of supporting SMEs, particularly in the textile industry, as a vital means of promoting economic growth and development in Ghana.

The Effects of ICT on Performance and Well-Being According to Employee Position Level in the Gabonese Civil Service: A Longitudinal Study

Preprint

Full-text available

Apr 2023

Background We examined the impact of ICT demands on the performance and psychological well-being at work (PWBW) of civil servants. The moderating role of employee position levels was also assessed. Therefore, we hypothesised that the impact of ICT would predict the performance (H1) and PWBW (H2) of civil servants and that employee position levels would play a moderating role in the relationship between the impact of ICT on civil servants' performance and PWBW (H3). Methods A total of 367 civil servants from different public institutions (35.01% female; Mage = 37.44 years, SDage = 7.35) responded to the questionnaire at all stages. The Work Performance scale, the PWBW scale and the ICT Demands scale were applied to assess the impact of ICT on participants’ work performance and PWBW respectively. Data were analysed using repeated measures analysis of variance, hierarchical linear regression and structural equation modeling (SEM). Results The results showed that the impact of ICT was generally more positive among supervisors than among the officers in T2 (1 year later) predicting a higher level of performance and PWBW of supervisors than officers in T3 (2 years later). The results also showed that employee position levels moderated the relationship between ICT demands, performance, and PWBW. Conclusions The results of this study provide important insights into the existing literature and help practitioners in the world of work, particularly in developing countries, to better understand how the introduction of a technological tool into employee practices can engender individual attitudes, emotions and behaviours that are appropriate or inappropriate for the goals of the organisation and how the employee's perception of a technological artifact changes according to job level.

Job Loss in the Pandemic Disruption in Egypt: A Push to Start a Business?

Chapter

Full-text available

Jun 2022

The Coronavirus caused severe losses, many owner-managers lost their businesses, and many employees lost their jobs. This raises the question of whether such losses were a push into traumatic resignation or a push to start a business? And what are the main factors that influence responses? This chapter aims to answer these questions by drawing on the Theory of Planned Behaviour in order to help advance the scarce literature on entrepreneurial intentions under adverse conditions. We build and test a model of entrepreneurial intention highlighting entrepreneurial mindset (self-efficacy and opportunity perception) and social capital as core determinants of entrepreneurial intention. Using a sample of 1777 owner-managers and employees in Egypt surveyed by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), results of logistic regression reveal that former owner-managers, who had just lost their business, were less entrepreneurially minded and networked less than their continuing counterparts. Former employees, who had just lost their job, were no more entrepreneurially minded than their continuing counterparts. Results also show that self-efficacy and opportunity perception play a key role in promoting people’s entrepreneurial intention. The findings contribute to the debate on predictors of entrepreneurial intention in hostile environments and developing countries; and pave the way for studies on whether disadvantages such as the COVID-19 pandemic prompt a new type of entrepreneurship where necessity aligns with opportunity.

Exploring the Entrepreneurial Challenges of Disabled Entrepreneurs in a Developing Country

Chapter

Jun 2022

Creating the proper conditions to change the attitude and mentality of those with disabilities towards creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship in Iran is classified as one of the general and specific issues, accompanied by concerns over solving the challenges in entrepreneurship and startups shaped by people with disabilities (PWDs). The study tried to examine the opportunities available in Iran to identify the entrepreneurial challenges of the disabled and provide strategies to create and develop startups launched by the disabled. The study used the grand theory method to determine the entrepreneurial challenges of the disabled and five relevant basic factors (institutional, environmental, developmental, social, and personal factors) as causal conditions. Furthermore, effective intervention and context for identifying strategies and presenting outcomes have been conducted according to the library studies and analysing and reviewing interviews with six active and top disabled entrepreneurs in the field of startups and businesses. Among the findings were attention to the role of government and reforming social attitudes to increase the economic activities of the disabled by prescribing four indigenous propositions to reduce the challenges in the process of creating startups shaped by the disabled, firstly to their presence in the economic cycle and social influence, and secondly, for developing entrepreneurs with disabilities and creating self-employment, sharing knowledge and experiences among them.

Analysing appropriateness in appropriate technology for achieving sustainability: A multi-sectorial examination in a developing economy

Article

Mar 2022
J CLEAN PROD

Appropriate technology has emerged as a critical driver for sustainable development in developing countries where a massive population depends on small and medium-sized businesses. Appropriate technologies are energy-efficient, which corresponds to environmental sustainability. The benefits of appropriate technology may range from providing economic sustainability for availing affordable solutions in a resource-constrained environment to promoting social sustainability by fostering inclusivity of marginalized sections of the society. However, the appropriateness, which is the perceived quality of appropriate technology, largely remains unaddressed in prior research. Therefore, the current study proposes a framework to explore determinants of appropriateness and examine the interplay among them anchored on resource mobilization theory. Four case organizations of a developing country are empirically analyzed to obtain appropriateness factors from the perspectives of multiple stakeholders, namely, enterprises, developers, and users. Next, a decision-making technique is applied to derive the cause-effect relationship between the identified factors. The results contribute five factors of appropriateness: technological, socio-economic, organizational, market, and environment to the literature on appropriate technology. The former three factors induce the latter two factors of appropriateness. Understanding the interplay among the indicators from a multi-stakeholder perspective assists the policymakers in facilitating the adoption of appropriate technologies at the grassroots level to achieve sustainable development goals in developing economies.

How ICT usage affect frugal innovation in Mexican small firms. The mediating role of entrepreneurial orientation

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2022

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) usage is a key strategy to stimulate innovation and firm performance. There is a gap in the literature in terms of the full understanding of the simultaneous relationship among ICT usage, entrepreneurial orientation and frugal innovation. For this reason, empirical research with quantitative approach and cross-sectional design was applied through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), to analyse how ICT usage affect frugal innovation and entrepreneurial orientation of small-and medium-sized firms where mediating effects were assessed. Using a simple random sampling technique and a self-administered questionnaire to gather data from a sample of 200 business owners in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. The results indicate that ICT usage has a significant influence on both entrepreneurial orientation and frugal innovation. Moreover, entrepreneurial orientation plays a significant partial mediating role in the relationship between ICT usage and frugal innovation.

IDENTIFYING START-UP PARTNERS: WHICH SEARCH PRACTICES AND COMBINATION STRATEGIES ARE EFFECTIVE?

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2021
Int J Innovat Manag

Start-ups are an important source of novel knowledge and product ideas for incumbents. We investigate which search strategies are positively related to the successful search for start-ups. We identify search instruments and their various uses: intensive or broad; stand-alone or combinatory. Finding 11 search practices in the literature, we evaluate how these practices were used by 97 respondents from a cross-industry and cross-national sample. Our results show that searching broadly and intensively is positively related to a successful search for start-ups and to firms’ radical innovation capability. Specific tools that are positively related to search success are online contacts, desk research, external scouting partners, and start-up pitch events. Decision tree analysis provides effective combinations of search practices that innovation managers and purchasing managers can use. Employing these search practice combinations, we make incumbents aware of the routines used in distant knowledge search. These practices are dynamic capabilities that help them to remain successful in high-velocity markets. In identifying these search practices, we contribute to the literature on innovation routines and dynamic capability research.

Implementasi Metode Multi Objective Optimization On The Basis Of Ratio Analysis (MOORA) Pada Sistem Pendukung Keputusan Penentuan Penerima Bantuan Iuran BPJS Kesehatan (Studi Kasus: Desa Loru Kabupaten Sigi)

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2021

Introduction: This study aims to build an application that can carry out the selection process for prospective recipients of contribution assistance so that it is easier and becomes an alternative choice for the Village Government in determining eligible residents for BPJS Health contribution assistance in Loru Village, Sigi Regency. Methods: This decision support system application is web-based using the Hypertext Prepocessor (PHP) programming language with the Multi Objective Optimization method On The Basis Of The Ratio Analysis (MOORA), using sublime text 3 software and also MySQL as the database. In this study, 444 households were used as data for heads of households. With the system, orders will be carried out objectively and in detail. To determine which residents are truly entitled to receive assistance, this is done by compiling citizen data by considering the value of the MOORA method formula for each of the specified criteria. Result: The results that have been carried out by this author are a solution to determine the recipients of BPJS Health contribution assistance in Loru Village, Sigi Regency, so that the selection process can be more effective in terms of time and operation. Conclutions: Based on manual calculations as a comparison with the calculation of the system built, the same results were obtained. This shows that the system built can process the selection of potential recipients of contribution assistance. The result of the system process using the MOORA method is the ranking of PBI candidates with the highest rank to the lowest rank.

A Brief Survey of Current Software Engineering Practices in Continuous Integration and Automated Accessibility Testing

Conference Paper

Full-text available

Mar 2021

Parth Sane

Innovation quantity or quality? The role of political connections

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2021
Emerg Market Rev

Based on the heterogeneity of innovation quantity and quality, this study investigates the impact of political connections on enterprises' innovation. Using the data of Chinese listed enterprises from 2003 to 2015, we find that political connections have a positive impact on enterprises' innovation quantity, but they are detrimental to innovation quality. We further find that political connections weaken the promotion of government subsidies on innovation quality and even reduce the R&D intensity of enterprises, which serves as an essential determinant of innovation quality. The government can stimulate enterprises' innovation quality by improving marketization, intellectual property protection, and anti-corruption.

A Brief Survey of Current Software Engineering Practices in Continuous Integration and Automated Accessibility Testing

Preprint

Full-text available

Feb 2021

Parth Sane

It's long been accepted that continuous integration (CI) in software engineering increases the code quality of enterprise projects when adhered to by it's practitioners. But is any of that effort to increase code quality and velocity directed towards improving software accessibility accommodations? What are the potential benefits quoted in literature? Does it fit with the modern agile way that teams operate in most enterprises? This paper attempts to map the current scene of the software engineering effort spent on improving accessibility via continuous integration and it's hurdles to adoption as quoted by researchers. We also try to explore steps that agile teams may take to train members on how to implement accessibility testing and introduce key diagrams to visualize processes to implement CI based accessibility testing procedures in the software development lifecycle.

Does Qur'an and Science Literacy Interrelate?

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2020

Sukarno Sukarno

Al-Qur'an is the main guideline for Muslims. Muslims believe that all aspects of human life can be solved with it. Research with a mixed-method approach aims to answer the question of whether Qur'an literacy (QL) has an impact on the science literacy (SL) of prospective physics teachers. Based on the results of tests on 23 Physics teacher candidate students at UIN STS Jambi, it was found that the correlation between scientific literacy and Qur'an literacy was positive, 0.761, and significant, with a value 0.00 < 0.05. The data show that there is a very strong positive relationship between SL and QL. Thus, it can be concluded that students (people) with good QL will tend to have good SL, as well. Therefore, those who study the Qur'an will indirectly have good scientific literacy skills. Thus, there is a need for integrated learning of the Qur'an and science. Such learning can be carried out for nonscience students, as well as for science students, to make them superior human resources with character.

Information and Communication Technologies Adoption in Small Firms

Article

Full-text available

May 2020

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can provide a set of benefits to companies, such as efficiency gains in managerial activities, cost reduction and faster communication with consumers. The ICT literature has studies showing the positive impact that the IT adoption can generate on the company’s performance. ICT benefits are also extensive to small business, but their particular characteristics do not always support their adoption by these enterprises, especially when they are enterprises situated in developing countries. In this context, the aim of this paper was to identify how the ICT adoption and the ICT intention of use are in Brazilian small firms. We have used a case study and we have collected data from four enterprises. In order to collect the data, we used qualitative interviews, direct observation and documental analysis. The main results have shown that the owner’s characteristics, the understanding of the ICT benefits, the ICT complexity and the costs/time related to training people are factors associated with the ICT adoption and intention of use. Based on the literature review and on the empirical evidence, we have found that there is an opportunity cost related to postponing the decision of the ICT investments. We also discuss the role of geographical localization of the enterprises, which can contribute to the ICT literature.

Technology and government regulation: A conceptual perspective of entrepreneurial orientation on creditworthiness of micro-enterprises

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2020
AFR J BUS MANAGE

Effects of Different Learning Mechanisms on the Performance of MSME: A Case of Ludhiana’s Machine Tool Industry

Article

Apr 2025
Indian Econ J

This study investigates the effects of various learning mechanisms on the performance of machine tool manufacturing firms in Ludhiana, exploring potential differences or similarities in these effects across different firm sizes within the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) framework, in light of the 2020 MSME reclassification by the Indian government. The study categorises learning mechanisms into science, technology and innovation (STI) and learning by doing, using and interacting (DUI), based on existing literature. Primary data were collected through a self-structured questionnaire. Results of multivariate analysis of variance analysis reveal no significant difference in the impact of STI and DUI learning mechanisms on overall firm performance across different size categories, even when considering the new MSME classification. Firms of all sizes are found to rely predominantly on informal (DUI) learning mechanisms, particularly ‘interpersonal ties’ and ‘imitation’, to enhance their performance. The study also employs Garret ranking to analyse the varying innovation bottlenecks faced by firms of different sizes. Notably, the lack of skilled labour emerges as the most critical obstacle hindering innovation capacity across the spectrum of firm sizes, affecting both smaller and larger enterprises in the machine tool manufacturing sector. These findings suggest that the recent MSME reclassification has not significantly altered the relationship between firm size and the effectiveness of learning mechanisms in this industry. JEL Codes: D83, O31, L64, L25, O32, O33

Strategies for Small Business Resilience and Technological Adaptation Towards Embracing Industry 5.0 in Nigeria

Chapter

Dec 2024

Damola Olugbade

The advent of Industry 5.0 that combines advanced technologies like robotics, artificial intelligence, and cyber-physical systems seamlessly would be an opportunity and challenge for small businesses. This chapter looks at the vulnerabilities that small businesses may have to face during this technological paradigm shift and gives strategic ways in which these risks can be mitigated. It then digs into the fundamental tenets of Industry 5.0 by assessing the importance of technology adoption and adaptation in ensuring resilience as well as competitiveness among small businesses. Additionally, EdTech and other innovative technologies have been identified within this chapter to assist in upskilling and reskilling owners of small enterprises & their employees thus developing a culture of continuous learning plus innovation. Finally, this chapter outlines a full roadmap that small enterprises can follow to adopt industry 5.0 by giving them practical strategies and suggestions on how they can remain viable and sustainable in the face of technology-driven business world.

MOTIVACIÓN EN LOS PEQUEÑOS NEGOCIOS: UNA TAXONOMÍA EMPÍRICA DE PROPIETARIOS UTILIZANDO ANÁLISIS FACTORIAL EXPLORATORIO MOTIVATION IN SMALL BUSINESSES: AN EMPIRICAL TAXONOMY OF OWNERS USING EXPLORATORY FACTOR ANALYSIS

Article

Full-text available

Dec 2023

Resumen Los propietarios de los pequeños negocios son heterogéneos y sus diversas características influyen en el enfoque de motivación. El objetivo es brindar soluciones a dos problemas de motivación relacionados con la heterogeneidad: débil política de capacitación para abordar temas específicos en propietarios de pequeños negocios; y segundo, la dificultad para los propietarios de conocer y adaptar a la práctica la motivación. La solución es crear una taxonomía de propietarios-motivadores. Se desarrollar una taxonomía a través del análisis factorial exploratorio (n=386). Los hallazgos presentan una taxonomía de cinco tipos de motivadores en negocios pequeños: progresista, comunicador, flexible, innovador y responsable socialmente, lo que implica mejorar el potencial motivador en los propietarios de pequeños negocios ofreciendo apoyo práctico en sus actividades relacionadas a la motivación. Palabras clave: pequeños negocios, motivación, cultura, taxonomía. Abstract Small business owners are heterogeneous, and their various characteristics influence the motivation approach. The objective is to provide solutions to two motivation problems related to heterogeneity: weak training policy to address specific issues in small business owners; and second, the difficulty for owners to know and adapt motivation to practice. The solution is to create a taxonomy of owner-motivators. A taxonomy will be developed through exploratory factor analysis (n=386). The findings present a taxonomy of five types of motivators in small businesses: progressive, communicative, flexible, innovative, and socially responsible, which involves improving the motivating potential in small business owners by offering practical support in their motivation-related activities.

Intension towards Small Business Ownership

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2024

Sajjan Choudhuri

Using self-reported data the present study tries to identify the most important factors that motivate an individual to start his own firm. By carefully analysing the data gathered from interview of seventh three business owners the author identifies three significant themes that drive the establishment of firms. Based on the insights from the thematic analysis implications for academia and practitioners is discussed.

ỨNG DỤNG CÔNG NGHỆ SỐ NHẰM PHÁT TRIỂN KINH TẾ SỐ BỀN VỮNG TẠI VIỆT NAM: CƠ HỘI VÀ THÁCH THỨC

Article

Full-text available

Feb 2024

Nguyen Thi Thuy Hong

Nền kinh tế số của Việt Nam đang phát triển với những định hướng và cải cách mới nhằm phát triển bền vững và đáp ứng các mục tiêu hội nhập của khu vực và thế giới. Có thể nói, nền kinh tế số - mạng lưới toàn cầu của các hoạt động kinh tế, tương tác nghề nghiệp và trao đổi thương mại được hỗ trợ bởi công nghệ thông tin và truyền thông (Information and Communication Technologies - ICT). Trong thời đại công nghệ 4.0, nền kinh tế số phát triển trên nền tảng công nghệ số như kho dữ liệu (big data), trí tuệ nhân tạo (artificial intelligence - AI), học máy (machine learning) và kết nối vạn vật (Internet of everything - IoT). Mục tiêu của nghiên cứu nhằm đánh giá thực trạng ứng dụng công nghệ số, để từ đó đề xuất một số giải pháp nâng cao hiệu quả ứng dụng công nghệ số nhằm phát triển nền kinh tế số Việt Nam. Nghiên cứu sử dụng phương pháp thu thập dữ liệu thứ cấp từ các nguồn chính thống và phương pháp định tính nhằm đánh giá, phân tích những cơ hội và thách thức của chuyển đổi số nhằm phát triển nền kinh tế Việt Nam. Kết quả nghiên cứu là có bốn thách thức lớn ảnh hưởng đến hiệu quả ứng dụng công nghệ số, các cơ hội ứng dụng công nghệ số và một số giải pháp nâng cao hiệu quả ứng dụng công nghệ số nhằm phát triển kinh tế số Việt Nam.

The Enabling Role of IT Solutions in SMEs Frugal Innovation- Post Coronavirus Crisis in Bahrain - Case Study.pdf

Preprint

Full-text available

Jan 2024

Maryam Zainal

p>SMEs were pushed to implement innovative procedures and transform from traditional operations into a Digital Transformation process of converting into more technologized and enhance the market needs to obtain new employment opportunities post to the covid-19 crisis, the expectations of development put the stockholders and investments under stress to adopt the new techniques of innovation to fill the market gaps and needs, keeping the low cost as the first target with quality of values in products and services at the same or better level, taking into consideration the customers’ satisfaction as the main factor that affects the technology adoption, policies changing and the low-cost innovation due to the economic crisis. To take into consideration this issue, we built a conceptual framework model based on multi-model founds in different studies concerning different factors that affected the adoption, focusing on the digital transformation and had an impact on the Frugal Innovation in 50 of new established SMEs undergoing the new program adopted by SME’s Society in Bahrain. The hypothesis of the adopted model will provide the relationship of some of the most founded factors affecting the Frugal Innovation Implementation, which had a link with Digital Transformation and a positive impact on Customer satisfaction, keeping in mind that the Covid-19 anxiety is considered a moderator that affected the adoption of Digital Transformation directly. To test the hypothesis, data would be collected with both Quantitative and Qualitative methods in a longitudinal study before applying the Digital transformation and after the technology adoption and expected that the data analysis will support the testing of the hypothesis.</p

The Enabling Role of IT Solutions in SMEs Frugal Innovation- Post Coronavirus Crisis in Bahrain - Case Study.pdf

Preprint

Full-text available

Jan 2024

Maryam Zainal

فاعلية برنامج قائم على استراتيجيات التقويم الأصيل في تنمية مهارات إدارة الأعمال ومهارات التفكير الأخلاقي لدى طلاب التعليم الثانوي العام

Article

Jul 2023

حنان حمدي السلاموني

TS Systematic: Enterprise System for Pasalubong Center in the Philippines

Conference Paper

Aug 2022

The Impact of Digital Capability on Firm Performance and Growth in Incumbent SMEs

Article

Full-text available

May 2023

This study examines the effect of digital capability on firm performance and firm growth. We apply the resource-based view and especially its expansion of the dynamic capabilities perspective to illustrate how digital capability is positively related to firm performance and firm growth, and how firm size is a relevant factor in explaining digital capability in incumbent SMEs. The context of this study is Finnish SMEs. The data were gathered from 242 SME owner-managers and analysed with structural equation modelling. The results show that smaller firms have less digital capability than larger SMEs and that smaller firms struggle with performance indicators. Digital capability is positively related to firm performance and firm growth. Our results indicate that although several factors explain and alter the course of firm growth, digital capability can boost the opportunity creation process, and aid survival in the face of competition. Digital capability is an important resource in SMEs and allows firms to safeguard the sustainability of their business model. We argue that digital capability is strongly related to SME’s management practices and SME owner/manager’s commitment to responding to digital transformation. This research sheds light on the importance of strategic leaders’ perceptions of digital capability on incumbent SMEs’ competitive advantage, and contributes both entrepreneurship theory and practice.

Bread Industry Sustainability Life Cycle Assessment (A Proposal of Analysis of Sustainability Assessment Using Environmental and Social Footprints)

Chapter

Apr 2023

The paper aims to examine the sustainability of non-durable storage organizations and analyze the life cycle curve for the industry. According to accounting and statistical reports, 256 organizations of the industry were evaluated. Among the organizations of the industry, 39.45% have existed from 7 to 9 years; there prevail limited liability companies (83.59%), microenterprises with revenues from 10 to 120 million rubles (55.47%). The authors conclude that small organizations (with revenues less than 10 million rubles) are unstable.KeywordsLife cycleBread marketRevenue growthBaking production

Identification of Factors Affecting the Growth of Knowledge Based Companies in Sport

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2023

The aim of this study was to identify those factors affecting the growth of knowledge based companies in the field of sport. The method of this study was survey which was conducted as a field. The statistical population included all managers and experts of knowledge based companies in the field of sport in Tehran city. Based on the information obtained from Tehran Science and Technology Park, they were 43 subjects and all of them were selected as the sample by census sampling method. A questionnaire used by Somsuk and Laosirihongthong (2013) was employed to collect data. After Delphi method, the items and factors of this questionnaire were adjusted according to the sport status of Iran. One-sample t test was used to determine the status of each factor of the study. The AHP statistical method was used to rank these factors. All data analysis was performed in SPSS and Super Decisions software. The results showed that among the identified factors, organizational and marketing factors (with a level above the average) were in a desirable condition, but economic, technological and human factors (their average was lower than level 3) were in an undesirable condition in knowledge based companies. The ranking results showed that economic factor (with a closeness coefficient of 0.652) was the most important factor in improving the performance of knowledge based companies in sport. The results also revealed that technology factor (with a closeness coefficient of 0.158) was the least important factor in improving the performance of knowledge based companies in sport.

Classification system model for project sustainability

Article

Full-text available

Apr 2022

One of the problems faced by the state-owned electricity company (PT. PLN) in Indonesia is the difficulty of monitoring the progress of an ongoing project so that it requires a technology that can help project managers in monitoring project implementation. The data in this study consisted of 117 Win project data and 89 Lose project data with a total of 206 data. The system development used extreme programming with algorithmic testing, namely the configuration matrix. The result of this research showed that the model could produce an accuracy of 92.68% with an error percentage of 7.32%, which means that the model produced good accuracy in implementing the C4.5 algorithm in recognizing patterns of project development. The first implication of the proposed approach is that it can establish project work monitoring services. The second implication is that project managers can improve company performance

Overcoming internal barriers to new venture growth: The role of employee motivations

Article

Oct 2022

Simon C. Parker

A major internal barrier to new venture growth is employee effort that diminishes with expansion of the venture’s workforce. This paper advances entrepreneurial growth theory by exploring conceptually how management measures that leverage three distinct employee motivations – extrinsic, intrinsic, and prosocial – affect this barrier. I argue that “agency measures” which leverage employees’ extrinsic motivations likely lose their effectiveness as firms grow; in contrast, measures that leverage employees’ prosocial motivations are better placed to overcome the internal growth barrier and spur ongoing new venture growth.

Factors That Affect Digital Innovation Sustainability among SMEs in the Middle East Region

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2022

Digital innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has been studied extensively over the past quarter-century. The products, processes, and/or model innovation in businesses that are viewed as novel necessitate significant alterations from consumers and are represented in or facilitated by IT; this is what it means when digital innovation is mentioned. Nonetheless, despite the unique application of digital innovation in different organizations, the factors that lead to its success are still uncertain. Therefore, this study aims at evaluating the various factors that affect the digital innovation of SMEs in the Middle East region. This research used a descriptive research design in which primary data from the SME owners and employees were used to evaluate the research objectives. Descriptive statistics, such as frequencies and structural equation models conducted through SPSS, were used to evaluate the research objectives in showing how various factors such as the Internet of Things (IoT; physical objects and things with sensors, software, and other technological techniques integrated into them for the purpose of exchanging data and connecting with other systems and devices), digital platforms, and digital orientation have influenced digital innovation sustainability in SMEs. Results showed a positive and substantial impact on digital innovation sustainability as a result of the IoT, digital platforms, and digital orientation. In conclusion, the research shows that SMEs should use digital platforms, the IoT, and digital orientation to be digitally stable.

From Retirement to Entrepreneurship Through Skills, Attitude, and Technological Innovation

Chapter

Jun 2022

Indian start-up space is dominated by young entrepreneurs but for starting an enterprise age does not matter. Senior entrepreneurship has come into the picture as people even after attaining a mature age seem to be willing to achieve new goals. After retirement, they might not want to be a burden to the economy but rather be active contributors. Thus, the following study was conducted among people above the age of 50 years in India to identify their entrepreneurial intentions. The study also aimed to find the impact of personal attitude, personal digital innovation, and entrepreneurial skills on entrepreneurial intentions. The sample of the study included 111 respondents from whom the data was collected using a standardized questionnaire. The results of the study were analyzed using correlation and regression analysis. It was found that at present people in India belonging to the mature age group do not seem to be in high agreement toward starting their venture. However, the variables like personal attitude and entrepreneurial skills have a significant and positive influence on their entrepreneurial intentions. Several suggestions have been provided at the end to enhance their interest in senior entrepreneurship.

Does transitioning to a digital economy imply lower levels of corruption?

Article

Mar 2022

The link between information and communications technology (ICT) and corruption has been discussed by a few authors, yet a macro‐level analysis of the link coupled with an examination of the link between ICT, stage of economic development, and countries' specific factors has not been fully explored. With panel data of 147 countries over a seven‐year period from 2013 to 2019, we find that countries that have transitioned from a natural‐resource‐based to an innovation‐driven, digital economy experience lower levels of corruption. A country's level of corruption is negatively related to ICT measures such as internet penetration and e‐government. Moreover, ICT appears to reinforce the role of press freedom and education in curbing corruption.

Digital marketing in SMEs via data-driven strategies: Reviewing the current state of research

Article

Full-text available

Aug 2021

The development of the Internet and the implementation of traditional marketing strategies have given rise to the emergence of digital marketing strategies exploited both by SMEs and large companies. These companies combine data sciences with digital marketing strategies to sell products, generate brand awareness, or access new markets. The present study aims to understand the role and use of data science by SMEs in their online marketing performance. The research method used in this study is a systematic literature review. The data were analyzed using multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) in the programming language R. Based on the results, we identify a total of seven state-of-the-art uses of data science in digital marketing used by SMEs in their online marketing strategies that are graphically represented and analyzed. In addition, four future lines of research are proposed and discussed to understand the direction of the next steps that SMEs should take to successfully develop their digital strategies. Finally, the review concludes with a discussion of the theoretical and practical implications of our findings for further research on the influence and use of data sciences in SMEs' online marketing performance.

شناسایی عوامل مؤثر بر رویش شرکتهاي دانشبنیان در حوزة ورزش Identification of Factors Affecting the Growth of Knowledge Based Companies in Sport

Article

Full-text available

Jul 2020

Twenty-five years of the Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development : a bibliometric review

Article

Apr 2021
J Small Bus Enterprise Dev

Purpose Commensurate with the 25th anniversary of the Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development ( JSBED ), this retrospective work distils trends across all original articles published in the journal during this time period. Design/methodology/approach Bibliometric analysis techniques are used to analyse 917 original JSBED publications. Specifically, performance analysis is conducted to analyse the journal's publication and citation patterns, bibliographic coupling and author keyword co-occurrence analysis are conducted to identify major themes, and co-authorship analysis is conducted to analyse author collaborations. Findings Results indicate JSBED has grown considerably since its inception, both in terms publication and citations. JSBED 's most prevalent themes include management and growth of small firms, entrepreneurship education, strategy in small firms, business development, technology in small firms, business competencies in small firms, internationalization in small firms, role of social capital, entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurship in under-represented and minority populations. Originality/value This is the first comprehensive bibliometric analysis of JSBED in the journal's history. Accordingly, it presents a novel and heretofore disparate understanding of the key themes and dialogues emerging from an established journal with a growing reputation for scholarly and practitioner impact.

Electroencephalography-Based Neuromarketing Using Pegasos on Partition Membership Data

Chapter

Mar 2021

Neuromarketing exists as a manipulation trick to map customer perceptions and desires. Through this method, companies can market their products more effectively. This study examines it by using machine learning. The data were recorded using electroencephalography from 30 respondents. A video was used to simulate the respondents. It displays product images. Then they gave an assessment of the picture presented, whether they liked it or not. For automation, we build a system that classifies based on the Pegasos method. This method was also combined with the propositionalization approach. It aims to form partition membership data. Based on the experiments that have been carried out, the combination of these two methods has much higher performance compared to the support vector machine (SVM) method. Its accuracy reaches 93.30%. It shows that the combination of the two ways is a suitable method in the classification process, especially on the neuromarketing data used.

The Journal of Small Business Management : A bibliometric overview of 1996-2019

Article

Oct 2020

The Journal of Small Business Management is a highly respected journal publishing research about small business and entrepreneurship. Using bibliometric analysis, this study presents an overview of the major trends and themes in its published content from 1996 to 2019. Over the years, the journal has grown significantly in terms of both publications and citations with authors from the United States remaining the dominant contributors to the journal. The bibliographic coupling of the articles reveal that entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship education, family firms, board composition, and internationalization are among the major themes pursued by the contributors.

IDENTIFYING BUSINESS ACTIVITY TREND IN THE BREAD BAKING INDUSTRY USING THE EXAMPLE OF PERM REGION

Article

Jan 2020

Technology-Based Competitive Advantages of Young Entrepreneurial Firms: Conceptual Development and Empirical Exploration

Article

Full-text available

Mar 2017
J SMALL BUS MANAGE

We explore the factors that contribute to the technological distinctiveness of young entrepreneur- ial firms. We claim that a young firm’s technological distinctivenes s is partly the result of entrepre- neurs and their orientations toward uncertainty. In certain locations, however, young firms have more means to invest in their technology base. We integrate these two perspectives together, and provide an original explanation and understanding of the technological distinctiveness of young entrepreneurial firms. Our empirical observations among Finnish firms give support to our main hypotheses and therefore highlight the factors that contribute to technology-based competitive advantage of young firms. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsbm.12315/full

Analysis of the Determinants of Software-as-a-Service Adoption in Small Businesses: Risks, Benefits, and Organizational and Environmental Factors: JOURNAL OF SMALL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Article

Full-text available

Nov 2016
J SMALL BUS MANAGE

Cloud computing is a cutting-edge information technology (IT) that receives computing resources and services from external providers rather than building their own information systems. Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), one of the cloud computing models, has a built-in best business practice and thus can be useful not only in reinforcing the IT capability of small businesses but also in improving business processes at the same time. The study investigated factors that affect the intention of small companies in Korea to adopt SaaS. The results were that (1) they were more concerned with the security risks than the economic or performance risks, (2) they were trying to improve the business process rather than quality improvement or cost, (3) management support was considered to be more important than the resources or IT capacity for the adoption of SaaS, and (4) they also considered the support of the vendor more important than the support of the government. The result of the study will provide practical strategies for not only small companies considering the adoption of SaaS and vendors supplying SaaS, but also government when setting up policies.

The impact of business innovation modes on SME innovation performance in post-Soviet transition economies: The case of Belarus

Article

Full-text available

May 2016
TECHNOVATION

This study analyzes the most effective innovation modes (‘science and technology-based innovation’, STI, and ‘doing, using and interacting-based innovation’, DUI) for business innovation performance in the context of post-Soviet Transition Economies (PSTE). Their specificities are expected to influence both their business innovation modes and their impact on innovation output. In particular, we aim at identifying the specificities of PSTE in that the DUI mode alone (and its specific drivers) is more relevant than the STI mode alone (and its drivers). In our hypothesis, this outcome should be even stronger in the context of non-technological types of innovation (e.g. organizational innovation). Keywords: innovation, STI and DUI, modes of innovation, post-Soviet transition economies, Belarus

The impact of opportunity connectedness on innovation in SMEs’ foreign-market relationships

Article

Full-text available

May 2016
TECHNOVATION

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) use of business networks has grown significantly during the last decades, partly due to increasingly complex innovation processes. This article investigates how different kinds of networks, depending on location, contextualize innovation in specific foreign market business relationships. Building on internationalization, network, and innovation research we develop a model that views opportunity connectedness in specific host-markets, home-markets, and other international markets as prerequisites to innovative collaboration and innovation outcomes in foreign business relationships. The results of our linear structural relations (LISREL) analysis of Swedish SMEs provide empirical evidence that the effect of opportunity connectedness on innovation outcomes in foreign business relationships is mediated by the level of innovative collaboration. These results indicate that SMEs need a relatively higher level of innovative collaboration in their partnerships with foreign market customers to convert opportunities conceived in home- and international- market networks into innovative outcomes in comparison to opportunities conceived in host-market networks. This finding implies that as opportunities become increasingly contextually remote, the importance of collaborative business relationships increases. By showing these results, the study contributes to research in the international small-business domain that seeks to identify important prerequisites of SME innovation.

Open Innovation in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs): External Knowledge Sourcing Strategies and Internal Organizational Facilitators

Article

Full-text available

Sep 2014
J SMALL BUS MANAGE

In this paper we explore how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engage in external knowledge sourcing, a form of inbound open innovation. We draw upon a sample of 1,411 SMEs and empirically conceptualize a typology of strategic types of external knowledge sourcing, namely minimal, supply-chain, technology-oriented, application-oriented, and full-scope sourcing. Each strategy reflects the nature of external interactions and is linked to a distinct mixture of four internal practices for managing innovation. Both full-scope and application-oriented sourcing offer performance benefits and are associated with a stronger focus on managing innovation. However, they differ in their managerial focus on strategic and operational aspects.

Toward a Model of Understanding Strategic Decision-Making in Micro-Firms: Exploring the Australian Information Technology Sector

Article

Full-text available

Jan 2010

This study explores strategic decision-making (SDM) in micro-firms, an economically significant business subsector. As extant large- and small-firm literature currently proffers an incomplete characterization of SDM in very small enterprises, a multiple-case methodology was used to investigate how these firms make strategic decisions. Eleven Australian Information Technology service micro-firms participated in the study. Using an information-processing lens, the study uncovered patterns of SDM in micro-firms and derived a theoretical micro-firm SDM model. This research also identifies several implications for micro-firm management and directions for future research, contributing to the understanding of micro-firm SDM in both theory and practice. Yes Yes

From Invention Success to Commercialization Success: Technology Ventures and the Benefits of Upstream and Downstream Supply-Chain Alliances

Article

Apr 2017
J SMALL BUS MANAGE

An entrepreneurial venture's supply-chain partnerships involve upstream alliances (with research universities) and downstream alliances (with large industry incumbents). Even though such partnerships bring the venture many benefits, they also come with significant challenges, notably the need to seamlessly combine a “technology push” philosophy with a “market pull” one. Utilizing a data set of over both upstream and downstream alliance partnerships spanning 603 technology ventures in the biotech industry, interesting results were found with regard to the impact of these two alliance partnerships on the venture's invention success and commercialization success. Upstream partnerships demonstrate a positive impact on invention success but no significant impact on commercialization success. However, with the moderating role of downstream partnerships, the results change: the joint effect of these two types of alliance partnerships is positive for both invention and commercialization success. The study findings have important implications with regard to the role and impact of alliance partnerships at the intersection of small business, entrepreneurship and technology innovation, and for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers.

Mobile Broadband: A Key Enabling Technology for Entrepreneurship?: JOURNAL OF SMALL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Article

Feb 2017
J SMALL BUS MANAGE

María Verónica Alderete

This article examines whether mobile broadband can be viewed as an enabling technology for entrepreneurship in developing and developed countries. Evidence shows that mobile telephony is becoming more affordable worldwide. Contrary to fixed broadband, mobile broadband ensures better reach and lower costs and has become the most dynamic platform for bringing ICT benefits to entrepreneurship. A six period panel data analysis, 2007–2012, is estimated for 58 countries. Using the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor's Total Entrepreneurial Activity as the dependent variable, a positive influence of mobile broadband on the entrepreneurial activity is observed. Linking ICT and entrepreneurship is an area in need of more research.

Drivers of External Equity Funding in Small High-Tech Ventures

Article

Sep 2016
J SMALL BUS MANAGE

Financing is one of the major issues affecting the success and survival of entrepreneurial ventures. Theory suggests that due to information asymmetry between owners and investors or lenders, there is a ?pecking order? of financing preferences, whereby retained earnings is preferred to debt, and outside equity is seen as a last resort. In high-tech ventures, however, outside equity financing is more commonly used than debt, but the reasons for this are not yet well-understood. We develop hypotheses to examine this theory-practice gap, which we test using a sample of private high-tech firms of various ages. We find that the greater the owner's perception of information asymmetries in debt markets, the larger the proportion of external equity in the firm's capital structure. As our sample firms age, their use of external equity relative to other sources of finance diminishes. We also find a positive relationship between the use of external equity and the firm's initial investment. Last, we show that the greater the perception amongst founders that obtaining external equity sends a positive signal, the greater its use. We discuss the implications of these findings and offer suggestion for future research and practice.

Technology upgrading of Small-and-Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) through a manpower secondment strategy – A mixed-methods study of Singapore's T-Up program

Article

Aug 2016
TECHNOVATION

This paper outlines a scheme that uses manpower from public research institutes to assist the technology upgrading of Small-and-Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The Growing Enterprises through Technology Upgrading (GET-Up) initiative has been successfully implemented in Singapore since 2003. The key program in the initiative is a manpower secondment scheme (i.e. a temporary placement of manpower in a different organization) known as T-Up. We propose that T-Up represents a new approach to technology transfer which additionally maximizes the industrial impact of public sector research. Instead of traditional technology transfer modes which are transactions-based, T-Up utilizes skills and human resource transfer through secondment of public sector researchers. Findings from two surveys conducted in 2005 and 2012 show that the T-Up secondment program had positive impact on the technological capabilities, innovation performance and growth of participating companies. Additionally, case studies highlight that this approach addresses a wide range of challenges faced by local SMEs and is flexible enough to cater to specific needs and requirements.

Do government grants promote innovation efficiency in China's high-tech industries?

Article

Jul 2016
TECHNOVATION

Despite extensive discussion about the important role of government in enterprise development, the function of government grants in the innovation activities of high-technology (high-tech) industries is still unclear. In this paper, the stochastic frontier model and a unique panel data set of 17 high-tech industries in China spanning the 2001–2011 period are applied to explore how government grants affect the innovation performance of these industries. Results indicate that the innovation efficiency of high-tech industries rapidly improved in the past decade. However, it is found that government grants exert a negative influence on innovation efficiency of high-tech industries. However, the impact of private R&D funding is significant and positive. Furthermore, when the high-tech industries are grouped into five sub-industries, the results show that government grants had different effects on the innovation in each sub-industry.

Technologies That Support Marketing and Market Development in SMEs-Evidence from Social Networks:

Article

Feb 2017

This study builds on previous research on information technology implementation and usage in SMEs and applies a special focus on social networks. Specifically, this research investigates antecedents of social network usage in SMEs and respective performance outcomes. The results show that entrepreneurial orientation is positively related to social network usage in SMEs, whereas responsive market orientation shows no effect. Social network usage is not directly related to SME growth; yet, it mediates the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and SME growth. Interestingly, large firms show the opposite effects regarding antecedents and performance related consequences of social network usage.

When patents matter: The impact of competition and patent age on the performance contribution of intellectual property rights protection

Article

Dec 2015
TECHNOVATION

The question whether patenting impacts patenting firms' subsequent financial performance is important for technology-oriented companies. However, relevant research has led to contradictory results. We strive to overcome this impasse by introducing innovation competition and patent age as moderators of patents' performance contribution into the discourse. Based on a sample of 975 cases from diverse industries, we find strong support for our arguments. In line with our expectations, the results show that the number of patents granted, the degree of patent competition, and the timeliness of a patent contribute positively to financial performance. Moderation analysis nuances our findings by showing that the impact of patent protection on financial performance is stronger when the patent competition is stronger and the patents are younger.These findings provide insights into the conditions under which patenting leads to higher financial performance. Our findings highlight the importance of innovation competition and patent age for innovation research. The empirical results show firms that patenting pays and that, in order to tap the full potential of patents, they need to focus on emerging competing industries and reduce the time to market. Policy makers learn that patenting is a successful approach to foster innovation at limited social costs.

Interactive Effects of Network Capability, ICT Capability, and Financial Slack on Technology-Based Small Firm Innovation Performance

Article

Oct 2015
J SMALL BUS MANAGE

This study examines the influence of network capability (the ability to use external relationships), information and communications technology (ICT) capability (the ability to strategically use ICT for business purposes), and financial slack (unused and uncommitted financial resources) on the innovation performance of small firms. This extends the current resource-based view and small firm innovation management literatures by proposing the direct and interactive effects of organizational capabilities and financial slack. The results of regression analysis based on survey data from technology-based Swedish small firms show that the three-way interaction involving network capability, ICT capability, and financial slack influences innovation performance.

Knowledge Flow in Technological Business Incubators: Evidence from Australia and Israel

Article

Aug 2015
TECHNOVATION

The study of the contribution of incubators to economic growth started to gain momentum in the 1980s, following the growth of the incubation phenomenon. While acknowledging the challenge of evaluating incubators' outcomes, we shift the focus from incubators' performance to their internal processes, in particular, the interrelationships through which the incubator stakeholders share knowledge. The literature suggests that small new ventures tend to fail because they lack managerial experience and ability to raise capital in an early stage. Incubators are expected to overcome these obstacles by offering experienced monitoring skills and by enhancing access to capital at a firm's early stage. However, empirical results of incubators' ability to perform their role are often contradictory, making policy makers question their effectiveness. We provide evidence from Australian and Israeli incubators. Our findings suggest that collaborations between incubatees, graduated incubatees, and incubator management increase the incubatees' knowledge of technology and market in both countries. Collaboration between incubatees and incubator management also increase incubatees' financial knowledge and their likelihood of raising capital. We also found that universities played a modest role as a source of new ideas for incubatees, but a more important role in later stages of incubatees' new product development processes.

The Influence of IT Management Sophistication and IT Support on IT Success in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Article

Oct 2013
J SMALL BUS MANAGE

This study examined three factors that influence information technology (IT) success in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): internal IT support, external IT support, and IT management. Using survey data gathered from 289 small and medium-sized Chartered Accounting firms in New Zealand, the results suggest that IT management in SMEs is best understood as a multidimensional concept consisting of practices related to: IT planning, IT organizing, IT controlling, and IT leading. This view clarifies and improves our understanding of the nature and character of IT management in SMEs. The results show that some SMEs are significantly more sophisticated than others in terms of their IT management practices. Both IT planning and IT leading were found to influence IT success.

Managing risk in the formative years: Evidence from young enterprises in Europe

Article

Aug 2014
TECHNOVATION

This paper empirically investigates aspects of risk management in young small enterprises׳ effort to survive and grow. We use a new dataset on several thousands small businesses in their “formative age” (2–8 years old) in 10 European countries and 18 sectors. Firms across all types of sectors use internal risk mitigation strategies to manage technology risk and operational risk. Financial risk is managed by tapping formal and informal networks. Market risk appears less amenable to internal management action. Formal network participation (strategic alliances) is a strategy cutting across all kinds of risk with the exception of operational risk. Firms in knowledge-intensive sectors (high-tech manufacturing and KIBS) engage in risk management activities more extensively. Firms led by more educated entrepreneurs and/or operating in demanding volatile markets tend to network more and to use internal risk mitigation strategies more extensively.

How Can External Relationships Enhance Innovation in SMEs? New Evidence for Europe

Article

Apr 2012

A. Lasagni

This paper investigates the role of external relationships as key drivers of small business innovation. An empirical analysis is based on data for approximately 500 small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in six European countries. The results indicate that innovation performance is higher in SMEs that are proactive in strengthening their relationships with innovative suppliers, users, and customers. Furthermore, the findings of this paper support the view that SMEs will have better new product development results if they improve their relationships with laboratories and research institutes.

Competing Risk Model for Technology Credit Fund for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Article

Jun 2010

Despite the need to foster a technology-intensive industry, most Korean SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) are faced with the difficulty of raising funds. To resolve this problem, the government set up the technology credit fund to give loans to enterprises that achieve a certain technology evaluation score. However, many of the recipient SMEs fail to pay back the loans for various reasons. In this paper, we distinguish two causes of default due to owner and company, respectively, using the competing risk model. The proposed prediction models for competing defaults are expected to contribute to the healthy management of technology finance.

Cooperation-based innovators and peripheral cooperators: An empirical analysis of their characteristics and behavior

Article

Mar 2010
TECHNOVATION

Andrés Barge-Gil

There are many controversies in the literature over the influence of different firm characteristics on the importance to the firm of cooperation for innovation. Empirical studies have focused on the fact of cooperation but have not measured its importance for the firm. The purpose of this work is to go a step further by investigating the characteristics and cooperative behaviour of firms that use cooperation as the main way to achieve innovation (cooperation-based innovators). We draw on the 2004 Spanish Innovation Survey and employ a two-step Heckman model. Our main results show that there are sharp differences among firms. More precisely, we find that smaller firms and firms outside the high-tech sectors are more likely to be cooperation-based innovators. We also find that the type of cooperative behaviour matters. Cooperation with providers, with a few agents and with national partners are strong features of cooperation-based innovators. We discuss some management and policy implications of our results.

Technology, Innovation, Entrepreneurship and The Small Business-Technology and Innovation in Small Business: JOURNAL OF SMALL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

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