Human mobility and international knowledge spillovers: evidence from high-tech small and medium enterprises in an emerging market

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate aspects of causation and effectuation decision-making in respect of the planned and unplanned nature of the internationalization strategies of a small sample of rapidly internationalizing, high-tech UK small and medium enterprises (SMEs). These exhibit four different rates of scale of international intensity (percentage of overseas sales to total sales) and market scope (geographical coverage and commitment). Design/methodology/approach – Interviews with managers of 16 independently owned high-technology-oriented manufacturing SMEs were undertaken in this investigation to reduce the potential effect of bias from parental decision-making and firm size, also trade sectoral conditions. These were drawn from an existing database. Findings – Aspects of both causation and effectuation logic were evident in planned and unplanned aspects of decision-making. Moreover, industry factors were seen to affect internationalization strategies in various ways and not least in respect of the need to exploit windows of opportunity in international niche markets and the usefulness of utilizing managers’ experience and networks in the sector in which firms operated. Originality/value – The contribution of this study is to build on earlier work where authors have used different terminology to describe firms that have internationalized soon after their foundation. Specifically, with respect to the planned versus unplanned nature of respective internationalization strategies and the causation as opposed to effectuation logic in decision-making.

Download Full-text

Small and medium enterprises’ internationalisation and business strategy: some evidence from firms located in an emerging market

Journal of Asia Business Studies ◽

10.1108/jabs-03-2013-0012 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 168-186 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Syed Zamberi Ahmad

Keyword(s):

International Business ◽

Business Strategy ◽

Qualitative Data ◽

Small And Medium Enterprises ◽

Emerging Market ◽

Peninsular Malaysia ◽

International Expansion ◽

Content Type ◽

The Government ◽

Medium Enterprises

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the international business strategy, key driving factors and the major barriers that may hinder the internationalisation progress of Malaysian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach – Based on the aims of the study, the paper encompasses both quantitative and qualitative data. For quantitative data, structured questionnaires were used, and a total of 216 SMEs that engaged in international business participated using purposeful sampling, covering all the states in Peninsular Malaysia. For the collection of qualitative data, the study involved in-depth interviews with 25 owners/managers of SMEs. Findings – The findings indicate that the motives of SMEs for international expansion are varied, and that SMEs still face many institutional challenges, which have prevented them from making a greater contribution. Research limitations/implications – Due to lack of resources, firms from West Malaysia were included. West Malaysian firms may well possess characteristics concerning the challenges and issues to internationalisation that are unique to their region. Originality/value – The paper addresses a knowledge gap in respect of the internationalisation process of SMEs in the context of Southeast Asia. The findings of this paper will have relevance for policymaking and supportive measures at the government level to create an environment that will stimulate the competitiveness of SMEs in their attempts for internationalisation.

Download Full-text

APLIKASI LAUDRY MENGGUNAKAN SMS GATEWAY

Jurnal Teknologi Terpadu ◽

10.54914/jtt.v4i1.111 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mohammad Syawal Ainulyaqin ◽

Menhya Snae

Keyword(s):

Research Method ◽

Small And Medium Enterprises ◽

Human Mobility ◽

Visual Basic ◽

Service Process ◽

Literature Study ◽

Textile Materials ◽

Data Collection Technique ◽

Medium Enterprises ◽

Descriptive Method

Laundry is a process of washing textile materials using water, washing machines, and detergents. Currently Laundry business is one of the sectors of small and medium enterprises which is rapidly developed. Nowadays, lifestyle and level of human mobility needs higher efficiency in washing and ironing clothes clean and tidy it requires expertise. This would not be possible by a busy person in his daily life. To answer this challenge, laundry business becomes the solution. Gajayana Laundry is one of the laundry business which is located at Ahmad Yani street. Currently Gajayana Laundry still apply a system that is still manual in the laundry service process by making a note receipt laundry. Employee in charge of recording information about the laundry received by writing manual or handwriting, in addition to errors due to recording information the number of laundry clothes that resulted in the loss of one of the clothing belonging to the customer, the uniformity of the letter in the laundry archive books that can confused the employees and the difficulties of the spread information to customers such as holiday information, information informing that the customer's laundry has been completed, and information price changes that certainly in the absence of such information may cause a sense of disappointment from the customers. The results of this study can be concluded that the creation of a laundry application using SMS Gateway and apply these applications to help parties Gajayana Laundry in the laundryservice and the dissemination of information. The research method used is descriptive method and data collection technique used in this research are interview, literature study, observation and questionnaire. Making this application using Visual Basic 2010 programming language andMySQL database.

Download Full-text

Omani SME perceptions towards Islamic financing systems

Qualitative Research in Financial Markets ◽

10.1108/qrfm-06-2018-0078 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 369-386

Author(s):

Yasmeen Al Balushi ◽

Stuart Locke ◽

Zakaria Boulanouar

Keyword(s):

Banking Industry ◽

Small And Medium Enterprises ◽

Emerging Market ◽

Capital City ◽

Islamic Finance ◽

Future Research ◽

Islamic Banking ◽

Content Type ◽

Face To Face ◽

Medium Enterprises

Purpose This paper aims to investigate small and medium enterprises’ (SMEs) owner–managers’ awareness, willingness and perceptions concerning Islamic financing instruments as an alternative sourcing decision in SMEs’ businesses. Design/methodology/approach The research employed mixed methods to gather data. A questionnaire survey was conducted via face-to-face interviews with 385 SME owner–managers operating in Muscat, Oman’s capital city, along with face-to-face discussion on Islamic finance with 86 SME owner–managers. Descriptive and thematic analysis were used to analyse the data. Findings The findings indicate that SME owner–managers are aware of Islamic banking principles and have knowledge of Islamic financial instruments, despite Islamic finance being new to Oman. Interestingly, although the majority of the participants indicated their intention to adopt this new finance method, they were motivated by special requirements other than finance. Their positive perception of Islamic financing methods could play a significant role in developing the Islamic banking industry. Research limitations/implications The research is limited in that its data came only from Omani SME owner–managers in Muscat. Future research could investigate wider samples. Secondly, the study’s findings lack generalisability to larger and public enterprises, because only SME owner–managers were surveyed. Practical implications This study will be important for policy makers concerned about SMEs’ financing, Islamic financial institutions and new entrants into the Islamic banking industry, as it provides empirically evidence of Omanis’ views, and more specifically those of Omani SME owner–managers, on the recent introduction of Islamic finance into the country. The insights this study offers should help them to develop the strategies required to attract SMEs and to construct policies and regulations to improve Oman’s Islamic banking industry. Originality/value The research is significant, as it is the first study to investigate the awareness, willingness and perceptions of Omani SMEs regarding Islamic banking in Oman. Even though all Omanis are Muslims, Oman was the last of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council countries to introduce Islamic finance. Thus, this emerging market provides an important basis from which to extend future research on Islamic finance to other potential Islamic finance markets.

Download Full-text