scholarly journals ICT resources and use: examining differences in pathways to improved small firm performance

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Malcolm J. Beynon ◽  
Max Munday ◽  
Neil Roche
Keyword(s):  
Business Performance ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Business Value ◽  
Broadband Access ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Performance Improvements

PurposeThe paper shows how small firms perceive the pathways through which access to and adoption of superfast broadband-enabled resources strengthen business performance. Improvements to broadband infrastructure do not automatically lead to adoption of opportunities made available through the broadband resource. Then, interventions can be used to alert small firms to new opportunities. However, the quality of interventions in terms of education and digital audits can be better targeted with information available on how small firms perceive the benefits from broadband access and whether these perceptions are reflected in business performance outcomes.Design/methodology/approachData are used from the Digital Maturity Survey from Wales. The study uses principal component analysis and a dual stage cluster approach to show how SMEs believe they are benefitting from broadband access. These belief-based perceptions of broadband inferred business benefits are tested against business performance variables.FindingsThe analysis shows variation in SME perceptions of the benefits of broadband-enabled services. This study reveals a cluster of firms which perceived routes to business value in terms of variables linked to security and risk management, and then more commonly held notions linked to communication, competition enhancement and productivity.Originality/valueWhile the research literature points to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) resources (ICT investment and skills) and use (digital applications), leading to new to business value improvements, this study suggests less work has sought to identify the critical themes identified by business owners in explaining how ICT resources and use tie to observed business performance. The study identifies these critical themes. The analysis suggests that these critical themes in terms of business value benefits as perceived by business owners can be summarised in terms of communication and competition benefits, and security and risk related benefits. The findings have a series of implications for interventions in the space.

scholarly journals Lean-excellence business management for manufacturing SMEs focusing on KRI

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 519-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibrahim Salih Mohammad ◽  
Chike F. Oduoza
Keyword(s):  
Lean Manufacturing ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
External Support ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Implementation Framework ◽  
Lean Implementation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
National Quality

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop an effective framework for implementing Lean strategies in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). Design/methodology/approach Based on the integration of LM tools and techniques with the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) criteria a systematic Lean implementation framework for manufacturing SMEs has been proposed. The core values, drivers and tools of the proposed framework were further developed based on case studies in three SMEs in the KRI. Findings Proposed framework is able to provide a simple pathway for SMEs to systematically implement Lean techniques in seven functional areas in order to create Lean culture in the organisation. Business performance measurement in terms of profitability, customer satisfaction, employee’s satisfaction, competitiveness growth and ergonomic improvement is presented in favour of evaluating Lean outcomes appropriately. It also presents the experience of small firms in implementing Lean programmes to show that Lean is valid in SMEs. Research limitations/implications The framework concentrates only on the internal issues of the organisation, while external variables such as national culture and external support are excluded. Practical implications The framework assists improvements in SMEs that either initially attempt to start Lean journey or those that are at more advanced levels towards excellent-Lean manufacturing. The framework can also be used as a self-assessment model to determine the degree of Lean readiness. Originality/value To the best knowledge of the author, it is the first framework that integrates Lean techniques with MBNQA criteria to support Lean implementation in SMEs. It is also the first study regarding Lean-excellence in the KRI.

Performance drivers of women-owned microcredit funded enterprises in Tanzania

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-230
Author(s):  
Charles Stephen Tundui ◽  
Hawa Petro Tundui
Keyword(s):  
Business Performance ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Product Cycle ◽  
Business Growth ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Performance Drivers ◽  
The Government

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate performance drivers of women-owned businesses that are funded primarily through microcredit. It draws on Storey’s theory of small business growth and family embeddedness axiom to examine the factors that drive the performance of businesses that are funded primarily through microcredit. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses a cross-sectional survey that covered 208 women business owners who had access to microcredit. The authors use a logistic regression analysis to model the relationship between independent variables and enterprise performance. Findings The paper demonstrates that microcredit plays a significant role in business performance. The credit amount has the most significant influence on the enterprise capital base, whereas the effect on profits is insignificant. Also, owners are more likely to report growth in profits if they possess skills in business management. In addition, younger business owners and necessity entrepreneurs are more likely to report success in their businesses. Other factors that have a significant effect on business performance are product cycle, loan use and family support. Originality/value Many women in Tanzania are entering business ownership and depend on microcredit as their primary source of capital for starting and growing their businesses. However, just a few businesses grow into small and medium-sized enterprises. For informed policy decisions, it is important that the factors influencing the performance of funded businesses are known and well understood. This understanding will help the government and development practitioners assist women in achieving business growth rates that could warrant their empowerment and poverty reduction prospects.

Human capital analytics: too much data and analysis, not enough models and business insights

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alec Levenson ◽  
Alexis Fink
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Model Building ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Current State ◽  
Incremental Improvement ◽  
Analytical Approaches ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to address the barriers to the rapid development of effective HR analytics capabilities in organizations. Design/methodology/approach Literature and conceptual review of the current state of HR analytics. Findings “HR analytics” is used to refer to a too-wide array of measurement and analytical approaches, making strategic focus difficult. There is a misconception that doing more measurement of HR activities and human capital will necessarily lead to actionable insights. There is too much focus on incremental improvement of existing HR processes, detracting from diagnosing the problems with business performance. Too much time is spent on mining existing data, to the detriment of model building and testing, including collecting new more appropriate data. Too much energy is consumed with basic tasks of data management. Stakeholders avoid action by nitpicking the details of the data. Practical implications Practitioners who follow the guidance provided should find that their application of HR analytics leads to more relevant and actionable insights. Social implications More effective application of HR analytics should lead to better decision making in organizations and more effective resource allocation. Originality/value A new look at the field of HR analytics that synthesizes the research literature and current practice in organizations.

scholarly journals TQM and business success

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 361-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco J. Carmona-Márquez ◽  
Antonio G. Leal-Millán ◽  
Adolfo E. Vázquez-Sánchez ◽  
Antonio L. Leal-Rodríguez ◽  
Stephen Eldridge
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Business Success ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Results ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – Prior studies by Salaheldin (2009) and Talib et al. (2011) have assessed the relationships between TQM critical success factors (CSF) and business results. The purpose of this paper is to build upon this research by considering the relationships between these CSFs and their sequencing during the implementation of TQM. Furthermore, the influence exerted by the maturity of TQM implementation on the link between instrumental drivers and performance is explored. Design/methodology/approach – The TQM drivers are clustered by means of three constructs: strategic enablers, tactical drivers and instrumental drivers and a model employed in which the strategic and tactical factors are treated as antecedents of the instrumental drivers. The direct effect of each cluster on business results and the indirect relationship of strategic and tactical factors via the mediating role of the instrumental drivers are assessed. These assessments use the partial least squares (PLS) approach which is a variance-based structural equation modeling technique using a sample of 113 Spanish organizations with experience of implementing a TQM program. Findings – The findings confirm the existing relationships among the CSFs and business performance identified by studies Salaheldin (2009) and Talib et al. (2011). However, the results reveal that instrumental drivers possess the highest variance explanation power over business performance outcomes and it is possible to identify a CSF implementation sequence that generates the greatest impact on business performance. Furthermore, the study was inconclusive with regard to the influence exerted by the number of years of TQM implementation on the link between the instrumental drivers and performance. Research limitations/implications – The first is related to organizational bias. It seems likely that those firms which are not satisfied with their TQM system performance would be less likely to be motivated to contribute to the development of this study. Therefore, the authors have included in the sample a higher proportion of “good” systems than is the case in the population at large. Second, although the authors provide evidence of causality, causality itself has not been proven. Third, this research relies mainly on perceptions and the authors only used a single method to elicit these perceptions. Finally, this research was carried out in a specific geographical setting (Spanish companies) and the authors must be cautious about generalizing these results in other contexts. Practical implications – This study offers a substantial number of practical implications. First firms’ managers should emphasize that continuous improvement, benchmarking and zero-defects mentality is a never-ending process. Especially, they should understand that reliable product/service design is critical to exceed the customers’ expectations, leading to improved business success. The results of this study should also lead managers to seeing a “return on investment” in their efforts to implement a TQM program by first, paying more attention on how to implement the instrumental factors, and second, avoiding the belief that the passage of time and experience-based learning will bring business performance enhancement and success on their own. Social implications – Although, the literature agrees that strategic factors are valuable assets and have a crucial role in the deployment of TQM systems, the study empirically validates this assertion. However, at the same time it shows that this impact on performance is stronger and much more significant by reconfiguring instrumental factors. This implies that strategic and tactical factors do have an effect on business success, but they do so indirectly, by reconfiguring and reinforcing instrumental factors that better fit the stakeholders’ needs and expectations. Originality/value – The results suggest the need to consider whether all the CSFs are equally relevant on the basis of their contribution to business success. For example, strategic enablers are generally considered to be of primary importance with tactical and instrumental drivers assuming a secondary position. The study challenges this view and highlights the role of instrumental drivers over strategic and tactical factors with the clear implication that managers should focus strongly on daily implementation tasks such as benchmarking, zero-defects mentality and continuous improvement processes in order to achieve good business performance outcomes.

Simulated business effectiveness: learning and performance outcomes

2020 ◽  
Vol 62 (9) ◽  
pp. 1015-1036
Author(s):  
Anna Stamatelatos ◽  
Robert Brooks
Keyword(s):  
Learning Style ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Cognitive Mapping ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Individual Performance ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
Individual Learning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Learning And Performance

PurposeThis study investigates simulated business learning and performance effectiveness during a simulation task. The learning and performance outcomes of two groups of postgraduate student participants are investigated namely: (a) participants who do not struggle with the task and (b) participants who do struggle with completing the task.Design/methodology/approachAn experiment was conducted using a simulated business, which was manipulated into two initial commencement formats: positive initial format (PIF) and negative initial format (NIF). Individual performance on the task was measured via achievement of performance targets whilst individual learning was measured via causal cognitive maps.FindingsParticipants using PIF did not struggle with completing the task and achieved higher performance outcomes compared to participants using NIF, who struggled with completing the task. In addition, the positive association between learning and performance was significantly reduced for participants using NIF who struggled with completing the taskResearch limitations/implicationsThis study’s findings are tentative as the sample size is small and several moderator/mediator variables, which may influence the findings (i.e. student learning style/instructor style/cognitive factors), are outside the scope of the study and thus not included.Practical implicationsCausal cognitive mapping results and students’ self-assessment of learning during simulated business debriefing, may further help instructors/students identify the differences in individual learning outcomes between those who have and have not struggled with increasing simulated business performance.Originality/valueBy using an experiment and causal cognitive mapping to measure individual learning, this study contributes further empirical evidence to the literature.

Knowledge stock and absorptive capacity of small firms: the moderating role of formalization

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjay Chaudhary
Keyword(s):  
Absorptive Capacity ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Knowledge Stock ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Depth Of Knowledge ◽  
Moderating Role

Purpose Despite the established significance of absorptive capacity, there is a worrying lack of research that empirically examines its antecedents. With a call for investigation guided by the knowledge-based theory, the purpose of this paper is to bridge any probable gap by exploring the effect that an organization’s knowledge stock and its knowledge integrating mechanisms have on the development of its absorptive capacity. Design/methodology/approach On the basis of a survey administered to a sample comprising owners of small Indian automotive firms, this paper empirically examines the direct effect of an organization’s knowledge stock (including knowledge breadth and depth) and the moderating role of its structure-related mechanisms (e.g., formalization) on its potential and realized absorptive capacities. The study uses survey data from 226 small business owners and multiple linear regression analysis to examine the significance of its hypotheses. Findings The results show that knowledge stock has a statistically notable influence on a small firm’s absorptive capacity. The enabling role of formalization in the relationship between knowledge stock and absorptive capacity is also evident. Practical implications Given the handicap of small firms vis-à-vis large firms to deploy internal R&D capabilities, business owners must ensure not to confuse absorptive capacity with the pre-existence of R&D capabilities. Originality/value The unbundling of knowledge stock into breadth and depth of knowledge enables business owners and researchers to understand how any particular knowledge stock can relate to an organization’s absorptive capacity.

Geography and location selection of multinational tourism firms: strategies for globalization

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiang Feng ◽  
Ben Derudder ◽  
Fei Wang ◽  
Rui Shao
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Economic Globalization ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Location Selection ◽  
Tourism Sector ◽  
Location Strategies ◽  
Selection Of

Purpose This study aims to analyse the major geographical dimensions of the location strategies of multinational tourism firms. Design/methodology/approach Conceptually, this paper is situated at the intersection of two distinct and evolving bodies of research literature on the global geographies of the tourism industry and the production of economic globalization from a set of strategic locations. Empirically, principal component analysis is applied to explore the main geographical configurations within a location matrix of 102 tourism firms across 547 cities. Findings The results identify strong geographical organizing patterns in the location strategies of multinational tourism firms, above all articulated in countries/regions that themselves have large domestic and/or international tourism markets. However, there is also a global component in terms of firm/location composition, while the national/regional components are hybrid and porous in practice. Originality/value This study contributes to a new way of looking at a globalizing tourism sector. The findings can be used to reflect on possible wider implications for the tourism geographies literature and reveal some avenues for further research.

IT readiness in small firms

2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 807-823 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riccardo Spinelli ◽  
Romano Dyerson ◽  
G. Harindranath
Keyword(s):  
Small Business ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Small Business Owners ◽  
It Adoption ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Capability ◽  
And Cluster Analysis ◽  
It Application

Purpose – The aim of the paper is to explore conceptually and empirically the application of the concept of IT readiness to small firms. Design/methodology/approach – The approach taken was a questionnaire administered to small manufacturing business owners in the Liguria region of Italy. Data were analysed using factor and cluster analysis. Findings – IT readiness concept appears valid with the emergence of three constructs: strategic vision; project management capability; and IT application infrastructure. The date analysis yielded four distinctive and varying profiles of small business owners. Research limitations/implications – This quantitative study exploring a cross section of small firms suggests antecedents to change have been ignored relative to IT adoption decisions. Practical implications – Provision of policy and support services requires a much more nuanced approach to small businesses. Originality/value – There are very few studies of IT readiness in the literature, making the paper original in its intent. The construction of the IT readiness concept appears robust when subjected to empirical testing and yields a number of specific small business profiles with respect to IT.

Owner-employee relations in small firms

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 832-846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Filotheos Ntalianis ◽  
Linda Dyer ◽  
Christian Vandenberghe
Keyword(s):  
Small Business ◽  
Organizational Behavior ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Small Business Owners ◽  
Relational Contracts ◽  
Initial Attempt ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Relational Contract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the type of exchange relationship that small business owners establish with their employees. In particular, this study examines how the personality trait of “conscientiousness” among small business owners relates to relational “psychological contracts,” breach and violation that develop between owners and employees. Design/methodology/approach – This was a quantitative survey design conducted in Canada. Participants were 253 employees and the 50 small firm owners for whom they worked. Findings – Results indicate that owner conscientiousness was positively associated with a relational psychological contract with employees and perceived breach mediated a negative relationship between owner-rated relational contract obligations and feelings of contract violation among employees. Owner-rated relational contract obligations also mediated a negative relationship between owner conscientiousness and employee perceptions of breach and violation. Practical implications – Given the link between conscientiousness and relational contracts, small business owners who get involved in selection and training ought to present to the newly hired employees an accurate picture of their role and job requirements in order to create successful organizations. In addition, less conscientious business owners, through training, should try to develop further skills, such as goal setting and performance appraisal, in order to increase their ability to establish effective relationships (i.e. relational contracts). Originality/value – The current study is an initial attempt toward a better understanding of exchange relationships in small firms, thus strengthening the links between organizational behavior and small business research. It also contributes a quantitative perspective on issues that have typically been explored qualitatively.

Immigrant family businesses: social capital, network benefits and business performance

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 842-866 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmine Tata ◽  
Sameer Prasad
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Family Business ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Family Businesses ◽  
Community Capacity ◽  
Immigrant Family ◽  
Immigrant Community ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Family Capital

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to look at immigrant family business through the framework of social capital by investigating how the social capital of immigrant family business owners helps them obtain network benefits and improve business performance. Design/methodology/approach – This paper presents an empirical investigation of 170 immigrant family business owners. The authors examine social capital as a multidimensional construct and focus on two attributes of social capital: structural embeddedness and relational embeddedness. In addition, this study examines how social capital influences business performance through the mediating effect of network benefits. Finally, the constructs of family capital and immigrant community capacity are also investigated. Findings – The results suggest that the two attributes of social capital differed in their effects on network benefits, and that network benefits mediated the influence of social capital attributes on family business performance. Specifically, relational social capital influenced access to resources and information, and structural social capital influenced access to resources. Family ties affected network benefits and business performance, and immigrant community capacity had the predicted moderating effect on the relationship between immigrant community ties and network benefits. Originality/value – This investigation has the potential to advance understanding of immigrant family businesses by assessing how the overall social capital of the family business owner influences business performance. The study also furthers the understanding of family capital and immigrant community capacity. In addition, these results serve practitioners by helping identify avenues to increase immigrant family business performance, an issue that is increasingly important today given the contribution of such businesses to the economic vitality of societies.

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