Determinants of innovation decisions among Emirati female-owned small and medium enterprises

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 408-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fauzia Jabeen ◽  
Mohd Nishat Faisal ◽  
Huda Al Matroushi ◽  
Sherine Farouk
Keyword(s):  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Skill Development ◽  
Innovation Strategy ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Female Entrepreneurs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Priority Vector ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Medium Enterprises

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that influence the innovation decisions of Emirati women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach This study uses a two-phased approach. In the first phase, empirical research on 50 Emirati female entrepreneurs is conducted to discover the extent of innovation in their ventures. In the second phase, the study uses an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to prioritize factors considered important in facilitating business innovation among SMEs. The AHP model is developed with 9 criteria and 25 sub-criteria based on the previous literature. Face-to-face interviews are conducted with Emirati female entrepreneurs operating nascent (n = 10), start-up (n = 10) and established innovative (n = 10) businesses to collect data for the AHP study. The data collected are interpreted and a priority vector is assigned to each criterion and sub-criterion. Findings Female SME owners prioritize government policies, research and development, innovation strategy and skill development as the main criteria that influence their innovation decisions. Family support, access to external financing, social networks and the allocation of funds are the main sub-criteria affecting their decisions to be innovative. Furthermore, respondents who are in the nascent business stage consider family motivation as the greatest influence on initiating new ideas through financial and moral support. Among all respondents, the nascent business owners rank skill development the highest because they are still in the initial stages of their business journeys, and thus, obtaining these skills could help them increase innovation and success in their ventures. However, respondents in the established stage rank innovation strategy the highest. Research limitations/implications The study results can help policymakers and women’s associations, such as businesswomen councils, identify the specific inhibitors and facilitators linked to innovation and, thereby, help develop various effective policies to promote innovation among Emirati women-owned SMEs. Originality/value The study is one attempt to facilitate innovation among Emirati women-owned SMEs through its efforts to discover the determinants of innovation efforts at nascent, start-up and established business stages as defined by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (2012). The study can help Emirati women-owned SMEs understand the critical factors influencing innovation and can encourage them to incorporate innovative characteristics for business growth and resilience. Furthermore, the study can provide insights for policymakers, financial institutions and non-governmental organizations on factors hindering innovation among Emirati women-owned SMEs, which may serve as a tool for creating resilience among female entrepreneurs.

Implementing strategic responses in the COVID-19 market crisis: a study of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in India

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guydeuk Yeon ◽  
Paul C. Hong ◽  
Elangovan N. ◽  
Divakar G. M.
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Economies ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Strategic Responses ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Medium Enterprises

Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic presents unprecedented challenges for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in emerging economies. This paper aims to examine how India's SMEs implement their strategic responses in this crisis. Design/methodology/approach The study uses dynamic capability theory to explore the strategic responses of SMEs. Strategy implementation theory helps to explain how they implement innovative practices for outcomes. A research model defines the COVID-19 challenges, strategic responses and performance outcomes. The study reports the findings of an initial pilot study of 75 firms and follow-up case study results in the context of COVID-19. Findings Firms choose their approaches according to their perceived market risks. Case studies illustrate that firms display diverse attitudes depending on their strategic direction, leadership vision and organizational culture. They achieve different outcomes by implementing specific styles of risk management practices (e.g. risk-averting, risk-taking and risk-thriving). Research limitations/implications Although the study context is Indian SMEs, the findings suggest meaningful lessons for other emerging economies in similar crisis events. The propositions may be extended to future research in broad contexts. Practical implications Even in the extraordinary COVID-19 market crisis, SMEs with limited resources display their strategic potential by recognizing their unique capabilities, translating them into effective actions and achieving desirable outcomes. Social implications In the COVID-19 pandemic, top leaders' mental attitude, strategic perspective and routine practices are contagious. Positive leadership motivates both internal and external stakeholders with an enormous level of collaboration. Originality/value This rare study of Indian SMEs provides a theoretical framework for designing a pilot survey and conducting a case study of multiple firms. Based on these findings, testable propositions are articulated for future research in diverse organizational and national contexts.

Driving innovation strategy in new hi-tech SMEs

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 16-18
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Reading Time ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Innovation Strategy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Successful Innovation ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings Concepts such as effectuation and opportunity shaping can play a key role in the development of a successful innovation strategy for young small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the hi-tech sector. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

The Pransky interview: Rich Walker, Managing Director at the Shadow Robot Company

2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-240
Author(s):  
Joanne Pransky
Keyword(s):  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Industrial Robot ◽  
Robotic Hands ◽  
Global Business ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pneumatic Muscles ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Robot Hands ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Small Team

Purpose – This paper aims to present a “Q&A interview” conducted by Joanne Pransky of Industrial Robot Journal as a method to impart the combined technological, business and personal experiences of a prominent robotic industry engineer-turned entrepreneur regarding the evolution, commercialisation and challenges of bringing a technological invention to market. Design/methodology/approach – The interviewee is Rich Walker, the Managing Director at the Shadow Robot Company in London, UK. Rich Walker joined the Shadow team before going to University, and in this interview, he describes his 25-year journey with the company. Findings – While he was studying mathematics at Cambridge, Rich Walker's passion for cutting edge robotics led him to write software in 1989, unpaid, as part of a team at the pioneering the Shadow Robot Company. Walker was soon involved in developing robotic hands based on pneumatic muscles, which resulted in eight patents, with Walker named as one of the inventors. Walker and the small team have since grown Shadow to become a thriving global business that designs and manufactures state-of-the-art anthropomorphic robot hands and related systems, with 20 R&D and production engineers in London, Brest and Shanghai. Originality/value – Walker's experiences with a small entrepreneurial robot start-up has led him not only to become a leader at Shadow for new robotics applications but he is also active in developing and implementing European projects, and he consults as an expert in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and innovators.

Leveraging green skills in response to the COVID-19 crisis: a case study of small and medium enterprises in Harare, Zimbabwe

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarisai Kudakwashe Manyati ◽  
Morgen Mutsau
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
Customer Base ◽  
Strategic Behaviour ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Formally Trained ◽  
Medium Enterprises

PurposeThe sustainable skills that informal manufacturers use in volatile times remain poorly understood. This study explored the skills that the informal manufacturers used to navigate the uncertain business environment during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachA total of 27 telephone interviews were conducted with informal entrepreneurs who were manufacturers of agricultural machinery at Mbare Magaba and Gaza home industry in Harare, Zimbabwe. Purposive and snow ball sampling were used to identify information rich sources. The authors used thematic analysis in identifying recurrent themes from this study.FindingsThe study results show that business agility motivated most informal manufacturers to restructure their business to sustain their operations. With the closure of formal companies, the informal manufacturers adopted slowing and narrowing loops through purchasing broken down agricultural machines for repairs or remanufacturing of durable machines for their low-income customer base. Most young and formally trained manufacturers adopted a prospector strategic behaviour as they used digital platforms to network with business associates for supplies, gathering market intelligence, making and receiving electronic payments and establishing virtual distant markets whilst the older manufacturers resorted mostly to a defender strategic behaviour of engaging their usual customers for repair jobs and a few referrals.Originality/valueThis study offers unique insights with respect to skills required for the sustainable and strategic management of small and medium enterprises during times of crisis.

Effect of Innovation Strategies on Sme Performance Mediated Competitive Advantages

2019 ◽  
Vol 118 (2) ◽  
pp. 94-97
Author(s):  
Mohammad Mabrur Taufik ◽  
DewiPuspaningtyas Faeni
Keyword(s):  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Human Resource Development ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Innovation Strategy ◽  
Product Introduction ◽  
Research Population ◽  
Innovation Strategies ◽  
Medium Enterprises

Small and Medium Enterprises and Indonesian Cooperatives (SMESCO) are strategies in promoting and introducing Indonesia's superior products to the international community. Through SMESCO, SME owners can work together on standardization of SME products, SME quality standardization and at the same time a forum for fostering SMEs to market their products, through human resource development programs including seminars, training, workshops and product introduction through online shops and mentoring programs. The research aims to prove and analyse the influence of: innovation strategies on the performance of SMEs in SMESCO Indonesia directly or through competitive advantage; innovation strategy towards competitive advantage; competitive advantage towards the performance of SMEs at SMESCO Indonesia. The research population is all SME companies that partner with SMESCO Indonesia. Sampling is done by probability sampling with a simple random sampling method. Data analysis using Structural Equation Modelling-Partial Least Squares, a sample of 147 small and medium business owners at SMESCO Indonesia. The results of the study prove: (1) The innovation strategy does not directly have a significant effect on the increasing performance of SME companies in SMESCO Indonesia but has a significant effect through competitive advantage; (2) Competitive advantage has a significanteffect on the increasing performance of SMEs in Indonesia.

Kewirausahaan (Entreprenuership) Berbasis Manajemen Strategik bagi Wirausaha Baru di Kecamatan Kebayoran Lama Utara, Jakarta Selatan

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 333
Author(s):  
Sintha Wahjusaputri ◽  
Ahmad Faisal Siregar
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Management ◽  
Community Organization ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Family Welfare ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Work Community ◽  
New Business ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Creativity And Innovation

Entrepreneurship (entrepreneurship) is a process of applying creativity and innovation in solving problems and finding opportunities to improve life (business and work). Community service activities are focused on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) built by PKK through UP2K in Kebayoran Lama Utara sub-district, in the form of food culinary, clothing, transportation and new business (start-up company). Business people as many as 30 people from various businesses. Methods used: (1) Survey; (2) Focus Group Discussion (FGD); (3) Briefing (Community Organization); (4) Community Development; (5) Learning Methods; and (6) Advocacy. The findings obtained are: (1) nine out of 10 organizations failed to realize SMEs due to no rest; (2) there are 5% of participants who understand the strategic plan; (3) 60% of organizations do not have realization budgets. The objectives of entrepreneurship based on strategic management are: (1) achievement of family economic effort improvement through group / individual business, so as to increase income and family welfare; (2) enhancing the capabilities and qualities of new entrepreneurs; (3) increasing knowledge, skills and skills for new entrepreneurs; (4) fostering groups of community or pre-cooperative economic enterprises in order to improve the family and community economy. Strategic management-based entrepreneurship is expected to promote effective and efficient SMEs for new entrepreneurs.

Twiga Hosting Ltd – providing affordable information and communication technologies services to small and medium enterprises

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Juma James Masele
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Innovation Management ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Medium Enterprises

TitleTwiga Hosting Ltd – providing affordable information and communication technologies services to small and medium enterprises.Subject areaThe case describes the launch of Twiga Hosting Ltd, a company providing information and communication technology (ICT) services to the underserved small and medium enterprise (SME) sector in Tanzania and in a many countries in Africa.Study level/applicabilityThis case targets a range of audience from undergraduate students taking both Bachelor of Commerce and those taking Bachelor of Business Administration; and Postgraduate students taking business‐related courses. Nonetheless, the case may be used by all other learners of advanced studies in entrepreneurship and innovation management.Case overviewThe case addresses a number of issues including: Issues to be considered when starting an ICT enterprise. Strategic management. Business revenue models.Expected learning outcomes To impart/inculcate entrepreneurial insights in ICT and related areas. To make learners aware of the business growth opportunities in ICT ventures. The success factors for fruitful ICT ventures. To enable learners to identify challenges facing entrepreneurs in ICT ventures and the ways to overcome them.Supplementary materialsTeaching notes.

Relevant factors of innovation contests for SMEs

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 1196-1215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Isabel Rodriguez Ferradas ◽  
José A. Alfaro Tanco ◽  
Francesco Sandulli
Keyword(s):  
New Product Development ◽  
Corporate Culture ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Context Factors ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Design Factors ◽  
Relevant Factors

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the relevant factors that influence the implementation of innovation contests, an open innovation (OI) practice that has been extensively reported in the literature as a managerial tool for external knowledge search. The authors focus the study on the context of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach The approach is a retrospective case study. This methodology allows an in-depth view into a Spanish SME that successfully undertook two new product development processes thanks to the deployment of innovation contests. Findings The main context factors influencing innovation contests as managerial tool are ambidexterity, technological and marketing turbulence and intermediaries, among others. Regarding design factors, this work highlights the role of attraction and facilitation. Additionally, the repetitive implementation of innovation contests creates a corporate culture that promotes OI activities. Practical implications Managers will understand that they can use innovation contests as a managerial tool, and knowing the factors that need to be taken into account when implementing an innovation contest will help SMEs managers to make better use of this practice. Originality/value This case study enriches the literature of both innovation contests and topics relevant to SMEs. Based on a theoretical framework of the design factors that influence the implementation of innovation contests, the authors propose a research framework that incorporates those context factors in association with an SME.

Effects of cloud computing assimilation on supply chain financing risks of SMEs

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiang Lu ◽  
Jinliang Chen ◽  
Hua Song ◽  
Xiangyu Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Computing ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Supply Chain Integration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supply Chain Financing ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Moderating Role

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine how cloud computing assimilation reduces supply chain financing (SCF) risks of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This study also investigated the mediating roles of internal and external supply chain integration between cloud computing assimilation and the SCF risks of SMEs, as well as the moderating role of environmental competitiveness. Design/methodology/approach Data was collected from surveys of SMEs located in China. Multiple regression analysis was used to validate the proposed theoretical model and research hypotheses. Findings The findings show that cloud computing assimilation could reduce the SCF risks of SMEs directly. The results also indicate that both internal and external supply chain integration mediate the relationship between cloud computing assimilation and SCF risks. Furthermore, environmental competitiveness inhibits the effects of cloud computing assimilation on SCF risks. Originality/value To our best knowledge, this is the preliminary study to explore the role of cloud computing assimilation in reducing the SCF risks of SMEs. Also, this study attempted to investigate the process by which cloud computing assimilation affects the SCF risks of SMEs.

How to survive in the age of artificial intelligence? Exploring the intelligent transformations of SMEs in central China

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinqiang Wang ◽  
Yaobin Lu ◽  
Si Fan ◽  
Peng Hu ◽  
Bin Wang
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Policy Support ◽  
Central China ◽  
Limited Resources ◽  
Text Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
External Pressures ◽  
Medium Enterprises

PurposeThe purpose of the research is to explore how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in central China achieve intelligent transformation through the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Because of unequal resource allocation, constraints on the intelligent transformation of SMEs in central China are different from those in economically and technologically well-developed coastal provinces. Hence, the authors focus on SMEs in central China to identify drivers of and barriers to intelligent transformation.Design/methodology/approachThe interview data were collected from 66 SMEs across 20 industries in central China. To verify the validity of the data collection method, the authors used two methods to control for retrospective bias: multi-level informants and enterprises' AI project application materials (Wei and Clegg, 2020). The final data were validated without conflicts. Next, the authors cautiously followed a two-step approach recommended by Venkatesh et al. (2010) and used NVivo 11.0 to analyze the collected text data.FindingsSMEs in central China are enthusiastic about intelligent transformation while facing both internal and external pressures. SMEs need to pay attention to both internal (enterprise development needs, implementation cost, human resources and top management involvement) and external factors (external market pressure, convenience of AI technology and policy support) and their different impacts on intelligent transformation. However, constrained by limited resources, SMEs in central China have been forced to take a step-by-step intelligent transformation strategy based on their actual needs with the technological flexibility method in the short term.Originality/valueConsidering the large number of SMEs and their importance in promoting China's economic development and job creation (SME Bureau of MIIT, 2020), more research on SMEs with limited resources is needed. In the study, the authors confirmed that enterprises should handle “social responsibility” carefully because over-emphasizing it will hinder intelligent transformation. However, firms should pay attention to the role of executives in promoting intelligent transformation and make full use of policy support to access more resources.

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