Leadership, Innovation Among Tunisian ICT SMEs

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (03) ◽  
pp. 283-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sondes Kacem ◽  
Sana El Harbi

Currently, innovation is a major challenge in emerging economies such as Tunisia. Although the influence of leadership seems evident in the implementation of innovations, few studies have investigated this impact; especially for SMEs in the ICT sector. For this purpose, we propose to highlight the impact of leadership on the implementation of innovations in SMEs through exploratory qualitative study of five small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the high-tech sector in Tunisia, to understand the management styles of the chief executive officers (CEOs) and their motivations towards innovative activities. The results of this investigation show that the style of leadership in the ICT sector is both participative and transformational. Only organizational innovation has been detected. Collaborative work and group cohesion are the major cultural aspects of innovation. Items from this exploration allows us to clarify aspects of three basic concepts that make up our conceptual model (leadership, culture of innovation, and innovations) for testing later under a quantitative study by the method of structural equation modeling.

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 2407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaffar Abbas ◽  
Qingyu Zhang ◽  
Iftikhar Hussain ◽  
Sabahat Akram ◽  
Aneeqa Afaq ◽  
...  

This current study is among the very few investigations, which seeks the relationship between knowledge management and sustainable organizational innovation in garment business firms. This investigation focused on examining how organizational learning mediates the relationship between knowledge management and sustainable organizational innovation. This research establishes that knowledge management and organizational innovation procedures are integral parts of the progress and survival of the organizations. The received data of this population reports on the garment firms, operating their businesses in Lahore and Gujranwala. The study applied a stratified random sampling method for data collection and employed structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the hypothesized relationships. The results specify that knowledge management shows a significant positive association with organizational learning, which in turn reveals a positive linkage to sustainable organizational innovation in SMEs of the garment industry. The study results also specify that organizational learning mediates the relationship between knowledge management and sustainable organizational innovation. This research survey identifies the significance of knowledge management and organizational learning in executing the process of organizational innovation, and it helps business managers to understand organizational learning as a mediator, which in turn indicates the benefits of knowledge management in achieving sustainable organizational innovation. This review provides an empirical indication of original data to investigate the linkage between knowledge management, sustainable innovation process, and organizational learning culture in the Pakistani garment sector. The generalizability of the study fallouts is restricted to the garment industry, and it offers valuable insights for imminent researchers.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Surjit Kumar Gandhi ◽  
Anish Sachdeva ◽  
Ajay Gupta

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the role played by service quality (SQ) in manufacturer–distributor working partnerships in the context of Indian small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and present two models which propose and validate that contributions toward SQ, made by both the manufacturing unit and distribution firm lead to satisfaction which consequently results in business-to-business (B2B) loyalty.Design/methodology/approachThe research design for this study includes a combination of literature review, exploratory interviews with a focus group and a questionnaire survey conducted through interview schedule from 101 information rich and willing respondents working in SMEs of northern India.FindingsThe paper brings out scales foe measuring organizational (internal) and distributor (external) SQ. Further, two models using structural equation modeling are developed. Model-I examines the effect of organizational SQ on distributor SQ. Model-II examines the impact of distributor SQ on satisfaction and loyalty and also tests a set of four propositions related to their working relationship. The models are empirically tested and are found to be fit.Research limitations/implicationsFuture researchers may validate these scales, and empirically test the proposed models in alternate settings. Insights derived from this study may be transferred to other partnerships, which may exist in a manufacturing supply chain including suppliers, employees, retailers and end consumers.Practical implicationsThis study would be of interest to SME practitioners interested in improving SQ with their distributors. The study also finds support for strengthening collaborative relationships with B2B partners to achieve a win-win situation.Originality/valueThere are very few empirical studies that measure SQ w.r.t. distribution function in SMEs and the concept is in nascent stage, especially in Indian setting.


Author(s):  
MARTINUS ROBERT HUTAURUK ◽  
SITI ROHMAH

        The development of information technology which is the impact to development revolution of industrial 4th makes every activity inseparable from network usage with entrepreneurs in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (UMKM) group, who also must be albe to capture the business opportunity.        The purpose of this study is to confirm the role of Zahir POSX software on business management in the UMKM group in Samarinda city. This research was conducted on 275 populations in the UMKM group located in Samarinda City, especially in the area around Mulawarman University and University of Widya Gama Mahakam Samarinda, and by using the Slovin method with a 5% error rate, 163 respondents were taken as sample. Test on validity and reliability have been darried out with good results on the items received agin before further analysis.      This study was conducted in order to predict the role of Zahir POSX software on business Management and used the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) wih multiple groups through Smart PLS Version 3.2.8 software.     The results of this study found that on use Zahir POSX software had a positive and significant impact on UMKM group in Samarinda. Entrepreneurs will be easier in controloing their business, even using paper less media. The results also show that through modern accounting software, it will increasingly make business management more effective and efficient


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 551-569
Author(s):  
Igor Dukeov ◽  
Jukka-Pekka Bergman ◽  
Pia Heilmann ◽  
Andrey Nasledov

PurposeDuring the last decade, a firm's ability to innovate has gained substantial attention in the literature devoted to innovation and strategic management. This study aims at discussing on what is the relationship of a firm's commitment to learn and its open-mindedness with its activity in introducing organizational innovations. The data collection was carried out in Russia. In order to make the research more specific, the organizational innovation is broken down into two subtypes, namely innovation in management practices and innovation in workplace organization.Design/methodology/approachThe study is grounded on the data obtained by the surveying of 123 Russian top managers working in manufacturing firms. The structural equation modeling was approached in order to investigate the impact of a firm's commitment to learn and open-mindedness on its organizational innovation.FindingsThe results indicate that the commitment to learn and the open-mindedness have considerable impact on organizational innovation activity in a firm. The findings also provide evidence that both the investigated subtypes of organizational innovation are positively influenced by commitment to learn and open-mindedness, though the degree of that influence differs.Originality/valueThe literature traditionally focuses mostly on the technological type of innovation leaving the organizational innovation covered by scarce research. In this respect the study contributes to the theory of organizational innovation by elaborating its relations with organizational learning dimensions. Apart from the investigation on the research question at a general level, the study explores the specific context related to the manifestation of phenomenon in a transition economy of Russia.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peerayuth Charoensukmongkol

Purpose This paper examines the effect of improvisational behavior of entrepreneurs on firm performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Thailand during the economic crisis following the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also explores external factors in terms of competitive intensity and internal factors in terms of financial and human resources possessed by firms that could enhance the impact of improvisational behavior on firm performance. Design/methodology/approach A self-administered online questionnaire survey was used to collect the data from the random sample of 312 SMEs in Thailand. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Findings The analysis supports the positive relationship between the improvisational behavior of entrepreneurs and firm performance. Moreover, the moderating effect analysis shows that the positive impact of improvisational behavior on firm performance tends to be stronger for firms that encountered a higher level of competitive intensity and for firms that possessed a higher level of financial and human resources. Originality/value This research extends the knowledge from prior research by confirming some moderating factors that could strengthen the benefit of improvisational behavior during the crisis.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vibhuti Mittal ◽  
T.V. Raman

PurposeAccessing formal mainstream finance is a cumbersome process for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) of emerging economies. Empirical investigations have connected finance accessibility to financing gap that restricts MSMEs from borrowing through formal channels. The purpose of this study is to explore the influence of financing gap on firms' financial structure (FS) practices. In this regard, the research framework divides financing gap into four dimensions, namely: demand gap (DG), supply gap (SG), knowledge gap (KG) and empathy gap (EG).Design/methodology/approachThe paper adopts a quantitative approach to establish the underlying relationship between the variables. The participants of the self-structured questionnaire survey were 219 MSME owners from manufacturing, trading and service industries. The results are inferred through the partial least squares structural equation modeling (SEM) technique.FindingsThe findings recognise a significant impact of financing gap on the FS practices of firm owners. The financing constraints contributing to KG, SG and EG are found to be extending the unwillingness of firm owners to borrow through formal channels. Further, the results also confirm the influence of financing gap on the pecking order framework (POF) of MSMEs' FS.Practical implicationsThe study offers the perspective and hesitance of MSME owners towards mainstream financing. The key findings are useful for the financial intermediaries and policymakers, who need to be sensitive and proactive in their small business lending process.Originality/valueThe study adds to the limited evidence of various dimensions of financing gap. It also addresses the role of financing gap on the conscious preferences of MSME owners towards the informal source of financing along with the POF.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Simon Nnaemeka Ajah ◽  
Pairote Pathranarakul

Powers shortages is rampant in Africa of which Nigeria is not an exception and solar technology as a viable alternative source of electricity which would mitigate this problem has meted slow adoption. This study aimed to explore the impact of mindset/attitude from Theory of planned behavior (TPB), Disruptive Innovation Theory (DIA), awareness-knowledge, opportunity and barrier over managers (owners) of MSMEs intention to adopt solar technology for their businesses. A questionnaire was administrated to collect data from a sample of 400 managers (owners) of MSMEs respondents’ in Lagos State, Nigeria. A multivariate technique was applied to test the hypotheses using Structural Equation Modeling (AMOS-23). The findings showed that mindset/attitude, (DIA) and opportunity have a significant impact on solar technology intention, however, awareness-knowledge and barrier were not significant. These independent variables explained 71% variance of the dependent variable intention. In addition, DIA was found to have a significant impact on opportunity, barrier and mindset/attitude however, barrier on mindset/attitude was not significant. These findings not only provide evidence for MSMEs strategic planning to ensure sustainable business growth for their businesses but also provide new knowledge to policy and decision makers, the manufacturing & installation (suppliers) companies and other stakeholders for renewable energy as a part of long term sustainable development.


Author(s):  
María Gemma Sánchez González

<p>Music is constantly around us and, if in English, it fosters social distance in EFL students, consequently increasing the level of affinity with the language, however, can social distance help with other personal aspects? Music lyrics provide different perspectives that can become enriching on an academic level, as music brings cultural aspects of the country of origin and directly affects emotions, therefore song lyrics may become a very powerful instrument when combining social distance and the level of English of students in order to improve academic and future professional performance, among others.</p><p>The aim of this study was to measure the impact of social distance on the improvement of academic performance, emotional states and future prospects in EFL students. In order to measure those variables, a questionnaire, based on the Likert scale, conducted amongst 82 students from different educational centres. Resulting data analysed with the use of the structural equation modeling (SEM-PLS) revealed the relevance of social distance through music in order to improve learning processes, to feel emotions and to consolidate hopes for future prospects.</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faiza Manzoor ◽  
Longbao Wei ◽  
Muhammad Asif

The prime goal of this study is to analyze the impact of intrinsic rewards on the performance of an employee. It also focuses on the role of motivation of the employee as an intervening factor. To achieve this objective, data have been collected through the questionnaire method from small and medium enterprises of Pakistan. A total of 400 questionnaires were distributed to the target population, and 300 were received. To test the hypotheses, the confirmatory factor analysis and the structural equation modeling have been used. The main results of the study have shown a positive and significant impact of intrinsic rewards on the performance of the employee. Specifically, the study reveals that the motivation of an employee significantly mediates the association between intrinsic rewards and the performance of the employee. In the light of the findings, implications are outlined.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Seok-Young Oh ◽  
Sehwa Kim

Purpose This study aims to investigate how the inter-organizational learning (inter-OL) of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) promote intra-organizational learnings (intra-OL) and how inter- and intra-OL jointly promote organizational innovation in the Korean electronics industry. This study also examines the moderating effect of organizational dynamism. Design/methodology/approach A unique theoretical model shows how inter-OL promotes organizational innovation through intra-OL, knowledge flows and stocks. Data was collected from 201 SMEs in the Korean electronics industry and analyzed by structural equation modeling. Findings The findings show that inter-OL directly and indirectly influences innovation. Inter-OL promotes both knowledge flows and stocks, but the only feedforward flows influence innovation through knowledge stocks while feedback flows directly influence innovation. Additionally, the study finds an indirect effect of inter-OL on knowledge stocks and a strong direct effect on innovation when dynamism is high. Intra-OL activities fully mediate between inter-OL and innovation when dynamism is low. Research limitations/implications This study uses single informants to measure all constructs. Future studies should use multiple informants. Practical implications This study shows that OL in SMEs is shaped by internal processes and external collaborations. Maintaining a connection with various external knowledge sources and creating collaborative opportunities to share learning experiences is critical to innovation. Originality/value This study is the first to empirically examine the relationship between inter- and intra-OL activities within a conceptual framework. The study provides a strategic view of how to facilitate OL activities considering the degree of organizational dynamism.


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