scholarly journals Encouraging Innovativeness of Small and Medium Enterprises in Serbia to Support Competitiveness Improvement in the Post-Crisis Period

2015 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maja Ivanović-Đukić ◽  
Maja Lazić

AbstractThe global economic crisis has taken a number of consequences. In order to overcome them, many of various measures on macroeconomic and microeconomic level should be implemented in the post-crisis period. A large number of developed and developing countries as a key lever in the post-crisis period would recognize the SME sector, so that the greatest number of macroeconomic policies aims at fostering its competitiveness. Previously, a competitive advantage of SMEs was generally founded on focusing on specific markets, competing in fragmented industry or on cost leadership. Nowdays, the ability to innovate is the most important source of their competitiveness. However, since the capacities of SMEs to introduce technological innovations are generally limited, strong macroeconomic support for increasing innovativeness of SMEs is necessary. This paper will explain measures which may increase innovativeness of SMEs and the impact of SMEs innovations on their competitiveness and the competitiveness of the economy in which they operate. A special emphasis will be on the analysis of innovativeness of the SMEs in Serbia.

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Imad Jabbouri ◽  
Omar Farooq

PurposeThis paper aims to document the impact of inadequately educated workforce on the extent of financing obstacles experienced by firms.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use the data provided by the World Bank's Enterprise Surveys to test our arguments. The data were collected during the period between 2008 and 2018 in 141 developing countries. A pooled ordered logit regression analysis is performed to arrive at the results.FindingsThe study’s results show that firms with inadequately educated workforce are more likely to experience financing obstacles than other firms. The authors argue that poor performance and lack of technical expertise required to access finance are some of the reasons behind greater financing obstacles experienced by these firms. The study’s results are robust across different geographic regions. The authors also show that firms with inadequately educated workforce are more likely to seek informal credit for financing their short-term (working capital) and long-term (capital expenditures) capital requirements.Practical implicationsUnderstanding the factors that affect the financing constraints faced by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) should be valuable to managers of SMEs and policy-makers. By removing these constraints, managers can improve their access to financing, and policy-makers can facilitate higher economic growth and better economic conditions.Originality/valuePrior studies have largely been silent on the impact of inadequately educated workforce on the access to finance. This paper draws attention to this issue within the context of SMEs in an international setting. SMEs are the drivers of economic growth in any country. However, their contributions to economic growth cannot materialize without fulfilling their capital needs.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 72
Author(s):  
Omar B. Buul ◽  
Dr. Robert Omundi

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of competitive strategies on the performance of small and medium enterprises in Kenya.Methodology: The study employed a descriptive correlation design using primary data collected using questionnaires. The study targeted 4,560 SMEs in Nairobi CBD. The collected data was coded and entered into SPSS (V.20) to create a data sheet that was used for analysis. Data was analyzed using quantitative techniques. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the characteristics of collected data. Pearson’s Correlation, Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Multiple Regression Analysis were used to establish the relationships among the study variables.Findings: Cost leadership, differentiation, market focus and strategic alliance were all found to have a positive and significant influence on SME performance.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommended that: SMEs should embrace and invest in cost leadership strategies most especially forming linkages with service providers, suppliers and other supplementary institutions since it will enable them achieve competitive advantage; SMEs ought to focus and invest more on differentiation as it could be used as a major competitive advantage tool against competitors; SMEs should know on what basis to segment their products, services and operations; and that SMEs should embrace strategic alliances to increase their market share.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 16-18

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 Pursuing an appropriate strategy can enable micro, small, and medium enterprises in developing countries to significantly improve their performance. Such firms should typically be best served by a cost leadership competitive strategy, the impact of which can be increased through an emphasis on key components of quality management. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives 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 impact of information technology in accounting is playing a major role in small and medium enterprises information technology has been the prevailing impact to businesses and around the world .It is now given stretching from the perspective of technology and it is benefits as to whether it can be effective, that is improving small and medium enterprises performance, where many if not most of businesses implementation include competitive advantage, reduction in human errors. Companies in telangana state have different reasons for frequent improvement of technology to existing technologies used in the companies. an system application practices company outlined that the usage of technology to maximise your industrial enterprise productiveness creates the platform to recognise authentic employer success business productivity and statistics technology guarantees businesses have the equipment to conquer the challenges of executing on technique each day and prospering in gift international scenario.. Small and medium enterprises business firms implements technology because it enables the company to keep up with other small and medium enterprises business firms in throughout the world. And technology allows businesses to decorate their communique strategies. using emails and awesome web web sites can help agencies beautify communique with purchaser.. This permits in retaining competitive advantage and commercial enterprise corporation owners can use generation to reduce commercial organization costs. And it enables in automating decrease lower back workplace features, for example file of ebook retaining, accounting and payroll. generation also can be used to create secure environments for maintaining sensitive organization or consumer facts. in international situation


2020 ◽  
pp. 196-205
Author(s):  
Ahlam Otaibi Alghanmi

There is a lack of studies on innovations and competitiveness in Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Saudi Arabia; to fell this gap, this paper will study change as the competitive advantage for Small and Medium Enterprises: the case for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study aims to explore different practices of SMEs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to examine the impact of innovation strategies (Organizational, Product, Process, and Market) on the competitive advantage of SMEs. The study was conducted on one hundred and forty-seven (147) SMEs that are practicing different activities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study's analysis indicates that most of the enterprises were young (operation years were less than ten years), which shows the strong need to apply innovative strategies to maintain their position and competitiveness in the market. Competitive advantage enables the firm to utilize its resources efficiently and maintain high levels of quality performance. The results show that the correlation between Innovation strategies such as product innovation strategy, market innovation strategy, process innovation strategy, and organizational innovation strategy practiced by SMEs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and competitiveness was Positive. Therefore, it indicates that different innovation strategies were significantly influencing the competitiveness of the SMEs. To remain a competitor enterprise in the market is not a natural or an easy attempt, and it can be challenging for SMEs, especially without the needed knowledge and support. Findings and recommendations of the study can be used as a guideline for SMEs. Also, emphasizing on the importance of education that plays a vital role in SMEs innovations. It is essential to establish with different research centers and universities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia programs or activities that focus on changes in business, and it will result in gaining competitive advantage and sustainability for Small and Medium Enterprises in the market. Keywords: competitive advantage, innovation, small enterprises, medium enterprises.


2021 ◽  
Vol 258 ◽  
pp. 05027
Author(s):  
Konstantin Kurpayanidi ◽  
Alisher Abdullaev

Today the economy of Uzbekistan, as well as the majority of other countries of the world, is developing in conditions of uncertainty. On the one hand, it is associated with the consequences of new coronavirus pandemic, and on the other - with the introduction of forced restrictions, which hinder business development. This article deals with the necessity to provide financial support to business during the coronavirus pandemic in developing countries. It shows the impact of measures to support small and medium enterprises on economic development. Finally, it outlines recommendations for additional interventions and further research.


The office work is a working ecosystem entirely dependent on humans. Office ergonomics focuses on the human well-being and adapts all office components to suit workers’ needs and comfort. The unawareness of the Lebanese designers in particular and the global designers in general on the importance of applying ergonomics programs and implementing well-designed workplaces reached its borders. Therefore, stressing on the significance of ergonomics programs especially in the architectural field is needed to raise the attention for the essentiality of this topic. The major reason for conducting this project is to enhance the awareness on ergonomics importance and its impact on increasing employees’ productivity specifically among Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s). The study starts with a general literature review shedding the light on the meaning of ergonomics, its types, factors, and how to enhance employee productivity through applying ergonomics. After the theoretical part which revealed an important background to start on investigating the hypothesis of the project the fact findings and conclusions of the project were drawn. Using SPSS program and other tools the research demonstrated and drew the facts in a statistical and graphical way to show clearly the exact outcomes. The data used to emphasize and validate the suggested hypothesis was all collected through questionnaires and interviews at both Block Tech Line sarl and L’artquitecte. Both companies are wellknown in the architectural field among small and medium enterprises. The main reason for choosing this kind of enterprises was it expansion in the Lebanese market at first, and it obtained an important a competitive advantage through ergonomics ISO certified programs. The study showed the strong impact of ergonomics on employees’ productivity, and how the absence of one element may influence negatively the employees. The conclusion which is underlining the stated objectives at the beginning of the study, a list of recommendations was suggested on how to enhance implementing ergonomically designed workplaces


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