Ambidextrous Leadership for SMEs in the COVID-19 Era

2021 ◽  
pp. 19-39
Author(s):  
Sulaiman Olusegun Atiku ◽  
Isaac Okoth Randa
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Style ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Innovative Performance ◽  
Business Operations ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Ambidextrous Leadership

The coronavirus pandemic has compounded the challenges of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Apart from the operational challenges that business owners need to sort out for their SMEs, regulatory disruption is a factor in the business environment influencing business operations and sustainability. This chapter examines the place of ambidextrous leadership in sustaining SMEs in the post-pandemic era. A desktop research approach was adopted to analyze the impact of ambidextrous leadership on the innovative performance of SMEs through empirical studies conducted in big conglomerates, as well as SMEs. This chapter found that ambidextrous leadership is positively associated with the innovation of SMEs in the high-tech sector in developed and developing countries. Entrepreneurs may adopt an ambidextrous leadership style to drive the innovative performance of their businesses in the pandemic period. Ambidextrous leadership is fundamental in promoting workforce creativity, continuous business process improvement, and resource-efficiency.

Practice of information systems

2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milind Kumar Sharma ◽  
Rajat Bhagwat
Keyword(s):  
Operations Management ◽  
Survey Methodology ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Operations ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
Day To Day Operations ◽  
Medium Enterprises

PurposeTo provide the outcome of information system (IS) related practice survey designed to identify current trends in Indian small and medium enterprises (SMEs).Design/methodology/approachThis research is exploratory in nature, a survey methodology is used for study and the focus of study is cross‐sectional. Two companies have been selected for detailed case studies. The objective of the study was to become more familiar through survey and information collected to one point in time. The methodology was based on a questionnaire survey and personal interviews.FindingsThe outcomes, based on a survey of 210 SMEs, reveal that though SMEs understand and acknowledge the importance of the IS in day‐to‐day operations management in the present dynamic and heterogeneous business environment but these are yet to implement, operate and exploit it fully in a formal and professional manner so as to enable them to derive maximum business gains out of it. SMEs are not found equipped adequately with the IS resources to suit their needs.Research limitations/implicationsThe target of the study is the SMEs operational in the western part of India and hence it has the limitation in terms of the scope. However, the overall results are encouraging with 70 percent response rare in the survey and underline the need for more such studies. The results have implications for all managers responsible for IS, any SME in the era of globalization.Originality/valueThe paper presents IS‐related practices going on in Indian SMEs. Findings reported in the paper provide SMEs operators the utility of IS in day‐to‐day business operations.

scholarly journals The Motivation to Adopt E-commerce Among Malaysian Entrepreneurs

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 189-202
Author(s):  
Wei-Loon Koe
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Knowledge Society ◽  
Self Determination Theory ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Business Operations ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Shed Light

E-commerce is important in creating a knowledge society and cashless business environment in the era of the fourth industrial revolution (IR 4.0). However, not all Malaysian entrepreneurs are ready for this digital way of performing business. The e-commerce ecosystem is still less matured, and the e-commerce adoption rate is still low among entrepreneurs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the factors that influence the entrepreneurs’ motivation to adopt e-commerce. Self-determination theory (SDT) was employed in determining the factors that influence the motivation to adopt e-commerce. This study employed a quantitative research method and surveyed 273 entrepreneurs through self-administered questionnaires. It used multiple regressions analysis to analyse the data and test the hypotheses. Based on the results obtained, it concluded that competence, relatedness and autonomy positively and significantly influenced entrepreneurs’ motivation to adopt e-commerce. Relatedness was found to be the most important factor, followed by autonomy and competence. This study contributed to entrepreneurship literature by applying SDT in understanding entrepreneurs’ motivation in e-commerce adoption. It also shed light on the importance of individual psychological factors in decision making among entrepreneurs. The study suggested that building a strong connection among the entrepreneurs, providing freedom to business operations and developing knowledgeable entrepreneurs are some crucial steps in motivating entrepreneurs to adopt e-commerce, especially in a developing country like Malaysia.

scholarly journals Extrapolative Collaborative Filtering Recommendation System with Word2Vec for Purchased Product for SMEs

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7156
Author(s):  
Kyoung Jun Lee ◽  
Yu Jeong Hwangbo ◽  
Baek Jeong ◽  
Ji Woong Yoo ◽  
Kyung Yang Park
Keyword(s):  
Collaborative Filtering ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Recommendation System ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Personal Information ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Share Data ◽  
Artificial Intelligence Technology ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Start Ups

Many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) want to introduce recommendation services to boost sales, but they need to have sufficient amounts of data to introduce these recommendation services. This study proposes an extrapolative collaborative filtering (ECF) system that does not directly share data among SMEs but improves recommendation performance for small and medium-sized companies that lack data through the extrapolation of data, which can provide a magical experience to users. Previously, recommendations were made utilizing only data generated by the merchant itself, so it was impossible to recommend goods to new users. However, our ECF system provides appropriate recommendations to new users as well as existing users based on privacy-preserved payment transaction data. To accomplish this, PP2Vec using Word2Vec was developed by utilizing purchase information only, excluding personal information from payment company data. We then compared the performances of single-merchant models and multi-merchant models. For the merchants with more data than SMEs, the performance of the single-merchant model was higher, while for the SME merchants with fewer data, the multi-merchant model’s performance was higher. The ECF System proposed in this study is more suitable for the real-world business environment because it does not directly share data among companies. Our study shows that AI (artificial intelligence) technology can contribute to the sustainability and viability of economic systems by providing high-performance recommendation capability, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups.

scholarly journals Determinants of Financial Inclusion in Small and Medium Enterprises: Evidence from Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 286
Author(s):  
Betgilu Oshora ◽  
Goshu Desalegn ◽  
Eva Gorgenyi-Hegyes ◽  
Maria Fekete-Farkas ◽  
Zoltan Zeman
Keyword(s):  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression Model ◽  
Financial Inclusion ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Supply Side ◽  
Access To Finance ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Supply Side Factors ◽  
Positive Effect

The study examines the determinant factors that influence financial inclusion among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Ethiopia. The study uses an explanatory research design and a mixed research approach with both primary and secondary sources of data. More specifically, the study adopts a multiple linear regression model. The finding of the study reveals that; supply-side factors, demand-side factors, market opportunity, and collateral requirements have a positive effect on the firm’s access to finance. On the other hand, institutional framework factors, and the costs of borrowing negatively affect the firm’s access to finance. This study suggests concerned bodies sustain rapid and inclusive economic growth and hence eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, the policymakers must build an efficient, strong, and well-functioning financial market system that provides affordable and sustainable financial service to SMEs.

scholarly journals Promoting Clusters and Networks for Small and Medium Enterprises to Economic Development in the Globalization Era

SAGE Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 215824401769715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Foghani ◽  
Batiah Mahadi ◽  
Rosmini Omar
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Global Challenges ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Global Arena ◽  
Asian Developing Countries

This research attempts to explore the importance of cluster-based systems in preparation for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to go global, and it is an ongoing research. The findings of this research are aimed at providing insights to policy makers, academicians, and practitioners with the objective of creating initiatives, strategies, and policies, which reflect the primary aim of supporting SMEs in managing global challenges. SMEs that are cluster-based have the potential to facilitate the successful inclusion of SMEs in the growth of productivity and networks of global distribution. Most Asian developing countries are in the dark when it comes to this matter. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the relations between the capabilities of the networks and clusters in developing SMEs’ preparedness in facing business players in the global arena. This study’s scope includes specific Asian developing countries. Even though the issue of clusters in SMEs has been well researched in developed countries, such empirical studies are still lacking in the Asian region despite its prevalent collectivism practice. In the concluding analysis, the study intends to develop a model emphasizing the cluster-based industrial SMEs toward globalization.

Another failed M&A: misaligned business models as culprit

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 18-26
Author(s):  
Gaël Le Floc’h ◽  
Laurent Scaringella
Keyword(s):  
Customer Value ◽  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Recent Debate ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Medium Enterprises

Purpose Literature on business models (BMs) has grown ve ry rapidly since the beginning of the twenty-first century, and although the theoretical and empirical literature has developed significantly, the number of practical and management-oriented studies remains relatively low. A recent debate in the field has focused on the definition of BM invariants: sensing customer needs, creating customer value, sustaining value creation and monetizing value. Extant empirical studies have mainly focused on multinational enterprises (MNEs) and successful BMs; however, this study concentrates on the failure of BMs in the case of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). An important source of a BM’s failure is the misalignment between MNE and SME involved in an acquisition. Design/methodology/approach Looking through the lens of the four BM constants, the aim of this study is to examine the case of the acquisition Domestic Heating (an SME) by Ventilair (an MNE). Findings Although both separate entities were achieving good results and each had a specific BM, the acquisition produced poor results mainly due to the misalignment of the two BMs. The findings lead the authors to make recommendations to practitioners on avoiding BM misalignment during an acquisition. Originality/value The authors encourage practitioners to enhance communication, promote organizational experiments, acknowledge specificities of both entities, foster employee commitment and ensure homogeneity in IT system usage.

scholarly journals Strategic Planning and Competitive Advantage of ICT Small and Medium Enterprises in Kenya

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary B. Awino
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Planning ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Dynamic Environment ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Balanced Score Card ◽  
Medium Enterprises

The Paper is the research findings on the role of strategic planning and competitive advantage of ICT Small and Medium Enterprises in Kenya. Literature suggests that the contemporary business environment in which organisations operate is increasingly becoming uncertain and unpredictable. Significant changes are mostly driven by technological changes, globalisation and trade liberalisation. As a result, like large enterprises, SMEs are facing new and unexpected challenges that threaten their competitiveness. While most countries acknowledge the critical role that SMEs contribute to their economies, both as an engine of growth and sustainable development, many questions still remain unanswered as to the determination of the critical challenges facing SMEs and how these challenges could be addressed to improve their competitiveness. These challenges have increased the need for empirical information which is essential for decision making in addressing issues that are likely to enhance SMEs survival and growth. It is noted that there has been no adequate research studies on the role of strategic planning and competitive advantage of SMEs. This study contributes to the need to address the research gaps and thus explored the role of strategic planning and competitive advange of SMEs in Kenya. The study population consisted of 238 ICT SMEs from Nairobi and its environs. A sample size of 146 firms constituting 61 per cent of the total population was selected through stratified sampling. The study aimed to collect data from 438 respondents from top, middle and lower management teams. Structured questionnaires with closed and open ended questions was used for data collection, 239 responses were received from 123 ICT firms a response rate of 55 per cent and 84.2 per cent respectively. Key characteristics of strategic planning including formality, environmental analysis processes both internal and external orientations, strategies adopted, and implementation and control were recorded. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, factor analysis, t-test, ANOVA, correlation, correlation matrixes and regression analysis. The key findings revealed that strategic planning has significant and positive influence in performance of SME’s. The test of hypothesis revealed that strategic planning has positive and significant influence on competitive advantage. The study demonstrated strategic planning as a learning tool and a strategic resource which is consistent with the underlying assumptions of resource based theory, systems theory, chaos theory and balanced score card model assumptions. It is envisaged that, this kind of research is likely to generate useful discussions on the role of strategic planning and performance, of SMEs. It is apparent that entrepreneurs of SMEs cannot ignore strategic planning as significant changes in competitive advantage is the result of change or effective application of strategic planning. Policy makers and academicians may need to address the capacity needs of SMEs and develop strategic planning model that address the challenges that SMEs encounter in a dynamic environment.

scholarly journals Women Entrepreneurs in Bangladesh- Challenges and Determining Factors

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 27-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania Afroze ◽  
Md Kashrul Alam ◽  
Eliza Akther ◽  
Nahid Sultana Jui
Keyword(s):  
Gender Discrimination ◽  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Sales Promotion ◽  
Social Constraints ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Medium Enterprises

The aim of this study is to find out the major challenges that hinder smooth operation of women entrepreneurs of Bangladesh. It also finds the reasons behind the success of the women entrepreneurship. Both primary and secondary data have been used to conduct the study. The questionnaire included questions about economic problems, family related issues, social constraints and other limitations faced by women entrepreneurs and the reasons behind their success. Women involved in various small and medium enterprises take on the challenge to work in a male-dominated society, competitive and complex economic and business environment. However, the identified challenges are inadequate capital, sales promotion, getting permission to start-up a business, gender discrimination, illiteracy and lack of knowledge among women, non-availability of training program and technical support, lack of managerial experience, in some cases young people make ill talk about the enterprise and so on. Personal qualities such as hard work and perseverance, management skills and marketing skills, support provided by their spouses or family are the main reasons behind the success of the women entrepreneurs. The level of participation of women in mainstream economic activities remains insufficient and the percentage of women in business is still much below than that of their male counterparts.Journal of Business and Technology (Dhaka) Vol.9(2) 2014; 27-41

scholarly journals Internationalization of Small and Medium Enterprises from Arusha Tanzania: Market Information, Financial Resources and Product Quality Setbacks

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 77
Author(s):  
Liliane Pasape
Keyword(s):  
Product Quality ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Packaging Materials ◽  
Market Information ◽  
Processing Machinery ◽  
Key Players ◽  
Processed Products ◽  
Medium Enterprises

The small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are key players towards reviving the economy and livelihood development in Tanzania, yet their involvement in international business is still unsatisfactory. This study therefore assessed the three major setbacks for industrialization of Arusha’s SMEs namely as information, finance and quality. A cross-section research design was conducted using questionnaires. Through non-probability sampling, 50 respondents were stratified selected from SMEs owners, employees, business development support organizations and regulators. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and logit model. The findings on the existing business environment revealed that: majority of the SMEs involve women (68%) dealing with handcraft and tailoring, with less than five years of business experience. Moreover, the major identified information setbacks are low access to information source, use of irrelevancy market information, use of in effective medium of communication and high cost of the information. Besides, other financial related setbacks are limited sources of capital, lack of collateral, poor credibility history and high transaction cost. On quality setbacks include selling semi processed products, poor finished product and packaging materials as well insufficient processing machinery. Thus for SMEs internationalization the following recommendations are established: improving accessibility and affordability of relevant market information; designing various financial products at reasonable lending rates, strengthening entrepreneurial skills and formalization of enterprises; enhancing availability of processing machinery and packaging materials for improving product quality and competitiveness as well as avoiding selling of semi processed products . Above all, the government, regulators, private sector organizations and other key players along the value chain must play their respective relevant role towards supporting SMEs.

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