scholarly journals Studying Service SME Adoption of Mobile Marketing Technology (MMT) via Technology-Organization-Environment Framework

2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Sunday Chinedu Eze ◽  
Vera Chinwendu Chinedu-Eze ◽  
Hart O. Awa
Keyword(s):  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Mobile Marketing ◽  
Service Firms ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Marketing Technology ◽  
Developed Economies ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Grounded Theory Approach ◽  
Data Collection Approach

While the acceptance and use of mobile marketing technology (MMT) is playing a significant roles in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), few studies have explored how an appropriate framework for understanding the underlying factors that shape MMT adoption in Nigeria can be developed. This is because majority of practitioners in Nigeria often generalize and extend the findings from the developed economies as if there are no environmental differences. This paper attempts to propose a grounded theory approach for assessing factors within technology-organisation-environment (T-O-E) framework in attempt to explain and predict small service firms’ adoption of MMT. The data collection approach spans unstructured and semi-structured interviews with 26 respondents; and the proposed framework provides an organized way to explore MMT adoption, and a foundation for developing a model of MMT adoption in developing country.

scholarly journals Exploring the growth process of successors in long-lived small and medium-sized manufacturing companies: a qualitative study

F1000Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 285
Author(s):  
Hiroo Suzuki ◽  
Yasunobu Kino
Keyword(s):  
Growth Process ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Double Loop Learning ◽  
Core Category ◽  
The Future ◽  
Medium Enterprises

Background: Japan is the world's largest country in terms of the number of long-lived companies, the majority of which are family-owned small and medium-sized enterprises. On the other hand, many business owners will be retiring without successors, and the closure of these small and medium enterprises may have a significant impact on the future economy. The purpose of this study is to explore the growth process of successors in long-lived small and medium-sized manufacturing companies so that potential successors can know what they will experience as managers and be prepared for the future, and professionals who support successors can be provided with information on the growth process of successors to provide appropriate support. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six successors of small and medium-sized manufacturing companies that are more than half a century old. Their answers were analyzed using the modified grounded theory approach to construct a hypothetical model. Results: In total, 46 concepts, four categories, 17 subcategories, and one core category with an analysis result diagram were formed. The diagram shows the successors gained confidence in management through the dilemma between autonomy and constraint in the early stage of succession, which was found in previous research. Following the initial stage, the successors responded to the crisis caused by market constraints such as being stuck in a new market, unreasonable treatment from customers, and created autonomous strategies in their businesses. Conclusions: By experiencing repetitive crises, the successors tend to acquire new perspectives toward the naturally occurring crises. This change of premise by the successors is considered as the process of double-loop learning. Relationships inside and outside the company influence the generation of this viewpoint. From a long-term perspective, a sense of unity with employees, stable employment, and the pursuit of enjoyment constitute the successors' values in this model.

Business Excellence Strategies for SME Sustainability in India

2017 ◽  
pp. 61-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neeta Baporikar
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
National Income ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Employment Opportunities ◽  
Equitable Distribution ◽  
The Core ◽  
Business Excellence ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Grounded Theory Approach

Accepted worldwide Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are fueling the engine of economic growth apart from promoting equitable development. They provide large employment opportunities at comparatively lower capital cost apart from enabling industrialisation of backward areas, thereby, reducing regional imbalances, assuring more equitable distribution of national income and wealth. This is more so in the Asian economies and undoubtedly SME is an important contributor to Indian economy. However, globalisation is bringing new opportunities. To seize these opportunities, SMEs need to re look at their business and strategize for excellence. Hence, the core objective of this chapter is to explore whether adopting excellence models can help SMEs to attain sustainability. Through in depth literature review and grounded theory approach the focus is to discuss different business excellence theories and focus on the need to use business excellence strategies for their sustainability and continued success.

scholarly journals Demographic determinants of mobile marketing technology adoption by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Ekiti State, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunday C. Eze ◽  
Hart O. Awa ◽  
Vera C. A. Chinedu-Eze ◽  
Adenike O. Bello
Keyword(s):  
Technology Adoption ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Mobile Marketing ◽  
Demographic Structure ◽  
Marketing Technology ◽  
Top Executives ◽  
Competitive Edge ◽  
South West ◽  
Number Of Factors ◽  
Medium Enterprises

AbstractA substantial number of factors have been examined on the potentials of SMEs to exploit mobile marketing devices to achieve a competitive edge. However, the limited scholarly investigation has focused on the demographic characteristics of top executives of SMEs and how the location moderates the interaction between the demographic structure of SMEs’ executives and the rate of mobile marketing technology adoption, particularly in the south-west of Nigeria where adoption of these devices are slow. The research examines the effects of demographic factors of top SME executives on mobile marketing technology adoption in Ekiti State Nigeria. Data were collected through questionnaires and responses of 230 SMEs were drawn randomly from a population of 620 registered SMEs operating in 6 different industries located in different towns in Ekiti State, South-West Geo-Political Zone, Nigeria. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to analyse the data. Results revealed that the experience, age, and educational attainment of top SMEs’ executives were statistically significant, and the location of the firm significantly moderated mobile marketing technology adoption. Gender also affected mobile marketing technology adoption among SMEs.

Business Excellence Strategies for SME Sustainability in India

2017 ◽  
pp. 1020-1037
Author(s):  
Neeta Baporikar
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
National Income ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Employment Opportunities ◽  
Equitable Distribution ◽  
The Core ◽  
Business Excellence ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Grounded Theory Approach

Accepted worldwide Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are fueling the engine of economic growth apart from promoting equitable development. They provide large employment opportunities at comparatively lower capital cost apart from enabling industrialisation of backward areas, thereby, reducing regional imbalances, assuring more equitable distribution of national income and wealth. This is more so in the Asian economies and undoubtedly SME is an important contributor to Indian economy. However, globalisation is bringing new opportunities. To seize these opportunities, SMEs need to re look at their business and strategize for excellence. Hence, the core objective of this chapter is to explore whether adopting excellence models can help SMEs to attain sustainability. Through in depth literature review and grounded theory approach the focus is to discuss different business excellence theories and focus on the need to use business excellence strategies for their sustainability and continued success.

Revisiting presenteeism to broaden its conceptualization: A qualitative study

Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Mouna Knani ◽  
Pierre-Sébastien Fournier ◽  
Caroline Biron
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Small Enterprises ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Holistic Interpretation ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Negative Factors

BACKGROUND: Presenteeism is generally viewed as a symptom of organizational or individual dysfunction and is rarely considered as a behavioral response to positive triggering factors. Our study examines this issue in small enterprises (SEs), which are an unexplored environment in terms of presenteeism. OBJECTIVE: Through in-depth analysis, this study aims to understand the positive and negative factors that impact presenteeism in the context of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), with a particular focus on SEs. METHODS: We adopt a qualitative methodological approach in which we conducted 17 semi-structured interviews with employees and owner-managers of SEs with between 20 and 49 employees. RESULTS: Our thematic analysis shows that presenteeism can be explained by factors related to pressure to attend work, by individuals’ constraints and commitment, by organizational and individual characteristics and by a congenial work environment. Presenteeism can also be a type of “therapy” which helps individuals to avoid focusing on being sick and enables them to stay active and avoid social isolation. CONCLUSIONS: Our study differs from earlier research by providing a more in-depth analysis of the positive and negative factors that trigger presenteeism. This article will help to expand the current theoretical knowledge about presenteeism and encourage a more holistic interpretation of the phenomenon.

scholarly journals The interplay between SME owner-managers and the brand-as-a-person

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 555-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edgar Centeno ◽  
Jesus Cambra-Fierro ◽  
Rosario Vazquez-Carrasco ◽  
Susan J. Hart ◽  
Keith Dinnie
Keyword(s):  
Personality Traits ◽  
Learning Strategy ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Rational Approach ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Strategy Formulation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Brand Strategies ◽  
Grounded Theory Approach

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the largely unexplored conceptualisation of the brand-as-a-person metaphor in small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by examining its potential relation with the SME owner-manager, the pathways to its creation and development and the intuitive nature of this relationship.Design/methodology/approachA grounded theory approach was used, and data were collected through a set of 36 semi-structured interviews with 30 SME owner-managers in various sectors in Mexico.FindingsThe results indicate that SME owner-managers intuitively humanise their brands. The study revealed four pathways to develop the brand-as-a-person metaphor in the SME context: through personality traits, tastes and preferences, abilities and knowledge and values, all suggesting that SMEs’ brand-as-a-person metaphors are largely an extension of their owner-managers.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper presents a theoretical framework that illustrates the four pathways to the creation and development of brand-as-a-person that are derived from the brand’s relationship with the SME owner-manager. The results of cross-industry semi-structured interviews are limited to a single culture context.Practical implicationsSME owner-managers should first undertake an introspective personal assessment of their intuitive and conscious decision-making, as SME owner-managers often make decisions in an intuitive way. The results suggest that they should act in a more conscious, responsible and rational way when formulating their brand strategies.Originality/valueThis is the first study to clarify the profound influence of SME owner-managers’ personal characteristics, including personality traits, tastes and preferences, abilities and knowledge and values, on the brand-as-a-person metaphor. This study also confirms the intuitive learning strategy formulation of SME owner-managers’ branding practices and SMEs’ need for a more rational approach to branding.

scholarly journals The Innovation Type and Strategy Implemented by Chinese SMEs: Case Study of Manufacturing Industry in Shanghai

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 907-915
Author(s):  
Khaled Mohammed Alqahtani
Keyword(s):  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Organizational Innovation ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Innovation Strategy ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Cluster Strategy ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Social Wealth ◽  
Innovation Type

In China, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play a crucial role in economic development and social wealth in terms of GDP growth, employment creation and poverty alleviation. In the age of technology and information, innovation has been regarded as one of the most significant drivers for the growth and prosperity of SMEs. Therefore, it is necessary for SMEs to implement innovation strategy, which would help them to initiate new products, adopt new processes and increase their competitiveness. From this point of view, this study attempts to identify the innovation situation of Chinese SMEs with regard to innovation type as well as innovation strategy. The research data is collected through structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews from SMEs of manufacturing industry in Shanghai, China. According to the data results, process innovation and marketing innovation are adopted more frequently than product innovation and organizational innovation by Chinese SMEs. This study also demonstrates most SMEs in China implement free-riding strategy; some of them adopt niche strategy; and few SMEs practice cluster strategy. Although innovation is increasingly important for Chinese SMEs, their implementation of innovation strategy is not highly effective and successful.

scholarly journals Pathways to Local Partnerships in a Semi-Rural Setting: A Qualitative Study of Community Engagement and Employer-Supported Volunteering in Small and Medium Enterprises and Local Nonprofits

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Myriam Gagnon ◽  
Myriam Beaudry ◽  
Louise Lemyre ◽  
Alexandra Guay-Charette
Keyword(s):  
Community Engagement ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Rural Setting ◽  
Small Enterprises ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Inclusive Approach ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Local Partnerships ◽  
Petites Entreprises

There remains a knowledge gap regarding the factors that drive the development of business-nonprofit partnerships in the context of employer-supported volunteering—especially in small and medium enterprises. Furthermore, there is a need to consider how enterprises operate in their cultural contexts to better understand how they support volunteering trends in Canada. This study aimed to improve understanding of the multi-level factors that foster the development of business-nonprofit partnerships in the context of employer-supported volunteering. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with community and small business actors in a semi-rural setting in Francophone Québec. Results challenged the traditional view of volunteer support as a distinct activity, showing an integrated system of inter-dependence. Results suggest the relevance of conceptualizing small enterprises’ support of volunteering as part of an inclusive approach to community engagement. RÉSUMÉLes facteurs liés au développement de partenariats entre entreprises et OBNL dans le contexte du bénévolat appuyé par l’employeur sont méconnus – particulièrement au sein des petites et moyennes entreprises. Il est également pertinent de considérer le contexte culturel pour mieux comprendre les tendances canadiennes du bénévolat appuyé par l’employeur. Cette étude vise l’obtention d’une meilleure compréhension des facteurs multiniveaux associés au développement de partenariats entreprises-OBNL dans le contexte du soutien au bénévolat. Quinze entretiens semistructurés ont été effectués auprès d’acteurs du secteur communautaire et des petites entreprises dans un milieu semi-rural francophone-québécois. Les résultats repositionnent la notion d’activités distinctes et témoignent plutôt d’un système intégré d’interdépendances. Les résultats suggèrent de conceptualiser le soutien au bénévolat des petites entreprises au sein d’une approche inclusive d’engagement communautaire.

scholarly journals Connecting Inward and Outward Internationalisation of Malaysian SMEs: A Learning Approach

2018 ◽  
pp. 264-275
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Explicit Knowledge ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Supplier Relationships ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
The Relationship

When SMEs are part of global value chain, the flows of information in cross-border buyer-supplier relationships which emerge from inward-outward internationalisation connections should be addressed. This study therefore investigates the learning processes of internationalising small and medium enterprises that engage in inward and outward internationalisation. Hence, this study adopts a qualitative case study approach based on ten cases of the internationalising SMEs in Malaysia. Semi-structured interviews with the Managing Directors of the selected SMEs were conducted over a two-year period. Additionally, participant observations were conducted by attending the meetings related to import-export activities and documentations were gathered for data triangulation Findings of this study highlights that the relationship with key foreign suppliers empowered case firms to connect inward to outward internationalisation through collaborative knowledge sharing. The distribution of knowledge through tacit-tacit and tacit-explicit knowledge sharing underpinned by formal planning was a prerequisite for inward-outward internationalisation connections to be established.

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