scholarly journals Internal factors affecting the performance of small and medium enterprises in Kosovo

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 115-127
Author(s):  
Afrim Loku ◽  
Nadire Loku

This study aims to provide an understanding of the importance of the SME sector in the socio-economic development of Kosovo and examine in particular the influence of internal factors on them. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with Kosovo SMEs through an anonymous online questionnaire. This study confirms that all internal factors - managerial skills and competencies, business experience, access to finance and technological capabilities, depending on a period, have a significant impact on the performance of SMEs. While access to finance is considered as a major challenge, technology is considered to help improve business performance. However, results revealed that poor managerial skills and competencies, despite having a significant impact on the performance of SMEs, they were also related to access in finance and technological skills, making it difficult to run a business. Training and empowerment of SME managers in key business areas can be an opportunity to improve business performance.

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharmilee Sitharam ◽  
Muhammad Hoque

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have an important role to play in the development of the country. A strong SME sector contributes highly to the economy, contributing to the gross domestic product, by reducing the level of unemployment, reduction in poverty levels and promotion of entrepreneurship activity. In South Africa (SA), the growth of SMEs and prevalence of SMEs is significantly low. Therefore, the aim of the study is to identify the internal and external factors affecting the performance of SMEs in KwaZulu-Natal, SA. This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 74 SMEs owners/managers who were members of the Durban Chamber of Commerce via online using anonymous questionnaire. The results revealed technological advancement would improve the performance of the business. With regards to challenge, the majority of the respondents viewed competition as a major challenge. Almost all the respondent indicated that crime and corruption affecting business performance. Competition was the only factor amongst the studied internal and external factors that revealed a significant association with the performance of SMEs in KwaZulu-Natal (p = 0.011). SMEs need to recognize they must prepare for both domestic


2013 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul Karim Kanaan Jebna ◽  
Ahmad Suhaimi Baharudin

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the main contributor toward prospering the Malaysian economy [1]. Despite the fact that Malaysia is a fast growing economy in South-East Asia, death of SMEs is unavoidable. An exploratory study was conducted to investigate the factors that have an impact on business performance and success in Malaysia. Interviews with SMEs from different industries were conducted. Several factors were found to contribute to the success of business. The factors are classified into financial and non-financial determinants. These factors include customer satisfaction, service quality, experience, business expansion, competitor orientation, solving problems, cash flow, and the amount of sales and revenue. Building on these interviews, a discussion and conclusion have been provided.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 377-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmela Di Mauro ◽  
Alessandro Ancarani ◽  
Tara Hartley

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the role of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) within the Canadian public procurement, by seeking to identify barriers and supporting factors of MSMEs’ participation and success in public tenders. Design/methodology/approach The empirical analysis builds on a unique survey run by the Canadian federal government, which addressed firms either participating or not participating in public tenders. Model estimation on the survey data relies on sample selection methodologies, which allow separating determinants of MSMEs’ decision to participate from determinants of success. Findings Results provide evidence that costs stemming from asset specificity and uncertainty (e.g. costs of bidding, requirements for participation, bundling of contracts and award rules based on minimum price) affect participation in public procurement. Within MSMEs, micro-firms are the most discouraged from participating. However, after controlling for factors affecting participation, micro-firms emerge as having a higher success rate, possibly because of high specialization and joint participation with larger firms. Research limitations/implications Because of the cross-sectional nature of the data used for hypotheses testing, endogeneity may arise if ex post variables affect ex ante decisions. This may apply if participation in procurement feeds on success in past tenders. Social implications Findings may inform policies for the inclusion of smaller firms in the public marketplace. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first attempting to disentangle determinants of participation in public tenders from determinants of success. Separating the two aspects helps fine-tune SME-friendly public procurement policies, by identifying actions that effectively facilitate success of MSMEs in public tenders.


2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Atu Alhassan ◽  
Mabel Akosua Hoedoafia ◽  
Elvis Adam Alhassan

<p>Despite the vital role of women entrepreneurs in the economic development of their families and countries, it has been revealed that they have low business performance compared to their male counterparts. In this paper, an analysis of the business profile and entrepreneurial characteristics of women owned Small and Medium Enterprises in the Tamale Metropolis has been carried out. A cross-sectional design was used to collect quantitative and qualitative data from a variety of women entrepreneurs. Women entrepreneurs who have benefited from microcredit were selected using simple random sampling. They were then categorized based on their economic activities. The study found that, the level of education of the respondents was generally low; over 69% had no formal education, 20% had primary education, 9.5% had secondary and 1% had tertiary education. Furthermore, 54.2% of the enterprises were managed by the entrepreneurs’ themselves whiles 7.8% were run by the owner and other non-family employees. Also Only about 3% of the businesses surveyed were registered.</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ameerah M. N. Qattan ◽  
Noor Alshareef ◽  
Omar Alsharqi ◽  
Naseem Al Rahahleh ◽  
Gowokani Chijere Chirwa ◽  
...  

Objective: This study aims to determine the acceptability of a COVID-19 vaccine among healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia and the factors affecting their intention to accept the vaccine.Methods: The study used data from an online cross-sectional survey that was conducted in Saudi Arabia between 8 December 2020 and 14 December 2020. This study employed bivariate and multivariable regression analyses. The bivariate was used to describe and tabulate the frequency of all the variables, including the sociodemographic characteristics, the risk perception and the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccination and a chi-squared test of independence was calculated. Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to examine and identify the factors associated with an intention to have the COVID-19 vaccination and the factors associated with its immediate acceptance.Results: Of the total of 736 healthcare workers who began the online questionnaire, 673 completed it (a 91.44% completion rate). Among the study participants, 50.52% were willing to have the COVID-19 vaccine, of which 49.71% intended to have the vaccine as soon as it becomes available in the country, while 50.29% would delay until the vaccine's safety is confirmed. Being a male healthcare worker, perceiving a high risk of infection, and believing that the COVID-19 vaccine should be compulsory for all citizens and residents in the country increased the probability of intention to vaccinate against COVID-19 and the probability of accepting the COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible.Conclusion: This study calls for more health-related education among healthcare workers to alleviate any fears that might be associated with the COVID-19 vaccine.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (08) ◽  
pp. 482-48/6
Author(s):  
Laphatrada Sakunee ◽  
◽  
Nakamon Khorprasert ◽  
Nitit Noumtong ◽  
Tanyaporn Tangguay ◽  
...  

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still an ongoing issue in the New Normal world. As COVID-19 is a human-to-human transmission disease, the viruses spread widely, and many people got infected. There are several preventative measures used to protect an individual from this situation, including vaccination. Thus, more vaccine candidates have been provided to generate a specific immune response against the disease-causing agent, and are prepared. Additionally, not all vaccine candidates are suitable for each individual. The main purposes of this study were to evaluate and determine the knowledge and understanding of the COVID-19 vaccines and the relationship between age groups and Thai citizens. To test whether the two aforementioned variables correlate, we conducted a cross-sectional survey through an online platform, Google form. Four hundred and Ten participants completed the survey. To determine the correlation, we used Statistical Product and Service Solution version 22.0 (SPSS) for data analysis. Pearsons correlation test revealed that there is no significant correlation between age groups and knowledge and understanding of COVID-19 vaccines. Although we did not find any correlation, we think that there may be other factors affecting peoples knowledge about the COVID-19 vaccines such as the sudden awareness due to the new pandemic outbreak and the straightforwardness of our online questionnaire. Since most people are now facing the third ripple of COVID-19 crisis, there might be a higher consumption rate of COVID-19 vaccine news and the majority of seniors (aged above 60) tend to reject answering the online questionnaire which significantly reduced our sample size.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
Annisa Masruri Zaimsyah

Purpose:This study aims to analyses of the influence of the external and internal factors on medium and small micro Enterprise financing in Indonesia Islamic Bank exsternal factors consist of inflation, BI Rate and Exceng Rate, while the internal factors consists of ROA, CAR, BOPO, FDR and NPF. Design/Method/Approach: The analysis technique used in this study is multiple regression with OLS approach. The data used this study are monthly data from 2014-2018. Data obtained from OJK and Bank Indonesia reports.Findings: The finding results of this study, change in macroeconomic conditions (external factor) will indirectly have an impact on the internal conditions od Islamic Bank and will have an impact on intermediation function, especially for the MSME sector, while partially the factors that influence MSME financing are only in inflation and Exceng rates, CAR, BOPO, NPF. FDR and BI Rate does not affect MSME financing because Islamic Bank do not use the interest system but instead use the profit sharing system.Originality/Values: The main contribution of this study to industry platetrs, Islamic bank and policy makers. Islamic bank must make more efferts to provide financing for MSME. Islamic Banks must be innovative and creative in creating and offering new products related to financing to MSME.


Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saleh Alghamdi ◽  
Ilhem Berrou ◽  
Zoe Aslanpour ◽  
Alaa Mutlaq ◽  
Abdul Haseeb ◽  
...  

Saudi hospitals and healthcare facilities are facing increasing rates of antimicrobial resistance and the emergence of new multi-drug resistant strains. This is placing an unprecedented threat to successful treatments and outcomes of patients accessing those facilities. The inappropriate use of antimicrobials is fueling this crisis, warranting urgent implementation of interventions to preserve antimicrobials and reduce resistance rates. Antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) can improve antimicrobial use, treatment success rates and reduce the levels of antimicrobial resistance. The Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) devised a national antimicrobial stewardship plan to implement ASPs in hospitals, but little is known about the progress of implementation and the factors affecting it. This study aims to assess the level and the factors affecting the adoption and implementation of ASPs in Saudi hospitals at a national level. A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2017 using an online questionnaire sent to all MOH hospitals. Overall, 147 out 247 MOH hospitals responded to the survey (54%). Only 26% of the hospitals reported the implementation of ASPs. Hospitals lack the knowledge, technological and staff resources to adopt and implement ASPs. Alternative models of ASP adoption could be explored to improve the rates of implementation of ASPs.


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