Strength-based approaches for small businesses: analysis from employees and managers in Western Australian motor vehicle industry

Purpose The authors wanted to find out if small businesses adopted strengths-based approaches and whether they were beneficial Design/methodology/approach The interviewees came from small businesses in Western Australia with between five and 19 employees in the motor vehicle industry where there are high-value products. There were 30 participants from 17 businesses, including owners, managers and employees, such as technicians, mechanics and tire fitters. Data was gathered using semi-structured face-to-face interviews of about 40 minutes. Findings The researchers found that the managers used an SBA to select employees during periods of temporary employment. But they did not use an SBA for employee selection during interviews, training or performance evaluations. Originality/value The authors said it was the first empirical study of the SBA in small businesses. It had practical lessons for businesses. First, the data suggested poor awareness of SBA by managers and many need practical guidance from small business advisors. Second, managers found it hard to assess strengths and relied on observations. Software tools could help. Finally, the characteristics of small businesses could help them adopt the new approach. These include lots of face-to-face interaction between managers and employees.

ENTREPRENEURIAL DETERMINANTS AFFECTING THE GROWTH OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN THE MOTOR VEHICLE INDUSTRY IN NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA

Purpose: The current study sought to establish the entrepreneurial determinants affecting the growth of small and medium enterprises in the motor vehicle industry in Nairobi county, Kenya. The study specifically aimed at assessing how entrepreneurial innovativeness, Service Quality, Entrepreneurial Competency and business operational policies determines the growth of SMEs in motor vehicle industry in Nairobi County, Kenya. Methodology: The study was anchored on Schumpeter’s Innovation Theory, Commitment Trust Theory, Competency Theory and Policy Theory. A descriptive research design was adopted and the target population comprised of SMEs operating within Central Business District in Nairobi County. A total of 245SMEs were targeted and the unit of observation comprised of owners, managers and supervisors of the enterprises. A census approach was adopted where all the targeted enterprises were involved in the study. Questionnaires were used for collecting data both qualitative and quantitative data. The study conducted a pilot on 12 small enterprises in Kiambu County before collecting data for the main study to assess the reliability and validity of the questionnaires. Data was analyzed using both Microsoft excel and SPSS tools. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used. The study findings were presented in form of tables and figures for easier interpretation. Findings: The study concludes that the entrepreneurial innovativeness level has a positive and significant influence on the growth of SMEs in motor vehicle industry in Nairobi County, Kenya. In addition, the study concludes that the service quality has a positive and significant influence on the growth of SMEs in motor vehicle industry in Nairobi County, Kenya. Further, the study concludes that the entrepreneurial competency has a positive and significant influence on the growth of SMEs in motor vehicle industry in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study also concludes that the business operational policies have a positive and significant influence on the growth of SMEs in motor vehicle industry in Nairobi County, Kenya. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: From the results, the study recommends that the management of SMEs in the motor vehicle industry should enhance their ability to introduce new product, new services and ability to capture market niche of products and services. In addition, that the management of SMEs in the motor vehicle industry should be more focused on ensuring quality services are provided to their customers.

Secular Change of Interdependencies in the Japanese Motor Vehicle Industry between Aichi and Other Regions: Analysis using Chubu-region Multi-regional Input-Output Table and Hypothetical Extraction Method

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.

THE PORTUGUESE MOTOR VEHICLE INDUSTRY: AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM?

Portugal policy makers consider the motor vehicle industry to be critical to the country’s economy because of its potential to offer highly skilled job opportunities and incentives for innovation and research, technology transfer, and investment, although the industry remains small by international standards. Little empirical research exists on the Portuguese motor vehicle industry, and we attempt to partially fill this void by estimating an industry cost function. We find strong evidence of scale economies, an expected result given the low industry volume. An unexpected finding is that capital and labor are complements since much of the international literature regarding the industry finds evidence they are substitutes. An exception is the German industry, and the findings here may be related to the fact that the largest Portuguese motor vehicle producer is Volkswagen AutoEuropa. The significance of this finding is that a lower price for either of these inputs would increase the quantity demanded of both of them. The future appears highly uncertain for the motor vehicle assemblers unless they can achieve sufficient synergies with component suppliers and other global motor vehicle manufacturers to become internationally competitive. The component suppliers may be able to enlarge their international markets, particularly that of Spain, because of its proximity to Portugal.