A comparison of theory and practice in market intelligence gathering for Australian micro-businesses and SMEs

Recent government sponsored research has demonstrated that there is a gap between the theory and practice of market intelligence gathering within the Australian micro, small and medium businesses (SMEs). Typically, there is a significant amount of information in literature about 'what needs to be done', however, there is little insight in terms of how market intelligence gathering should occur. This paper provides a novel insight and a comparison between the theory and practices of market intelligence gathering of micro-business and SMEs in Australia and demonstrates an anomoly in so far as typically the literature does not match what actually occurs in practice. A model for market intelligence gathering for micro-businesses and SMEs is also discussed

A comparison of theory and practice in market intelligence gathering for Australian micro-businesses and SMEs

Recent government sponsored research has demonstrated that there is a gap between the theory and practice of market intelligence gathering within the Australian micro, small and medium businesses (SMEs). Typically, there is a significant amount of information in literature about 'what needs to be done', however, there is little insight in terms of how market intelligence gathering should occur. This paper provides a novel insight and a comparison between the theory and practices of market intelligence gathering of micro-business and SMEs in Australia and demonstrates an anomoly in so far as typically the literature does not match what actually occurs in practice. A model for market intelligence gathering for micro-businesses and SMEs is also discussed

The effect of SME internationalization motivators on initial and successive international market entry mode choice

Source at https://vkm.no/In preparation for a legal implementation of EU-regulation 1829/2003, the Norwegian Environment Agency (former Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management) has requested the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA) to give final opinions on all genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and products containing or consisting of GMOs that are authorized in the European Union under Directive 2001/18/EC or Regulation 1829/2003/EC within the Authority’s sectoral responsibility. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has therefore, by letter dated 13 February 2013 (ref. 2012/150202), requested the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM) to carry out scientific risk assessments of 39 GMOs and products containing or consisting of GMOs that are authorized in the European Union. The request covers scope(s) relevant to the Gene Technology Act. The request does not cover GMOs that VKM already has conducted its final risk assessments on. However, the Agency requests VKM to consider whether updates or other changes to earlier submitted assessments are necessary.I forbindelse med forberedelse til implementering av EU-forordning 1829/2003 i norsk rett har Miljødirektoratet (tidligere Direktoratet for Naturforvalting) bedt Mattilsynet om vurderinger av allegenmodifiserte organismer (GMOer) og avledete produkter som inneholder eller består av GMOer som er godkjent under forordning 1829/2003 eller direktiv 2001/18 som er godkjent for ett eller flere bruksområder som omfattes av genteknologiloven. På den bakgrunnen har Mattilsynet, i brev av 13. februar 2013 (ref. 2012/150202), bedt Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet (VKM) om å utarbeide endelige vitenskapelige risikovurderinger av 39 GMOer og avledete produkter som inneholder eller består av genmodifiserte organismer, innen Mattilsynets sektoransvar. VKM er bedt om endelige risikovurderinger for de EU-godkjente søknader hvor VKM ikke har avgitt endelig risikovurdering. I tillegg er VKM bedt om å vurdere hvorvidt det er nødvendig med oppdatering eller annen endring av de endelige risikovurderingene som VKM tidligere har lever

R&D Collaboration by SMEs: new opportunities and limitations in the face of globalisation

Globalisation has systemically affected the way all firms undertake innovation. First, there has been a growing use of non-internal technology development, both by outsourcing and strategic alliances. Second, products are increasingly multi-technology. This has led to the growing use of networks by all firms, previously a primary competitive advantage of SMEs. These developments have created both opportunities and threats for the SME. On the one hand, large firms have increasingly sought out SMEs as they have developed their use of external networks. On the other hand, by doing so, larger firms are able to avail themselves of the flexibility long-enjoyed by SMEs. This is particularly so in the electronics hardware-based sector, where we have evaluated the R&D activities of both large and small firms. Although SMEs continue to have the advantages of flexibility and rapid response, the traditional disadvantages due to size limitations may have worsened due to the demand for multiple technological competences and by increased cross-border competition.economics of technology ;

R&D Collaboration by 'stand-alone' SMEs: opportunities and limitations in the ICT sector

This paper focuses on SMEs for whom ICTs are a central, core technology. I argue that globalisation has profoundly affected the way in which SMEs organise their R&D activities. On the one hand, SMEs have always sought to specialise in niches, given their limited resources. As such, their role as specialised suppliers to large firms has increased. On the other hand, the cross-fertilisation of technologies has meant that they also need to span several competences. This state of affairs has altered the raison d''être of the SME. The state of affairs vis-à-vis SMEs are discussed by examining two important concurrent dynamics. The first dynamic pertains to the various types of SMEs and how the industrial structure and external environment influences their collaborative activity. The second dynamic is associated with the evolution of technologies, technological paradigms and trajectories. I explain how different types of SMEs tend to predominate the industry structure at a given stage of the evolution of a given core technology. Evidence is presented from a survey on the collaborative activities of one particular form of the SME - the ''stand-alone'' SME - in the ICT sector. The analysis is based on in-depth interviews and questionnaire surveys of over a 100 European technology firms and attempts to explain the reasons for the preference of one type of collaboration over another, and the limitations of collaboration as an alternative to in-house R&D.economics of technology ;

The impact of international marketing on SME's

Keynote presentation on the international marketing of SMEs (small and medium business enterprises)

Models of internationalisation: The New Zealand experience

This paper examines the models of internationalisation adopted by thirty firms from New Zealand. Analysis of the international model is based on five key dimensions: firm sector and size; international market scope; market entry and servicing strategies; and speed of internationalisation. Drivers and constraints to internationalisation are also considered in the analysis. Evaluation of these dimensions over time finds evidence of both traditional ‘stages’ and emergent ‘born (again) global’ models of internationalisation, and reveals that over one third of these firms experience dramatic change to their international activities and resources initiated by divestment or change of ownership. We refer to the alternative internationalisation trajectory adopted by these firms as the ‘transformational’ model of internationalisation. The paper makes a contribution to the extant literature by providing synthesis of the New Zealand internationalisation and by building on our understanding of how patterns of internationalisation from a small open economy are changing in response to global environmental pressures