SMEs: ERP or virtual collaboration teams

Small firms are indeed the engines of global economic growth. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play an important role to promote economic development. SMEs in the beginning of implementing new technologies always face capital shortage and need technological assistance. Available ERP systems do not fulfil the specific requirements of Small firms. SMEs has scarce resources and manpower therefore many SMEs don?t have the possessions to buy and operate an ERP System. On the other hand competition and competitiveness of SMEs have to be strengthened. This paper briefly reviews the existing perspectives on virtual teams and their effect on SMEs management. It also discusses the main characteristics of virtual teams and clarifies the differences aspects of virtual team application in SMEs. After outlining some of the main advantages and pitfall of such teams, it concentrates on comparing of ERP and virtual collaborative teams in SMEs. Finally, it provides evidence for the need of ?Software as a Service (SaaS)? where an application is hosted as a service provided to customers across the web for SMEs as an alternative of ERP. It has been widely argued that ERP disadvantage in SMEs such as administrative expenditure and cost, isolated structure, severe lack of software flexibility, insufficient support of SMEs business and high operating cost, lead SMEs to use virtual collaborative team which is net work base solution

The Determinants of Extent of Internet/E-business Technologies Use by SMEs in Maritime Canada: An analysis

This study examines the determinants of extent of internet/e-business technologies (IEBT) use by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Maritime Canada. A research model based on the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework, proposed by Tornatzky and Fleischer (1990) was used to guide this research. Such factors as relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, management support, organizational readiness, and external pressures taken from the TOE framework were used to develop relevant hypotheses. Questionnaires were mailed to key informants in SMEs in the region. Data analysis was performed using the PLS approach. The perceptions of relative advantage, compatibility, organizational readiness, and external pressures moderately impacted the main construct: extent of IEBT use in the adopting SME. The result showed that the management support factor yielded the best result with regard to the dependant variable. The implications of the result findings for research and practice are discussed

Usages and Effects of Information and Communication Technologies on Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in Oman

This paper presents the results of an exploratory study carried out to learn about the usages and effects of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Oman. The study investigates ICT infrastructure, software used, driver for ICT investment, perceptions about business benefits of ICT and outsourcing trends of SMEs. The study provides an insight on the barriers for the adoption of ICT. Lack of internal capabilities, high cost of ICT and lack of relevant information about ICT solutions and implementation seems to be some of the major barriers in adopting ICT. The results of the study show that SMEs in Oman are gradually investing in and adopting ICT. The main driving forces for ICT investment are to provide better and faster service and to stay ahead of the competition. A majority of surveyed SMEs have reported a positive performance and other benefits by utilizing ICT in their businesses

Factors Affecting the Acceptance of Internet and E-Business Technologies in Atlantic Canada\u27s SMEs: A Structural Equation Model

This study examines the impacts of relevant factors on the acceptance of internet and e-business technologies in Atlantic Canada’s SMEs (small- and medium-sized enterprises). A research framework was developed and nine hypotheses formulated to test the relationships. A survey was conducted and a total of 162 valid responses were obtained from business owners, managers, etc. Support was found for five out of the nine hypotheses formulated. The key findings are as follows: The sampled SME’s organizational readiness is positively related to their intent to use Internet/business technologies (dependant variable); the two constructs of the technology acceptance model (TAM) were found to be important mediators in the relationship between the management support construct and the dependant variable. Further, no evidence was found to suggest that management support positively influences the intent to use Internet/business technologies among Atlantic Canada’s SMEs. The implications of the study’s findings for policy making and research were discussed

ICT industry challenges in adopting ICT: a case study from the West Midlands, UK

The successful operation of companies in most industries is becoming increasingly dependent on their ability to adopt and utilise ICT systems. However, ICT adoption often requires: knowledge of business and IT, investment in IT infrastructure, plans to invest and training in new technologies and other aspects. Many companies lack these factors, resulting in a steady increase in the demand for ICT services and products. Often, ICT adoption has been considered to be a complex problem by SMEs, however the problems are mainly due to it being tackled inappropriately. Instead of government initiatives starting to solve the problem by empowering those SMEs which are in ICT industry who are ICT service or product providers, most initiatives have been targeting all SMEs in all sectors. This paper presents a qualitative ICT adoption research conducted on 206 ICT SMEs in West Midlands (UK), the majority of whom were face-to-face interviews. The findings show that most ICT SMEs challenges result from the factors which are related to lack of knowledge and skills to adopt new technologies. Specifically, these companies are not provided with the appropriate training and they find government initiatives not always helpful. The paper suggests the best way to retrain SMES as a key aspect to address the challenges faced by the ICT SMEs in the region

Small And Medium Enterprises Sourcing Software As A Service – A Dynamic Perspective On Is Capabilities

Software as a Service (SaaS) is a promising approach for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) firms, in particular those that are focused on growing fast and leveraging new technology, due to the potential benefits arising from its inherent scalability, reduced total cost of ownership and the ease of access to global innovations. This paper proposes a dynamic perspective on IS capabilities to understand and explain SMEs sourcing and leveraging SaaS. The model is derived from contextualizing the IS capabilities of Feeny and Willcocks (1998) to SMEs and SaaS and combining it with the dynamic capabilities framework of Teece (2007) . We conclude that SMEs sourcing and leveraging SaaS require leadership, business systems thinking and informed buying for sensing and seizing SaaS opportunities and require leadership and vendor development for transforming in terms of aligning and realigning specific tangible and intangible assets

Підприємницька стратегія підвищення ефективності бізнесу на основі Інтернет-технологій з використанням бізнес-додатків

Purpose – to conduct an empirical test over the effect of entrepreneurship competency on business performance using Internet technology-based business applications. Design/Method/Approach. The research population is from small-and-medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the city of Tarakan. The determined sample is based on the observed area; hence, the technique is called probability sampling area. The data analysis technique is Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), run by WarpPls 6.0. Findings. This research's results indicate that entrepreneurship competency has a positive impact on Internet technology-based business applications. Besides, internet technology-based business application mediates the effect of entrepreneurship competency on business performance. Theoretical implications. The results support the Resource-Based View Theory, stating that the competitive advantage of an enterprise is derived from its unique resource. Practical implications. Internet technology-based business applications can be used as entrepreneurship strategies to develop business performance. Originality/Value. The originality of this research is the internet technology-based business application as a mediating variable between entrepreneurship competence and business performance. Research limitations/Future research. The research has its limitations; it only uses limited SME research samples in the city of Tarakan. Future research can expand the sample through other Indonesian cities.   Paper type – empirical.Цель работы – провести эмпирическую проверку влияния предпринимательской компетентности на эффективность бизнеса с использованием бизнес-приложений на основе Интернет-технологий. Дизайн/Метод/Подход исследования. Исследовательская группа – представители малых и средних предприятий (МСП) в городе Таракан. Определенный образец основан на наблюдаемой области; использованная методика –метод области вероятностной выборки. Метод анализа данных - это моделирование уравнений частичных наименьших квадратов (PLS-SEM), разработанное WarpPls 6.0. Результаты исследования. Показано, что предпринимательская компетентность положительно влияет на бизнес-приложения, основанные на интернет-технологиях. Кроме того, бизнес-приложения, основанные на интернет-технологиях, опосредуют влияние предпринимательской компетентности на эффективность бизнеса. Теоретическое значение исследования. Результатами исследования подтверждается теория представления на основе ресурсов и утверждается, что конкурентное преимущество предприятия основано на его уникальном ресурсе. Практическое значение исследования. Бизнес-приложения, основанные на интернет-технологиях, могут использоваться как предпринимательские стратегии для повышения эффективности бизнеса. Оригинальность/Ценность/Научная новизна исследования. Оригинальность этого исследования заключается в характеристике бизнес-приложений, основанных на интернет-технологиях, как посредниках между предпринимательской компетенцией и эффективностью бизнеса. Ограничение исследования/Перспективы дальнейших исследований. Исследование имеет свои ограничения; он использует только ограниченные исследовательские данные о МСП в городе Таракан. Будущие исследования могут расширить выборку из других индонезийских городов.   Тип статьи – эмпирический.Мета роботи – провести емпіричну перевірку впливу підприємницької компетентності на ефективність бізнесу з використанням бізнес-додатків на базі Інтернет-технологій. Дизайн/Метод/Підхід дослідження. Дослідницька група – - представники малих та середніх підприємств (МСП) у місті Таракан. Визначений зразок ґрунтується на спостережуваній площі; застосована методика – метод області імовірнісної вибірки. Метод аналізу даних – часткове моделювання квадратних структурних рівнянь (PLS-SEM), розроблене WarpPls 6.0. Результати дослідження. Показано, що компетентність підприємництва має позитивний вплив на бізнес-додатки, засновані на Інтернет-технологіях. Крім того, бізнес-додаток на базі Інтернет-технологій опосередковує вплив компетентності підприємництва на ефективність бізнесу. Теоретичне значення дослідження. Результатами дослідження підтверджено теорію поглядів на основі ресурсів та заявлено, що конкурентна перевага підприємства походить з його унікального ресурсу. Практичне значення дослідження. Бізнес-додатки, засновані на Інтернет-технологіях, можна застосувати як стратегії підприємництва для підвищення ефективності бізнесу. Оригінальність/Цінність/Наукова новизна дослідження. Оригінальність цього дослідження полягає у характеристиці бізнес-додатків, що базуються на Інтернет-технологіях, як опосередкованих змінних між компетенцією підприємництва та результатами бізнесу. Обмеження дослідження/Перспективи подальших досліджень. Дослідження має свої обмеження, у ньому використано лише обмежені данні про малий та середній бізнесу у місті Таракан. У майбутніх дослідженнях вибірка може бути розширена у бік інших міст Індонезії.   Тип статті – емпіричний

Chain networks as a leverage for innovation capacity : the case of food SMEs

&nbsp;Nowadays, innovation is no longer limited to the individual firm but involves increasingly the chain network in which the firm is embedded. The chain network is considered as the place where the internal and external resources of a firm are combined and transformed, leading to innovation capacity. In the increasingly globalizing market, innovation is an important strategic tool for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to achieve competitive advantage. However, SMEs are often confronted with barriers for developing and introducing innovations, such as the lack of economies of scale. Our paper investigates how the chain network is contributing to the enhancement of the innovation capacity and which chain network characteristics are crucial in this process. In contrast to previous studies at chain network level, in our research specific chain networks are investigated and compared to each other. Hence, data collection took place at different chain network levels, being the supplier, the food manufacturer and the customer, working together and consequently belonging to one specific and unique chain network.The analysis of innovation capacity at the chain network level is realized by means of cluster analysis. This results in a three-cluster solution dividing the sample into Non-innovator chain networks, Customer-driven innovator chain networks and food manufacturer-supplier-driven innovator chain networks. Next, the influence of the chain network on the innovation capacity is examined. Thereby, the three achieved clusters differ significantly related to certain chain network characteristics. The following characteristics form an important leverage for the innovation capacity: firm size, profitability and business growth of the chain network members, as well as higher dependency, and lower levels of integration, rewarding power, social satisfaction and collaboration. The distinction of Customer-driven and food manufacturer-supplier-driven innovator chain networks reveals that the involvement of the chain network partners for the enhancement of the innovation capacity is a very important aspect. In future research, the degree of complexity of the studied system should gradually be increased, namely from a chain network of three members to more complex chain networks.</p