Exploring the types of SMEs which could use blogs as a marketing tool : a proposed future research agenda

Blogs appear to be gaining momentum as a marketing tool which can be used by organisations for such strategies and processes as branding, managing reputation, developing customer trust and loyalty, niche marketing, gathering marketing intelligence and promoting their online presence. There has been limited academic research in this area, and most significantly concerning the types of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for which blogs might have potential as a marketing tool. In an attempt to address the knowledge gap, this paper presents a future research agenda (in the form of research questions) which can guide the eBusiness research community in conducting much needed studies in this area. This paper is particularly novel in that it aims to demonstrate how the heterogeneity of SMEs and their specific business uses of eBusiness technology such as blogs can form the central plank of a future research agenda. This is important because the existing eBusiness literature tends to treat eBusiness collectively rather than focusing on the specific business uses of different eBusiness technologies, and to treat SMEs as a homogeneous group. The paper concludes with a discussion of how this research agenda can form the basis of studies which use a range of different research methods, and how this &quot;big picture&quot; agenda approach might help the eBusiness research community build theory which better explains SME adoption and use of eBusiness.<br /

Selective Industrial and Trade Policies in Developing Countries: Theoretical and Empirical Issues

This paper analyses the case for selective industrial and trade policies in Africa, drawing upon the lessons of East Asia. It reviews the theoretical arguments for government intervention in the context of technological learning, and relates this to the new environment of rapid technical change and globalisation of production. It also considers the risks of government failure in mounting selective policies, and concludes that the degree of selectivity has to be much less than in East Asia. The case for selective policies nevertheless remains strong, if Africa is to make any industrial progress.

Collaborative knowledge management - A construction case study

Due to the new threats and challenges faced by the construction industry today, construction companies must seek new solutions in order to remain ahead of the competition. Knowledge has been identified to be a significant organisational resource, which if used effectively can provide competitive advantage. A lot of emphasis is being put on how to identify, capture and share knowledge in today's organisations. It has been argued over the years that due to the fragmented nature of the construction industry and ad-hoc nature of the construction projects, capture and reuse of valuable knowledge gathered during a construction project pose a challenge. As a result critical mistakes are repeated on projects and construction professionals have to kee

Selecting Appropriate Process Models for IT Projects: Towards a Tool-Supported Decision Approach

The appropriate selection of suitable process models plays an important role for IT project success. To aid in decision-making, IT project management literature offers a plethora of decision models for selecting suitable process models, however, hybrid process models are often neglected and adoption in practice is low or non-existent. To address this challenge, we draw on contingency theory to develop and implement a tool-supported decision model for the selection and evaluation of appropriate process models for IT projects, thereby leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning in the context of a self-enforcing network. Our model provides an objective tool to assess process model suitability. Results from a conducted online survey with project management experts indicate high validity. Therefore, we contribute to the field of IT project management by expanding AI-based decision models for selecting and evaluating process models through extending the range of covered models and implementing inherent weighting of criteria

Barriers for SMEs in Adopting Crowdsourcing

Despite its undisputable benefits for firms, crowdsourcing is rarely applied in small and medium sized enterprises (SME), yet. Until today extant literature provides only an uncomplete picture of the barriers that hinder SMEs from adopting crowdsourcing. Because of these incomplete insights on this phenomenon there is a great deal of uncertainty on how to overcome these barriers all the more. In the scope of an interview series with 15 SMEs we explore a range of different barriers. The findings from our study do not only expand the so far incomplete body of knowledge but also provide practical references for SMEs to be aware of the barriers. This simplifies avoiding them and successfully adopting crowdsourcing

Digital Maturity and SMEs: evaluating the application of a digital maturity assessment tool

The challenges of undertaking digital transformation within Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are multiple. The constraints of limited resources and a lack of clear strategic purpose for the transformation are readily evident across many existing case studies. Underlying these evidenced challenges is the persistent issue of the digital maturity of an overall organisation and its people individually as key factors in the success or failure of these change projects. We examine the use of a digital maturity assessment tool within an established membership-based SME to understand these many challenges and the way they are revealed through tools of this kind. We utilise a reflective approach based on direct organisational observations to consider the veracity and value of these assessment tools in supporting the drive for positive organisational change. Our conclusions are loosely critical of the generalised nature of these tools but support their intended purpose through the benefits that they generate through a Hawthorne Effect

Success factors of knowledge management implementation in small and medium enterprises in United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Pakistan

Dissertation presented as the partial requirement for obtaining a Master's degree in Information Management, specialization in Information Systems and Technologies ManagementThe research field of the master's thesis is in Knowledge Management (hereinafter: KM). During the last few years, KM becomes one of the essential factors for the successful business and companies are becoming more knowledge-based, and they are focusing more on the people's 'minds' rather than their 'hands' to fulfil the need to knowledge (Wong, 2005). The main focus of this study is in success factors of KM having in consideration that Small and Medium Enterprises (hereinafter: SMEs) have fewer resources and opportunities, both human and financial (Farvaque & Voss, 2009). This research is about the main factors of KM that plays a successful role in SMEs in the United Arab Emirates (hereinafter: UAE), Qatar & Pakistan. SMEs in the manufacturing and services sector have taken under study to evaluate the success factors of KM implementation. To implement the KM in the organization can be hard for those who are not ready to accept the change in the organizational structure but with the implementation of KM they can survive, grow and maintain the sustainable competitive advantage (Antoncic & Omerzel, 2008). The research itself is focused on information and manufacturing SMEs sector keeping in mind that it's a service industry, e.g., where both, computer and human resources interaction are visible, and the industry has involved with many stakeholders

The disrupted workplace: are the digital and group skills needs of employers being addressed by universities?

Upskilling moves quickly in today’s ‘disrupted’ workplace, and skill sets need to change to meet the needs of the digital economy (Gray, 2016), sometimes referred to as the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). Using a mixed methods approach and drawing on data from relevant stakeholders, the aim of this research is to explore, evaluate and identify any mismatch between degree learning outcomes and employability skills. The research also proposes specific strategies to address identifiable skills gaps. Focusing on the views of Fashion Management (FM) alumni, the study highlights gaps in digital skills as well as gaps in professional /group skills which some alumni felt were missing from their university education. The research also notes the importance of digital skills in the workplace from the employers’ point of view. This strengthens the argument for employers and universities to work more symbiotically to address any gaps between degree outcomes and employability skills in order to provide graduates who are ‘work ready’ for 4IR. Given the findings, the authors recommend that the data gathered be used not only to inform and enhance our FM degree, but perhaps more importantly, and in a broader educational and academic context, that universities be mindful that they fully address the changing skills requirements of future employers. While this research focuses on FM alumni and employers, because of the creativity and management which are core to this course, the findings are relevant across many related management and creative industries university courses

Mediating effect of management information system on the relationship of warehouse attributes and its efficiency in Malaysia’s small and medium enterprises

This dissertation studies the relationship between the influential warehouse efficiency and warehousing attributes (operations, Human Capital Management or HCM, and layout), applied by the Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) manufacturing firms in Malaysia. These perspective research objectives are to determine whether there is any relationship between the warehousing attributes, warehouse efficiency, and warehousing Management Information System (MIS). It also examines the mediating effect of warehousing MIS in the relationship between warehousing attributes and warehouse efficiency. A quantitative method approach is applied in this research methodology. Nine hypotheses have been proposed for the research with data collected from the survey of 182 SME manufacturing firm owners in Malaysia as listed in the SME Directory 2009. The findings indicate that the warehousing MIS significantly mediates and has an effect on the warehousing attributes and their relationship with warehouse efficiency in the SME manufacturing firms. Theoretically, the research contributes to the growth development of the warehouse efficiency theories. Practically it could facilitate the owners or warehouse managers of the manufacturing firms in making the right management decisions regarding warehousing. For future research, the study recommends further exploration into the areas of security, environment, safety and health, waste management, and integrated system (International Standards Organisation or better known as ISO 9000, ISO 14000, and ISO 18000). As a conclusion, this study provides new knowledge and important insights of warehousing attributes that will benefit manufacturing firms and other related industries, particularly for SMEs in Malaysi