Critical Factors for New Product Developments in SMEs' Virtual Team

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are considered as an engine for economic growth all over the world and especially for developing countries. During the past decade, new product development (NPD) has increasingly been recognized as a critical factor in ensuring the continued survival of SMEs. On the other hand, the rapid rate of market and technological changes has accelerated in the past decade, so this turbulent environment requires new methods and techniques to bring successful new products to the marketplace. Virtual team can be a solution to answer the requested demand. However, literature have shown no significant differences between traditional NPD and virtual NPD in general, whereas NPD in SME’s virtual team has not been systematically investigated in developing countries. This paper aims to bridge this gap by first reviewing the NPD and its relationship with virtuality and then identifies the critical factors of NPD in virtual teams. The statistical method was utilized to perform the required analysis of data from the survey. The results were achieved through factor analysis at the perspective of NPD in some Malaysian and Iranian manufacturing firms (N = 191). The 20 new product development factors were grouped into five higher level constructs. It gives valuable insight and guidelines, which hopefully will help managers of firms in developing countries to consider the main factors in NPD

Critical factors for new product developments in SMEs virtual team

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are considered as an engine for economic growth all over the world and especially for developing countries. During the past decade, new product development (NPD) has increasingly been recognized as a critical factor in ensuring the continued survival of SMEs. On the other hand, the rapid rate of market and technological changes has accelerated in the past decade, so this turbulent environment requires new methods and techniques to bring successful new products to the marketplace. Virtual team can be a solution to answer the requested demand. However, literature have shown no significant differences between traditional NPD and virtual NPD in general, whereas NPD in SME’s virtual team has not been systematically investigated in developing countries. This paper aims to bridge this gap by first reviewing the NPD and its relationship with virtuality and then identifies the critical factors of NPD in virtual teams. The statistical method was utilized to perform the required analysis of data from the survey. The results were achieved through factor analysis at the perspective of NPD in some Malaysian and Iranian manufacturing firms (N = 191). The 20 new product development factors were grouped into five higher level constructs. It gives valuable insight and guidelines, which hopefully will help managers of firms in developing countries to consider the main factors in NPD.Survey findings, new product development, factor analysis, virtual team

ERP implementation in manufacturing SMEs: Lessons from the Knowledge Transfer Partnership scheme

This article examines how the experience gained from two Knowledge Transfer Partnership projects in the UK can usefully benefit companies faced with similar challenges in a developing world context. Specifically, it addresses the issues faced by manufacturing SMEs intent on replacement of their information systems with one integrated software suite – an Enterprise Resource Planning package. After exploring relevant literature, the article focusses on how the key change elements of process, technology and people can feature in assessing the readiness of such companies for the major upheaval involved in these major change projects. Through further analysis of the projects, it is concluded that the three change components must be kept in balance when implementing these major software suites, both in developed and developing world contexts

Role of Resource-based View in Predicting ERP Perceived Value: Higher Education Perceptions

Higher education institutions (HEIs) nowadays focus on using strategic information systems as part of their digital strategy. An Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system can help HEIs manage their resources and operations effectively to meet this challenge. Based on reviews, this study conceptualizes the influential ERP factors into the resource-capability configuration. A preliminary study on ERP among 40 HEIs in Egypt was carried out for the Egyptian HEIs to explore their perception of the ERP system as a new integrating tool for their value and advantage. The results revealed that a high percentage of HEIs had not yet adopted these systems, despite their positive attitude towards the value of ERP systems. They are still at the developing level because these systems have not yet been adopted. This study also helps to advance ERP concepts and provides practical verification in the context of higher education. Finally, this research guide HEIs to understand the ERP system's necessity as a strategic system proposing them to adopt ERP systems for their competitiveness.   &nbsp

A Study on Benchmarking Models and Frameworks in Industrial SMEs: Challenges and Issues

This paper is based on a literature review of recent publications in the field of benchmarking methodology implemented in small and medium enterprises with regards to measure and benchmark upstream, leading or developmental aspects of organizations. Benchmarking has been recognized as an essential tool for continuous improvement and competitiveness.  It can also help SMEs to improve their operational and financial performances. However, only few entrepreneurs turn to benchmarking implementation, due to lack of time and resources. In this study current benchmarking models (2005 onwards), dedicated specifically to the SMEs, have been identified and their characteristics and objectives have been discussed.  Key findings from this review confirm that this is an under-developed area of research and that most practitioner approaches are focused on benchmarking practices within SMEs. There is a need to extend theoretical and practical aspects of benchmarking in SMEs by studying the process of benchmarking with regards to the novel concept of lead benchmarking as a possible means of achieving increased radical and innovative transformation in organizational change.   From the review it emerged that, lead, forward looking and predictive benchmarking have not been considered in SMEs, and future researches could include them

Conceptual Model of Big Data Technologies Adoption in Smart Cities of the European Union

Big data technologies enable cities to develop towards a smart city. However, the adoption of big data technologies is challenging, which is why it is essential to identify factors that influence the adoption of big data technologies in cities. The main goal of the paper is to propose a conceptual model of big data technologies adoption in smart cities of the European Union. In order to derive the conceptual model following is done: i) overview of the previous Technology-OrganisationEnvironment framework - based research on the adoption of selected information and communications technologies crucial for the development of smart cities, and ii) selection of factors based on the critical examination of the previous research. Selected factors, Absorptive Capacity, Technology Readiness, Compatibility, City Managements Support, the Existence of Smart City Strategy and Stakeholders Support, were incorporated into the conceptual model of big data technologies adoption in smart cities of the European Union. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.</p

Internet Marketing Adoption by Iranian Distribution Industry: An Attempt to Understand the Reality

Although the internet has become a significant platform for the advancement of marketing strategies and developments, there have been inadequate empirical research efforts concerning its adoption for conducting internet marketing in developing countries, specifically in the Middle East, and more particularly in Iran. Previous studies investigated internet marketing adoption and acceptance extensively, by employing different theories of new technology adoption in developed countries. However, there have been inadequate empirical research efforts concerning its adoption in developing countries. It is recognised widely that the adoption of internet marketing can offer substantial opportunities for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). In developing countries, internet marketing opportunities can be a meaningful approach for SMEs to be able to compete with large businesses and to access, with lowest possible costs, targeted customers. This study aims to investigate the factors which influence SMEs’ adoption of internet marketing and the relation between such adoption of Internet Marketing and Marketing Performance of SMEs. In order to accomplish this objective, the researchers investigated previous studies in order to identify the different research gaps within the literature regarding the adoption of internet marketing amongst SMEs. Additionally, the researchers integrated existing theories of new technology adoption in order to develop a conceptual framework for the determinants of the adoption of internet marketing in the SMEs sector in Iran. Within this regard, the researchers reviewed the Decomposed Theory of Planned Behaviour (DTPB), Diffusion of Innovation (DOI); Technology–Organisation–Environment (TOE) Model; Social Cognitive Theory (SCT),Institutional Theory, Motivational Model and Model of PC utilisation(MPCU) to examine the major factors influencing the adoption of new technology in Small, Medium organisations. The approach adopted for the research is a semi-structured interview with 26 owner/mangers of Iranian SMEs in distribution sector. These data are qualitative in nature and involve sample of 300-400 of mangers/owners, retailors and suppliers of Iranian SMEs in distribution sector. The study will provide great benefits for practitioners, researchers, and educators