Firm Level Competitiveness of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs): Analytical Framework Based on Pillars of Competitiveness Model

The research on competitiveness has been increasing in popularity amongst scholars, there is a lack of studies focusing on the firm level competitiveness of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME). The objective of this paper is to develop a framework model, which can be used to analyze the competitiveness of the SME at the firm level. In this paper, we propose a framework of six pillars of competitiveness, which constitute the physical and human resources, innovation, networking, management processes as well as customers (demand conditions) and competitors (supply conditions). The methodology is unique in the sense that it incorporates the unique analytical framework called the bottlenecks over the pillars of competitiveness, which calculate the individual level competitiveness points for each SME and competition points that can collate significantly with the selected measures of competitiveness. This comprehensive framework needs to be tested empirically with the data in future research

The Effect of Innovative Strategies on Export Performance

Export performance depends on the quality of its innovation capabilities. Thus, innovation capabilities play a major role in terms of export performance. There are different types of dimensions in innovation capabilities however, in this study we are focused on the effective capabilities. Effective innovation capabilities cover the subjects of resources allocation, organizational capabilities, strategic capabilities, management capabilities, culture capabilities and learning capabilities. In this study, a survey on construction chemicals, building materials and textile export companies were selected because these industries are biased toward innovation and are considered among the most competitive industries. The model of this research is based on a review of past research studies and from the combination of them. According to the statistical evaluations made within these firms, 208 employees are randomly selected to form the sample. In this study, we use SPSS and Lisrel softwares. Validity and reliability of research variables were evaluated by using confirmatory factors analysis and Cranach’s alpha. Then, by using structural equation modeling in Lisrel software, analysis is conducted on the premises of the primary and secondary hypotheses. As a result, it demonstrates that organizational and learning capabilities have positive effects on export performance

Secure web application development and global regulation

The World Wide Web (WWW) has been predominantly responsible for instigating radical paradigm transformations in today’s global information rich civilizations. Many societies have basic operational economical components that depend on Web enabled systems in order to support daily commercial activities. The acceptance of E-commerce as a valid channel for conducting business coupled with societal integration and dependence on Web enabled technology has instigated the development of local, national, and global efforts to regulate criminal activities on the World Wide Web. This paper makes two contributions. The first contribution is the high-level review of the United States and United Kingdom legislation that has developed from the escalation and integration of the World Wide Web into society. The second contribution is the support for the idea that legislative compatibility, in concert with an organization’s policy compatibility, needs to be acknowledged in secure Web application development methodologies

Business Process Standardization of Multinational Enterprises: Two Distinctive Organizational Models

Business process standardization practice was studied in the context of integration and adaptation. 31 Japanese and non-Japanese MNE were interviewed to find a practice of standardizing business process globally. 4 distinctive types of standardization were identified. Two top down approaches were consistent with organizational characteristics such as clear job specification, in contrasting on those using Kaizen approaches, with general characteristic employment as membership. Although the top-down approach is consistent with integration strategy, its multi-layer implementation preserves the room for flexible replication to balance adaptation needed

TINJAUAN LITERATUR KEUNGGULAN KOMPETITIF PADA USAHA MIKRO, KECIL DAN MENENGAH (UMKM)

Keunggulan kompetitif adalah hasil dari strategi yang direncanakan suatu usaha, baik pada sektor mikro, kecil dan menengah. Arah strategis diwujudkan melalui kemampuan menghasilkan keuntungan lebih besar dari pada pesaing. Banyak faktor yang sama pentingnya dalam menghasilkan daya saing. Beberapa di antaranya adalah faktor strategi, pengembangan sumber daya manusia, knowledge management dan peran Information & Communication Technology (ICT). Dari faktor tersebut akan menciptakan dan mempertahankan posisi yang unggul dari pesaing, yang disebut keunggulan kompetitif. Akan tetapi, pemahaman menyeluruh tentang state-of-art dari keunggulan kompetitif masih dibutuhkan. Oleh karena itu, artikel ini bertujuan untuk mengklasifikasikan, mengidentifikasi publikasi-publikasi ilmiah dan melakukan analisis tematik terhadap literatur terkini guna menciptakan pemahaman yang ekstensif dan terperinci dibidang keunggulan kompetitif. Metode penelitian dilakukan dengan cara systematic mapping study (SMS) untuk menelaah publikasi ilmiah dibidang keunggulan kompetitif yang dihasilkan berdasarkan fokus dan tipe riset dari waktu ke waktu. Hasil penelitian ini menghasilkan kategorisasi dan kuantifikasi studi keunggulan kompetitif dalam berbagai dimensi serta ikhtisar topik dan tren penelitian saat ini

The changing role of shop-floor operators in zero defect manufacturing

In the journey towards zero defect manufacturing, digital technologies aiming to improve different aspects of production and quality control will be of high importance. This will not replace existing management approaches such as lean manufacturing, including continuous improvement at the shop-floor level. A single case study is performed, where we have examined various aspects that influence a successful continuous improvement for reducing scrap parts and prevent further propagation in interaction with new zero-defect solutions. The aim is to identify the changing roles of the shop-floor operators and we highlight that they still will remain a key part of the system.publishedVersio

INDUSTRIAL ENLARGEMENT AND COMPETITIVENESS INDEX

Over the last decade Slovenia has achieved clear and positive macro-economic results that have placed it among the most sucessful transitions countries. The basic indicators show that it has been integrating and catching up with European Union member states at an ever increasing pace. Despite this, the challenges of a global economy-where only innovation and entrepreneurship can compete succesfully, and the relative lag in the competitive capacity of our economy behind numerous other countries in the world rankings, require drastic changes to be made to Slovenia’s economic structure to adopt as much as possible to the demans of the knowledge based economy. That means the transformation from an economy with low added value whose competitiveness is based on low operative costs into an economy based on production and service activities whose competitive advantages are high added value, quality, innovation and entrapreneurship. Entrepreneurship and the diffusion of innovation, which considerably increase the speed at which new high-quality and low cost products replace existing products, are two driving forces of the knowledge based economy and they are changing the economic structure of leading countries....national competitiveness, benchmarking, development strategy, industrial policy

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS AS A SUCCESSFUL PATH TO GLOBALIZATION FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of knowledge management as a critical component of organizational effectiveness, which in its turn influences a successful path to a globalization strategy for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It is critical for SMEs that knowledge management be enable effectively and efficiently solving the problems, managing dynamic learning, strategic planning and decision making; by analyzing previous literature reviews on the subject of Knowledge management challenges of SMEs, regardless of the financial and human aspects. The significance of this study will affix the knowledge about current issues relating to SMEs in Malaysia in cognitive capital perspective. The article highlights the common issues related to knowledge management, which can be implemented successfully to a business strategy

Technological Change and Innovation Behaviour in Industry: A Conceptual and Methodological Framework

Series: Discussion Papers of the Institute for Economic Geography and GIScienc