Innovation in SMEs : a case study in Thailand

Innovation has long been accepted as instrumental to company success. As a result, it has been explored and studied by the business and management literature for several decades. However, very little research has been done specific to Thai SMEs, although innovation is likely to be affected by different national cultures. This case-study research looks at Thai SMEs in order to develop a basic understanding of their innovation concepts and processes, and to investigate the influences of five factors - Environmental Uncertainty, Innovation Characteristics, Attitude and Commitment to Change, Structural Characteristics, and Resources - and Hofstede's Thai cultural characteristics on their innovation process. It aims to benefit Thai SMEs in terms of self analysis for improving their management practices and strategies to achieve company success and sustainability. It may benefit the Thai government as well, since it may help the government develop appropriate national plans and activities to help Thai SMEs succeed, and thus reduce the unemployment rate and sustain the commercial life of Thailand. Literature on innovation and some related issues, such as creativity and its definition, stages of the innovation process, factors affecting the process, and Hofstede's five cultural dimensions are reviewed in order to develop the framework of this study. In-depth interviews, observations and document reviews were conducted in a medium-sized roller shutter manufacturer in Thailand. All the five factors and four Thai cultural dimensions - Collectivism, High Power Distance, Femininity, and Strong Uncertainty Avoidance – were found to affect the innovation process in this study. A potential schematic diagram illustrating their relationships with the innovation process is also revealed. This leads to the idea that Thai SMEs are less likely to produce or adopt innovations effectively. Finally, this study discusses its limitations and some ideas for future research

The effects of cultural factors on innovation in a Thai SME

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to look at a Thai manufacturing small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) in order to develop a basic understanding of the innovation concept and process in Thailand, and to investigate how the five factors associated with innovation interact with Hofstede's five cultural dimensions to influence the innovation process. Design/methodology/approach – This study employs a qualitative methodology, using a case-study approach. Findings – All the studies of national culture and innovation potential use Hofstede's dimensions but this study suggests that in Thailand there may be cultural factors other than Hofstede's that influence innovation and that modify the effects of Hofstede's model on innovation. Allied to this, it appears that the traditional cultural values could be shifting, as younger people absorb an increasing amount of influence from Western media. The first finding from this study suggests that Thai SMEs may tend to more effectively produce or adopt incremental innovations rather than radical ones. The second finding is that, if the research company is typical of Thai SMEs, Thai SMEs are likely to experience difficulties with adopting completely novel innovations effectively. This is because four (except the dimension of long versus short-term orientation) of Hofstede's five Thai cultural dimensions were clearly found to obstruct the innovation process. Also there are some cultural factors peculiar to Thailand, not mentioned by Hofstede, that impact on the innovation process. Research limitations/implications – The paper underlines the need to understand local culture and environment, which play a crucial role in the success or failure of innovation activities of firms, particularly SMEs. Originality/value – There have been very few studies on innovation with reference to Thai SMEs

New Strategy for Synthesis of the Disaccharide Moiety of the Highly Potent Anticancer Natural Product OSW-1

<div><p></p><p>The facile synthesis of a partially protected OSW-1 disaccharide moiety, having a 2-O-p-methoxybenzoyl-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-2-O-acetyl-L-arabinopyranoside structure, was elaborated by glycosylation in a β-stereoselective fashion. The xylopyranose donors were synthesized by a short synthetic approach via convenient selective 1,2-diacetal protection of 3,4-<i>trans</i>-diequatorial hydroxyl group. Regioselective ring opening of 1,2-diacetal-protected substrates efficiently led to the arabinopyranose acceptor with a free 3-hydroxyl group. Glycosylation of the xylopyranose donor with the arabinopyranose acceptor provided the β-disaccharide.</p> </div

An Enantioselective Approach to the Preparation of Chiral Sulfones by Ir-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation

Several chiral sulfonyl compounds were prepared using the iridium catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation reaction. Vinylic, allylic and homoallylic sulfone substitutions were investigated, and high enantioselectivity is maintained regardless of the location of the olefin with respect to the sulfone. Impressive stereoselectivity was obtained for dialkyl substitutions, which typically are challenging substrates in the hydrogenation. As expected, the more bulky Z-substrates were hydrogenated slower than the corresponding E isomers, and in slightly lower enantioselectivity.AuthorCount:8;</p