SME Internationalization Intelligence Information and Knowledge on International Opportunities

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) internationalization intelligence, referring to the process of gathering information and knowledge on international opportunities, is crucial to initiate SMEs’ internationalization. The literature has stressed organizational resources, networks and information sharing as means to acquire internationalization intelligence, suggesting that the resource-based, network and social capital perspectives can be adopted to explore this issue. However, previous literature still lacks evidence on how SMEs acquire relevant intelligence, and who or what are involved with the process. To address this lack of evidence, we interviewed 54 SME owners/key personnel in the manufacturing sector to: identify sources of internationalization intelligence; examine how those sources assist SMEs to internationalize; and develop propositions on internationalization intelligence. Analyzing the data using NVivo, four themes emerged including institutions, business associates, personal efforts, and other means. The analysis suggests internationalization intelligence occurs mainly through the networks of the SME owners/key personnel, built on their firm’s resources through their internal and external information sharing activities, indicating the need of the SMEs to position themselves in their environments. These findings are developed into propositions. The study indicates multiple perspectives in conceptualizing the process of internationalization intelligence. This study advances a conceptualization of internationalization intelligence, and offers avenues for future research.     

SME Internationalization Intelligence Information and Knowledge on International Opportunities

Abstract: Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) internationalization intelligence, referring to the process of gathering information and knowledge on international opportunities, is crucial to initiate SMEs internationalization. The literature has stressed organizational resources, networks and information sharing as means to acquire internationalization intelligence, suggesting that the resource-based, network and social capital perspectives can be adopted to explore this issue. However, previous literature still lacks evidence on how SMEs acquire relevant intelligence, and who or what are involved with the process. To address this lack of evidence, we interviewed 54 SME owners/key personnel in the manufacturing sector to: identify sources of internationalization intelligenceexamine how those sources assist SMEs to internationalizeand develop propositions on internationalization intelligence. Analyzing the data using NVivo, four themes emerged including institutions, business associates, personal efforts, and other means. The analysis suggests internationalization intelligence occurs mainly through the networks of the SME owners/ key personnel, built on their firms resources through their internal and external information sharing activities, indicating the need of the SMEs to position themselves in their environments. These findings are developed into propositions. The study indicates multiple perspectives in conceptualizing the process of internationalization intelligence. This study advances a conceptualization of internationalization intelligence, and offers avenues for future research. Abstrak: Kecerdasan internasionalisasi usaha kecil dan menengah (UKM), mengacu pada hasil proses pengumpulan informasi dan pengetahuan tentang peluang internasional yang telah diproses, hal tersebut sangat penting untuk memulai internasionalisasi UKM. Dari beberapa literatur menekankan, sumber daya organisasi, jaringan dan berbagi informasi sebagai sarana untuk memperoleh kecerdasan dalam internasionalisasi. Hal tersebut menunjukkan, bahwa perspektif modal berbasis sumber daya, jaringan dan sosial, dapat diadopsi untuk mengeksplorasi hal ini. Namun, beberapa literatur sebelumnya masih mempunyai kekurangan bukti tentang bagaimana kecerdasan UKM mendapatkan data yang relevan, dan siapa atau apa yang terlibat dengan proses tersebut. Untuk mengatasi kurangnya bukti, dilakukan wawancara terhadap 54 pemilik UKM atau personil kunci di sektor manufaktur, untuk: kecerdasan mengidentifikasi sumbersumber internasionalisasimemeriksa bagaimana sumber-sumber dapat membantu UKM untuk internasionalisasi, dan mengembangkan proposisi pada kecerdasan internasionalisasi. Analisis data menggunakan NVivo yang menghasilkan empat kriteria, yaitu: lembaga, rekan bisnis, usaha pribadi, dan sarana lainnya. Dari analisis tersebut di atas, menunjukkan bahwa kecerdasan internasionalisasi terjadi melalui jaringan pemilik UKM /karyawan kunci, yang dibangun pada sumber daya perusahaan. Di mana hal tersebut didapat melalui melalui kegiatan internal dan eksternal dan berbagi informasi yang dapat memperlihatkan kebutuhan dari UKM untuk memposisikan diri di lingkungan mereka. Temuan-temuan dari penelititan ini dikembangkan untuk menjadi proposisi. Dari penelitian ini diperoleh berbagai perspektif konseptual dalam proses kecerdasan untuk internasionalisasi, dan dapat diacu untuk penelitian masa depan

Strategi dan corak pengantarabangsaan perniagaan agro di Malaysia

Artikel ini mengkaji pendekatan strategi pengantarabangsaan yang diambil oleh perusahaan kecil dan sederhana (PKS) agro. Objektif kajian ini ialah mengenalpasti strategi kemasukan dan pemilihan pasaran oleh syarikat PKS agro, dan mengetahui bagaimana ciri-ciri syarikat mempengaruhi kepantasan proses pengantarabangsaan. Kajian kes digunakan keatas lima syarikat PKS agro di Malaysia. Kajian mendapati syarikat PKS agro menggunakan pelbagai strategi mod kemasukan seperti eksport langsung, usahasama, dan rakan kongsi asing untuk menembusi pasaran antarabangsa. Kajian membuktikan ciri-ciri syarikat seperti jenis produk, jenis perniagaan, dan pemilikan merupakan faktor utama yang mempengaruhi strategi mod kemasukan asing dan sasaran pasaran, yang kemudiannya menentukan corak pengantarabangsaan, samada tradisional ataupun born-global. Artikel ini mencadangkan satu tipologi corak pengantarabangsaan dan beberapa proposisi berkaitan dengan proses pengantarabangsaan. Kajian ini memberi panduan kepada pemilik/pengurus perniagaan industri agro untuk menembusi pasaran global. Manakala bagi penggubal dasar pula ianya boleh menjadi asas untuk membentuk garis panduan dalam membantu industri perniagaan agro bersaing di peringkat antarabangsa

Exploring social capital influencing entrepreneurial process among immigrant entrepreneurs in Malaysia

Immigrant entrepreneurship has been widely discussed in various perspectives. Yet, their entrepreneurial process has received less attention from the aspect of social capital. This paper intends to explore the role of social capital dimensions (structural, relational, and cognitive) in the entrepreneurial process (discovery and exploitation of opportunity). In-depth interview approach was conducted with six Thai immigrant restaurant-preneurs (TIRps) in Malaysia. The findings revealed that the structural social capital is the most important dimension for TIRps highlighting the supports from family and friends which transpired at both stages of the entrepreneurial process. The study that is based on social capital and entrepreneurial process perspectives also demonstrated the significance of local consumers’ eating-out habits identified as structural social capital and local preferences for Thai cuisines identified as cognitive social capital. This signifies the emergence of the Consumer Culture Theory in research on immigrant entrepreneurship. This study contributes to an integrated model of immigrant entrepreneurship and a set of propositions. For practicality, the findings provide some guidelines for policymakers to develop training programmes by leveraging on social capital for further development of Malaysian entrepreneurs

Students’ satisfaction and intention to continue online learning during the Covid-19 pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has forced teaching and learning to be conducted online. Without proper preparation, students and academicians face various challenges, which may cause stress and drop out. Thus, this study was conducted to determine factors influencing students’ satisfaction and intention to continue studying online. Three factors were hypothesized to influence satisfaction, namely the lecturer’s performance, students’ interaction, and course content. The study also examined the moderating role of internet connection on the relationship between satisfaction and continuance intention. Using purposive sampling, data were collected from undergraduate and postgraduate students. A total of 305 questionnaires were analyzed using Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The result of the analysis indicated that all three proposed factors are significant in influencing students’ satisfaction, and satisfaction impacts continuance intention. Internet connection on the other hand moderates the relationship between satisfaction and intention. These findings have broadened the knowledge on the factors of students’ satisfaction and continuance intention to study online during the pandemic. This study is among a limited number of studies available exploring the role of internet connection in the context of online learning. The study provides insights to academicians, higher learning institutions and policymakers on the continuance of online learning during and post-pandemic

PUSH AND PULL FACTORS INFLUENCING THAI IMMIGRANT ENTREPRENEURS CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN MALAYSIA

Background and Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand the push and pull factors that influence Thai immigrant entrepreneurs (TIEs) to conduct a business in Malaysia. As a neighbouring country, Malaysia is one of the favourite migration destinations for TIEs, with an influx of them involved in restaurant businesses across the country. This phenomenon offers this study with an unconventional background for immigrant entrepreneurship as it occurs within the context of developing, non-Western countries.   Methodology: Outlined by previous studies on push and pull factors of immigration and immigrant entrepreneurship, this research employed a qualitative approach focusing on the experiences of six TIEs operating Thai/Siamese restaurants in Bandar Baru Bangi, a town located approximately 30 km south of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. Data were collected mainly through face-to-face interviews among owners of restaurants in their premises, which ensures richness in the data.   Findings: The findings indicated several categories of business-based emigration factors for TIEs to Malaysia, spanning from economic, political, and social factors.   Contributions: Overall, the present research extends the knowledge of immigrant entrepreneurship especially within the non-Western context. Practice-wise, this study provides implications for policymakers in relation to business activities conducted by migrants in neighbouring countries, which are useful for both Malaysia and Thailand as the host and the origin country respectively.   Keywords: Thai immigrant entrepreneurs, Thailand, Malaysia, restaurant business, push and pull factors.   Cite as: Yanai, L., Che Senik, Z., Muhamad, N. S., Abd Hamid, H., & Jamaludin, N. A. (2020). Push and pull factors influencing Thai immigrant entrepreneurs conducting business in Malaysia. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 5(2), 19-47. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol5iss2pp19-4

Opportunity recognition in immigrant entrepreneurship through social capital and geographical proximity: a conceptual framework

The purpose of this paper is to present a conceptual framework of the role of social capital as an ultimate resource for immigrant entrepreneurs in recognising entrepreneurial opportunities. Research consistently reveals that immigrants have higher tendency to engage in entrepreneurial activities in countries where they reside. Based on a review of existing literature, resources such as human, social, and financial capital facilitate immigrants to pursue entrepreneurial activities. In recognising business opportunities, social contexts have immensely influenced the entrepreneurial process. However, the role of social capital as an ultimate resource for immigrant entrepreneurship have yet to be comprehensively understood. Social capital is significantly related to the information flows, the trust and norms between individuals. Additionally, the geographical proximity between immigrants and their co-ethnic groups and local communities which enable more rigorous social exchanges plays prevalence role for immigrants to pursue entrepreneurial activities. Therefore, we could argue that the social capital and immigrant entrepreneurs’ geographical proximity are crucial constructs for immigrant entrepreneurs to recognise opportunities for their business ventures in a host country. The review of past literature enables us to develop a conceptual framework on how social capital and geographical proximity may assist the opportunity recognition of immigrant entrepreneurs. The proposed conceptual framework offers three general propositions than can be empirically validated in future research. This paper contributes to enhance the understanding of immigrant entrepreneurship from the lens of opportunity recognition, social capital and geographical proximity

Consumer-based brand equity: relationship between country of origin and brand equity dimension

Consumer-based brand equity is essential in marketing strategy as it can affect firm performance. This study examines the relationship between country of origin effect on consumer-brand equity, for a selected product category in Malaysian market. In this context, a conceptual research model was developed based on previous literature of brand equity. Convenient sampling procedure was used in this research using self-administered questionnaire to collect data from a total of 378 car buyers in Klang Valley, Malaysia. This study tested eight hypotheses. The multiple regression result shows that country of origin is one of the important predictors for brand awareness, brand association, perceived quality and brand loyalty. Both implication of research and implication of practice are discussed

SMEs’ export performance: the effect of learning orientation and innovativeness

This study investigates the role of innovativeness and learning orientation on the internationalisation performance of small and medium entrepreneurial firms. Exporting has been the most appropriate mode of expansion into foreign market for SMEs due to lower risk and less resource commitment. The literature insists that future study should pay more attention on how SMEs improve export performance. Review of literature brings to the conclusion that innovativeness and learning orientation are pertinent in building the success of SMEs in export markets. Notwithstanding the existing investigation on the impact of innovativeness on performance, the results are inconclusive, reinforcing the need for investigation in the context of emerging market and SMEs. In addition, learning orientation composed of three dimensions namely managerial commitment, system perspective and openness and experimentation. Previous studies view learning orientation as summate of all three dimensions. Unlike previous studies, this study investigates the effect of each dimension on innovativeness. A conceptual framework was developed based on the resource-based view. Data were collected from small and medium business exporters in the manufacturing sector of an emerging market. A total of 220 respondents participated in this study. Data were analysed using structural equation modeling to test the hypotheses, and the results show that innovativeness is positively related to export performance. In addition, the findings reveal that managerial commitment is a function of innovativeness. System perspective, and openness and experimentation have no significant effect on innovativeness. Implications and limitations are also discussed in this study

Academics as decision makers: what style do they adopt?

Many studies have focused on the decision-making styles (DMS) of managers, but very few have studied the DMS among academicians. Using the Rowe Decision Style Inventory, this study investigates the DMS of the academics in a public university in Malaysia. The objectives are to identify the common styles adopted by the academics and to determine their dominant styles in relation to their gender, age, faculty, qualifications, and years of service. This study employed a quantitative-questionnaire design that was distributed to 163 academics during an in-house training program. Four types of DMS—directive, analytical, conceptual, and behavioural styles—were identified with regard to gender, age, faculty, qualifications, and years of service. The results revealed that while the majority of the respondents have more than one dominant DMS, the conceptual and analytical styles predominate. Additionally, empirical evidence of variations in the types of DMS across demographic characteristics was found. These findings provide important implications for academics in making the most effective decisions within their professio