The environmental analysis is an important instrument for the SMEs, and it can contribute to their success through the globalization process. This book mainly focuses on the environmental analysis of the SMEs by analyzing three layers of environment under eight sub-categories: macro; potential competitors; substitutes; customers; competitors; suppliers; assets; and competencies. This book explains the relationship of the SMEs with their environments under this perspective, and gives sectoral examples for clarification. Each part is written by different academicians to reflect different points of view. (Series: International Economics, Vol. 5) [Subject: International Economics, Business Studies]
The managed flow of goods and information from raw material to final sale also known as a "supply chain" affects everythingâ€"from the U.S. gross domestic product to where you can buy your jeans. The nature of a company's supply chain has a significant effect on its success or failureâ€"as in the success of Dell Computer's make-to-order system and the failure of General Motor's vertical integration during the 1998 United Auto Workers strike. Supply Chain Integration looks at this crucial component of business at a time when product design, manufacture, and delivery are changing radically and globally. This book explores the benefits of continuously improving the relationship between the firm, its suppliers, and its customers to ensure the highest added value. This book identifies the state-of-the-art developments that contribute to the success of vertical tiers of suppliers and relates these developments to the capabilities that small and medium-sized manufacturers must have to be viable participants in this system. Strategies for attaining these capabilities through manufacturing extension centers and other technical assistance providers at the national, state, and local level are suggested. This book identifies action steps for small and medium-sized manufacturersâ€"the "seed corn" of business start-up and developmentâ€"to improve supply chain management. The book examines supply chain models from consultant firms, universities, manufacturers, and associations. Topics include the roles of suppliers and other supply chain participants, the rise of outsourcing, the importance of information management, the natural tension between buyer and seller, sources of assistance to small and medium-sized firms, and a host of other issues. Supply Chain Integration will be of interest to industry policymakers, economists, researchers, business leaders, and forward-thinking executives.
Globalization has jarred the traditional role and competitiveness of small- and medium-sized enterprises. This masterful volume comprises leading scholars, policy makers and business leaders who have new insights and strategies for SMEs creating opportunities rather than being victims of globalization. The result is a breakthrough in our understanding of entrepreneurship in the global context. David B. Audretsch, Indiana University, Bloomington, US and WHU, Germany Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often have difficulty competing in the global economy unless they collaborate with domestic or foreign partners or with public sector organizations. This book addresses the resource leverage and innovation challenges that increased global trade represents for SMEs. In doing so, it explores how SMEs can become more competitive at home and in foreign markets as stand-alone firms or as members of supplier and customer networks. SMEs are turning increasingly to innovation as a source of competitive advantage in order to protect their home markets and participate in expanding foreign markets. The contributors to this volume leading experts in entrepreneurship, innovation, and international business provide in-depth coverage of the most compelling issues facing SMEs. These include: innovation as a competitive strategy, network dynamics, ways to leverage technology, internationalization, and the role of the public sector in helping SMEs to overcome resource deficiencies. This comprehensive look at SMEs in the global marketplace will be of great interest to academics who study entrepreneurship, innovation, or international business, officials from public sector agencies with responsibility for helping SMEs to internationalize and become more innovative, and senior executives of SMEs or executives of larger companies who are considering collaboration with SMEs.
Competitive Advantage in SMEs draws on up-to-date empirical evidence to illustrate how SMEs can become more innovative through the introduction of new products and services. Discusses the effective and efficient use of information technology by broadening management skills and knowledge.
Innovation is a key source of competitive advantage, but it remains frustratingly elusive for many organizations. This book shows you how to close the innovation gap by making individuals and organizations systematically and sustainably innovative. You will learn how to embrace a culture of innovation and make it permeate every level of the organization. You will find a clear road map and practical tools to redefine your workplace's culture, identify and tap into the existing innovative intelligence, and develop leaders who can close the innovation gap for greater business success.
"This book provides a comprehensive collection of research on current technological developments and organizational perspectives on the scale of small and medium enterprises"--Provided by publisher.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for more than 90 per cent of all businesses in the Asia-Pacific region — an area which is rapidly updating its competition laws and regulations to encourage greater entrepreneurship and open, dynamic economies. Yet SMEs are almost invisible when those competition policies and laws are developed and enforced. SMEs are often quite different businesses than large, multinational corporations, but their nature, significance and characteristics are often overlooked. This book seeks to rectify the relative neglect in research and policy discussions on the role of the SME sector in competition policy and law. Drawing on contributions from a wide range of competition regulators, lawyers, academics, consultants and advisers to the SME sector, it addresses such important issues as: - perceptions and views of small businesses about competition law; - regulator engagement and education of the SME sector; - the link between competition law and economic growth; - franchising, SMEs and competition law; - issues in enforcing competition law against SMEs; - the role of Chinese family firms; - trade, professional and industry associations; - country case studies from Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, South Korea, Hong Kong SAR, Japan and the Pacific Islands. "This book is an important step in remedying the gaps in our knowledge and policy of this important area." -- Dr Alan Bollard, Executive Director, APEC Secretariat
Smaller companies are abundant in the business realm and outnumber large companies by a wide margin. To maintain a competitive edge against other businesses, companies must ensure the most effective strategies and procedures are in place. This is particularly critical in smaller business environments that have fewer resources. Start-Ups and SMEs: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications is a vital reference source that examines the strategies and concepts that will assist small and medium-sized enterprises to achieve competitiveness. It also explores the latest advances and developments for creating a system of shared values and beliefs in small business environments. Highlighting a range of topics such as entrepreneurship, innovative behavior, and organizational sustainability, this multi-volume book is ideally designed for entrepreneurs, business managers, executives, managing directors, academicians, business professionals, researchers, and graduate-level students.
This book focuses on three key questions and three assumptions, which tackle entrepreneurship and competitiveness through the pillars of young entrepreneurship and innovation in SMEs, always under the lens of the institutional approach. More specifically, the research questions of this study are the following: How do institutions and, in general, institutional processes affect entrepreneurship on the SME level and, hence, competitiveness on the country level, how can the analysis of young entrepreneurship promote our understanding of the overall web of entrepreneurship from an institutional point of view and to what degree do SMEs respond to innovative applications and activities? Moreover, the study takes on the following three research assumptions: The quality of institutions affects the development of entrepreneurship and, hence, a country's competitive position, small- and medium-sized enterprises are affected by the quality of institutions and institutional inefficiency leads to innovation fatigue. The methodology is based on specific data collection techniques that will answer the questions and assumptions of this study by using both qualitative and quantitative approaches.
This book provides an in-depth introduction to knowledge risk management (KRM) as well as methods, tools and cases to address knowledge risk management issues in both the public and private sector. It focuses on the integration of knowledge risks into the holistic risk management of organizations. In addition, this book is accompanied by an external website that includes additional checklists, videos and company cases. The combination of a sound theoretical framework along with practical instruments, tools and ancillary materials makes this book a unique, interactive book for professionals, managers, and executives as well as students, academics and policy makers.
