Search results for "Small to medium-sized enterprises"
showing 7 items of 7 documents
Design management capability and product innovation in SMEs
2013
[Purpose]: The aim of this paper is to present design management as a dynamic capability and to analyze its mediating role between organizational learning capability and product innovation performance in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). [Design/methodology/approach]: Structural equation modeling is used to test the research hypotheses based on data from the Italian and Spanish ceramic tile industries. The data are derived from the responses of 182 companies (50 percent of the target population) to a questionnaire addressed to Product Development Managers and Human Resource Managers. [Findings]: The results suggest that organizational learning capability enhances product innovation throu…
Impact of psychic distance to the internationalization behavior of knowledge-intensive SMEs
2009
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the internationalization behavior of knowledge-intensive small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by using macro-level psychic distance indicators and managers' perceptions of psychic distance. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses both quantitative and qualitative approaches. In the quantitative approach, the impact of psychic distance to the internationalization behavior is analyzed by using bivariate correlation analysis. The qualitative case study approach is employed to investigate managers' perceptions of psychic distance as regards market entries. Findings: Findings of this study indicate that psychic distance has an impact…
Entrepreneurship and small businesses in Russia: A review of empirical research
2011
PurposeEntrepreneurship and small businesses in Russia have been of academic interest for over 15 years. This paper seeks to bring together current knowledge concerning the phenomenon, and to suggest further directions for research.Design/methodology/approachThe study consists of a systematic review of 48 refereed empirical articles on entrepreneurship and small businesses in Russia.FindingsFrom the articles reviewed it appears that entrepreneurs in Russia use non‐material resources to overcome the financial and institutional obstacles, which still seem to afflict the market. However, theoretical and methodological issues are, in many cases, poorly reported and this undermines the scientifi…
International activities of knowledge-intensive small- and medium-sized enterprises: The example of an open source software firm
2009
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework that explains international activities of open source software (OSS) firms. Design/methodology/approach: This paper reviews relevant literature related to international operations of knowledge-intensive firms, especially in the software industry. Theoretical development is based here on a combination of the network approach, international new venture theory and inward–outward internationalization. Findings: The findings in this study suggest that the international activities of OSS firms can be divided into project activities and business activities. Project activities include inward and outward linkages, and partner identificatio…
The influence of geographical concentration and structural characteristics on the survival chance of textile firms
2013
[EN] Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the contribution of location (geographical concentration) and firm structure (age and subsector) to the risk of business failure. Design/methodology/approach The Markov s regression analysis was made for a sample of over 11,700 Spanish textile-clothing firms. Findings The results obtained from the analysis suggest that the risk of business failure is increased by some risk factors relative to the structural characteristics of the firms (younger firms and specialization in low-tech activities), and under determined locational circumstances. Research limitations/implications Our conclusions have been obtained starting from a sample of manu…
Entrepreneurial success and human resources
2011
PurposeThis paper aims to determine factors that have an influence on human resource management and entrepreneurial success in the context of European innovative small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs).Design/methodology/approachA primary test questionnaire was tested with 50 Spanish entrepreneurs. The feedback from this study was used to improve the survey for a final test. Multivariate regression analysis was used to differentiate the factors that allow the explanation of the variables to be studied and factors that, a priori, seem to be the most relevant in explaining entrepreneurial success.FindingsThe study allows the determination of what factors make the European entrepreneur succe…
Internationalization pathways among family-owned SMEs
2012
PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to increase understanding of the internationalization of family firms; to investigate how the framework by Bell et al. on the internationalization patterns of firms could explain the internationalization pathways taken by family‐owned small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs); and to identify typical patterns and features in the various pathways taken by family‐owned SMEs.Design/methodology/approachThis paper reports findings from an in‐depth multiple case study with eight Finnish family‐owned SMEs.FindingsThe ownership structure had the most important role in defining the internationalization pathways followed by the family‐owned SMEs: a fragmented owners…