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Abstract Purpose--The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of organizational structure (OS) of innovation teams and the external support mechanism on the commercialization of a small- and [...]

This paper investigates the determinants of the use of collateral and personal guarantees in Japan's SME loan market. We find that firms' riskiness does not have a significant effect on the likelihood that collateral is used. We find, however, that main banks whose claims are collateralized monitor borrowers more intensively and that borrowers who have a long-term relationship with their main banks are more likely to pledge collateral. These findings are consistent with the theory that the use of collateral is effective in raising the bank's seniority and enhances its screening and monitoring. This incentive effect for the bank becomes tenuous for personal guarantees. JEL codes: D82, G21, G30 Keywords: collateral, personal guarantees, relationship lending, SME., A KEY ISSUE of interest in the recent literature on financial intermediation has been the role of relationship lending. Relationship lending is particularly common in the case of small business [...]

This study explored the construction development process of an individual case to identify and summarize the problems small-to medium-sized developers could be having with such process in Taiwan. To identify the problems, the writers used a case-based approach and interviewed the chairman of one small-to medium-sized enterprise (SME). Findings derived from the interview were validated by further interviewing four members of the construction union in Taiwan, three government officials, and four managers of mortgage banks. The theory of constraints approach was used to examine the construction development process of the SME and indicate the undesirable effects that hindered it and needed immediate attention. The study results were systemized into a conceptual model for developers' future reference to improve management of the development process and identify the root causes of problems. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)CO. 1943-7862.0000057 CE Database subject headings: Construction management; Taiwan; Problem solving.

It is argued that networking is crucial for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly in emerging economies as they seek to access resources for development. One key resource in emerging [...]

This teaching case describes an ethical dilemma for a small business owner operating in the challenging business environment of Belarus, 2003. Each of his four options is a viable consideration [...]

This paper is a review and critique of the promising area of international entrepreneurship based on twenty years of academic research covering 150 empirical and conceptual studies. The studies are examined on the basis of six specific dimensions: key issues, theoretical perspectives, sample, research method, data analysis and dependent variable. Suggestions and directions for future research are discussed. Key Words: International, Entrepreneurship, Literature Review, New Ventures, Internationalization, INTRODUCTION At the convergence of entrepreneurship research and literature on international management, scholarly investigations of international entrepreneurial firms hold the promise of enriching and broadening both fields by bridging a [...]

It is shown how environment conditions, previous experience of top management team and the corporate and competitive strategies of the firms may moderate the positive influence of small and medium-sized firms. The findings are based on a survey of 295 small and medium-sized enterprises.

Using a sample drawn from exporting firms from the Eastern Townships of Canada, this study explores the barriers facing small and medium size enterprises. Using factor analysis this research has identified four constructs to explain barriers facing SME in export operations. These constructs include firm's specific barriers, institutional barriers, foreign market industry barriers, and lack of government support. Foreign market industry barriers and lack of home government support were seen as factors distinguishing between successful and unsuccessful exporting firms., INTRODUCTION Although the past two decades has seen a rapid growth on the SME literature, most of the literature on SME internationalisation has concentrated within international market entry, very little [...]

Developing a 'profile' of a SME owner--either as a means of understanding the characteristics of a 'successful' individual or to better predict what intentions, goals, or strategies pave the way to firm growth, remains a preoccupation for researchers. In this pursuit, a number of useful descriptors and typologies have been put forward, including those that focus on making the distinction between 'growth-rejecting' and 'growth-enthusiastic' SME owners. One such descriptor that has achieved consistent use, and perhaps abuse, is that of the 'lifestyle' SME owner. This paper reports on the findings of a project that studied New Zealand SMEs in the context of business growth. Site visits and in-depth interviews were carried out with the owner or manager of a random sample of 50 firms throughout New Zealand. This paper contributes to a better understanding of SME growth and the applicability of business growth models to SMEs in a New Zealand context, and puts forward an alternative categorisation of those described as 'lifestyle' owners. Keywords: SMEs, growth, lifestyle, New Zealand., Introduction As the body of knowledge on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) has grown, the focus of empirical work has become increasingly diverse. A topic that has remained a priority [...]

The sluggish pace of e-commerce adoption by regional SMEs in Australia is well documented and has been attributed to various barriers faced by the SME. The association between these barriers and business profile factors is not so well understood. This paper presents a study of247 non-adopting regional SMEs. The study shows that it is the organisational barriers, rather than the technical barriers, that appear to be uppermost in the minds of owner/managers where e-commerce adoption is concerned. The data also shows that the gender of the owner I manager, together with the market focus of the business, are associated with the rating of importance of barriers to e-commerce adoption., Introduction Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) are generally regarded as the cornerstone of developed economies. Most governments view the SME sector as a major driver of the economy and a [...]

This paper examines how the level of owner involvement in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) affects financial performance, as suggested by Jensen and Meckling (1976). We find significant relationships between the degree of owner involvement and profitability, leverage and liquidity, even when adjusted for size. No significant relationship was found between the degree of owner involvement and growth. We conclude that increased owner involvement creates a financially safer and more profitable firm with no relationship to growth. This supports the financial contentment hypothesis of Vos, Yeh, Carter and Tagg (2007). Key words: owner involvement; SME performance; contentment; growth, Introduction One of the major differences between big businesses and small businesses is the distance between owners and managers. In small businesses, the owner and the manager are often the [...]

This study investigates the potential effect of personal interaction on international technology development in relationships between Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and their foreign customers. The mediating effect of knowledge transfer between these firms and their customers is also examined. The results of a LISREL analysis of 188 relationships between SMEs and their foreign customers demonstrate that the effect of personal interaction on international technology development is not direct but rather is mediated by knowledge transfer. Hence, the study suggests that before international technology development can be enhanced, knowledge transfer needs to be established. Keywords: SMEs, internationalisation, personal interaction., Introduction A widely shared conception amongst researchers and practitioners in the field of international business is that small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) continuously rely on technology development to enhance [...]

A study was conducted among small to medium sized enterprises in environments of weak infrastructure and institutions regarding the way to help them achieve more collective efficiencies and access to global markets.

The study focuses on the adoption of small and medium-sized business of knowledge management and the distinction between formal and informal knowledge management processes. Findings showed that concepts and vocabulary of knowledge management are beginning to penetrate small firms. Other details of the study are presented.

As developing countries striving for greater economic competitiveness in a global business environment, both Malaysia and the Philippines have formulated policies and implemented programs to support small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs)--the backbone of vibrant economies. The Philippines can learn from the experience of Malaysia, which has clearly linked SME development efforts to its industrial development goals, and has set up effective mechanisms to coordinate various efforts to assist SMEs. Worth noting are programs to improve productivity and product / service quality, to encourage innovation and technological upgrading among local firms, to encourage SME linkages, and to develop human capital., INTRODUCTION Small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) play a significant role in developing economies. Among their contributions are as follows: (a) they address poverty by creating jobs and by increasing incomes; [...]

This paper presents the important considerations of SMEs in Metro Manila in using an accounting method, whether accrual accounting as prescribed by GAAP or cash accounting. This paper reports the results from the observations, which identify the method that is more applicable to these entities. The study provide insights on the applicability of the Exposure Draft of IFRS for SMEs, final standards of which are expected to be issued by the IASB in the second half of 2008. Considering the limited number of observations in this study, regression analysis may not be implemented to test the hypotheses. However, this paper presents a logistic model that will empirically test the hypotheses when provided with sufficient number of observations. This paper then suggests collection of more data and the use of the regression model presented for future researches., INTRODUCTION In this age of globalization, the harmonization of financial reporting requirements has become a necessity. The convergence of accounting standards worldwide helps ensure the increased level of confidence among [...]

A study was conducted to examine the behavior of born-global firms. These companies are found in most economies, especially in smaller, developed markets. The attitudinal orientations of senior managers in these firms are analyzed. Findings show that smaller organizations should not hesitate to enter lead markets and to enter several markets simultaneously.

In Indonesia the government has been trying to support the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as these enterprises are expected to play a crucial role, not only in employment creation, GDP formation, and export development, but also especially as a means to developed women entrepreneurs, particularly in rural areas. This paper examines the current developments of SMEs, constraints on their current development, the involvement of women as entrepreneurs in SMEs, and the effectiveness of government SME development programs in Indonesia. The paper identifies some important facts. First, SMEs are of overwhelming importance in Indonesia, as they account for more than 90% of all firms outside the agricultural sector. Second, the main constraints faced by small entrepreneurs are cumbersome and onerous business regulations and restrictions, lack of finance, and limits in human resource and technological capabilities. Third, the representation of women entrepreneurs is still relatively low which can be attributed to factors such as low level of education and cultural or religious constraints. Finally, the government has been the most important supporting agency for SMEs. However, evidence on the effectiveness of government programs to support SME development is mixed., Introduction In the classical economic paradigm it is stated that development of an economy depends on two main important factors (as explicitly included in a general production function of Cobb [...]

A strong board of directors is believed to have a significant influence on the potential of medium-sized companies, with mainstream research approach arguing for direct relationship between the composition of the board and the performance of the company. The influence of boards of directors on chief executive officers' commitment on entrepreneurial posture is presented.

The effect of industry classification on the capital structure of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana is examined using a regression framework, having various capital structures as dependent variables and the industry as the independent variable. Results showed that SMEs in the agricultural sector display the highest capital and asset structures. Details of the results in the information and communication, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, and construction and mining industries are also presented.

This paper outlines the results of a theory-building study into founding episode activities undertaken by independent entrepreneurs to create extremely high growth Australian firms, known as 'gazelles '. Studies suggest gazelles are a rare but particularly important subset of all new firms created each year, contributing significantly to national economic and social development. The study revealed that entrepreneurs who created gazelles, pursued certain founding activities in different ways to entrepreneurs who created other types of growth firms. Findings of systematic differences in the way entrepreneurs appeared to create gazelles compared to other types of growth firms, may help build theory able to predict the birth of gazelles. Such a theory may assist investors improve their ability to identify major potential opportunities and help governments target support initiatives early on in the life of firms likely to use them to best effect., Introduction This study focused on identifying founding episode activities that lead to the creation of a rare group of high growth Australian firms, known as gazelles. While definitions of gazelles [...]

This paper outlines a theoretical model of the broad entrepreneurial process that takes place during founding episodes that lead to the creation of independently-owned, new growth firms. The model outlines four broad stages, containing fourteen major steps that map the entrepreneurial behavioural process pursued during founding episodes of new growth firms. The model was developed from a synthesis of theory and the growth firm creation experiences of the authors. The process model has been used by the authors to guide the learning of more than 2,200 undergraduate and postgraduate university students in Australia studying the entrepreneurial process of creating new growth firms. Student feedback suggests high levels of acceptance and satisfaction with the model as a guide to understanding the entrepreneurial process., Introduction Growing recognition of the importance of entrepreneurial activity to national economic and social development (OECD, 1998) has been mirrored by a growth in the number of entrepreneurship subjects offered [...]

The impact of planning, managerial effectiveness and cultural issues on the performance of small and medium sized firms is discussed.

The empirical analysis of the effects of ownership and leadership, on the business strategy and the culture of small and medium business enterprises, is presented.

The application of data envelopment analysis to assess the efficiency of small and medium enterprises based in Korea, based on their productivity index and resource utilization, is presented.

The process of using innovations in small and medium scale enterprises through organizational learning process is presented.

The usage of marketing channels by small and medium scale enterprises and the effects of these resources on companys' performance are analyzed

The impact of globalization on organizational structure of small business enterprises is examined.