The impact of digital orientation on digital innovation performance of Chinese SRDI small and medium-sized enterprises: a knowledge creation perspective

Innovation has been one of the key drivers of sustainable competitive advantage for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, many SMEs have difficulties in achieving successful innovation. This article attempts to explore the major factors and constraints to innovation for SMEs in China. Based on a survey to 188 Chinese manufacturing SMEs, the relationship of 10 major factors affecting innovation performance has been explored. The findings indicate that there is a positive relationship between some factors (e.g., financial capital, technically qualified staff, and technology information and so on) and the innovation performance of SMEs. Also, this paper finds that the current policy environment, such as intellectual property protection and government policies, are not conducive to innovation performance of Chinese SMEs.

Impact of environmental regulations on the innovation of SMEs: Evidence from China

Purpose This study aims to explore the effect of collaboration networks (domestic and international collaboration networks) on the innovation performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It also investigates the mediating role of business model innovation, the moderating role of entrepreneurial orientation and government institutional support between them. Design/methodology/approach Hierarchical regression analysis is adopted to test the hypotheses based on survey data provided by 223 manufacturing SMEs in China. Findings The results reveal that domestic and international collaboration networks positively affect SMEs' innovation performance. Business model innovation mediates domestic and international collaboration networks-SMEs’ innovation performance relationships. Entrepreneurial orientation positively moderates international collaboration networks–SMEs’ innovation performance relationship, and government institutional support positively moderates domestic and international collaboration networks–SMEs’ innovation performance relationships. Practical implications The findings indicate that managers of SMEs should invest in domestic and international collaboration networks and business model innovation to enhance SMEs' innovation performance. Moreover, entrepreneurial orientation and government institutional support should be valued when SMEs try to enhance their innovation performance by embedding in domestic and international collaboration networks. Originality/value This study broadens the authors' understanding of the relationship between collaboration networks and firms' innovation performance by classifying collaboration networks into domestic and international dimensions and investigating their direct impacts on SMEs' innovation performance. Besides, this study reveals how and when domestic and international collaboration networks influence the innovation performance of SMEs.

The purposes of this study were; (1) to explore the application level of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Thailand, and (2) to explore the relationship between the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy and business performance of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Thailand. The assigned sample population included 395 business owners of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Thailand and a questionnaire was used as a tool for data collection. The statistics used in the analysis were Arithmetic Mean, Standard deviation, and the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient with defined statistical significance of .05. The study revealed that the application level of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy to business management of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Thailand was at a high level. Knowledge in the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, however, was applied at a moderate level. It was found that the relationship between the application of the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy and the business performance of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Thailand was a significant relationship with statistical significance of .05. For the related components; Moderation, Reasonableness, Social Immunity, Knowledge, and Virtue, each was also found relevant to the business performance of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises with statistical significance of .05.

Since the reform and opening up, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in China developed rapidly, which have become an important part of China’s economic and social development. However, the financing difficulties of SMEs have become increasingly prominent during recent years, and it hinders the healthy development of SMEs in China. This paper analyzes the current financing situation of SMEs in China, and conducts a deeply comparative analysis for several common external financing means of SMEs. In addition, this article provides some suggestions about how to solve financing difficulties if SMEs in China. Key words: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); External financing means; Options

During the last few decades, research and development (R&D) have always been regarded as the most important or even the only factor in the attempt to explain the innovation capability and performance of enterprises, industries and economies, while to a large extent, those heterogeneous innovation activities beyond formal R&D are ignored or underestimated. Some research has shown that non-R&D innovation activities contribute to make full use of resources beyond R&D to promote performance, especially to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with weak R&D capability. However, non-R&D innovators’ behavior is still a black box by far, and especially few empirical research have been conducted in China context. This paper first explores the heterogeneous innovation patterns of non-R&D innovation by survey among Chinese SMEs in Zhejiang Province. It shows that, product and service customization, imitation and design, technology adoption and incremental modification, organizational innovation and marketing innovation are the main patterns of non-R&D innovation in China. Then, a case study is followed to cross-validate the patterns and relationships between non-R&D innovation and growth of SMEs in China. Generally, this study has implications for both academia and policy-makers. As it demonstrates, non-R&D innovation is an effective way for SMEs to quickly grow and sustain competitiveness in competition. On the other hand, this study helps to optimize some of current innovation policies for SMEs in China, where policy incentives are mainly R&D-focused. It also likely sheds light on the SMEs in other emerging economies.

This study aims to investigate the impact of research and development (R&D) investment on the operational performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from 2013 to 2017. The findings show that there is a significant negative relation between R&D investment and the operational performance of SMEs in China. This negative effect lasts for three years subsequent to R&D investment. In addition, there is no positive relation between R&D investment and the operational performance of SMEs. The relation between R&D investment and operational performance appears significantly negative for non-state-owned enterprises (non-SOEs) and SMEs with an R&D investment intensity of more than 5%. However, it is non-significant for state-owned SMEs (SOEs) and SMEs with an R&D investment intensity of less than 5%. The two-stage method of the Heckman test and propensity score matching (PSM) are employed in this study to exclude problems of endogeneity, and the results remain robust.

The primary objective of the present study is to investigate the impact of marketing strategies, product innovations, and process innovations on the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This research aims to provide insights into the effective utilization of all three of these components in order to achieve a competitive advantage. This study aimed to assess the performance of 210 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by evaluating their sales volume. The participants for this study were selected from the target population as provided by the SMEDA. Descriptive and regression analyses were employed in order to evaluate the effects of innovation. The results of the study indicated that there was a significant impact of both product and process innovations on the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Furthermore, the research conducted revealed a significant impact of marketing strategies on the overall performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In summary, this study highlights the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) incorporating marketing, product, and process innovations in order to fully realize their capabilities and achieve long-term growth. By utilizing these three factors, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can strengthen their position in the market and flourish in the ever-changing business environment.

This study aims to determine the Determinants of the Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Barru Regency. The method used in this study is a quantitative approach and the type of research conducted is survey research. The population used is Small and Medium Enterprises in the manufacturing industry sector in Barru Regency, which is 1672 business units. The number of samples is 94 small and medium enterprises. The data sources used are primary data and secondary data. Analysis of the data used is multiple linear regression analysis. The results of this study indicate that the aspects of finance, environment, marketing, human resources, entrepreneurial ability and economic aspects have a positive and significant effect on the performance of small and medium enterprises in Barru Regency. The greater the equity, loan capital, the level of profits and capital accumulation, the greater the performance of small and medium enterprises. The better the technology and quality control, the availability of business places, government policies, seasons and infrastructure, the better the performance of small and medium enterprises. The more market demand, the better competing pricing, promotion, distribution channels and marketing areas, the better the performance of small and medium enterprises. The better the level of formal education, leadership, experience in business and the amount of motivation and skills in the performance of small and medium enterprises. The greater the desire for achievement, personal responsibility, management ability and innovation ability, the better the performance of small and medium enterprises. the higher the level of income of the community, the availability of jobs, a business climate and good investment and the better the economic growth, the better the performance of small and medium enterprises.

Linking leaders' sustainability commitment with SME sustainability performance via serial mediation of green human resource management, psychological ownership for sustainability, and employee green innovation behavior: The role of organizational culture.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in China leverage their strengths to engage stakeholders in knowledge co-creation processes and get mutual benefit via knowledge-based view (KBV).Design/methodology/approachBased on KBV, the authors conduct a multiple-case study of five SMEs in China to embrace the knowledge co-creation practice using semi-structured interview, organizational documents and onsite observation.FindingsThis study highlights how SMEs leverage their strengths to engage stakeholder to co-create knowledge and practice for the better capturing and utilization of external and internal knowledge. The authors identify three processes of knowledge co-creation for SMEs based on knowledge sharing, knowledge integration and knowledge application in the B2B context. This study finds that SMEs engage their stakeholders in knowledge sharing by building and maintaining trust. The knowledge integration process was driven by the owner’s openness. Mutual learning facilitates the knowledge application process of SMEs.Research limitations/implicationsThis study relies on a limited number of case studies and considers only firms’ perspective to analyze the SMEs co-create knowledge with their stakeholders. Further studies could examine the challenge of knowledge co-creation in multiple stakeholders’ relationships in B2B contexts, i.e. in relation to product and service innovation with complexity and uncertainly.Practical implicationsManagers need to make choices when designing knowledge co-creation process in collaborative product development activities. The use of online and offline approaches can help balance requirements in terms of joint problem-solving across firms, the efficiency of knowledge co-creation and effective of knowledge leakage.Originality/valueThe conceptualization of knowledge co-creation as knowledge sharing and knowledge integration and knowledge application extends existing perspective on knowledge co-creation as either a transfer of knowledge or as revealing the novel situation of pertinent knowledge with entirely assimilate it. The findings point to the complexity of knowledge co-creation as a process influenced by stakeholder engagement, perspectives on knowledge, trust of multiple stakeholders, openness of firm boundaries and mutual learning of SMEs with their stakeholders.

Recent interest among both SME operators and academics/professionals in determining what factors influence the capital structure and performance of SMEs has increased. Possible cause includes increased focus on the role that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play in driving economic growth. This research evaluated the factors that influence small and medium-sized enterprises' capital structures, as well as their performance predictors, financial accessibility factors, firm characteristics that predict their capital structures, and the impact of capital structure on SMEs' profitability. It was decided to conduct a survey study, with the help of a properly designed questionnaire. The population included both small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners and operators in the study area (South-West, Nigeria). Four hundred small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) purposefully chosen using purposive and proportionate procedure from each state in the region and asked to fill out an online questionnaire (Google Form) to collect the data. This study found a significant relationship between capital structure and the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria's Southwest region. Formal strategic plans, consistent operational procedures, positive work relationships, and the presence of formal business plans were found to have a significant impact on the financial decisions of SMEs, thereby improving overall business performance. Furthermore, the factors influencing SMEs' capital structure decisions include both strategic and organisational components, emphasising the importance of formal strategic planning, consistent operational procedures, positive work relationships, and formal business plans.

This study examines the role of social networks on SMEs (Small- and medium-sized enterprises)’ ambidextrous innovation and discusses the mediating effect of dynamic capabilities and the moderating effect of technological turbulence from the perspectives of social network theory and dynamic capability theory. Empirical data were garnered from a sample of 494 SMEs in China and structural equation modelling was used to test the proposed relationships. The results show that: (1) both dimensions of the social networks (relational and structural networks) have a positive impact on SMEs’ exploratory innovation(ERI) and exploitative innovation(EII) – the relational networks(RNs) have a stronger impact on SMEs’ EII while the structural networks(SNs) have a stronger impact on SMEs’ ERI; (2) dynamic capabilities play a mediating role between RNs, SNs and SMEs’ ERI, EII; (3) technological turbulence positively moderates the dynamic capabilities – ERI relationship, while not moderates the dynamic capabilities – EII relationship; (4) the indirect effects of RNs and SNs on ERI via dynamic capabilities is moderated by technological turbulence, while the indirect effects of RNs and SNs on EII via dynamic capabilities is not moderated by technological turbulence.

T he paper first analyzes the problems of compensation management in SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) in China. Besides, the paper combines with practical cases and puts forward suggestions and measures on improving the compensation management system in SMEs in China accordingly, aiming at providing help for the human resource managers in SMEs.

Although the relation between the organizational learning capability, organizational innovation and performance has often been studied, there is little empirical evidence to support this perspective in small and medium-sized enterprises. This study aims at analyzing the influence of organizational learning capability in innovative performance and organizational performance of small and medium-sized enterprises. The research was conducted under the quantitative approach, descriptive and causal, and cross-sectional survey. The sample was composed of 92 enterprises in the textile industry. The data were analyzed through the technique of Structural Equation Modeling. The results show that the organizational learning capability influences the innovative performance of small and medium-sized enterprises, however, the influence of the learning capability in organizational performance was not significant. The study provides evidence for these relations and shows that they are significant and positive in the context of small and medium-sized textile enterprises, context in which the empirical literature is particularly scarce. For future research it is suggested to evaluate contingency factors for innovative and organizational performance. Other studies could analyze the differences in innovation between manufacturing and service sector.