Lebanese SMEs Research Articles

THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND SECURED WORKING ENVIRONMENT ON JOB SATISFACTION IN THE LEBANESE SMALL BUSINESS CONTEXT: THE MEDIATING EFFECT OF TRUST

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the impact of social working environment and secured working environment on job satisfaction in Lebanese SMEs, with a particular focus on the mediating effect of job satisfaction Theoretical Framework: A secure working environment is an essential aspect of the workplace that contributes to employee job satisfaction. A secure working environment is free from threats and hazards, and employees feel safe and secure while working. A secure working environment is vital in enhancing job satisfaction among employees. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study utilized a sample of 350 respondents working in SMEs in Lebanon and employed Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to test the hypothesized relationships between the variables Findings: The findings of this study revealed that both social working environment and secured working environment had a significant positive impact on job satisfaction. Specifically, a supportive and friendly social working environment and a secured working environment were found to be associated with higher levels of job satisfaction among employees. Furthermore, the study also found that job satisfaction partially mediated the relationship between social working environment and job satisfaction, as well as the relationship between secured working environment and job satisfaction. Research, Practical & Social Implications: This suggests that job satisfaction plays a crucial role in explaining the relationship between these variables. These findings have important implications for SMEs in Lebanon and other contexts. For example, employers should prioritize creating a social working environment that fosters teamwork, collaboration, and positive relationships among employees, as well as a secured working environment that prioritizes safety and security. These factors can significantly contribute to employee job satisfaction and overall well-being. Originality/Value: This research is original and unique and it contributes to the field of Lebanon.

Entrepreneurship and resilience: evidence from Lebanese SMEs

Entrepreneurship and resilience: evidence from Lebanese SMEs

The impact of accounting information systems on audit quality: the case of Lebanese SMES

This research examines the impact of accounting information systems (AIS) on audit quality in Lebanese SMEs. A sample of 123 respondents from Lebanese SMEs was used in the research. The data was collected through a survey questionnaire and analyzed using multiple regression analysis. The research findings indicate that AIS significantly positively impacts audit quality in Lebanese SMEs. Specifically, using AIS enhances the accuracy and reliability of financial information, improving the quality of the audit. In addition, the research reveals that several factors, such as the size of the SME, the level of internal control, and the level of accounting expertise, influence the effectiveness of AIS in improving audit quality. The results of this research have important implications for SMEs in Lebanon, as they suggest that using AIS can help improve audit quality and enhance the company's overall financial performance. Therefore, SMEs in Lebanon should invest in AIS to improve their financial reporting and enhance the quality of their audit. This research contributes to the literature on AIS and audit quality in SMEs, particularly in Lebanon. The findings highlight AIS's importance in improving audit quality and provide insights for SMEs in Lebanon to improve their financial reporting and enhance their overall financial performance.

REMOTE WORKING: A TREND OR A MUST?

The study of remote working's impact on the superior-subordinate relationship reveals that it is essentially creating a new model of the modern workplace. Considering the current worldwide pandemic caused by the COVID-19 disease, the need of teleworking has become even more crucial for companies' continued existence. We conducted our research on Lebanese SMEs because of how they have evolved over the last several years in light of local realities. Researchers utilized a method other than random sampling while studying 420 remote professionals. Most employees (70%) gave their complete and honest answers. The poll included respondents from different Small-Medium Enterprises. However, 83% of the respondents were female and 17% were male. Respondents' personal information was not given any consideration and their responses were kept anonymous. SPSS was used to analyze the collected data and generate results. Workers highly appreciate the support they get from their line managers and top management, which ties all three of these beliefs together. A global pandemic's influence on Lebanon's economy and workforce is felt by everyone, from CEOs and managers to employees. It is during these times that attention changes to workers, who would perform better if they were acquainted with the ways of their workplaces.

Effect of Currency Devaluation on Performance of Small and Medium Firms in Beirut, Lebanon

Currency devaluation refers to a deliberate and official reduction in the value of a country's currency in relation to other currencies. It can occur through various mechanisms, such as adjusting interest rates, intervening in foreign exchange markets, or implementing monetary policies aimed at reducing the supply of domestic currency. Currency devaluation can create financial challenges for SMEs. Financial institutions may be more cautious in extending credit due to increased risks associated with exchange rate fluctuations. Devaluation reduces the value of collateral assets, making it harder for SMEs to secure financing.  The research used the descriptive research design. The target population was 200 small and medium firms in Beirut, Lebanon.  The study did sampling of 150 participants that were chosen from the target population of 200 small and medium firms in Beirut, Lebanon. Questionnaires were utilized to gather data. In conclusion, the devaluation of the Lebanese currency has presented numerous challenges for these businesses, impacting their competitiveness, profitability, and sustainability. It is crucial for SMEs to understand the direct and indirect impacts of currency devaluation. Increased import costs, inflationary pressures, and reduced purchasing power have placed significant strain on SMEs. By recognizing these challenges, SMEs can develop effective financial management strategies and explore hedging mechanisms to mitigate currency risk. The study recommended that Lebanese SMEs should consider developing export-oriented strategies, including identifying new export markets, conducting market research, and adapting their products and services to meet international demand. By capitalizing on export opportunities, SMEs can diversify their revenue streams and reduce their vulnerability to the domestic economic challenges caused by currency devaluation. Keywords: Currency Devaluation, Performance, Small and Medium Firms, Lebanon

Motives, Valuation, and Pricing Analysis of Small and Medium Enterprises in Lebanon

The objective of this paper is to examine the acquisition processes and get an obvious and clear understanding to motives of buyers and sellers, valuation methods and its difference from the price. Data is collected from interviews, organized, described and used to answer the study questions. Concerning motives of acquisitions in Lebanese SMEs, many factors may trigger or not the business owners to resort to acquisition action for SMEs, where acquisition approach is motivated by enlarging of market power of the organization, and if the company is very profitable to buy and the low prices offered by sellers. The motives for acquisition are the low price of the company, the Profitability of the company, enlarging market share. Synergy and management agency don’t play a significant role in the acquisitions of SMEs in Lebanon. Furthermore, for Seller Company, acquisition can be affected by different motives as Personal circumstances, Good bid from buyer, Dissatisfaction within the company or if the Company is losing.

Competitive Advantage and Performance, The Role of Value and Rareness of Resources and Capabilities: The Case of Lebanese SMEs

This research aims to examine the competitiveness and the strategic behavior of the Lebanese SMEs, through their possession and exploitation of strategic resource-capability combination attributes. A sample of 285 Lebanese SMEs were obtained through the use of a survey questionnaire and the non-probability sampling to collect primary and quantitative data. The results show that for Lebanese SMEs, not all resources-capabilities are of equal importance when creating competitive advantage. They indicate that only organizational resource-capability combinations are considered as strategic assets and related to differentiation advantage, financial resource-capability combinations are only considered as strategic assets and related to cost advantage, and that cost and differentiation advantage are both related to performance.There were some problems concerning the data collection due to the fact that the Lebanese SMEs owners are not familiar with the research. In fact, this study may have positive implications on the Lebanese SMEs managers’ decisions, where this study can be considered as a guideline that will help them revise their strategic choices, behaviors, capabilities and resources, vis-à-vis of competition and to readjust their strategy if it does not work well. Indeed, the value of this research is that it is the first to empirically study the Resource-Based View in Lebanon from the Lebanese SMEs context, which is considered as suitable context, given its crucial contribution to the whole economy. It is one of the rare studies that reflects SMEs challenges and problems that inhibit them from improving their performance. Keywords: Value, Rareness, Competitive advantage, Performance, Lebanese SMEs DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/12-18-14 Publication date: June 30th 2020

The impact of training and development programs on employees performance: the case of Lebanese SMEs

The impact of training and development programs on employees performance: the case of Lebanese SMEs

Barriers to Innovation within SMEs in the Lebanese Food Industrial Sector

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the internal barriers to innovation faced by SMEs in the food industrial sector and their effect on product and process innovation in Lebanon. The methodology used in this study is a quantitative descripto explanatory method. A semi-structured questionnaire is employed. 311 fully completed questionnaires were collected. The study covers an existing gap in the literature on the barriers to innovation in the Lebanese industrial sector since no previous similar studies have been conducted in the country. The empirical analysis showed that not all the internal barriers found in literature are encountered by the Lebanese SMEs. Keywords: Small and medium-sized enterprises, product innovation, process innovation, internal barriers, Lebanese Food industry DOI : 10.7176/EJBM/11-30-02 Publication date :October 31 st 2019

A Road Map for Enhancing the Entrepreneurial Knowledge Potential of the Lebanese Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

AbstractSmall and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Lebanon constitute 90% of the country’s enterprises (Kheir 2017). The Lebanese SMEs’ entrepreneurial knowledge potential is not systematically developed to leverage the country’s SMEs with a competitive advantage. Thus, the purpose of this article is to analyse knowledge management processes and to show how their implementation can work as a road map for enhancing the entrepreneurial knowledge potential of the Lebanese SMEs. Using the comparative analysis method along with the scientific literature review, the article will highlight knowledge management implementation gaps that have to be considered by entrepreneurs while establishing their SMEs focusing on the positive outcomes after implementation.

Antecedents and Consequences of Presenteeism in the Lebanese SMEs

Purpose Based on review of literature it is found that presenteeism is one of the biggest management tests a business can face and the question that arises is to what extent does the perception of leadership style affects perceived intention to quit as mediated by perceived presenteeism, perceived work life balance and perceived job satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach Based on review of literature, the researcher developed an instrument that was concise and easy to understand. This instrument was undergone a robust process of development and testing. The content of the questionnaire was based on review of literature and after piloting, the construct validity of the Likert 5- points scale items was established using factor analysis. Most of the items were drawn from previously tested questionnaires in the literature but were modified to suit the Arabic culture. The psychometric properties of reliability were determined using Cronbach’s Alpha. The instrument was distributed to a large sample of employees working for different SMEs in Lebanon. Furthermore, the researcher depended on highly trained girls to conduct structured face-to-face interviews by visiting respondents at their homes and/or work. The sample size was determined using the statistical confidence formula. Findings Almost half of the respondents reported that they don’t perceive their leaders as role models that listen to employees or create a sense of community among them. Almost two thirds believe that employees in our country are trained to work under stress, demonstrate lack of loyalty and like to quit their job. Most employees still force themselves to go and be present at work even if they have health or non–health problems. Results show a weak negative correlation; perceived Intention to Quit decreases as level of perceived collaborative leadership, job satisfaction and presenteeism increase. Furthermore, it is highly recommended that decision makers at the surveyed Lebanese SMEs make presenteeism and job satisfaction a priority, because they are considered critical and highly important. What’s more, leadership is the first step in reducing employees’ turnover. Originality This article empirically tested structural equation model (path Analysis) within the context of leadership in a developing country.

Impact of ICT-based innovations on organizational performance

PurposeResearch has shown that information and communication technologies (ICT) are crucial for economic growth. The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework that would depict and examine the nature of the relationship between ICT use and organizational performance in the Lebanese market, taking into consideration the impact that innovation and corporate entrepreneurship may have on this relationship.Design/methodology/approachTo investigate the proposed model a survey targeting employees, and managers who adopted ICT applications in SMEs located in Lebanon was conducted.FindingsThe results indicate that ICT and innovation are strategic resources. However, their contribution to sustainable competitive advantage vitally depends on the implicitness and entrepreneurial behaviors of those involved. It is through this capability that ICT and ICT-based innovations could make a difference in organization’s performance – both present and future.Research limitations/implicationsFirst, the respondents were selected using the convenience sampling technique. Second, the data were collected through self-report questionnaires. Finally, the use of perceptual data related to performance may have a bias effect on the study results.Practical/implicationsAt the practical level, the study results have repercussions for managers, technology suppliers, and innovation adopters and managers, as this may contribute to better understanding of the factors that could influence the adoption, management, and use of ICT resources for enhancing the competitiveness level of the firm.Originality/valueThe results of this study have implications for ICT adoption in Lebanese SMEs. More importantly, they suggest a framework which depicts the relationship between ICT and the organization’s innovation level on one hand, and a company’s performance on the other, taking entrepreneurship as a mediator in this relationship.

SMEs Awareness of Global Performance Issues; Case of Lebanon and Romania

This article focuses on the awareness level of the Lebanese and Romanian SMEs to global performance concepts and subsequently social responsibility. It especially emphasizes the possible link between social performance and financial performance within the companies and thus advances the financial policy of SMEs, their socially responsible practices and reasons for this commitment to the search for a global performance. To this end, a quantitative method has been established based on data generated from a questionnaire sent to Lebanese and Romanian SMEs. This research has an exploratory aim. The observed sample of SMEs shows the theory or hypothesis in which the SMEs are inscribed. A larger number of SMEs would have improved the external validity of the results.

Towards an eventual three-dimensional equilibrium regarding Corporate Social Responsibility in Lebanese small and medium enterprises

This paper focuses on the integration of CSR in the SMEs' strategies and points out socially responsible practices of Lebanese SMEs looking for a three-dimensional equilibrium, economic, social and environmental, in their activities. To do this, a quantitative method has been established based on data collected from a survey sent to Lebanese SMEs. The sample of Lebanese SMEs shows the existence of certain socially responsible practices and also focuses on the SMEs' challenges to engage in CSR. It has also underlined the importance of standards and the role of networks in promoting CSR in Lebanese SMEs. Finally, this article will identify the conditions to promote learning about CSR and the commitment of Lebanese SMEs in CSR.