Medium Entrepreneurship Research Articles

Small and Medium Entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and Its Role in Reducing Unemployment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) account for 60 to 70 percent of jobs in most OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries with a particularly large share in Italy and Japan, and a relatively smaller share in the United States. Throughout; they also account for a disproportionately large share of new jobs, especially in those countries which have displayed a strong employment record.In Saudi Arabia, more than two-thirds of the population are younger than 30 and about 100,000 graduates enter the job market each year. The present paper discusses what measures should be taken and highlights the importance of understanding the relationship and interaction between unemployment and entrepreneurship. The present research focuses on studies that explain small and medium-sized entrepreneurship and its role in reducing unemployment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches are used to collect data that may contribute to a better understanding of the employment issues of Saudi young men and women. Besides; we introduce entrepreneurship Survey Questionnaire; this survey has focused mainly on understanding the relationship and interaction between unemployment and entrepreneurship. In this survey, a more balanced view is taken by examining the factors which contribute to creating more job opportunities.

Management of employee’s voice in the context of changing economic market relations: a case of Kazakhstan

This paper addresses the key aspects of project management of organizational performance in the context of changing economic market relations and seeks for an alternative approach to fill the representation gap. Employee’s voice is chosen as the case of organizational performance, as it is important in many ways. In this context, key question is whether partnership mechanism could help labor union revival and increase mutual gains outcomes. In order to address the issues, first of all, the paper reviews the concept of employee’s voice, the features of direct communication, and representative participation, including consultation and partnership. Next, it explores the recent evolution of industrial relations in Kazakhstan and explains why the representation gap is important. Then it looks into the real business case study of the National Railway Company Kazakhstan to understand the features of partnership. The conclusion suggests that there is a need for a mix of direct communication and representative participation to fill the representation gap effectively, and partnership could be an effective mechanism to establish the cooperative industrial relations. AcknowledgmentThis paper was written within PhD project “Barriers and solutions to small and medium entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan” (Ayana Zhaxylykova, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University).

Impact of vat raise on Russian economy

The entire taxation system works state-wise, being the primary source for the budget formation and treasury replenishment. Value added tax (VAT) plays a major role in the national economy. Thus, any manipulations on the tax will immediately affect the economy. VAT raise will adversely impact the economy and result in curbing the motivation of the society for entrepreneurial activity. Raise in the VAT rate may indirectly affect the collection of personal income taxes (PIT) and excise duties because of the higher pressure on the economy and escalation of inflation, lower effective demand and lower level of consumption due to rising prices. Tax novations may lead to serious consequences: increase in the tax burden, higher prices for the majority of goods and services, lower consumer demand, escalation of inflation, a worse situation in small and medium entrepreneurship, a slowdown in economic growth. Subject of the study is the value added taxation. Goal of the research is to prove the necessity and significance of the VAT hike. Methodology. The VAT rates in 2017 for European countries and Russia and indices of industrial production and business confidence were systematized.

Поддержка малого и среднего предпринимательства: субсидии из федерального бюджета в России и регионах

Поддержка малого и среднего предпринимательства: субсидии из федерального бюджета в России и регионах

Innovations for Business Management: Motivation and Barriers

The business sector represents one of the most important parts of the modern economy. It creates and secures most products and services, contributing to most of the sales tax revenues. Business development is not possible without creating a favorable business environment and suitable conditions for creating and entering new business into the market. This paper focuses on the evaluation of some business environment factors in starting a business. Attention is attended to the business environment and funding activities management, including the managerial assessment of proactive, innovative, and business-supporting activities. Besides, this study encompasses the issues of obstacles and barriers to starting a business. The interest of the article is to point out the state and problems in the field of start-up entrepreneurs and the importance of supporting motivational factors and removing barriers by improving the business environment. Methodological tools of the research are classical methods of science analytics, synthesis, and data selection. The basic heuristic approach consists of professional literature on the subject matter, and secondary sources obtained from European Commission, Eurostat – Flash Barometer, and the World Bank to monitor selected indicators of the business environment and SMEs in Slovakia, EU-27 countries, and the world. The primary information was represented with the questionnaire-based survey conducted throughout the Slovak Republic, in which a total count of 426 respondents participated. For hypothesis testing, the Friedman Test, Kolmogorov – Smirnov test, and Kruskal – Wallis test was used. The empiric results confirmed the significant differences between motivational factors for starting doing business. At the same time, there are still significant barriers to enter the business in Slovakia, which considerably limit the further development of doing business in Slovakia. The article provides recommendations for improving the business environment’s current status and entering into business in the Slovak Republic. Keywords: small and medium entrepreneurship, innovations, business barriers and opportunities, business management.

Organizational Business Model of State Franchising

The development of entrepreneurship in any country is inextricably linked with the participation of the state, without the intervention and support of which it is impossible to create a friendly institutional environment conducive to the development of entrepreneurial initiatives and entrepreneurial activity of the population. Small and medium entrepreneurship is the main driving force of the country's economic development throughout the world. The development strategy of the Russian Federation for 2018-2024 includes seven strategic priorities, some of which relate to the development of entrepreneurship and support for civic entrepreneurial initiative, the creation of a competitive economy in which government policy will be aimed at partnership with private business and reducing the direct participation of the state in the economy, and support of such socially important areas as health, education, social sphere, etc. In this connection, there is a need for s forms of the partnership of state and business structures in socially important sectors in order to attract small and medium-sized businesses. At the same time, a mechanism is needed to implement such a partnership, which should be based on a business model that will allow you to clearly understand the logical links and relationships. This paper describes the author's version of the configuration (template) of the business model of state franchising as a form of partnership between business and government. The basis is the canvas of the classic business models of Osterwalder-Pigneur and Ash Maurya. Special attention is paid to unfair (non-market) competitive advantage, which business receives. The described business model makes it possible to cover the partnership in general, concentrate on the main things, discover bottlenecks and interdependencies, contradictions and alternatives. Work within the framework of this business model gives a chance to significantly increase the efficiency of partners and to support socially significant areas of business.

Меры поддержки субъектов малого и среднего предпринимательства в приоритетных отраслях российской экономики в 2020 году

Меры поддержки субъектов малого и среднего предпринимательства в приоритетных отраслях российской экономики в 2020 году

МАЛОЕ И СРЕДНЕЕ ПРЕДПРИНИМАТЕЛЬСТВО В РАЗВИТЫХ СТРАНАХ: ОСНОВНЫЕ ОСОБЕННОСТИ РАЗВИТИЯ

In the article a detailed analysis of the small and medium entrepreneurship in the world economy is conducted. The objective reasons for the growth of the small and medium enterprises in the postindustrial society and the influence it realizes on the improvement of the competitiveness of the advanced economies are shown. On the basis of the vast statistical material is proved, that, as a rule, in the countries of the high socio-economic development the small entrepreneurship is effectively stimulated by the public structures. In the article the role of some methods of financial support for small and medium enterprises by the example of the certain countries is studied in details. Special attention is paid to the financial support of the small enterprises in New Zealand since it is the country that has been ranked first for a number of years in the “Doing Business” rating. Special attention in the article is paid to the US experience, because just this country for the researchers as well as for the practitioners is a role model in the field of the small entrepreneurship support. Special place is given to the analysis of the SBA (Small Business Administration) activity – organization, playing a key role in the functioning of small business in USA. In the article on the basis of the information presented the conclusions are made what methods of the small business stimulation could be realized in the Russian society.

Small and Medium Entrepreneurship: Ukrainian and World Experience

The article considers the concept of small and medium enterprises in the process of economic thought formation. The task of the work is to determine and analyze the state of small and medium business in Ukraine and abroad. For this, the definitions of foreign and national scholars are outlined and their own understanding of the term is formulated. A comparative and quantitative analysis of enterprises was conducted on the basis of data collected by the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, and a positive increase in enterprises for the period 2014-2018 was revealed. In addition, the main approaches to the division of enterprises into types according to different classification criteria due to the Ukrainian economic system and the standards of the European Union, which fundamentally differ from the division system in the United States, are studied. At the same time, the indicators of small and medium-sized enterprises of the USA and European countries are considered, that allows us to say that the largest percentage of the contribution to GDP belongs to the small and medium-sized enterprise sector. The described features of SMEs in comparison with other types of enterprises determine the importance of SMEs as a stable and self-sufficient sector of the economy which requires support from government regulation. The urgency of research on the topic of SMEs is primarily dictated by the need to summarize the previously studied layers of this topic, the emergence of new reforms and Ukraine’s desire to improve the economic system and bring it to the world level. Economic development depends not only on internal policy principles, but also on external factors influencing the state of the world economy. The beginning of 2020 made the leaders of the world community think about the principles of maintaining economic indicators during the trigger caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the collapse of oil prices, and therefore it is natural to implement programs to support small and medium enterprises during the global recession.

Modern methods of assessing creditworthiness of borrowers – small and medium business entities

The subject of this research is the methods of assessing creditworthiness of borrowers of small and medium business, which allow assessing the level of risk for the bank. The author examines the dynamics of lending to small and medium businesses over the last decade in the Russian Federation, and analyzes the level of bad debt in the small and medium business loans credit portfolio. Critical analysis is conducted on the modern Russian and foreign methods of assessing creditworthiness of borrowers belonging to small and medium business, as well as highlights their merits and flaws. The author concludes on the fact of absence of a universal efficient method of assessing creditworthiness of small and medium business in Russian practice, overlapping of most of the indicators in the examined approaches, accent on qualitative indexes of the assessment of creditworthiness, and presence of subjective factor in the methodologies. The scientific novelty consists in substantiation of the list of absolute and relative indicators with consideration of existing research on this topic, in order to form express assessment of the creditworthiness of small and medium business, the integral indicator of which can be gained on the bases of taxonomic analysis. Improvements to the methodology of assessing creditworthiness of small and medium business can jump start development of lending to entities of small and medium entrepreneurship.

Государственная политика, направленная на развитие среднего и малого предпринимательства в муниципальных образованиях

Государственная политика, направленная на развитие среднего и малого предпринимательства в муниципальных образованиях

Iraqi media entrepreneurs across social media: Factors and challenges

Influenced by digital technologies, the cost of media production has considerably decreased, and the traditional media is faced with new agile, flexible and low-cost media entrepreneurs. This article examines the dynamics of the Iraqi media market transformation with an emphasis on factors that help to merge media entrepreneurs and digital media firms that target an audience on social media. A qualitative method was adopted in this study using open, in-depth interviews with nineteen media entrepreneurs and three managers of media firms. The study revealed that relative freedom and advanced communication technologies have encouraged media entrepreneurs to drive the new media on producing short videos and broadcast them on social media, which has become popular among media consumers. This new era in Iraqi media entrepreneurship has created an abstract space in which media entrepreneurs get involved in the media market, collaborate with international media and deliver values through the use of user-generated content and flexible journalism. This opportunity is shaped by three key interrelated factors: first, the relative freedom of journalism that resulted from the political environment, current regulations and advanced communication technologies that provide more space of freedom; second, the development of communication technologies that allow journalists and media entrepreneurs to employ the media market effectively; third, the emergence of media entrepreneurs themselves who are convinced to seize the opportunities presented by the two previous factors.

Perceived representation of entrepreneurship in the mass media and entrepreneurial intention

The effect of the mass media on entrepreneurial intention has received little attention thus far. In addressing this gap, this study explores the influence on entrepreneurial intention of perceived social legitimacy of famous entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship in the media as well as perceived entrepreneurial skills learned through the media. Drawing on the theory of planned behavior, this influence is tested among 320 Spanish participants both directly and indirectly through the three components posited by this theory (i.e., attitudes toward entrepreneurship, subjective norms, and entrepreneurial self-efficacy). The results of partial least squares structural modeling revealed that positive attitudes and entrepreneurial self-efficacy mediated the social legitimacy – entrepreneurial intention and skills – entrepreneurial intention relationships, although subjective norms were not significant. Thus, while previous empirical evidence has indicated a direct link between these variables and entrepreneurial intention, the study of social legitimacy and perceived entrepreneurial skills may benefit from considering this robust theoretical framework. This study also offers practical implications. Television programs and other formats can be useful in entrepreneurship education as pedagogical materials. Additionally, when these programs are broadcast to the general public, it is advisable to test how they influence attitudes, subjective norms, and self-efficacy.

Barriers to Small and Medium Entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan: Qualitative and Quantitative Observations

Small and medium entrepreneurship is one of the determinants of the innovation economy, as well as the most important strategic resource for national development. The assessment of the efficiency and activity of small and medium entrepreneurship is carried out in a variety of ways. One of the tools that allows to position business entities in the system of integral economic coordinates is survey and ranks. A survey conducted by Kazakhstan Ministry of Economy, and National Economic Research Institute was evaluated by using SPSS software package (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) to examine the relative importance of different barriers that affect the growth and operational effectiveness of SMEs in the developing countries with transition economies like Kazakhstan. The SPSS analysis indicated that a lack of awareness about laws and programmes, a lack of easy access to financial resources, level of corruption in public administration institutions, and poor access to and the quality of human resources are found to be the most important barriers, which have reduced the development of entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan. The findings of this study will assist the policy makers in the economy to create an environment conducive to the growth and consistent outstanding performance of SMEs in any economy.

Utilization of Tofu Rounder Machine in the Small Medium Entrepreneurship (SME) of Tofu Chips in Galang, Deli Serdang Regency, North Sumatra

The service team of the Food Science and Technology Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture along with the Community Service Institute of Universitas Sumatera Utara has conducted service activities for partner which are SMEs of tofu chips in the Hamlet II of Pisang Pala Village, Bangun Purba District, Deli Serdang Regency, North Sumatra Province between May and October in 2018. The partner named Roemah of Al Fatih, which produces raw tofu from soybeans, fried round tofu, and tofu chips. The main problem faced by the partner that began production in 2016 was the difficulty when making spherical of tofu dough as the starting material for tofu chips. So far, the partner has carried out the process of rounding out the dough manually using hand which took a long time. The service team offered a solution by granting a tofu rounder machine from stainless steel using electrical energy. Furthermore, the service team tested the production capacity of the tofu rounder machine and the conventional method (using hand). For the quality of round raw tofu (specific gravity and appearance of the product) and the quality of tofu chips, the team analysed and compared both products which were produced by hand and by machine. The results obtained the use of the tofu rounder machine can increase the capacity of round tofu production significantly, improve the appearance of round tofu products to be denser, and increase the value of preference for the texture of tofu chips produced. The grant of the tofu rounder machine is expected to help the partner for working up the company's profits in the future.

Staying alive: entrepreneurship in family-owned media across generations

PurposeThis study provided a unique opportunity to analyze five generations of a small but continually evolving family-owned media organization with multiple media outlets operating across delivery platforms. The purpose of this paper is to identify variables that contributed to entrepreneurship and sustainability, holding the family business intact for more than 100 years.Design/methodology/approachThis study used organizational ecology in a qualitative case study to interview entrepreneurs from three of five generations. Additionally, current employees, family and friends, along with letters, cards, published articles and financial data were included in the analysis. Entrepreneurial themes based on organizational ecology were identified including variation, selection, retention, as well as values, innovation, service and adaptability.FindingsThe company in this study began with the purchase of newspapers and start-up of a news service in 1904. By the third generation, entrepreneurial initiatives included additional newspapers, as well as a television start-up. In the fourth and fifth generations, the company evolved into what the family termed a “media development company” with a mix of revenue platforms including electronic newspapers, websites, radio stations, live events and syndicated programs.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations included sample size and focus on the perspectives of family members. More research is needed to identify the struggles within the family media firm and the more troubling aspects of a family company as indicated in the literature and their possible downside to both employees and family members who work for the short term or long haul in smaller, family-owned companies.Practical implicationsSustainability of family-owned media organizations occurred through a balance of entrepreneurial activities and family values. Revenue flows resulted from adapting business models from selling advertising in local newspapers to providing funding and other support to local businesses gaining footholds. Market innovation, risk and community-minded solutions resulted in survival through stages of variation, selection and retention.Social implicationsFor family media companies to thrive, entrepreneurship and adaptability are key. Significant contributions to theory from this study indicated organizational ecology is a useful tool in analyzing the evolution of a media company through stages of variation, selection and retention. After almost 80 years of operation in the retention stage, the company started over in the variation stage with new products including radio, internet, live events and community business ventures. Timely diversification was key as media and community landscapes changed.Originality/valueUnique findings indicated sustainability came through a family-oriented approach to business that carried on throughout generations: a long-term view with a commitment to family values, the promotion of entrepreneurial opportunities for family and non-family members and an external focus as media development companies on the success of local businesses and communities in which they operated.

ISLAMIC BANKING REVOLUTION IN MALAYSIA: A REVIEW

Purpose of the study: The study aims to review the development of Malaysian Islamic banks from year 2008 to 2015 and its role in financing Malaysian economy.
 Methodology: The sources of data were collectted from Malaysian banks, the reviews of the experience of Islamic banks in Malaysia has been discussed, then this study analysed the roles of Islamic banks in the allocation of resources in the banking system. finally, this study explined the overall development of performance in Islamic banks in Malaysia.
 Main Findings and Novelty: The results of this study show that the Malaysian Islamic banks have contributed on the structure of the Malaysian economy; particularly in supporting the SME (small and medium entrepreneurship) industries as well the large projects, which create a good positive impact on Malaysian economy and became one of the main financial sources of Malaysian investment.
 Applications of this study: Achieving the required requirements for the success of the desired Islamic financial system such as adherence to ethical controls and behavior would reduce the problematic ethical risks and the risks of information asymmetry and emphasis on the importance of participations in the banking system and the need to adopt them.

CRM performance and development of media entrepreneurship in digital, social media and mobile commerce

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effect of CRM performance and technological innovation on performance of media entrepreneurs considering firm size.Design/methodology/approachThis is an analytical study used to empirically test the hypotheses proposed for SEM techniques using PLS and R packages. It used two steps in this way: the assessment of the outer model and the assessment of the inner model. Moreover, a bootstrapping method was employed to test indirect effects. Data were collected by distributing 127 questionnaires between the managers and deputies of active firms across Rasht, Iran.FindingsThe effect of CRM performance on SMEs performance development is partially mediated by media entrepreneurship. Moreover, the effect of technological innovation on SMEs performance development is mediated by media entrepreneurship. Furthermore, permutation test results indicated that there is no significant difference between small- and medium-sized firms.Research limitations/implicationsThis study used cross-sectional sampling method that can seriously limit result generalization. Therefore, conducting longitudinal studies is strongly recommended.Practical implicationsThe results of IPMA matrix indicated the serious importance of technological innovation, as a variable with the highest importance for SMEs performance development. Nevertheless, this variable has received the lowest importance in the studied population. Therefore, SMEs’ managers should pay sufficient attention to the concepts of “product innovations” and “process innovations.”Originality/valueThis study is of high importance in that it has adopted new and effective indices for statistical analysis. IPMA matrix, permutation test, CTA and FIMIX are examples. In addition, plspm and Matrixpls packages in R were used for the first time in this study.

Pathology of Media Entrepreneurship System in Entrepreneurship Development Institutions (Case Study: General Directorate of Technical and Vocational Education of Qom Province)

Pathology of Media Entrepreneurship System in Entrepreneurship Development Institutions (Case Study: General Directorate of Technical and Vocational Education of Qom Province)

Relationship of Human Resource Management Practices and Perception of Performance among the Employees of Selected Small and Medium Enterprises in the Kingdom of Bahrain

The aim of this research was to find the relationship of human resource management practices and Perception of performance among employees of selected small and medium enterprises in the Kingdom of Bahrain by studying the status of human resource management practices in terms of career planning, compensation and benefits, performance appraisal, training and development, and employee relations and then study the level of Perception of performance in small and medium entrepreneurship in the Kingdom of Bahrain in terms of productivity, flexibility and quality. Employee performance plays a major part in any organization, it is important to increase the productivity of employees; the population of the research are employees of small and medium enterprises in the Kingdom of Bahrain. A simple random sampling was used. The questionnaire was distributed to employees and then the data converted to excel sheet and then analysed using statistical package for social scientists (SPSS). The result shows there is a relationship between independent variables (statues of human resource management practices on employees’ performance) and dependent variable (level of Perception of performance).