Small And Medium Research Articles

Islamic Human Capital and Firm Performance: An Evidence of Small and Medium Enterprises in Bahrain

This paper discusses on the human capital concept in Islamic perspectives and its relationship with business firmperformance. There are emphases of Islamic principles on every well-known variables of human capital inconventional views. Muslims owner-managers seem to overlook and forget the importance and valuableelements of Islamic human capital which they rarely adopt in their business operations. Four variables ofexperience, motivation, business training and education are tested using the multiple regression analysis inrelation with firm performance. The study approach is evidence-based positivism and employs quantitativedeductive hypotheses testing methods. The sample size (N) is 140 Muslims’owner-managers of small andmedium enterprises randomly picked from Bahrain. It is found that the three variables of experience, motivationand training are have significant relationship with firms’ growth, while another variable (education) hasinsignificant relationship. This findings may add knowledge to the small and medium firm performanceliterature especially in Islamic views, help policy makers in their decision making and assist theowner-managers to improve their performance.

Use of Gliricidia sepium as a Nurse Plant to Reforest Man-made Grasslands in the Knuckles Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka

Biodiversity richness and socially beneficial watershed services are high in the KnucklesForest Reserve. However, the lower montane forest patches on the eastern slopes of the KFRare highly fragmented mainly due to anthropogenic disturbances. If these forest fragments arenot connected in the near future, they will disappear from the landscape due to their lowregeneration rates. Native tree species when used for restoration of these lands faces manydifficulties due to various biotic and abiotic stresses including harsh microclimatic conditionsand infertile soils. Therefore, usage of a nurse plant will facilitate the growth of target speciesdue to creation of favourable microclimatic conditions. Gliricidia sepium has been used as ashade plant in Sri Lanka, since colonial times. More recently it has been used for indigenousfarming practices, soil stabilization, living fences and as fuel wood, animal forage, greenmanure. In our research we investigate the potential of G. sepium as a nurse plant to establishfour native tree species on man-made grasslands in central Sri Lanka. The study wasconducted on four blocks of grasslands. Four replicates of each of the three island sizes(small 4 m2, medium 16 m2, and large 64 m2) were created inside each block. One set ofislands in each block were planted with G. sepium stakes at 2 m intervals in a grid format.The other set of islands in each block was kept as a control without planting G. sepiumstakes. Seedlings of Macaranga indica, Bhesa ceylanica, Symplocos cochinchinensis andEugenia bracteata were planted randomly in islands with and without G. sepium stakes.After three months of establishment, the survival rate of G. sepium in the four blocks wasmore than 80% and the survival rate of the G. sepium was 20% higher in the small andmedium islands than the large islands. The mean number of sprouts per stake was more thaneight in medium and large islands and less than six in small islands. The mean survival ratewas higher (5.8%) and the mean growth rates was lower (0.006%) for all the four nativespecies with G. sepium than without G. sepium after three months of planting. G. sepiumincreased the survival rates of native species after three months of establishment due tofavourable microclimatic conditions created by them. However, growth rate of the nativespecies which were planted with G. sepium was lower probably due to interspecificcompetition. Therefore, G. sepium can be used as an effective nurse plant in initial phases ofreforestation programmes to increase the survival rates of native tree species on degradedsubmontane sites in Sri Lanka.

Les émissions obligataires des PME et ETI allemandes : entre Mittelstand et junk bonds

Cet article traite des emissions obligataires des PME et ETI allemandes dont on observe une croissance importante sur la periode 2008-2012. Ces emissions se caracterisent en particulier par des charges financieres elevees relativement au credit bancaire. Les caracteristiques economiques et financieres de ces emetteurs suggerent qu’ils sont plus susceptibles d'etre financierement contraints que les entreprises comparables n’emettant pas d’obligations. Cet effet est plus marque lorsque la motivation principale de l’emission est le refinancement de la dette, suggerant qu’une partie des emissions est le fait d’entreprises exclues du credit bancaire. Ceci conduit a s’interroger sur le risque de ces obligations. L’etude des rendements actuariels fait en effet clairement apparaitre une frange fortement speculative sur ce marche.Classification JEL : G10, G23, G32, L25.

Multicriteria Analysis for Improving the Innovation Capability in Small and Medium Enterprises in Emerging Countries

In this paper we describe an analytical model to determine the innovation capability of a small and medium enterprise (SME) as the first step towards the continuous improvement of performance in such a dimension of an organization. The model first assesses organizational variables and classifies companies by using the Flowsort? multicriteria method. As second step, the classification module categorizes SMEs into four classes of companies: passive, reactive, proactive, proactive. From this sorting and the subsequent analysis of the variables measured by the survey, it is determined the set of best management practices for innovation that the company needs to implement in order to increase their level of performance. The application of the model to nine companies in Chile is shown along with numerical results. Evaluations show that the classification is consistent with expert judgment and that effectively identifies those areas that contribute most to the increase of the innovation capability in the SMEs.

LOCUS OF CONTROL, INNOVATION, PERFORMANCE OF THE BUSINESS PEOPLE IN THE SMALL BUSINESS AND MEDIUM INDUSTRIES IN SOUTH SULAWESI

Locus of control has been seen as an important factor in boosting the business performance.Beside, it can also be used as the trigger to enhance the business survival. However, so far,there has no any study especially analyzing this factor in a specific situation such as in Smalland Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The research aims tries to analyze the influence of Locus ofControl, innovation ability on the performance of small medium industry in south Sulawesi.Practically, this research was conducted using survey with purposive sampling on industrialSmall and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in South Sulawesi, then conducting a clustering onfour regions in northern, southern, eastern, and western areas which were centralized inMakassar municipality. The data were collected by interview and questionnaire to 200 industrialSME owners. Technical analysis data run by use of Structural Equation Model (SEM).The result in, points out that by reinforcing potential Locus of Control can stimulate the increasingof Innovation, and increases the performance of SMEs industry. The reinforcementof Locus of Control can be conducted by increasing memory ability, innovation ability, andPerformance, in terms of employee productivity, ability, and skill.

Entrepreneurial orientation and the growth performance of small andmedium enterprises in Southwestern Nigeria

The paper examined the nature and strength of the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and its dimensional variables – innovativeness, risk-taking, and proactiveness – and their effects on the growth performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Southwestern Nigeria.The data for the study were collected from primary and secondary sources. The data generated were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Principal component analysis was employed in identifying important factors that contributed to EO. Furthermore, parametric and non-parametric relational statistics and linear regressions were adopted in explaining the relationship and their effect on the performance of SMEs.The study showed that the growth performance of the SMEs in Southwestern Nigeria is generally poor and the EO is positively related to performance. The relationship between EO and growth performance of a firm is not unidirectional but dynamic.

Leadership Styles and Job Satisfaction among Employees in Small and Medium Enterprises

Investigation into the relationship between leadership styles and job satisfaction among employees in small andmedium enterprises in Nigeria is the main focus of this research. The research used survey design to gather datafrom one hundred and fifteen employees from the small and medium enterprises.The study utilized simple randomsampling techniquesand data was collected using a questionnaire that required respondent to rate their level of jobsatisfactions as well as their “leaders” leadership styles using a five point scale likert type. The result of correlationanalysis revealed that the entire leadership styles items are statistically significant at .05 level of significance, alsothe result of descriptive statisticsindicates transformational leadership styles has the most commonly usedleadership styles in the small and medium enterprises in Nigeria.Transformational leaders are needed insmall andmedium scale enterprises in Nigeria to be able to achieve the mission, objectives and goals for the development ofthis enterprisein the country.

A disponibilidade da força de trabalho e sua relação com os serviços de alimentação: a percepção dos gestores de bares e restaurantes de Campinas-SP

The objective of this paper is to analyze the perception of managers of bars and restaurants in Campinas--SP regarding the availability of workforce professional of waiter. The surveyed are associated with theConvention & Visitors Bureau of the county and the procedure adopted was qualitative and quantitative.Representatives of the tourism trade directed an initial descriptive and exploratory research. Then, ma-nagers of bars and restaurants opined with specific questionnaire (Likert scale) and the resulting con-tents subjected to tests for validation and calculation based on Cronbach’s α coefficient. In the analysis,the results were presented as frequencies and stratified by type of business, with emphasis on small andmedium enterprises (SME ́s). It is suggested a revision in the form of relationship between employer andprofessional waiter as there is evidence of instability. The results are associated with the economy in thelabor market, social and professional position to which the waiter holds, under the perception of managers. DOI: 10.12660/oit.v7n4.11711 http://dx.doi.org/10.12660/oit.v7n4.11711

Towards the integration of sustainable infrastructure into the existing built environment

The construction sector in the United Kingdom is dominated by small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) which have less than 250 employees and usually do not have research capacities to develop a range of low carbon innovations applicable in the construction sector. Various European and national funding programmes have addressed this problem by providing funding for research collaboration between universities and SMEs. The paper provides a selection of the outputs of academic/industry research, undertaken by seven Scottish universities through the project CIC Start Online from September 2009 until February 2013, related to low carbon planning, building design, technologies, construction, refurbishment and performance. The studies either contributed to the further development of existing products or processes, or tested new products or processes, often developed for a specific project with a potential for application in future projects. Online dissemination of the project outcomes has assisted in attracting membership across Scotland, the United Kingdom and internationally. Along with the low carbon building products and technologies, new low carbon infrastructure is being planned and developed in order to provide connections and services for energy generation from renewables, energy storage and decentralised distribution, water management (harvesting, saving and reuse), waste management (reduction, reuse and to-energy), transport (electric vehicles, cycling and walking) and information communication technology (ICT) for monitoring and managing infrastructure systems. The second part of the paper outlines how innovations for integration of sustainable infrastructure into the existing built environment will be supported through the follow-on joint project of nine Scottish universities, named Mainstreaming Innovation.

An analysis of marketing mix elements in the business of small and medium enterprises dealing with NWFPs in the statistical region of Belgrade

Non-wood forest products (NWFPs) appear as a raw material base for a range of final products used in the pharmaceutical industry, food industry, etc. In addition, along with the expansion of organic production, the importance of the NWFPs market has drastically increased, both at the regional and international levels. The aim of this paper is the analysis of selected marketing mix elements (product, price, promotion and distribution) in small and medium enterprises engaged in the purchasing, processing and marketing of NWFPs in the statistical region of Belgrade. The purpose of this research is to highlight the potential of NWFPs in commercial terms, on the basis of the knowledge obtained. The research object is the volume of purchase and marketing of the most important NWFPs in domestic and foreign markets. The research is based on a time series analysis through trend formulation, as well as the analysis of the selected marketing mix elements. An increase in the purchase of raw products can be observed over a six-year period, as a result of the enhancement in the purchase of forest fruits, while the purchase volume of other products remains largely the same. When product placement on the domestic market is concerned, an increase in the purchase of products can be observed, particularly in the last three years of the observation period, as a result of the increased placement of forest fruits on the market, while other products are subject to less fluctuation. The most common products in the statistical region of Belgrade are medicinal herbs, forest fruits and mushrooms.

Az innovatív kis- és középvállalkozások finanszírozása kockázati tőkével

Closing the gap between the USA and EU venture capital market size is crutial for european innovative small and medium sized companies. As the financial crises started in 2008 weekend the possibilities for external capital, the role of venture capital financing is revaluated. The study analyses the similarities and differences in the legal rules of venture capital fund raising and financing revised by the USA's Dodd-Frank Act, and the European AIMF-directive. The study also suggest the changes in connection with the European Commission's prepared document on the European Venture Capital Fund, and it's effects on the innovative small-and medium sized companies. The conclusion is that the new rules of venture financing both in the USA and Europe sets up significantly more administrative difficulties for funds, but more stability and safe for entrepreneurs.

Analiza elemenata kvaliteta usluga u korporativnom bankarstvu

Customer orientation in the last couple of years has been experiencing an expansion in many service-based organizations including banks. The needs of financial services users are dynamically changing, making it necessary for banks to be oriented towards developing long-term relationships with their clients in order to become and remain profi table. The main objective of this research is aimed at studying attitudes of corporate clients – small and medium enterprises – on different elements of the service quality delivered by a banking institution. The results of the conducted study emphasize three key elements of a service offer in corporate banking, including, respecting and understanding a bank’s clients, professionalism and image. Such findings additionally confirm the necessity for modern banking institutions to embrace the concept of tight cooperation with clients, only possible if they are truly committed to the marketing orientation in their everyday business.

Examining the Relevance of Emotional Intelligence and Organizational Commitment among Employees of Small and Medium Enterprise in Private Sector

The relevance of emotional intelligence and organizational commitment is tested among 142 employees of smalland medium enterprise (SME) in private sector in Iran. The results indicate that there is a significant relationshipbetween emotional intelligence as an overall construct and organizational commitment. Strong and positiveinfluence of self management and social awareness as two competencies of emotional intelligence onemployees’ obligation to the organization is found. Meanwhile, positive but not significant impact of selfawareness and relationship management as two abilities of emotional intelligence on employees’ organizationalcommitment is educated. Therefore, due to lack of financial resources and support for private sectororganizations in Iran, the results have a great implication for SMEs in private sector to prevent from wastingtheir financial resources by hiring individuals who are more emotionally intelligence that would result in higherlevel of organizational commitment.

Cultura Inovadora na Pequena e Média Empresa

Nas últimas duas décadas a inovação tem se mostrado um dos principais motores do crescimento econômico. A inovação está intimamente relacionada com criar valor e gerar riquezas por meio do atendimento bem sucedido às necessidades do consumidor. Dessa forma, ela não está necessariamente restrita à utilização de novos conhecimentos obtidos pela pesquisa, mas sim, ao desenvolvimento de novos produtos ou serviços que são obtidos com a utilização criativa de conhecimentos, novos ou já conhecidos. Esse trabalho teve como objetivo identificar as práticas gerenciais que promovem a cultura inovadora em pequenas e médias empresas e analisar como elas contribuem para a capacidade de inovação dessas empresas. O método de pesquisa foi o estudo de casos múltiplos com seis empresas de pequeno e médio porte que possuíam pelo menos um caso de inovação relevante em sua história. Os principais resultados apontam que entre as práticas se destacam: a) atuação em nichos altamente especializados e foco profundo nas necessidades do cliente; b) forte investimento e incorporação de novos conhecimentos fora da empresa (inovação aberta); c) rapidez e agilidade na absorção e implantação de novos conhecimentos e tecnologias; d) retenção de colaboradores; e) atuação como integradora conjugando diversos conhecimentos e tecnologias; f) gestão da informação dos conhecimentos adquiridos pela empresa; g) pouca preocupação em patentear a tecnologia; h) flexibilidade e comunicação informal, fluida e aberta entre os colaboradores da empresa o que promove a agilidade na gestão; e i) a gestão de parcerias em toda a cadeia de valor, incluindo as áreas funcionais.DOI:10.5585/gep.v2i1.34

Developing Small Business Entrepreneurs through Assistance Institutions: The Role of Industrial Development Centre, Osogbo, Nigeria

The purpose of this study is to determine how assistance institutions are contributing to the development of smalland medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria, with special reference to Industrial Development Centre (IDC),Osogbo, Nigeria. Survey research was used in order to carry out the study. Three hundred and forty (340)respondents from university students, trade union congress and private entrepreneurs in Nigeria were sampled.Four research questions were generated from the literature review, questionnaire on developing small businessentrepreneurs through assistance institutions, and the responses elicited from respondents were numericallyquantified, tabulated and analyzed using the Likert Scale. The analysis showed that assistance institutions inNigeria, especially IDC, have really contributed immensely to the promotion of small and medium enterprises aswell as entrepreneurship development generally. The paper also looked into some problems confronting SMEs inthe developing nations like Nigeria. Based on the findings, it is recommended that efforts should be made tocommercialize the products of IDC so as to meet the demand of the people, and special fund should be set asideto encourage entrepreneurs who may be financially handicapped after training on SMEs development.

Manufacturing practices and performance

PurposeThis exploratory study aims to investigate relationships of current manufacturing practices and their performance with the size of the manufacturing organizations. The study also seeks to identify the practices that significantly influence their manufacturing performance.Design/methodology/approachRelationships of current manufacturing practices and their performance are investigated using established scales including competitive advantage, quality and reliability practices, advanced quality practices, supplier relationship, field data and information exchange, product data management, manufacturing performance. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA and regression model were used in order to fulfil the objectives of the study. The survey was administered to top managers across the manufacturing industry.FindingsThe results of the study indicate that there are significant differences in the strategic approach of small and medium (SMI) and large industries (LI). In terms of manufacturing performances, SMIs are marginally ahead of large industries (LIs). SMIs consider product quality and reliability as a basic competitive advantage, while LIs consider company reputation as the import competitive dimension.Research limitations/implicationsPossibility of method variance or response biases are limitations of this study, as all data are drawn from employee surveys, and there is some selection bias, as it was not possible to directly compare respondents with non‐respondents.Originality/valueThis study makes a significant contribution to the manufacturing practices and performance literature by providing further statistically significant evidence of the relationships of current practices and performance across the size of industries.

Analysis of marketing mix elements of non-wood forest products in central Serbia

Demand for high-quality products of biological origin has been increasing, in accordance with changes in objectives of forest management, which are caused by socio-economic development. Although non-wood forest products (NW?FPs) have been collected and used for generations, only in recent decades their importance has been recognized. The aim of this paper is to analyze marketing strategies of companies involved in processing and distribution of NWFPs. Due to the specificity and comprehensiveness of the problem, the various general and specific methods and techniques, which are used in the study of marketing elements, have been applied. A?WOT analysis was applied in order to better interpret results of SWOT analysis. The survey was conducted among small and medium enterprises dealing with NWFPs in central Serbia. Conducted research determined the most important final products, prices, types of promotion and structure of distribution channel.

Trade union rights in Romania during the economic recession

REPORT□ FINANCIAL CRISIS Trade union rights in Romania during the economic recession As a condition fora 20 billion euro loan Romania has implemented austerity measures including25 percentwage cuts AURORA TRIF Islecturer In Human Resource Management atDublin City University Business School In Ireland It global unions is hardly face economic major surprising challenges recession. that during Romanian In 2009, therecent trade the unionsfacemajorchallenges during therecent global economic recession. In 2009, the Romanianeconomy experiencedone of the sharpest annualcontractions withitsGDP falling by 7.1 percent.The RomanianGovernment is relying on a 20billion euroloanfrom theIMF, EU andtheWorld Banktoresurrect theeconomy. In orderto getthisloan,thegovernment agreedto introduce austerity measuressuch as thereductionofpublicsector wagesby25percent inadditionto 15 percent cutbacks on socialbenefits as wellas a significant reduction in thepublicsectoremployment . These austerity measureswere contestedby tradeunions.According to some commentators, theunilateral decisionofthegovernmentto introducethe austerity measures breachedtheprovisions of thecollective agreements ,the Labour Code and the Romanian Constitution. Recent changes inthe situation oftrade unions Tradeuniondensity is estimated tobe around33 percent, whichis above theEU average.Union membership decreasedfrom around90 percent in theearly1990s,butithas been rather steady in the2000s.In contrast to otherEU countries, tradeunion density was higherin the private manufacturing sectors thaninthepublicsector at thebeginning ofthelastdecade. According to a EuropeanFoundation study, in2002,tradeunion density was over75 percent in extractive industries , themetal working industry andinthechemicalsindustry , compared withonly30 percent in publicadministration. This reflects thefactthat manypublicservants did nothave theright to form a tradeunionuntil 2003. The 2003tradeunionlaw recognises therights ofall workers to establish and jointradeunions except high-level government officials, public prosecutors andjudgesandprofessional soldiers. Thisresulted innewunionsbeingestablished in the public administration sector,such as the National TradeUnionof Police and Contractual Personnel, whichnegotiated and concludedits first collective agreement in 2007.The 2003law retainsthe requirement of a minimum of 15 members to form a union,buttheydo nothave to be from thesame enterprise as theprevious law stipulated. This change was expected to boost union recruitment in smalland medium sizedfirms, butithas notyethad anysignificant effect. In 2007,theEuropeanFoundation reported thatuniondensity in theprivate sectorwas declining, whileitwas increasing in thepublic sector. According to the union leaders,one of the majorconsequencesoftheeconomicrecession is themassivedecreasein unionmembership due tojobcuts.Forinstance, around15percent ofthe labourforcein railway sectorwas made redundant in 2009 and 2010, manyof whom were union members.The decrease of fee paying members as wellas thecostsassociated withthe organisation of severalprotests in the lasttwo yearshave weakenedthe financial situation of thetradeunionsand theircapacityto organise further protests. Additionally, thepositions held in thecompanyby thelocal unionactivists are often targeted during therestructuring processof thepublicsectorinstitutions toweakenthetrade unions. In the privatesector,many foreign investors refuse todealwithtradeunions, particularly intheretail sectorand thehotelindustry. Sincethe1990s,there havebeen fivenationally representative trade union confederations whichhavetheright tonegotiate national collective agreements. The largestconfederation is CNSLR-Frätia, followed byCNSCartel Alfa, BNS, CSDR and Meridian. Despitesomepolitical divisions betweenthe confederations, therehave been a number ofattempts to establish a much moreunified unionstructure. The latestattempt to mergefourout of the fiveconfederations (except CNS CartelAlfa)was in 2007, but it resultedin a ratherloose alliance between CNSRL-Frãtia, BNS and Meridian. However,all theunionconfederations expressed strong oppositionto the austerity measuresand the recent changesinthelawregarding thepaysystem and therestructuring ofthepublicsector. The impactofeconomic recession on trade unionrights Whilethefreedom ofassociation intradeunions and the right to strike have not been severely affected by theeconomicrecession, therehave been majorconstraints on the right to bargain and theimplementation ofcollective agreements inthepublicsector. Theprovisions ofthecollective agreementsin the public sector agreed betweentradeunionsand the government for 2009and2010wereviolated bynewlawsregardingthereorganisation ofpublicsectororganisations (Law 329/2009) and theunitary paysystem for public sector employees(Law 330/2009). Basedon thenewlegislation, in2009,publicsectororganisations werelegally required to reduce personnel expensesby 15 percent, primarily by compulsory unpaidleaveup to 10working days. The government startednegotiations withthe tradeunions about the unpaid leave, but no agreement was achieved and the government INTERNATIONAL limon rights Page 16Volume 17Issue 3201 0 imposeditthrough a new law. Additionally, the reorganisation measuresstipulated in the new legislation envisaged massive job cuts(around25 percentof the 1.4 millionemployees),which werenotnegotiated withtradeunions,despite theprovisions oftheLabourCodewhichrequires managers to negotiate withtheunionson issues regarding collective redundancies of morethan fiveemployees. Severalpublicsectorunionfederations started coordinating their actions and 11 ofthem formed a new organisationnamed the Alliance of Budgetary Employees to protest against worseningtheemployment conditions oftheir members. The new alliancerejectedthe law's provisions compelling publicentities toreducetheir personnelexpensesby 15 percent a month. Theyalso refused to takepartin thedebatesofthesocial dialoguecommittees, whose agendas included theapplication ofthenewact.Also,theyorganised a number of protests, including a general strike in October2009-Around750,000public sectoremployeeswere involvedin...

ANALISIS OMSET DAN POSISI BERSAING PADA KLASTER USAHA KECIL MENENGAH (UKM) SEPATU KOTA MOJOKERTO

This articles describes about turnover and competitiveness position of footwear smalland medium scale enterprises (sme’s) at Mojokerto, East Java Province. SME’s clus-ter approach is used to get the full maps of the ptroblem and policies that are needed.Development of small and medium scale enterprises is plays a crucial role for localeconomic development. This article is important because there are thousands of foot-wear small and medium scale enterprises in Mojokerto.Keywords: small and medium scale enterprises, local economic development, clus-ter

Growth of steel-tube production

Russia has seen a stable increase in the production of steel tubes in recent years, with the output of these products reaching 7,898,000 tons in 2006 and 8,706,000 tons in 2007. The trends in the use of the various types of steel tubes remain the same as in previous years: the demand for small-and medium diameter welded pipes is decreasing, while increases are seen in the use of welded large-diameter pipes and seamless pipes that can be used to extract and transport oil and gas; seamless pipes will continue to be displaced by welded pipes, with the production of the latter now accounting for 58% of all tubular products being made. In the next few years, Russian manufacturers will be busy modernizing their equipment and introducing new facilities for the production of quality semifinished products and finished tubes meeting world standards. The future of the Russian tube industry lies both here and abroad. As much as 25% of its products are already being exported, and Russia’s leading position in terms of its reserves of oil and gas, the long distances that oil and gas must be transported, and the fact that several large pipeline projects are already under way also make the prospects for growth in the domestic market quite promising.