Small Companies Research Articles

Trends in the Implementation of Workplace COVID-19 Measures in Japanese Companies: A One-Year Prospective Cohort Study.

This study evaluated trends in the implementation of workplace measures against COVID-19 by Japanese companies. We conducted a prospective cohort study, using data from December 2020 and December 2021, with 13,419 respondents participating in the follow-up survey. We evaluated nine workplace measures against COVID-19 (e.g., encouraging mask-wearing at work) and used the McNemar test and the Chi-square test for trend in the analysis. Small-sized companies (1-9 employees) exhibited a significant increase in the implementation of all the measures, with a rate of increase ranging from 8.4% to 16.1% (P-value: <0.001). Medium-sized companies (10-49 employees) also showed significant improvements in nearly all the measures (rate of increase: 3.5% to 10.5%, P-values: <0.001 to 0.004), except for one specific measure. Larger companies (more than 50 employees) displayed a mixed pattern, with some measures increasing and others decreasing. A persistent gap was observed between smaller (fewer than 50 employees) and larger companies in the implementation rates of these measures. The findings revealed a positive shift in workplace measures against COVID-19 among smaller companies in Japan over 1 year, although gaps between them and larger companies persisted.

112 Promoting Physical Activity in Workplaces: The Integral Role of Well-being Management

Abstract Purpose The primary purpose of the research was to find out how employers in Finland support physical activity at workplaces and how physical activity is related to the management of well-being at work. In the new government program in Finland, physical activity is integrated as a part of developing work ability and well-being at work. Methods The Adults on the Move program conducted the Finnish barometer on physical activity at workplaces. The research was carried out by interviewing 300 employers representing five industries and 1100 employees. The role of the management practices on activity of worksite physical activity was analyzed using regression analysis. Indicators were formed from the data. Results In the barometer, questions were related to physical activity as well as to the management of well-being at work. The basic decisions of well-being management are setting the goal, making the plan, and deciding the responsibility of the supervisors. The results showed that the implementation of physical activity at workplaces is strongly linked to the quality of well-being management. When all three basic decisions of well-being management are implemented, the action to increase physical activity is carried out most effectively: • Most diverse task-specific physical activity solutions are in use, • Physical activity is taken into account in remote work, • Physical activity suppors recovery, • Physical activity is part of the cooperation with occupational health care, • Physical activity is included in supervisor coaching and training and further in personnel development discussions. Conclusions The level of well-being management is thus related to the implementation and diversity of physical activity at workplaces. Basic management decisions were more commonly made in large organizations. The management of small and medium-sized companies needs training on physical activity and well-being at work, so that the means of physical activity for the personnel would be optimal and high-quality. In this way, work ability and well-being at work are increased through physical activity. Funding Adults on the Move Program, Ministry of Education and Culture.

RUSSIAN RETAIL TRADE IN RUSSIAN FEDERATION: CURRENT STATE

The present paper contains a description of article the current state of the retail market in the Russian Federation. The main trends of the development of retail in Russia are shown. These trends include the growth of digital retail, the emergence of new retail formats adapted to the changing purchas-ing power of the population, the entry of federal retail operators into new regional markets and the acquisition of small retail companies by large chains. A major threat to the sustainable development of retail may be a shortage of labor, which requires a revision of the policies of retail companies in the field of personnel management.

Analysis of the Application of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (Utaut) in the Use of Linktree

Research Aims: Analyze the factors that influence the use of Linktree using UTAUT theory. This research analyzes Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Influence, and Facilitating Conditions, Behavioral Intention and Use Behavior in using Linktree by customers. Design/Methodology/Approach: This research examines construction companies that were founded in 2012. Researchers used a sample of 119 customers using Stratified Random Sampling. The analytical method used in this research is UTAUT. Research Findings: Findings show that Performance Expectancy and Effort Expectancy do not have a significant influence on Linktree's Behavioral Intention or Use Behavior. On the other hand, Social Influence and Facilitating Conditions have a significant impact on these two variables. Social Influence influences Behavioral Intention and Use Behavior due to recommendations and social norms received by users. Facilitating Conditions plays an important role in supporting the use of Linktree through the availability of adequate infrastructure and technical support. Apart from that, Behavioral Intention is the most significant factor in determining usage behavior. And the influence of Facilitating Conditions on Behavioral Intention is strengthened when mediated by Use Behavior. Theoretical Contribution/Originality: This research provides a theoretical contribution to the understanding of factors influencing the acceptance and use of new technologies in the context of small and medium-sized companies. Practitioners/Policy Implications: Companies should focus on practical benefits that customers gain, such as easy access to various important links on one page. And considering the significant social influence, marketing strategies must be reinforced with positive testimonials from satisfied customers. Research Limitations/Implications: Companies must focus on the practical benefits of using Linktree, strengthen social influence- based marketing strategies through customer testimonials and recommendations, and ensure conditions that facilitate use remain optimal with adequate infrastructure and technical support.

중소 수출 제조기업의 빅데이터 분석 역량이 공급망 회복탄력성과 공급망 성과에 미치는 영향에 관한 연구 - 기계/장비 산업을 중심으로

As the economic environment of the global market is rapidly changing, uncertainty is increasing, and technological innovation, as well as financial and human resources, are becoming important factors. In particular, small and medium-sized export manufacturing companies are building global supply chains to improve their competitive advantage, and big data analytics capabilities to collect and analyze manufacturing and import/export information have been raised as a way to solve these risks. Therefore, this study analyzed the influence of big data analytics capabilities on supply chain performance through logistics flexibility and supply chain resilience in the supply chain formation of small and medium-sized export manufacturing firms. The survey was distributed to small and medium-sized export manufacturing companies from January 3, 2024, to March 31, 2024, through face-to-face, email, mail, and fax, focusing on the list of member companies provided by the Korea International Trade Association, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the Smart Manufacturing Innovation Association, and the SME Technology Information Promotion Agency. More than 2,000 copies were distributed and 215 copies (21.5%) were collected, and 203 copies of the questionnaire were constructed after removing 12 non-response questionnaires. Based on the collected questionnaires, the analysis was conducted using SPSS Ver. 28.0 and the extension program Process Macro Ver. 4.2. The results of the empirical analysis of this study are as follows. First, big data analytics capabilities have a positive impact on supply chain performance. Second. big data analytics capabilities have a positive effect on supply chain performance through the mediation of logistics flexibility. Third, big data analytics capabilities have a positive effect on supply chain performance through the mediation of supply chain resilience. Fourth, big data analytics capabilities have a positive effect on supply chain performance through the dual media.

상사의 무례함이 감정고갈을 매개로 이직의도에 미치는 영향: 자아존중감의 조건부 간접효과

This study focused on supervisor incivility and its relationship with employee turnover intention in the context of increasing issues and related research on workplace incivility globally. Based on conservation of resources theory, we proposed and tested a hypothesis regarding the mediating effect of emotional exhaustion in the relationship between supervisor incivility and turnover intentions. Additionally, from the perspective of self-verification theory, we proposed and tested a hypothesis about the moderating effect of self-esteem in the relationship between supervisor incivility and emotional exhaustion. A survey was conducted with employees in large and small companies for data collection and a total of 331 questionnaires were used for hypothesis testing. Hierarchical regression analyses were performed to test the hypotheses, and the results supported all hypotheses. First, supervisor incivility was shown to positively reltates to employee turnover intention. Second, it was shown that supervisor incivility influenced employees’ emotional exhaustion, which in turn affected turnover intentions. Third, employee’s self-esteem was found to positively moderate the relationship between supervisor incivility and emotional exhaustion. This study verified the mediating effect of emotional exhaustion and the moderating effect of self-esteem. Particularly, the moderating effect of self-esteem from the perspective of self-verification theory has theoretical significance in that it help explain the results of provious studies in which the moderating effect in negative leadership situations was contrary to the hypothesis. The result showing that supervisor incivility can be more negative for employees with high self-esteem suggests the need to seriously recognize the problem of supervisor incivility and to take preventive measures in practice. In addition to theoretical and practical implications, future research issues were discussed.

Enhancing small and medium-sized businesses through digitalization

SMEs play an important role in all developed and developing countries contributing highly to employment, new business ideas, and the economy. However, owing to various challenges related to the modern digital environment and various limitations in terms of financial and technical capacities as well as digital literacy, there are numerous challenges that SMEs experience in improving their businesses’ performances through effective use of digital technologies. This research aims to examine the adopted trends of SMEs from Slovenia in the deployment of digital technology, the challenges they encounter, and the support they require in their digital evolution. Reacted firms mainly utilize traditional vehicles such as websites and teamwork platforms for online communication and presence. Nevertheless, utilization of such sophisticated digital tools as blockchain is still quite scarce because they are considered challenging to implement and applicable to a narrow range of industries. Variance analysis identifies differences in digitalization challenges between small, micro, and medium enterprises. Small companies confront greater financial constraints and require tailored support compared to larger SMEs, with a focus on improving employee digital competencies. While digitalization brings benefits like elevated processes and remote working, SMEs still struggle with differentiation and cultural changes.

Mediation of Knowledge Management on the Effect of Human Resource Management Practices to Innovation Capability

This study aimed to investigate the innovation capability in IT small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in depth, with a key focus on human resource management practices, and knowledge management. Nowadays, managers recognize the value of knowledge as an intangible asset which stimulates innovation in organizations. However, few studies examine the role of human resource management in fostering knowledge capability which eventually leads to innovation. For this reason, this paper investigates the impacts of knowledge management in the relationship between the policies and practices of human resource management and innovation. The study is empirically based on the primary data collected from 130 IT small and medium-sized companies that are registered to Haidian District, one of the most important information technology industry base areas of Beijing, China. Data obtained from questionnaires will be analyzed through the SPSS statistical packet. The General Linear Mediation Regression test is used to measure the significance of the mediation effect of knowledge management capability. This study suggests that the innovation capability of IT SMEs may come from many aspects, and there is a certain degree of uncertainty that requires further exploration and research.

The Impact of Strategic Orientations on the Born Globals’ Export Performance: An Ambidexterity Approach

According to international entrepreneurship scholars, the success of Born Globals (BGs) depends on their capacity to develop an organizational ambidexterity perspective, i.e. a dual function of simultaneous knowledge exploration and exploitation. In this respect, it has been pointed out that ambidexterity can be associated with the ability to balance the development of different strategic orientations (SOs), namely, entrepreneurial orientation (EO), market orientation (MO), and learning orientation (LO). While several authors have investigated the impact of MO, EO and LO on BGs’ performance, the results of such research are often inconsistent. Based on the resource orchestration view, we assume that the combined – rather than the single – contribution of resources and capabilities provided by EO, MO, and LO, ultimately result in a superior export performance. Such an indicator is typically adopted to evaluate international performance, especially for micro and small companies. More specifically, the study aims to verify the significance of dyadic (namely, MO*EO, EO*LO, and MO*LO) and triadic (MO*EO* LO) interactions of the SO typologies on BGs’ export performance. Moreover, the paper aspires to verify if some of these interactions are more relevant than others. We test our hypotheses on a sample of 100 Italian hi-tech BGs located inside a technological cluster near Rome through a longitudinal analysis. Our findings show that all the investigated interactions positively and significantly impact on the BGs’ export performances, independently of the adopted measurement variable. However, a certain type of hierarchy emerges among the different impacts of the investigated interactions among the three SO typologies.

IMPLEMENTASI ALGORITMA APRIORI UNTUK PENENTUAN STRATEGI PENJUALAN PAKAIAN BEKAS

Data mining is the process of analyzing data sets to obtain useful knowledge. The application of data mining has become something common in society, especially to support business activities and relationships. For small and medium companies such as used clothing stores, data cannot be said to be too much or too little every day. If the amount of sales transaction data is increasing, if it is not utilized as well as possible, it will only become data stored in the data warehouse so that it becomes ineffective. Therefore we need an application that can process large amounts of data sets in order to provide useful knowledge for users. Data mining applications using the Apriori algorithm make it easier to manage data processing as well as being used to analyze a collection of transaction data contained in the database. And the results obtained from implementing this data mining application are the level of relevance of products that have been sold which can assist users in making decisions.

Climate change adaptation in Norwegian businesses − Awareness, integration and barriers

Preventive measures adopted to protect buildings and infrastructure from extreme weather and natural hazard events may serve to mitigate extensive damage and thus avoid major expenditures to businesses and society. A survey of 1,001 representative companies across different sectors and regions in Norway reveals that most companies fail to prioritise the climate change adaptation of their buildings or infrastructure. Most respondents have not conducted risk assessments. The greatest focus is adopted by large companies, those that own their buildings and infrastructure, and businesses in the primary and energy sectors. Small companies, service sector businesses and companies that rent their buildings and infrastructure are the least well prepared. The largest perceived barrier to adaptation is costs, followed by a lack of knowledge and competence in the fields of climate change impacts and adaptation measures. The large majority state that they do not measure climate change adaptation at all. Less than 10 per cent use indicators or evaluate their climate change adaptation efforts. Survey results suggest that Norwegian businesses need stronger incentives and clearly defined responsibilities, combined with appropriate tools and guidelines relevant to the entire climate change adaptation cycle. These will include the performance of risk assessments, the tracking of their adaptation status, as well as the measurement and evaluation of their climate change adaptation actions with the help of indicators.

Developmental approach of safety in ergonomics/human factors: insights of constructed safety in six work environments

This article brings together works on the concept of constructed safety in ergonomics, carried out over the last twenty-five years. Firstly, we situate this approach to safety in relation to previously developed existing models (e.g. regulated and managed safety) with regard to the development of activity-centred ergonomics. We then present six research actions in activity-centred ergonomics from a selection of different fields, from small companies to the industry of the future in an international group: public works, hospitals, aeronautical industry, railway transport, agriculture, and chemical industry, in order to describe constructed safety applications. The results highlight that constructed safety is respectively raised by mutual knowledge between workers and management, collective decision making, collective reflexive work on safety rules, spatiotemporal articulation of the different safety sources, knowledge integration on pesticide exposure situations by designers and regulation, social regulation sustaining risk understanding and safety aspect involving a diversity of actors (workers, preventionists, managers, local residents and public authorities). By focusing on the analysis of actual safety practices in real work and real exposure situations, constructed safety aims to account for the way in which safety is deployed on a daily basis to meet production and health objectives. This understanding contributes to the design of safe work systems in a developmental way and to propose an operating model of constructed safety.

Analisis Perhitungan Harga Pokok Produksi Secara Tradisional Berdasarkan Pesanan Untuk Memperoleh Informasi Laba Rugi

This research aims to analyze traditional production cost calculations based on orders to obtain profit and loss information. As time goes by, many small companies still use traditional calculations of the cost of goods manufactured, but not according to orders, so these calculations are less accurate if used in the long term, which results in the profit and loss not being known for certain. Therefore, small businesses, especially the Kurnia Welding Workshop, should calculate the cost of production according to orders so that they obtain a profit or loss each year. The techniques used consist of observation, interviews and documentation. The results of this research show that the HPP calculation according to the Kurnia Las Workshop, especially for BOP and Non-Production Costs, is based on the owner's estimate, so the resulting HPP is less relevant and accurate. Determining the selling price according to the Kurnia Welding Workshop without calculating the cost of production first, is only based on the owner's estimate, which results in losses when the Kurnia Welding Workshop calculates the cost of production to produce a profit and loss report at the end of the period. Meanwhile, calculating the cost of production based on orders produces a HPP value that is smaller than the calculation for the Kurnia Welding Workshop because the costs are calculated according to the orders received. Meanwhile, in determining the selling price, it is calculated by adding the desired profit after calculating the COGS, so that when preparing the profit and loss report at the end of the period, the Kurnia Welding Workshop makes a profit.

Knowing the Impact of Efficient Social Media Marketing

Twenty-first century, people no longer make time to visit and socialize with each other. Through social platform, people can now remain disconnected while still being linked. In addition to this, “social media platforms like Facebook foster a strong bond between people and products, opening up several chances for advertising”. Similar to this, “other social media platforms like blogs provide a forum for posting comments on any event that has to be publicized and can be used as a promotional tool for both customer adoption and promotions”. This study article focuses on methods that can expand “the current social media's current use of viral marketing”. It can also aid in creating a “community that is robust enough to support your marketing efforts”. As a result of ‘social identity’ and ‘perceived value’, “Social Media Marketing efforts have an indirect impact on satisfaction, according to the analytical data”. Simultaneously, “social identity and perceived value have a direct impact on satisfaction, which in turn drives plans to continue, participate, and spend money”. Finally, “references for improving social media marketing are supplied based on the academic and managerial implications of the study's empirical findings”. According to the literature review, various contemporary consumers turned to social networks for peer guidance. Social media has encouraged consumer-to-consumer contact and made it easier for customers and companies to engage with one another. This study report sheds light on the internet-related literature and online shopper behaviour with regard to the use of online media in small companies. Study aims to pinpoint and examine the factors or behaviours that influence customers' decisions whether to follow or unfollow a specific Brand on social media.

The Effect of the RMAT Designation on Biotechnology Stock Prices, Drug Development Timelines and Outcomes: An Empirical Analysis

This research examines the impact of the U.S. FDA's Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation on biotechnology and small pharmaceutical companies, focusing on both stock price reactions and drug development timelines. The research employs an event-study methodology to analyze share price movements following RMAT announcements and evaluates the long-term product development outcomes for these companies. Findings reveal that while RMAT designation leads to an initial short-term stock price increase of approximately 8.11% within five days, this optimism diminishes over time, with long-term trends showing a decline in stock value. Furthermore, products under RMAT designation exhibited longer development timelines compared to non-RMAT therapies, raising questions about the designation's effectiveness in accelerating product availability. The study underscores the complex implications of RMAT for stakeholders, emphasizing the need for strategic planning and further regulatory refinement to better align short-term investor expectations with long-term product development realities.

Innovation and economic sustainability in small and medium-sized Latin American companies

Innovation and economic sustainability in small and medium-sized Latin American companies

Gestión de factores de riesgo psicosocial: estudio de caso en una mediana empresa salvadoreña

Psychosocial risk factors are anything in the design or management of work that increases the risk of work-related stress. Their assessment is legally required in Salvadoran companies, nevertheless, the legislation itself lacks a specific methodology to comply with such requirements. In 2020, the Spanish National Institute of Health and Safety at Work (INSST) published a methodology to assist Micro and Small Enterprises in managing these factors that can also be used for larger companies. This article presents a case study in a medium-sized advertising Salvadoran company, where this methodology was applied in positions of its production department. The information required for its application was obtained through consultation with workers along with the review of their job descriptors and direct observation of work. The results indicate that all the jobs analyzed have psychosocial factors in adverse conditions. The most predominant ones were associated with autonomy, work pace, time and emotional demands, all with a medium level of importance. It was identified that taking on orders with short delivery deadlines modified the planning and extension of working hours, contributing to the situation observed. Based on this information, various measures were suggested, such as conducting capability and workload studies along with improving planning visibility. Given that the methodology facilitated the management of psychosocial factors, was easy to use and had a participatory approach, the experience of this research suggests that it can be an alternative for other micro, small and medium-sized Salvadoran companies to respond to regulatory requirements, ensuring the welfare of workers. Realidad Empresarial No. 18, 2024: 76-95.

The Impact of Comprehensive Innovation on Sustainable Performance in Small and Medium-Sized Jordanian Companies

The Impact of Comprehensive Innovation on Sustainable Performance in Small and Medium-Sized Jordanian Companies

How the Advent of Live Streaming is Affecting Businesses' Commitment to Marketing

In 2019, the global pandemic of the new coronavirus is driving more and more companies to digitize their marketing strategies to mitigate the negative impact of the outbreak on their day-to-day business. As a result, live marketing is becoming one of the hottest marketing methods, a particularly evident phenomenon in China. However, how companies of different sizes apply live marketing has yet to be explored. This study focuses on the emergence of live streaming on firms' marketing investments and assesses how these impacts differ for firms of different sizes. The conclusions drawn from this work are that the epidemic is driving companies to invest more and more in live streaming and that smaller companies are more likely to benefit from this marketing tool than larger ones. This paper uses a case study method to analyze the development of live streaming and its impact on changes in sales and marketing investment by firms of different sizes and to point out its contribution to driving economic development in firms, laying the groundwork for further research into ways of promoting economic development in the digital sphere.

Analysis of the Pet Companion Robot Market

Pet robot is a kind of intelligent device with artificial intelligence and mechanical technology. These robots provide a solution to the challenges of balancing work responsibilities and caring for pets, while also enhancing the interaction between owners and pets to ensure the health of pets. The pet robot market is a new technology market, through the in-depth study of the pet robot market, it can fill the research gap in this field and provide new research opportunities for the academic circle. Through the research methods of questionnaire survey and literature review, we compared the global market strategies of large, small and medium-sized technology pet robot companies, combined with the quantitative literature review and questionnaire quantitative analysis, and drew the conclusion that the pet robot market has great potential, but the entry barrier is high, and the differentiation strategy is needed.