Small Size Companies Research Articles

'A Study of Factors Affecting Brand Switching for Processed and Packed Ready-to-Cook Food Packs'

The processed food market is projected to be over US$ 100 bn, of which the primarily processed food market accounts for 60%, while the value-added processed food market is around 40%. The food processing industry in India has a share of 1.5% in the total GDP of the country, and as part of total manufacturing accounts for 9%. India’s share in world trade in respect of processed food is about 1.6%. A large number of players in this industry are small-sized companies, and are largely concentrated in the unorganized segment. This segment accounts for more than 70% of the output in volume terms and 50% in value terms. The segment preferences in rural market & influx of multiple product items in the segment makes it imperative to understand the peoples outlook towards the segment.

Small and Medium Size Companies Financial Durability Altman Model Aplication

Abstract In order to achieve good operation and avoid failure, a prediction analysis of the financial status can help business to plan its commercial activities. The objective of this research is to determine if medium and small companies from Tuxtepec, Oaxaca in Mexico are financially durable. The Altman Z-Score was applied. The sample has 32 Medium and small companies from Tuxtepec, Oaxaca. The results show that 3.1% of the companies are bankrupt, a 25% of them are in a gray zone and a 75% are on a safe zone. The results show that the medium and small companies from Tuxtepec, Oaxaca are financially durable.

Exploring the public-private and company size differences in employees' work characteristics and burnout: data analysis of a nationwide survey in Taiwan.

Distinct differences exist between public-private sector organizations with respect to the market environment and operational objectives; furthermore, among private sector businesses, organizational structures and work conditions often vary between large- and small-sized companies. Despite these obvious structural distinctions, however, sectoral differences in employees’ psychosocial risks and burnout status in national level have rarely been systematically investigated. Based on 2013 national employee survey data, 15,000 full-time employees were studied. Sector types were classified into “public,” “private enterprise-large (LE),” and “private enterprise-small and medium (SME);” based on the definition of SMEs by Taiwan Ministry of Economic Affairs, and the associations of sector types with self-reported burnout status (measured by the Chinese version of Copenhagen Burnout Inventory) were examined, taking into account other work characteristics and job instability indicators. Significantly longer working hours and higher perceived job insecurity were found among private sector employees than their public sector counterparts. With further consideration of company size, greater dissatisfaction of job control and career prospect were found among SME employees than the other two sector type workers. This study explores the pattern of public-private differences in work conditions and employees’ stress-related problems to have policy implications for supporting mechanism for disadvantaged workers in private sectors.

In Search for Small-World Network at New Connect

Interlocking directorates enable exchange of information and resources between two or more firms that are linked by a director who participates in their boards. The relationships of multiple firms linked by interlocking directors are among classic network studies in organizational science. The aim of this paper is to verify empirically if the small world phenomenon is present in the interlocking directorates network of small and medium size companies that were listed on the Polish alternative investment market of the Warsaw Stock Exchange - New Connect. The unique study field of the research presented enables the development of theory on the crossroads of institutional, network and entrepreneurship theories.

Business Intelligence applied in Small Size for Profit Companies

With the expression, “Business Intelligence” we refer to intelligent technologies that may help companies improve their performances and have better possibilities to survive and develop. Anyway, in this regard, we sometimes have a double negative impression, namely that on one side there is a certain lack of practical indications on how to apply this in everyday companies’ life and, secondly, that it is often not taken into due consideration the extremely reduced size of companies, the limited entrepreneurial competences and the scarce availability of technologies. In this paper, apart from highlighting the role of Business Intelligence in practice, we try to find a way to apply it also in small size companies focusing on two critical aspects, namely customer’s profitability and their satisfaction level that, especially if considered in their reciprocal interaction, may have a great impact on companies’ outcomes though using simple technologies.

A practical quality management system implementation framework for small-sized companies

An effective quality management system is critical for having a smooth and efficient supply chain system. Establishing and maintaining quality systems is more challenging for smaller companies compared to larger organisations. This paper presents a cost effective and do-it-yourself approach to design and implement a quality management system for smaller organisations. It proposes a quality system implementation framework for small-medium sized companies to enable their transition from a no-quality system to having a more effective quality system. The study also proposes an effective continuous improvement and system maintenance plan after implementing the quality system. The proposed framework is validated using a case study of a small door manufacturing company. The findings of this study reveal several setbacks during quality management implementation and suggest means to overcome them. Benefits and results achieved by implementation of proposed framework will be useful for quality practitioners, quality managers, consultants, and engineers, especially in small companies.

A practical quality management system implementation framework for small-sized companies

A practical quality management system implementation framework for small-sized companies

Types of Entrepreneurs in Small Hotels in Slovenia

Entrepreneurship is associated mostly with establishing of new ventures, mainly of small and medium size companies (smes). It is linked closely with the entrepreneur: The key person who plays the key role in the entrepreneurial process. In theory, different criteria have been used in the past to identify the typology of entrepreneurs, e.g. the period of entrepreneurial activity, their economic or non-economic goals, etc. (Dunkelberg, Moore, Scott, & Stull, 2013; Dincer, Yildirim & Dil, 2011; Hisrich, Peters, & Shepherd, 2010; Glas, 2002; Smith & Miner, 1983). The main purpose of this paper is (a) To the identify typology of entrepreneurs in Small Hotels (sh) in Slovenia and (b) To compare the results with findings of similar studies in existing literature (Page & Connell, 2014; Lee-Ross & Lashley, 2009). Empirical research was conducted in Slovenia in 2014 and 2015. The data were collected from shentrepreneurs and shDirectors (a) By conducting 62 semi-structured interviews and (b) By analysing 44 questionnaires filled in by shentrepreneurs. We analysed data from interviews using qualitative methods (interpretation, comparison, grouping, quantification). The numerical data were processed and analysed by using multiple statistical tools (factor analysis, hierarchical classification, Ward’s method). shentrepreneurs in Slovenia share certain typology characteristics with their colleagues in the hospitality business abroad; however, there are less lifestyle entrepreneurs in the Slovene hospitality business than expected (due to comparison with findings in existing literature). This is the first research of entrepreneurial typology in the hospitality business in Slovenia. It offers a clear insight into certain business orientations of hospitality entrepreneurs and, consequently, gives some explanation about tourism entrepreneurship in Slovenia.

GTTracker: Location-aware hierarchical model for identifying M-commerce business opportunities

The increased adoption of electronic commerce for selling products and services creates a new channel between consumers and vendors. Commonly, e-commerce platforms are assembled as proprietary and centralized solutions. This method has a high financial cost and slows the entry of both middle and small-sized companies into this communication channel. In this context, this article proposes GTTracker - a hierarchically distributed mobile commerce model for publishing offer and demand requests, which allows the identification of business opportunities based on a user’s location. This model organizes the collection of servers in geographic regions following an extensible approach, where new subregions can be mapped in real time in accordance with the load of requests over a specific region. So, the combination of extensibility, plugin-based matching mechanism, loosely-coupled and location-aware infrastructure and, low cost keywords represents the GTTracker’s contribution. The experiments demonstrated which strategies reduce the resource consumption in the system. Furthermore, the evaluation showed that managers could deploy this application gradually, initially using a low-cost platform. Thus, GTTracker provides infrastructure support and a feasible communication channel for users seeking to buy or sell products efficiently at any time and place.

Nonlinear antecedents of customer satisfaction and loyalty in third-party logistics services (3PL)

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the nonlinear impact of quality dimensions of third-party logistics (3PL) services on customer satisfaction and loyalty.Design/methodology/approachBy interviewing 167 small-size companies, and using penalty and reward contrast analysis, the paper explores the nonlinear impact of seven dimensions of 3PL services (safety, fault’s recovery, reliability, speed, flexibility, communication, and friendliness) on customer satisfaction and loyalty.FindingsThe results confirm the existence of the dimensions’ nonlinear impact on customer satisfaction. It also shows that some quality dimensions have a direct and nonlinear impact on loyalty. The dimension “friendliness” has a direct impact on loyalty if the company has a below market average performance, which may lead customers to switch service providers. “Flexibility on collection and delivery” has a direct impact if the company has a higher performance, contributing to customers’ intention to continue using the service. Another finding is that, if the company delivers good service recovery after the customer found faults in the service, and if customers trust the company service, they say they intend to continue to work with the company.Research limitations/implicationsThe present research focused only on small companies in one country (Brazil). Further studies should be carried out to explore different countries, with different realities, and different size of companies.Practical implications3PL companies should not only deal with customers’ satisfaction, but also with other quality aspects that directly affect customer intention to continue doing business with the 3PL service provider. These are friendliness, flexibility regarding time and frequency of collection and delivery and faults’ recovery.Originality/valueThe present research confirms that the personal relationship is a crucial aspect to be managed in order to keep customers in the long term. In addition, as opposed to most research looking for the antecedents of satisfaction and loyalty of 3PL customers, the present research shows that there is a direct nonlinear impact of the dimensions’ performance on customers’ loyalty, what should be taken in consideration by 3PL managers. It also shows how penalty-reward contrast analysis may reveal nonlinear antecedents that could be used for better understandings companies’ success in the long term.

The future of Big Data in facilities management: opportunities and challenges

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the current condition of the Big Data concept with its related barriers, drivers, opportunities and perceptions in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry with an emphasis on facilities management (FM).Design/methodology/approachFollowing a comprehensive literature review, the Big Data concept was investigated through two scoping workshops with industry experts and academics.FindingsThe value in data analytics and Big Data is perceived by the industry, yet the industry needs guidance and leadership. Also, the industry recognises the imbalance between data capturing and data analytics. Large IT vendors’ developing AEC industry-focused analytics solutions and better interoperability among different vendors are needed. The general concerns for Big Data analytics mostly apply to the AEC industry as well. Additionally, however, the industry suffers from a structural fragmentation for data integration with many small-sized companies operating in its supply chains. This paper also identifies a number of drivers, challenges and way-forwards that calls for future actions for Big Data in FM in the AEC industry.Originality/valueThe nature of data in the business world has dramatically changed over the past 20 years. This phenomenon is often broadly dubbed as “Big Data” with its distinctive characteristics, opportunities and challenges. Some industries have already started to effectively exploit “Big Data” in their business operations. However, despite many perceived benefits, the AEC industry has been slow in discussing and adopting the Big Data concept. Empirical research efforts investigating Big Data for the AEC industry are also scarce. This paper aims at outlining the benefits, challenges and future directions (what to do) for Big Data in the AEC industry with an FM focus.

A Genetic Algorithm for Solving an Assembly Sequence Problem

If a product has more than one component, then it must be assembled. The complexity of assembling a product is often subject to the number of assembly components that lead to possible assembly sequences in various forms. Also, it is widely understood that efficiency of assembling a product by reducing assembly times (therefore costs) is vital particularly for small manufacturing companies to survive in an increasingly competitive market. Ideally, it is helpful for determining an optimal assembly sequence of a product at the early design stage. Nevertheless, it may find inefficient using the heuristic approaches in acquisition of a quick solution in terms of an optimal assembly sequence with a minimal assembly time. By contrast, the study indicates that the genetic algorithm (GA) can be used as a cost-effective way for solving an assembly sequence optimisation problem of a product. This paper presents an investigation into a GA used for solving an assembly sequence problem of a ball pen. The study demonstrates that it can provide a quick solution in obtaining an optimal or near-optimal assembly sequence of the product for a small-sized company.

Turkish Chemical Industry and Environmentally Friendly Technologies

Turkey has been manufacturing chemicals for a long time, being a producer of many basic and intermediate chemicals, petrochemicals and plastics. Among ca. 6000 companies manufacturing various<br />chemicals, 95 are large scale, 208 are medium scale, and the rest are all small size companies. The southern coast of the Marmara Sea is the home of Turkey’s densest population and industrial centers. Most<br />companies in chemical industries, especially private sector companies, are situated in the Marmara Region which, therefore, also generates large amounts of solid and liquid wastes from industrial areas, along with municipal solid waste and sewage as well as air pollution from gas emissions. Large scale industrial companies place a great deal of importance on international standards in production and comply with<br />environmental legislation and regulations. Although Turkey has made great progress over the last fifteen years in creating mechanisms to address its environmental problems, air and water pollution abatement problems still exist due to small scale enterprises generally using old technologies in sub-sectors including highly polluting activities such as textiles/clothing/leather, metal products/machinery/equipment, food/beverages/tobacco, forest products/furniture.

The moderating effects of transformational leadership between basic psychological needs and Job Performance

변혁적 리더십은 추종자의 욕구를 충족시키는 주요 영향력 원인으로 작용하지만, 조직구성원의 욕구와 직무수행을 조절하는 상황요인으로 접근은 부족한 실정이다. 이에 본 연구에서는 자율성 욕구와 유능성 욕구의 역할 내 행동, 관계성 욕구의 역할 외 행동에 대한 영향력을 검증하고, 양자 관계에서 변혁적 리더십의 조절효과를 판명하고자 하였다. 연구대상은 울산지역에 소재하는 중소기업 종사자로 설정하여 221명으로부터 취득한 자료를 분석에 활용하였다. 분석결과, 자율성과 유능성 욕구의 역할 내 행동, 관계성 욕구의 역할 외 행동에 대한 긍정적 영향력이 확인되었고, 변혁적 리더십의 조절효과는 자율성 욕구와 역할 내 행동의 경로에서 강화효과와 관계성 욕구와 역할 외 행동의 경로에서 완충효과가 확인되었다. 본 연구의 이러한 결과는 조직구성원의 기본심리욕구와 수행의 관계에 있어 변혁적 리더십의 역할을 실증적으로 규명한 것으로 기본심리욕구와 변혁적 리더십 후속 연구를 위한 실무적 및 이론적 시사점을 제공하고 있다.Leadership is a main cause to satisfy followers needs, however, in the current paper, the role of leadership is considered a situation factor to enhance the impact of basic psychological needs to job performance. Specifically, the purpose of this study was to test both effects of need for autonomy and competence to in-role behavior, and impact of need for relatedness to extra-role behavior. In addition, moderating effects of transformational leadership in all paths were demonstrated. The research target was employees who have worked at small & middle size companies located in Ulsan, total 221 data was applied in analysis. In the results, both needs, autonomy and competence, were positively associated with in-role behavior and the impact of need for relatedness was adopted. In the moderation, transformational leadership moderated the paths between need for autonomy and in-role behavior, and between need for relatedness and extra-role behavior. However, the types of moderation was different, as a result, the relationship between need for autonomy and in-role behavior was supported. This results represent that the role of leadership as enhancer between needs and job performance empirically and provides practical and theoretical implications in the range of basic psychological needs.

Factors Affecting the ProfitabilitFactors Affecting the Profitability of Indonesian Real Estate Publicly-listed Companiesy of Indonesian Real Estate Publicly-listed Companies

The research studies the relationship between eight firm-specific factors on the profitability of large-, medium-, and small-scale real estate Indonesian companies. The data uses forty-seven real estate companies listed in the Indonesian Stock Exchange from 2010 to 2014. The study utilized multiple linear panel regression models, namely, ordinary least squares (OLS), fixed effects (FE) and random effects (RE) in examining the effect on the return on asset of firm-specific factors, which include: number of days account receivables, number of days inventory, number of days of account payable, size of the company, current ratio, debt ratio, sales growth, and tangibility. Empirical findings show that the number of days account receivable has negative relationship with profitability, but it has no effect on medium-size Indonesian real estate companies. The factor number of days inventories has negative relationship in small-size companies, but the inverse is true for large companies, because large real estate firms have more liquid assets that covers maintenance costs related to real estate inventories. Size and sales growth have positive relationship on profitability for both large and small Indonesian real estate firms. On one hand, current ratio has positive relationship in large companies, while a negative relationship was found in small companies, because of the lower current asset base usually being experienced by smaller real estate firms. Lastly, tangibility has negative relationship with profitability for large companies, while the opposite is true for medium-sized real estate firms. Findings of this research are strong in using two panel regression models, and can help real estate managers have a general perspective regarding determinants of profitability in the expanding Indonesian market. This study also provides fresh perspectives in creating suitable strategies to controlling factors that maximizes profitability.

Sources of Value Creation in Born Global Companies

Abstract Research about the phenomenon of rapid internationalization of small and medium size companies has evolved over the last two decades. Nevertheless, questions about business models or value creation in born global enterprises are rarely addressed in the literature. The objective of this article is to develop a theoretical framework for analyzing the sources of value creation in the business models of international new ventures (INV) global companies, starting with adapting the model by Amit and Zott [2001, 2010] to early internationalizing venture. Current literature on international entrepreneurship, business models and value creation is also used as a basis for suggesting future empirical research recommendations.

Paths of internationalization of Polish enterprises

The variability of the environment, saturation of the domestic market, the need to remain competitive, etc. require enterprises to search for new solutions in the fields of management and operation. Managers are confronted with new challenges. The internationalization of enterprises became an increasingly occurring pattern of cooperation and collaboration, resulting from the need to seek new markets and new opportunities, as well as the need to survive on the market. The article presents some chosen aspects of internationalization of enterprises, with a particular focus on the specifics of the internationalization of Polish companies of micro, small and medium size. The article presents the motives that guide entrepreneurs and managers, allowing them to expand their business activities to foreign markets. Also, it shows the barriers, which occur most frequently in the process of internationalization. The conducted empirical studies became the basis for presenting the ways of internationalization of Polish enterprises from the SME sector. The results were then referred to the conditions present in Poland and to the existing models. The article was written based on the analysis of literature and own research.

THE ROLE OF TRUST DIMENSION UNDER CONDITIONS OF NETWORK ORGANISATIONS’ COOPERATION

Purpose: Main purpose of the article is creating the categories and premises of trust, shaped through different forms of cooperation undertaken between companies in a selected economic group in Poland, and then – on the basis of opinions of managers/owners – assess the significance of the behavioural dimension of trust for conditions prevailing in this group. Methodology/approach: The basis for conducting an analysis of the problem of trust involved interviews conducted with the owners and/or key managers of 14 production companies. The obtained opinions on cooperation pointed out, on the one hand, distrust and rivalry, but also continuous cooperation and joint investments. Interviews were conducted with 6 small-sized companies, as well as 8 larger. All companies had long-term experience in operation within a group – at least 10 years of participation. Findings: The adopted methodology and manner of distinguishing dimensions of trust, for which a numeric evaluation of relations was introduced, captured the general framework of direct and indirect relations and condition of trust. Implications: The process of creating cooperation clusters among firms (especially in selected industrial sectors) will meet the problem of trust. The methods of measuring the trust level should be popularized and discussed. Originality/value of the paper: Empirical researches results have special value for recognizing contemporary and future managerial challenges. Identification these important challenges (like problem of multi organizational trust), could help in preparing firm’s cooperation and competition activities.

Do General Practices of Management Play Role as Drivers for Employee Job Satisfaction in Pakistani Entrepreneurial Companies?

Using general practices of management is management philosophy; many organizations practice these tools that endeavor to improve their efficiency and competitiveness in the business markets. It is an integrated approach to reaching and maintaining high-quality production and services focusing on the maintenance and continuous improvement of operations in order to satisfy or exceed the customer satisfaction. Many researchers have done a lot of work on other management practices; total quality management is an important one of them in this competitive era, which has rarely studied especially in small and medium size entrepreneurial companies in Pakistan. This quantitative research study tried to determine the impact of Total Quality Management practices on job satisfaction level of the employees of those small and medium size companies based on new and creative ideas in the capital city. The conducted survey among 550 employees of small and medium size entrepreneurial companies in the capital of Pakistan got 200 employees response properly in filling out the questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed after applying software (version 20) Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Multiple regression was applied to test the proposed model, which was found satisfied. Leadership and top management support were founded the most dominant practice among the selected Total Quality Management practices which has a significant effect on employee job satisfaction. The findings of this study prove that the implementation of Total Quality Management practices can help in increasing employees’ job satisfaction which intern would increase Productivity of small and medium size entrepreneurial companies.

The Impact of Heat Waves on Occurrence and Severity of Construction Accidents.

The impact of heat stress on human health has been extensively studied. Similarly, researchers have investigated the impact of heat stress on workers’ health and safety. However, very little work has been done on the impact of heat stress on occupational accidents and their severity, particularly in South Australian construction. Construction workers are at high risk of injury due to heat stress as they often work outdoors, undertake hard manual work, and are often project based and sub-contracted. Little is known on how heat waves could impact on construction accidents and their severity. In order to provide more evidence for the currently limited number of empirical investigations on the impact of heat stress on accidents, this study analysed 29,438 compensation claims reported during 2002–2013 within the construction industry of South Australia. Claims reported during 29 heat waves in Adelaide were compared with control periods to elicit differences in the number of accidents reported and their severity. The results revealed that worker characteristics, type of work, work environment, and agency of accident mainly govern the severity. It is recommended that the implementation of adequate preventative measures in small-sized companies and civil engineering sites, targeting mainly old age workers could be a priority for Work, Health and Safety (WHS) policies.