Evaluation of a software positioning tool to support SMEs in adoption of big data analytics

Big data analytics has been widely adopted by large companies to achieve measurable benefits including increased profitability,customer demand forecasting,cheaper development of products,and improved stock control.Small and medium sized enterprises(SMEs)are the backbone of the global economy,comprising of 90%of businesses worldwide.However,only 10%SMEs have adopted big data analytics despite the competitive advantage they could achieve.Previous research has analysed the barriers to adoption and a strategic framework has been developed to help SMEs adopt big data analytics.The framework was converted into a scoring tool which has been applied to multiple case studies of SMEs in the UK.This paper documents the process of evaluating the framework based on the structured feedback from a focus group composed of experienced practitioners.The results of the evaluation are presented with a discussion on the results,and the paper concludes with recommendations to improve the scoring tool based on the proposed framework.The research demonstrates that this positioning tool is beneficial for SMEs to achieve competitive advantages by increasing the application of business intelligence and big data analytics.

Delivery Service Management System Using Google Maps for SMEs in Emerging Countries

This paper proposes a Delivery Service Management(DSM)system for Small and Medium Enterprises(SMEs)that own a delivery fleet of pickup trucks to manage Business-to-Business(B2B)delivery services.The proposed DSM system integrates four systems:Delivery Location Positioning(DLP),Delivery Route Planning(DRP),Arrival Time Prediction(ATP),and Communication and Data Sharing(CDS)systems.These systems are used to pinpoint the delivery locations of customers,plan the delivery route of each truck,predict arrival time(with an interval)at each delivery location,and communicate and share information among stakeholders,respectively.The DSM system deploys Google applications,a GPS tracking system,Google Map APIs,ATP algorithms(embedded in Excel Macros),Line,and Telegram as supporting tools.To improve the accuracy of the ATP system,three tech-niques are applied considering driver behaviors.The proposed DSM system has been implemented in a Thai SME.From the process perspective,the DSM system is a systematic procedure for end-to-end delivery services.It allows the interactions between planner-driver decisions and supporting tools.The supporting tools are simple,can be easily used with little training,and require low capital expenditure.The statistical analysis shows that the ATP algorithm with the three techniques provides high accuracy.Thus,the proposed DSM system is beneficial for practitioners to manage delivery services,especially for SMEs in emerging countries.

A Novel Lifecycle Model for Web-based Application Development in Small and Medium Enterprises

Software engineering＇s lifecycle models havc proven to be very important for traditional software development. However, can these models be applied to the development of Web-based applications as well？ In recent years, Web-based applications have become more and more complicated and a lot of efforts have been placed on introducing new technologies such as J2EE, PhP, and .NET, etc., which have been universally accepted as the development technologies for Web-based applications. However, there is no universally accepted process model for the development of Web-based applications. Moreover, shaping the process model for small medium-sized enterprises （SMEs）, which have limited resources, has been relatively neglected. Based on our previous work, this paper presents an expanded lifecycle process model for the development of Web-based applications in SMEs. It consists of three sets of processes, i.e., requirement processes, development processes, and evolution processes. Particularly, the post-delivery evolution processes are important to SMEs to develop and maintain quality web applications with limited resources and time.

Barriers to the Growth of Small and Medium Scale Construction Enterprises in Ghana

The construction industry in most developing economies is dominated heavily by small and medium scale enterprises. These construction enterprises need to thrive in an extremely competitive business environment. Conversely, most of these small and medium scale construction enterprises (SMSCE) are fraught with a plethora of barriers that inhibit and threaten their growth and survival. This research sought to evaluate the critical barriers that affect the growth of SMSCEs in the Ghanaian Construction Industry. The quantitative research method was adopted using a structured questionnaire with variables that were identified through a comprehensive literature review. The survey questionnaire was administered to 400 respondents comprising 250 SMSCEs, 100 Local Authority Engineers, and 50 Consultants to elicit data based on the identified variables. The major findings established by the study as barriers to the growth of SMSCEs in Ghana are largely structured as financial/fiscal barriers, business development barriers, technical/technological barriers, corruption barriers, knowledge management barriers, project acquisition barriers. A guiding framework should be developed based on the barriers identified to aid the growth and survival of SMSCEs in Ghana.

Profitability of RE-Technology Regarding the Economic Environment:A Case Study of Swiss SMEs

Considering the important changes in the Swiss energy sector, especially in renewable energy(RE)technologies, new revenue possibilities for small and medium sized enterprises(SMEs) emerge. However, the adaption of RE-technologies for Swiss enterprises relies on tangible financial returns, based on complex calculations. This article analyses business opportunities(BOs) of eight Swiss SMEs considering the net present value of RE-investments in an uncertain economic environment. We identify two profitable BOs for Swiss SMEs and three which are not profitable. Further, the article demonstrates that the profitability of such investments remains mostly positive even under economic uncertainties. Surprisingly the profitability does not change significantly if the SME receives a subsidy or not. The support instrument of the Swiss Government has not a ponderous impact on the decision to invest in RE-technologies or not. Therefore, the article emphasizes the importance of including SME in the Swiss attempt to decentralize the energy market.

Survey Explores Symbiotic Relationship between China's Nonofficial Finance and SMEs

Domestic and foreign studies have revealed the existence of an interactive development relationship between nono cial nance and small and medium-sizedenterprises.Based on the empirical findings of a Hangzhou case study,this article substantiates the existence of a very strong symbiotic relationship between China’s nono cial nance and small and medium-sized enterprises(SMEs).This symbiotic relationship is an equilibrium outcome among three market players:formalnance,nono cial nance and SMEs.Meanwhile,it is also a rational choice and suboptimal equilibrium point reached under the existing institutional spaceconstraints.In our empirical study,we found that formal nance failure left a space for symbiosis to survive in two ways:the comparative advantages of nono cialnance created an institutional basis for symbiosis to grow,and immense SME fund shortages created a market space for symbiosis to thrive.In this article,we alsoput forward some recommendations for further development of such a symbiotic relationship.

Does access to credit reduce SMEs’tax avoidance?Evidence from a regression discontinuity design

This study investigates the effect of targeted reserve requirement ratio cuts(TRRRCs)on tax avoidance among small and micro enterprises(SMEs)with operating revenues below specific cutoffs in China.Using a regression discontinuity design,we causally show that,by increasing loan availability,TRRRCs significantly alleviate the financial constraints and cash dependence of SMEs and consequently reduce tax avoidance.This is especially the case among firms with lower market power and higher entertainment and travel costs.Our findings provide evidence for the real effect of TRRRCs on corporate tax avoidance and show the inclusive effect of TRRRCs on SMEs.In doing so,we indirectly reveal a rent-seeking channel underlying bank lending,thus offering clear policy implications for regulators.

Factor Analysis for the Development of Women Entrepreneurship in SMEs:An Empirical Evidence From Bangladesh

Women entrepreneurship is now a rapidly growing socio-economic phenomenon in developing country like Bangladesh.Women entrepreneurs’development in the SME sector is one of the most important challenge.The research aims to analyze the factors related to the development of women entrepreneurship in Small and Medium Enterprises(SMEs)sector of Bangladesh.The analysis is based on recent theoretical ideas that have been supported by empirical research findings.Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in this research.To analyze the factors we have interviewed 232 women entrepreneurs of SME businesses.The main tool of research was a structured questionnaire.This study illustrates an analytical framework based on institutional theory,which focuses on three kinds of factors:regulative,normative,and cognitive.Regulative factors refer to different rules and regulations of the Government that facilitate women entrepreneurship development of SMEs sector in Bangladesh.Normative and cognitive factors include norms,rules,regulation,and values of society.This study provides suggestions on how to overcome barriers and also many significant policy implications to improve women entrepreneurship in SMEs sector of Bangladesh.