bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Finance and Performance of Small Manufacturing Firms in Singapore
Authors: Kee Ch'ng Hak , Zeph-Yun Chang
Published: October 2007

Ch'ng Hak Kee and Chang Zeph-Yun both lecture at the National University of Singapore. The authors say that it has lohg been recognised that a major problem faced by small firms is shortage of funds, both for investment purposes and the maintenance of adequate vE*rking capital for their day to day operations. The first part of their paper is concerned with the financing of small business in Singapore based on a survey of 45 small business firms from the nine industry groups of the country. The survey was conducted through personal interviews with top management personnel and the constraints and problems encountered by them are described and assessed. The second part of the paper includes a survey of the fiscal and financial schemes offered by the Singapore Government to small firms and looks at their impact on the performance of small firms. Finally, conclusions are derived from the experience of Singapore.
Small Firms in the Economy of South Africa
Authors: Kirby David
Published: October 2007

Dr. David Kirby is director of Graduate Enterprise in Wales and senior lecturer in geography at St. David's University College, University of Wales, Lampeter, Wales, United Kingdom. His paper examines the development of interest in small business in the republic of South Africa, starting in the late 1970s. An interest in small business development is in line with trends elsewhere in the world but in the context of South Africa has particular significance. The creation of new firms cannot be left to the white entrepreneur alone, a conclusion which has equal significance for the promotion of enterprise, especially as traditionally entrepreneurship has been perceived as a characteristic of the white population. The implication is that more needs to be done to promote enterprise in the country's black community. It is against this economic and demographic background that attempts are being made to stimulate an enterprise culture. The objective of the paper is to examine the strategy which has been devised to bring about this development and the promotion of small firms in the economy.
Ethnic Business and Economic Change:An Overview
Authors: Ward Robin
Published: October 2007

Peter Wilson is a partner in New Enterprise Development, a small business training and research organisation based in London. Professor John Stanworth is head of the Small Business Unit at the Polytechnic of Central London and Director-General of the Small Business Research Trust.

Against a background of growing concern for the welfare of ethnic minority communities in Britain, attention is now firmly focused on the opportunities for business development among black groups. Racially motivated recruitment and promotion practices in large organisations restrict employment opportunities for black minorities, increasing the need to seek economic self-reliance through business ownership. This has been a traditional route for disadvantaged minorities. But contemporary economic and social conditions require new solutions to the crisis in which recent immigrant groups find themselves. It is the purpose of this paper to examine recent evidence of change in business ownership in the Asian and Afro-Caribbean communities in London, to compare and contrast their business performance and to identify the determinants of any revealed differentials. The paper concludes with some implications for policy formulation and for business development initiatives.
Small Firms in the Clothing Industry: The Growth of Minority Enterprise
Authors: Ward Robin , Randall Richard , Krcmar Karisa
Published: October 2007

Robin Ward is director of the Ethnic Business Research Unit, Aston University Management Centre, Richard Randall is an accountant and research fellow in Aston Management Centre and Karisa Krcmar is completing a doctoral thesis on the clothing trade in the West Midlands at Aston University Management Centre. Global economic restructuring has been creating new opportunities for clothing manufacturing by ethnic minorities in advanced Western economies. While social pressures and access to the resources needed for successful business formation vary by ethnic group, members of all minorities have been turning to entrepreneurship as a strategy for combatting unemployment. Clothing manufacturing offers low barriers to entry and concentration on garments subject to change in fashion gives a comparative advantage to local producers who can respond quickly to the changing requirements of the market. The resources needed to achieve this, particularly the cheap and flexible access to labour and financing, can be acquired through community networks in various minority groups. Finally, attention to changes in the clothing trade raises wider questions concerning opportunities, policies and strategies for small firms in a changing economic climate.
Small and Medium-Sized Japanese Joint Venturtes in Korea
Authors: Lee Jinjoo , Hyun Young-suk
Published: October 2007

Professor Jinjoo Lee is professor of management science at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST); Young-suk Hyun is currently an assistant professor of business administration at the HanNam University, Taejon, few studies have undertaken analyses of the characteristics of Japanese foreign direct investment in developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to compare the differences of behaviour and performance between small and medium-sized indigenous firms (IFs) and Japanses joint ventures (JJVs) operating in Korea. The results of bivariate analyses of behavioural differences between the two groups show that IFs exhibit more effort in technology assimilation and also show a greater interest by top management in innovation compared with JJVs. IFs also place greater importance on long range planning/forecasting formand for technology and investment while JJVs are more export-oriented and place greater importance on long range planning/forecasting for market demand. IFs tend to be more innovative but less productive than JJVs.
Predicting Success in Export Marketing: A Singapore Pilot
Authors: Ray Dennis M.
Published: October 2007

Dennis M. Ray is a visiting scholar at both the Institute of South-east Asian Studies, Singapore, and the Institute of International Relations, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan. This research note reports on a pilot study conducted in Singapore to test whether two scales correlated with either the level of exports or the manner in which export sales were pursued by venture business in Singapore. The study suggests that a cross-cultural experience scale along and in combination with the craftsman-opportunist typology modified to fit various culture settings may be a powerful tool for predicting export activity.
Ambition and Achievement: A Study of Small Retailers
Authors: Armstrong Pat , Baker Alison , Johnson James
Published: October 2007

The authors of this paper are employed at Ealing College of Higher Education, London, England, in the School of Business and Management. Pat Armstrong is the Head of Division of Applied Behavioural Science, Alison Baker is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology, currently on secondment to the CNAA, and James Johnson is a Research Assistant. The paper is based on empirical research, undertaken in the London Borough of Ealing, and was designed to investigate perceptions held by small retail proprietors of business success. The results to date indicate that these perceptions more often revolve around personal satisfaction and security that business growth and development.
The Export Performance of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in the Netherlands
Authors: Verhoeven Wim
Published: October 2007

Dr. Wim Verhoeven is a researcher at the Research Institute for Small and Medium- sized Business in Zoetermeer, Netherlands. The paper examines the position of Dutch export industries, especially in manufacturing and wholesale trade. Until now SMEs, particularly in manufacturing, have produced relatively low export achievements, although their position has considerably improved since 1980. Further, the motives, behaviour and circumstances of individual firms are analysed. SMEs have to cope with several problems, such as lack of information, risks, procedures and costs. The paper concludes that if these bottlenecks could be removed, small and medium-sized enterprises could increase their exports considerably.
Value Profiles of Male and Female Entrepreneurs
Authors: Solomon George T. , Fernald Lloyd W.
Published: October 2007

Dr.George T. Solomon is currently an adjunct professor of mangament, George Washington University, Washington D.C., USA and serves as director of business education and resources mangment for the US small business administration. Dr.Lloyd W. fernald is an assistant profesor of mangment, university of Central Florida, orlando, USA. A smample off male and female enterpreneurs were surveyed in an attempt to identify a suseful and rigorous method for describingt the charactristics of enterpreneur. All respondents were administered demographic data form and the Rokeach Value survey. The latter is an instrumental used to determine two hierarchies of value importance for each respondent, a terminal value system and an instrumental value system. the result were analysed to determine the value profits of the enterpreneurs studied.
A Spatial Analysis of New Manufacurin Firm Formation in Wales 1979-1983
Authors: Westhead Paul
Published: October 2007

PAUL WESTHEAD is a research assistant at the Cranfield School of Management, England. New manufacturing firms have in the last few years become an increasingly important focus of academic debate and government policy in many advanced capitalist industrial countries. In terms of job generation and their postulated role in fostering healthy and diverse local economies they have been viewed by some commentators as a key to national economic recovery in the long run and a panacea for all economic problems. This has served to increase both policy interest and research in the economic role of new firms and differences in rates of formation from place to place and from sector to sector in the economy. There is a need for more detailed research into the nature and extent of spatial variations in new manufacturing firm formation rates, not least because such information is an essential prerequisite in justifying the case for a spatially selective small firms policy. In this paper the spatial pattern of new manufacturing firms formation in Wales in 1979-88 period is detailed. In order to understand spatial differences in formation rates, new firm formation theory was referee to and a range of hypotheses presumed to be associated with the firm formation process were explored using correlation and regression analysis. High rates of new firm formation were found to be closely associated with aspects of rurality, high levels of self-employment and a tradition of employment in small plants.
Information Technology and the Independent Retail Business
Authors: Treadgold Alan
Published: October 2007

DR. ALAN TREADGOLD is a research associate in the Oxford Institute of Retail Management at Templeton College, England. The successful application of instore information technology systems has been identified as a source of substantial competitive advantage for retail businesses. Multiple retail businesses, in the United Kingdom as elsewhere, are demonstrably committed to heavy investment programmes in data collection, transmission and manipulation systems. There has, however, prevailed an assumption that the application of l.T. systems is confined to large multiple retailers. In consequence little is known of the activities of the smaller independent retailer. This paper addresses this knowledge gap. Three l.T. devices, namely EPOS (electronic point of sale) terminals, in-store computers, and portable data capture units (PCDUs), are identified as especially well-suited for application in even the smallest retail outlets. An attempt is made, through the presentation of the results of survey work. to identify the overall level of I.T. device adoption, adoption by principal trading activity and size of outlet, and the success of l.T. applications in this sector of the retail trades.
Management Information Systems: Problems and Opportunities
Authors: Raymond Louis
Published: October 2007

LOUIS RAYMOND is an associate professor of information systems at the University of Quebec at Trois Rivieres. This paper presents the results of an analysis of the problems of small businesses with regard to computer-based management information systems (MIS) based on interviews with 125 managers in 34 manufacturing firms. The main problems concern the organisation and management of information resources, the initial implementation process and the MIS application portfolio. These findings lead to propositions aimed at increasing the effectiveness of computer-based information systems in small firms.
Expert Systems and Financial Decision Support in Small Businesses
Authors: Mcmahon Richard G. P.
Published: October 2007

Rchard G.P.MCMAHN is a senor lecture in accountngand fincace at the flnders unversity of South Australia andthe papaer was written on a one-year sabbaatical leave as vsing fellow to the small business center at Durhaam University Business School, England. Recentdevelopment in microcomputer bassed expet system hold much prmise for support of decision making in situation where expert knowledge is essential, scarce and cotsly to obtain. More often than not, such circumstances prevail in small business, regardlesss of type and ge. Tthis aper explore the potential of knowledge-based or expert system for financal decision support in smallbusiness in tterms of the necessary conditions for theri cost-effective use, needs of small busines andtheir owner-manager which may be met, amenable application in the financial domain, advatage of expert system relataive t totehr forms offinaical decision support,, andfactors determining the acdeptability ofexpert support systems insmall business.
The Design of Extension and Support Services for Small-Scale Enterprise Development
Authors: Gibb Allan , Manu George
Published: October 2007

PROF. ALLAN GIBB IS DIRECTOR OF THE Small Business Centre at Durham University Business School. England, and Dr. George Manu is senior lecturer in small business at the Scottish Enterprise Foundation, Stirling University, Scotland. This paper looks at the design of extension and related support services and institutions for small-scale enterprise development in developing countries. It is based on a world-wide study carried out for the International Labour Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland, and on more detailed work in Ghana during which a miiodel was developed and tested. The paper first outlines some of the key issues of concern iti the design of extension services and presents a conceptual model for the design of SSE extension and related support services. Sound practices are prescribed in the light of the model leading to specific guidelines for designing and operating SSE support services. Finally, prctical implications of the model 'on the ground' are suggested.
Launching a Small Business Creation Programme in Kenya
Authors: Molenaar Klaas
Published: October 2007

KLAAS MOLENAAR IS A CONSULTANT IN SMALL enterprise development with the ETC Foundation in Leusden, The Netherlands. This paper describes the introduction of a small business creation programme in Kenya. As essential part of the process is the portfolio credit guarantee scheme designed by the author, who was in charge of the programme from 1985 until 1987. The basic idea behind the programme, aimed at refugees, was that lack of security was preventing prospective starters from obtaining loans. The author says that the experiments in Kenya proved that it was possible to bring together the interests of financing institutions looking for a profit, development agencies that wish to make credit available to more marginal borrowers and small borrowers seeking easier access to credit and loans and to meet their respective needs. The programme is a very young one and drawing conclusions is a difficult task; furthermore, the target group served under the experimental programme in Kenya (refugees) has special characteristics which make it difficult to assess the validity and possible success rate of the programme for other target groups. Nevertheless, first results were encouraging, particularly as to opening up the banking and financing systems to groups that previously had received very little attention and support.
Export Behaviour and Attitudes of Small- and Medium-sized Korean Manufacturing Firms
Authors: Weaver K Mark , Pak Jong-moo
Published: October 2007

DR. K. MARK WEAVER IS ASSOCLATE professor andJongmoo Pak a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Alabama, United States of America. Their paper is based on a selected sample of small- and medium-sized manufacturing firms in Korea. It looks at export behaviour and the conditions which influence export sales in these firms. Profiles of the firms are provided, in addition to discussions of channel selection, the key influences on and problem areas in initial exports, attitudes towards exporting, factors limiting export sales, and the perceived profitability of exports. The need for information appears to be the most significant factor that Korea could consider for future export development, say the authors, adding that the export orientation and willingness to deal in international markets are significantly positive elements in the long-term internationalisation efforts of Korean manufacturers.
Technological Innovation and Small Firms: A Taxonomy
Authors: Rizzoni Alina
Published: October 2007

DR. AIINA RIZZONI IS A RESEARCH fellow at the Institute of Management Studies at the University of Urbino, Italy. The high heterogeneity which characterises small firms as a whole is also clearly reflected in their innovative behaviour. Thus, there is the opportunity to develop an analytical approach to the study of technological innovation in small firms while not overlooking the most important aspects of differentiation. A typology of small firms has been worked out with reference to the various roles played by such firms in innovative processes. The model here delineates six types of small firms. Each one is characterised not only by a different behaviour towards technological innovation but also by different strategic, structural and environmental approaches. An interpretation of the basic differentiations in the innovative behaviour of small firms is then suggested. These differences are substantially due to the entrepreneurial skills of small business operators and to the environmental pressures.
The Problems Experienced by Young Firms
Authors: Cromie Stanley
Published: October 2007

PROFESSOR STANLEY CROMIE IS director of the Centre for Management Education at Ulster Business School, Northern Ireland. In this paper he surveys the literature on the failure of small firms and argues that there is a need to focus attention on those factors which contribute to the demise of male and female owned firms in the 'demarrage' phase of the development. To add to knowledge of this topic he interviewed 34 male and 34 female proprietors of four year old firms and questioned them on the problems they encountered in their early years. Results indicate that problems occur principally in the areas of finance, marketing and the management of human resources. In addition, entrepreneurs experience some difficult personal problems. Women incur a few gender specific problems during the launch of their firms but thereafter gender ceases to be a specific issue; both sexes face the same kind of problems. The paper concludes by noting that while training interventions, which focus on finance, marketing and the management of people, may well improve the chances of survival of young organisations, attention must focus on organisational diagnosis to determine where interventions are likely to succeed and on the process by which trainers assist entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurial Networks: Their Emergence in Ireland and Overseas
Authors: Birley Sue , Cromie Stan , Myers Andrew
Published: October 2007

SUE BIRLEY IS PROFESSOR OF management at Imperial College, London, England, Stanley Cromie is professor and director of the Centre for Management Education at the Ulster Business School, Ulster University, Northern Ireland, and Andrew Myers is with the Cranifield School of Management, England. This paper discusses the need for information in organisations and the particular relevance of non-documented data which is gathered by managers from a network of personal contacts. It examines some of the issues involved in assessing the characteristics of personal networks and proposes that network activiety, density and diversity are the crucial features of business networks. The paper suggests that personal networking is a particularly appropriate mechanism for information gathering by owners/managers of small organisations, examines the personal networks of 274 business proprietors and compares the findings of this study with similar ones conducted in the United States of America, Sweden and Italy. Results indicate that entrepreneurial networks in Northern Ireland are smaller than elsewhere and that little zeal is displayed in increasing their size. However, considerable energy is devoted to maintaining existing networks and they are of relativly high density. Northern Irish networks are quite heterogenous with business associates, family, friends and professionals to the fore but the dearth of owner/managers and employees in the personal contact networks is quite surprising.
Developing Exportise: An Irish Perspective
Authors: Bell Jim , Murray Maurice , Madden Kate
Published: October 2007

JIM BELL, MAURICE MURRAY AND KATE Madden are with the University of Ulster atJordanstown, Northern Ireland. Since 1986 the Northern Ireland Department of Economic Development has sponsored a series of export training programmes focusing on European and North American markets. Initially, these activities were developed in conjunction with AnCo (now FAS), the training agency in the Republic of Ireland and were partially funded by the International Fund for Ireland. In 1989, due to a change in remit, FAS took a decision to target training towards school leavers rather than graduates, thereby suspending their involvement. The DED increased their involvement, however, thus enabling more Northern Irish firms and graduates to benefit from the initiative. This paper focuses on the Export Marketing Training Programme, which aims to develop export competence among small Irish firms while at the same time increasing the stock of exportise by developing future generations of international marketing managers. Following an outline of the salient features of the programmes, discussion centres on an evaluation of their impact on the export performance of participating firms and on benefits derived by young graduates who have been involved in the previous programmes.
Promoting Enterprise in the New Russia: An Example from the Murmansk Region
Authors: Psarev Georgy
Published: October 2007

DR. GEORGY PSAREV IS DIRECTOR of' the Fund for Financial Support and Promotion of Small Enterprises in the Murmansk Region of Russia. Independent small enterprise in Russia has emerged as a result of the collapse of the old coimmniand economy and recent legislation but establishing small firms as part of the newly emerging market economy is very difficult. This article describes the work of an enterprise agency, the Fund for the Financial Support and Promotion of Small Enterprises. This is an independent, self-financing enterprise agency established in 1990 and thie article shows how the agency, though initially modelled on similar agencies in Norway and Finland, has adapted to the very special circumstances of the new Russian economy. For instance, the Fund operates as a commercial business in connection with the commodity exchanges which have emerged in Russia to provide the basis of a new market-based distribution system. This not only allows the Fund the secure resources for its activities but also helps ensur-e a supply of materials for the small businesses it is helping and training in business skills for tl-he Fund's staff. Though its main office in Murrnansk, the Fund has already set up branch offices in St. Petersburg and Novgoirod and now employs more than 20 people. Other similar enterprise agencies have been set up elsewhere in Russia as part of a support system for the siiiall businesses of the country's new economy.
A Comparison of New Businesses Established by 'Novice' and 'Habitual' Founders in Great Britain
Authors: Birley Sue , Westhead Paul
Published: October 2007

Professor sue Birley is with the managment school, imperical college, London, and Dr Paul Westhead with the center for small and medium-sized Enterprise, warwick univerisity, England. This paper identifies statistically significant difference between new independent owner-managed business established by two types of founders: 'novice' and 'habitual 'enterpreneurs. Novice founders were defined as those individuals with no previous experience of founding a business while habitual fouonders are those who had established at least one other businessjprior to the start up of the current new venture. Results from the final discriminant analysiss model indicate that habitual fouonders are yonger than theri counterparts when starting theri first business, they are likely to be continuing a tradition (i.e. the incubator prior to start up was also more likely to be theri own business), they emphasissed the 'fellow role models' reasons rather than 'welfare consideration' leading to the start up of the current busines and they used personal savings at the launch of the business, which suggest that previous business foundingexperience canbe anasset rather than a liability. from this the autors conclude that there is no empirical evidence to suggest from this study that those new busiens established by novice founders withno prior buisness founding experience are at a competitive disadvantage in relation to their counterparts. Moreover, a small firms policy of targettingscarce ecomomic resources to habitual founders with an established track record is questioned.
The Influence of Franchisees beyond Their Local Domain
Authors: Dandridge Thomas C. , Falbe Cecilia M.
Published: October 2007

THOMAS DANDRIDGE IS DIRECTOR OF THE Small Business Institute at the University of Albany, State University of New York. He and Dr. Cecilia M. Falbe have conducted extensive research into the franchising relationship. Franchising is an evolving organisational form with broad implications for the ways decisions are made and implemented within a large enterprise. The pervasiveness and the important roles of advisory councils are emerging participative features of management in franchised systems. This paper describes some of their impacts and looks in detail at the characteristics, functions, and importance of franchise advisory councils. It describes the results of a study of 114 franchisors who provided information on the characteristics and objectives of their advisory councils. The results provide support for the use by franchisors of the advisory council as a mechanism for channelling entrepreneurial activity directly to the franchise system.
Strategic Types and Performances of Small Firms in Korea
Authors: Kim Youngbae , Choi Youngrok
Published: October 2007

YOUNGBAE KIM IS AN ASSISTANT professor of management and policy in the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Taejon, South Korea and Youngrok Choi is a researcher in the nuclear policy division of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Taejon, Korea. This study attempts to identify the patterns of strategic behaviour of small firms in Korea in conjunction with their performance. Based on the data from 79 small firms across four industries, the results reveal that there appear to be four common strategic attributes cost efficiency, innovative differentiation, marketing differentiation, and asset parsimony and five strategic types of firms which have distinct combinations of these strategic attributes innovative, versatile, marginal, and reactive types. Each type of firm was also found to have different organisational characteristics and performance level. Finally, this study discusses the comparative management issue in the field of strategic management and offers some practical implications for managers of small firms.
Motivation for Franchising: Rhetoric Versus Reality
Authors: Dant Rajiv P.
Published: October 2007

DR RAJIV P. DANT IS AN ASSISTANT professor of marketing at the School of Management, Boston University, United States of America. His current research interests include distribution channels and franchising, research methodology, and macro/ international issues. Several theoretical arguments have been proposed in the literature about why successful businesses might choose the franchising route to growth and expansion over other competing alternatives. However, empirical verification of these explanations is virtually non-existent. This paper describes the results of three studies aimed at garnering evidence on this topic. Results indicate that economic as well as idiosyncratic motivations drive the franchising choice. Important differences are uncovered in the concerns and expectation sets of founders of franchise systems and professional managers. Data also provide some initial evidence on two important but yet untested arguments about the payoffs of franchising as proposed by Rubin (1978) and Norton (1988)
Efficient Pricing of New Equity Issues
Authors: Buckland Roger
Published: October 2007

ROGER BUCKLAND IS PROFESSOR OF accountancy at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Small firms achieve independent growth by changing their status to public quoted companies with enhanced capacity of attract equity from outside investors. This paper argues that: first, mechanisms of initial public offering (IPO) pricing in London are inappropriate and damaging to potential entrants: second, that there is extensive evicence pointing towards innovative initial public offering procedures; and third, that a system of pricing directed explicitly towards the level of discount would make the initial public offering market in the United Kingdom more effective and efficient.
Entry and Exit Process of Small Businesses in P. R. China's Retail Sector
Authors: Kong-wing Clement Chow
Published: October 2007

Clement Chow Kong-Wing at the time of writing this paper a lecture in the Nanyang Technlogical University, Singapore and now with the Hong Kong Institute of Business studies, Lingnan College. Small Business have been developing rapidly in china in the iplemnation of economic refor in the late 1978. This paper presents an empirical analysis to asses whichsocio ecomoc factors account for the entry exit proces of small individual enterprise focus only on short-term benefits. the following result were obtained. our empirical test confirms taht private enterpreneus only focus on short or medium term benefits because their entery exit decisions were affected by the temporary recesion inducedby the 1988 austerity programme. Small retialers enter or leave the retail sector gradually and the entery procss is slown than the exit process;3 factors like per cpaital national income, city-province and coatal inland difference, mobility of households, population density and growth are also relevant in accounting for the changes of entry-exit process eithr before or after the 1988 austerity programme.
Some Research Perspectives on Entrepreneurship Education, Enterprise Education and Education for Small Business Management: A Ten-Year Literature Review
Authors: Gorman Gary , Hanlon Dennis , King Wayne
Published: October 2007

GARY GORMAN IS AN ASSOCIATE DEAN AND associate professor and Dennis Hanlon an assistant professor at the Faculty of Business Administration, Memorial University ofNewfoundland, Canada, and Wayne King is director of the P. J. Gardiner Institute for Small Business Studies as well as an assistant professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland. This paper reviews the literature in the areas of entrepreneurship education, enterprise education and education for small business management. The review covers the period from 1985 to 1994 inclusive and is limited to mainstream journals that focus on entrepreneurship and small business. Theoretical and empirical papers are examined from the perspective of content and market focus. The paper also suggests directions for future research.
Venturing Down the TOM Path for SME's
Authors: Wiele Ton Van der , Brown Alan
Published: October 2007

TON VAN DER WIELE IS DIRECTOR OF THE Strategic Quality Management Institute at Erasmus University, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and Alan Brown is Director of the Small and Medium Enterprise Research Centre at Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia. SMEs face considerable pressure to gain ISO 9000 series quality system certification if they are suppliers to major organisations and governments; furthermore, if they seek to operate in certain markets they may also require certification. To what extent, however, do they adopt broader quality concepts such as total quality management and that as outlined in the quality award models? This paper explores these questions by examining factors which distinguish between those SMEs which focus on narrow concepts of quality such as ISO 9000 and those who move to more holistic approaches such as TQM. The analysis is based on two questionnaire surveys in Australia, one to all ISO 9000 certified organisations in Western Australia and the other to all members of the Australian Quality Council. A limited number of semi- structured interviews were also used to provide case study material of experiences of small companies. The research indicated that SMEs, albeit not large numbers, do use broader quality concepts other than ISO 9000. Findings suggest that two groups of SMEs can be differentiated on the basis of their approach to quality. There are the just ISO' group who generally focus on ISO 9000 because of market pressures while the 'quality progressive' or enlightened group view quality in a more holistic manner. The latter group tend to adopt broader notions of quality which includes TQM and quality award models as a framework for their quality activities. These two groups can be differentiated on issues such as: employee involvement, self-assessment, process improvement and capability and assessing process performance.
Market Orientation for the Public Sector Providing Expert Services for SMEs
Authors: Hurmerinta-Peltomdki Leila , Nummela Niina
Published: October 2007

LERLA HUMERINTA-PELTOMAKI IS A researcher at the Turku School of Economics and Business Administration, Finland, and Niina Nummela is an Assistant Professor at the same university. In this paper, the authors attempt to characterise the small business market for expert services. The aims of the paper can be summarised as follows: to distinguish the characteristics of users and non-users of expert services; to evaluate the overall potential for future uise of expert services; to analyse the characteristics of potential users of expert services. This paper is part of a large ongoing research project concerning expert services and SMEs in Finland. The empirical analysis is based on the responses of 400 firms. The results reveal that possibilities do exist for a market orientation in the public sector. The authors have suggested a typology of SMEs according to current and future use of expert services. This typology enables the service providers to define their customers and also to design strategies for handling each customer group individually. The identification of different customer types creates an opportunity for exploiting large-scale demand, which is a requirement for the effectiveness of service providers in the public sector. SMEs see a market orientation on the supply side in terins of a more proactive supply effort to provide information regarding the services.
The Nature of the Banking Relationship: A Comparison of the Experiences of Male and Female Small Business Ownersi
Authors: McKechnie Sally A. , Ennew Christine T. , Read Lauren H.
Published: October 2007

(CHRISTINE ENNEW AND SALLY MCKECHNIE are with the School of Management and Finance at the University of Nottingham, England, and at the time the paper was written Lauren Read was with the I)epartment of Geography, University of Southampton, England. The purpose of this paper is to shed new light on the issuie of whether banks treat female and mnale small buisiness owners differently, by explorinig the nature of the banking i-elationship from the perspective of two grotips of owner-managers differentiated only bv gender. Being able to identify similarities and differences in the needs anid inotivations of each gender, as well as develop a better understanding of how baniks are perceived, should then enable banks to identify ways in which they may serve their small business owners better. Following a review of the literature, which is predominantly North American- based, this paper goes on to report the findiings of two empirical studies conducted in the UK, which focus on financing conditions and aspects of the overall relationship between the small business an-d the bank manager. The findings suggest that gender based differences in both the provision of finance and the nature of the banking relationship are less substantial than mnight have been expected. There continues to be evidence that some business owners perceive greatei- difficulties in their dealings with theii- bank and perceive themselves as being- subject to discriminatorv behaviour but there is less evidence to suggest that this affects the terms and coniditionIs o)n xNsui h their businesses are finaniced.
The Changing Face of Information System Issues in Small Firms
Authors: Pollard Carol E. , Hayne Stephen C.
Published: October 2007

CAROL E. POLLARD IS WITH THE FACULTY OF Management, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and Stephen C. Hayne is with the School of Management, Arizona State University West, Phoenix, USA. This study provides insights into the information technology concerns of small firms and indicates ways in which small firms are managing technological challenges and opportunities. A national survey of small Canadian firms was conducted using a modified Delphi technique and follow-up telephone interviews. (ritical information systems issuies identified include 1) using IS for competitive advantages; 2) improving IS project management practices; 3) improving the effectiveness of software development. A comparison with recent sttudies to identify recent trends in IS issues reveals that the issues faced by small Caniadian firms have changed. Small firms are lagging large firms where the technology is concerned but are similar on conceptual issues. We believe that small firms will continue to desire more internal control over operations ancl consequently adopt more technology. Hardware and software qualitx and reliability will stay at the forefront of their worries. Furthermore, as conmmunications become more mission critical, i.e. electronic mail and electronic data interchanige, small firms will embrace network technologx. Managing communications max become a very critical problem for small business.
Rural Information and Advice Services
Authors: Kempson Elaine
Published: October 2007

For many years attention has been focused on the information needs within industry and commerce, government and, to a certain extent, the educational sector. This paper addresses the need by ordinary individuals for information which relates to their daily lives. Using the experience in Great Britain, the paper illustrates the ways by which these needs can be met within rural communities.
Providing Information for Research: Federal Research Institute Libraries in Nigeria
Authors: Nzotta Briggs C.
Published: October 2007

The main function of special libraries in research organizations is to provide the necessary information for research. A study was undertaken in 1983 to determine the extent and range of resources available to libraries of the Nigerian Federal Government research institutes in the field of the applied sciences. The results show that these libraries do not have sufficient resources to enable them to function effectively, since their buildings, collections and staffing levels are all inadequate. Suggestions are made for improving the standards of service offered to researchers.
Computerizing Information Services in Iraq
Authors: Jacsó Péter , Razzaq Faik Abdul S.
Published: October 2007

A large scale computerization project was initiated in Iraq to automate library and information work in support of the accelerating research and development work in the country. It was jointly implemented by the Iraqi Scientific Documentation Centre and the Hungarian Computer Applications and Service Company under the auspices of Unesco. Four databases were implemented initially: the local versions of the BIOSIS and INSPEC databases, a union catalogue of monographs from LC/MARC records and a union catalogue of serials from the ISDS tapes. The background and justification of the project are reviewed and an overview given of the design concepts, implementation and the major characteristics of the databases, services and products. The results of the project are evaluated and future developments discussed.
Archives Development in Kenya
Authors: Musembi Musila
Published: October 2007

Kenya experienced a great loss of official documentation during the colonial period. After independence, it was therefore decided to establish an archives service. However, poor management decisions threatened to distort priorities during specific periods. Despite the valuable contribution of consultants to the development of the National Archives, their assessments have often been based on ill-informed or biased opinions.
The Harmonization of Information Training
Authors: Cook Michael
Published: October 2007

Discusses the basis for the idea of harmonizing the initial training of entrants to the information professions. The progress of studies towards harmonization are sketched, from the NATIS discussions in 1974, through meetings to develop harmonized curricula in 1979 and 1984. Curriculum studies in management, technology and user studies are the main outcome. Further work is being done by the NGOs. Harmonized courses are as yet rare in the developed countries, but have been adopted by new training schools in certain developing countries. Further development is likely.
Training Librarians in the University of Papua New Guinea
Authors: Butler Alan
Published: October 2007

The University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) library combines administrative decentralization with a dirigist thrust from the university librarian. The rapid turnover of senior staff and inexperienced junior staff imposes strains and creates a need for a looser organizational structure. Training must encourage entrepreneurial, innovative individuals. Describes the national staff development scheme at junior and senior level and examines future training needs.
UNESCO's GENERAL INFORMA TION PROGRAMME, 1977-1987: its characteristics, activities and accomplishments
Authors: Roberts Kenneth H.
Published: October 2007

Paper produced in support of the Impact Evaluation of the General Information Programme (PGI) of Unesco being carried out during 1988. Outlines the origins, aims and objectives and organs of PGI, its structure, methods of execution and linkages with other bodies, and summarizes its accomplishments in respect of: standards and standardization; bibliographic control; the International Serials Data System; the Common Communication Format; terminology; the development and use of databases; international and regional cooperation in promoting the exchange and flow of information; national information policies; the promotion of PGI ; the development of information infrastructures, including libraries, archives and specialized information and data services; the training o information personnel and users; and operational activities. Provides data on the human and financial resources of PGI, 1977-87, and reviews its relations with other international agencies and the actions taken to evaluate its activities. Concludes that PGI's contribution is mainly catalytic and cannot be sustained for long periods due to lack of resources.
Information Use by Agricultural Policy Makers and Managers in Ghana
Authors: Sam Joel
Published: October 2007

Examines the use of information by agricultural policy-makers and managers in Ghana, their awareness of the potential of library staff in helping them in their work, and of information and information services. The study established that respondents are well aware of the information sources and services available and use them to a very high degree. Librarians and information specialists have a positive impact on policy makers and managers. Presents recommendations aimed at improving library and information services and at galvanizing policy-makers and managers into using information more often.
Barriers to Technical Solutions: institutional, policy and legal barriers to information access
Authors: Perkins Mark
Published: October 2007

The obstacles to the use of the Internet as a solution to development problems are not only technical, but political, social, cultural and institutional.
Using the Internet at the International Development Centre: a personal view
Authors: Allcock Sheila
Published: October 2007

The launching of a World Wide Web home page by the International Development Centre Library produced some unexpected results, including a request for information on what the Queen of England has for breakfast!
Electronic Information Sources on Refugees and Forced Migration
Authors: Rhodes Sarah
Published: October 2007

This list of electronic information sources aims to help those working in the field of refugee and forced migration studies to find the information they need.
Securing your System against Virus Attack: the experience of a medical library in Nigeria
Authors: Eyitayo Samuel A.
Published: October 2007

Identifies three types of computer viruses: worms, logic bombs and Trojan horses; and outlines their effects on computer systems. Describes the effects of a virus outbreak at the E. Latunde Odeku Medical Library, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and the measures taken to recover from it. Explains measures to prevent and detect virus attacks, and makes recommendations for ensuring the security of computer systems.
Quality and Quantity of Sanitary Landfill Leachate
Authors: Ehrig H.-J.
Published: October 2007

This paper presents the results of leachate quantity and quality measurement at 20 landfills in the northern part of West Germany over an average period of 3 years. The leachate flow rate could only be estimated as a percentage of annual precipitation (measured precipitation 501-1057 mm year-1). The values for compaction with crawler tractors are 25-50% and with steel wheel compactors, 15-25%. The organic contents of leachate are dependent upon the kind of decomposition conditions (aerobic, anaerobic acetic production or anaerobic methane production). With anaerobic acetic production the volatile fatty acids produced in leachate have a high COD and BOD5. In the following methane production phase these acids are converted to CO2 and CH4 with low organic leachate contents. The concentrations of some inorganic components, such as Fe and Ca, are parallel as a result of changes in pH. Ammonia shows a slow increase with landfill age. In most cases the contents of heavy metals are lower than 1 mg 1-1.