Apstrādes rūpniecības mazo un vidējo uzņēmumu snieguma novērtēšana Latvijā = Performance Evaluation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in the Manufacturing Industry in Latvia
Authors:   ,   Rezekne Academy of Technologies, Kotāne Inta 
Published: March 2023

Author of the doctoral theses: Mg. oec. Inta Kotane Title of the doctoral theses: Performance evaluation of small and medium-sized enterprises in the manufacturing industry in Latvia. Research hypothesis: the managements of manufacturing SMEs can evaluate their enterprises' performance by employing a performance evaluation index for manufacturing SMEs. Research aim: to examine the practice of evaluating the performance of SMEs in the manufacturing industry and develop proposals for enhancing the performance evaluation of SMEs in the manufacturing industry in Latvia. Research objectives: 1) to examine the concept of enterprise performance and elements of the performance category, analyse the frameworks for measuring and managing an enterprise's performance, describe the measurement of the enterprise's performance as well as the concepts of financial and non-financial indicators; 2) to assess the specifics of SME operation and factors in SME performance, identify their impacts on the measurement and management of SME performance and develop a conceptual framework for measuring and managing SME performance; 3) to describe the performance of the manufacturing industry, identify the main regulatory and policy documents governing the manufacturing industry, evaluate the performance of the Latvian manufacturing industry and the factors in its development; 4) to develop a methodology for evaluating the performance of SMEs in the Latvian manufacturing industry for enhancing the performance evaluation of SMEs in the Latvian manufacturing industry. The logic of the research determines the structure of the theses. To achieve the research aim, the theses are structured in four chapters with subsections. In the first chapter, the author analyses the theoretical aspects of business performance and the diversity of performance indicators, emphasizing financial and non-financial indicators. Performance management, measurement and evaluation, performance measurement and management frameworks are evaluated in the performance category. In the second chapter, the author summarizes and analyses the advantages of SME and disadvantages of their internal and external environment, evaluates the factors determining SME’s performance, performance measurement frameworks and main dimensions, develops the conceptual framework for measuring and managing the SME’s performance. In the third chapter, the author explores the aspects of the manufacturing industry: the concept, stakeholders, approach to performance measurement of sustainable production, legal framework regulating operations of SME in manufacturing industry in Latvia. Development of manufacturing enterprises and manufacturing SMEs and factors affecting their development in Latvia are analysed. In the fourth chapter, the methodology of the performance evaluation index is developed and the performance evaluation index (PEI) is created. The results of the PEI approbation in the manufacturing SMEs are evaluated, determining whether, by applying the PEI method, it is possible to evaluate the company's business performance and assess possibilities for improving the main performance indicators. In the end, the main conclusions are formulated, the main problems identified, and the proposals for their solution proposed. The doctoral theses elaborated for obtaining the Ph. D. degree consists of 126 pages, including 20 tables, 39 figures, 20 annexes, 536 sources of information are used, incl. 454 sources in English.