This research aimsto highlight the attributes that contributeto a sustained competitive advantage of small-mediumenterprises (SMEs) in a sustainable context. With this knowledge, the studycan show academia and other organizations how to approach sustainability concerns and perform more effectively.The phenomenon of sustainable practices as a driver of sustainable competitive advantage among small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) in Germany was explored in this thesis. This research employs resource-based theory to explore the relationship between sustainable practices and competitive advantage in SMEs. According to resource-based theory, internal corporate resources and competencies provide a competitive advantage. In other words, the goal of this study is to look at the ESG (Environmental, Governance, and Social) elements of sustainability using resource-based theory. Finding out what a company is doing to ensure a resource's long-term sustainability raises manyquestions. Thus, toaddress such questions, qualitative analysis was used to obtain data for the interviews in this study. The multiple case study procedure utilized an abductive methodological approach, moving between empirical evidence and acquired theory.According to thefindings of this study, the firms under investigation have made efforts to improve ecologicalsustainability by incorporatingsustainability into their operations.The findings reveal that businesses believe they are accountable for making strategic decisions that benefit the environment and society. However, due to the early stages of the product life cycle or financial constraints, the company is still lagging in implementingthe ESG dimension. / <p>Online Presentation via Zoom</p>

Ready-made garment (RMG) industry is the biggest and most importantindustry of Bangladesh with the highest overall export earnings and foreigncurrency earnings in the country. And international market is the biggestexporting destination for Bangladesh RMG industry. However, the overallcondition of this sector does not look well recently. Research suggests thathundreds of garment factories have been shut down during the past few yearsdue to not coping up with the different challenges of internationalization,although the overall export earnings remain relatively unchanged. Therefore,the authors conducted this research to identify and present in-depthknowledge about the major challenges that Bangladesh RMG industry arefacing while internationalizing and operating in foreign markets in recentyears, as the author believes these challenges could be the possible reasonsthat forcing RMG SMEs to shut down their operations.This research aims to identify the internationalization challenges forBangladesh RMG companies in international markets. Suchinternationalization challenges focusing on international markets have notbeen studied much previously and thus have created a knowledge gap.Therefore, this study addresses such a knowledge gap by answering thefollowing research question: What is the process of Internationalization of Bangladesh RMGcompanies? What are the internationalization challenges faced by the BangladeshRMG companies? How do the RMG companies manage the challenges they face?Empirical data was gathered by interviewing respondents from three RMGcompanies in Bangladesh and through secondary data sources. The findingsof this study show that Bangladesh RMG companies internationalize rapidlywithin a couple of years from inception. The study also identified somemajor internationalization challenges such as competition, major industrialaccidents, Infrastruture, etc. Moreover, network relastionships are found tobe essential in Bangladesh RMG companies‘ internationalization. Theauthors then analyzed the findings by applying previous literature and theirown created conceptual framework. Furthermore, this research providestheoretical and managerial implications on this essential topic. Key words: Competition, Exporting, Internationalization, Internationalization challenges,Infrastructures, Networking, Readymade Garment (RMG) Industry.

This work seeks to explore the critical success factors that influence the success of Indian small business owners in the Tshwane area. To achieve this, the objective of the study is to confirm whether there are significant differences between a successful and less successful group of business owners in terms of general management skills, personal characteristics and entrepreneurial orientation and financing of the business. Through an analysis of theoretical information and empirical results it is possible to facilitate a better understanding of how Indian entrepreneurs operating in small and medium enterprises sustain success, thus enabling learnings that contribute to the body of knowledge relating to entrepreneurship development in South Africa. From the literature it became clear that cultural dimensions have an impact on the entrepreneurial process. The arrival of Indians to South Africa has also contributed to the Indian culture. The characteristics that describe ethnic entrepreneurs and success factors attributed to their success is described. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are crucial for the development of any country as they offer benefits of economic growth and employment generation. The success factors to sustain SMEs are also described. Data was collected from respondents by means of a convenience sample using a structured questionnaire consisting of 28 questions. A total of 106 useable questionnaires were returned, which were then classified into a successful and less successful group, based on the criteria of annual turnover and employment growth. The classification process resulted in the successful group containing 38 respondents while the less successful group contained 49 respondents. The findings of the study indicate that there are no significant differences between the comparable groups in relation to management skills and finance factors. There are, however, significant differences relating to personal factors, such as the level of education, family support and experience. Finally, an important learning is that the Indian entrepreneurs in this study are similar to ethnic entrepreneurs reviewed in literature. Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

In recent years, the giant squid processing industry in Peru exhibited a 59% increase in exports with respect to 2018. According to estimates, this industry generates approximately 30,900 jobs per year. However, some SMEs experience low productivity, such as the PECEPE company, due to plant downtime. This represents 26% of the available time, which translates into the loss of 1760 tons every year. The most constraining external factor the sector faces is uncertainty in resource availability caused by changing weather conditions and informal fishing activities. Although there is a large number of research studies on the fishing industry and resource extraction, literature on processing plant operations is scarce. Within this context, this study seeks to promote a high impact sector in Peru, as well as fostering processing plant competitiveness and productivity. Hence, to address these issues, the authors propose a maintenance management model under the TPM approach. As part of the results from model implementation, a 39% decrease was reported in plant downtime, while maintenance costs also decreased by 16%, which, in turn, increased machine availability and production by 784 tons per year.

Currently, small- and medium-sized enterprises face order fulfillment issues, thus generating reduced service levels. In addition, these companies are usually not aware of the importance of continuous improvement tools or of training staff as a mitigation strategy for this situation. Within this framework, the authors performed a literature review to compile production models through which downtimes could be reduced. The production model designed therefrom comprises Lean Manufacturing and work study tools within a Change Management approach. This design focuses on model implementation by small companies without requiring large investment, cutting-edge technology, or qualified personnel. Finally, an application case study was conducted in a small textile manufacturing company located at the Gamarra Fashion Center in Lima, Peru. The results that were reported revealed that late order fulfillment instances reduced by up to 18%, which had an impact on downtimes, unnecessary movements, and in-process inventory levels, thus increasing productivity by 85%.

This investigation proposes a lean model of production management for a small and micro enterprise (SME) dealing in packaging production in the auto parts sector, with the purpose of increasing efficiency in its production line. To this end, this model integrates study method tools and SMED, seeking to reduce waiting times and unnecessary operations, which have been identified as causing the problem on the basis of an initial diagnosis of the situation. Furthermore, to support and guarantee success in implementing these tools, John Kotter's Change Model is used. After two months of implementation, the results showed a 50% reduction in setup operation time and a 32% decrease in filing operation time, which are bottlenecks in the production process. Thus, with the new indicators, the line efficiency increased by 7% from the initial situation, thus showing improvement.

The gap between the relatively static marketing resources of a firm and the turbulent marketplace is growing in importance for both practitioners and academics alike. This paper explores how marketing capabilities, specifically market orientation, work synergistically with other organizational capabilities to form dynamic marketing capabilities that enhance firm innovativeness. Findings indicate that a tight integration between the technical and marketing functions of a firm creates a fertile transformation point, where market orientation infuses the innovation process. Market orientation interacts with these integrated capabilities to form a dynamic marketing capability that enhances the organization's innovativeness. Implications include how these dynamic marketing capabilities differ between service and manufacturing firms, where only the cultural aspects of market orientation enhance performance in service firms.

This dissertation reported an investigation of e-commerce institutionalization process in women-led SMEs in Mozambique. The goal was to understand how e-commerce is conceptualized by these SMEs while exploring the contextual factors that contribute or inhibit the process of institutionalization from the unique perspective of a least developed country (LDC) such as Mozambique. The study combined the perspectives offered by the contextualist theory (Pettigrew, 1985) and the Perceived E-readiness Model (PERM) (Molla &amp; Licker, 2005a) to employ an integrated framework for investigating the process of e-commerce institutionalization. An interpretative and qualitative multiple case study approach was employed as a methodological basis, using six SMEs which have been able to institutionalize e-commerce. The data collection was conducted through multiple data sources including semi-structured interviews, analysis of company website, and social media platforms. Data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach across the cases. The findings indicate that there are different patterns of e-commerce institutionalization. SMEs do not always follow the traditional steady stages of e-commerce growth described in the literature. Furthermore, the results showed a socially constructed feature of e-commerce characterized by the extensive use of social media networks. A great levels of institutionalization and satisfaction was attained when enabling factors within and outside the organization interacted positively. Within the internal context of the organizations, the SMEs manager’s capability to use social media networks, e-mail and mobile phones to build innovative business models, create direct relationships with customers, and marketing direct to their niche markets. Factors from the external context emerged as the main challengers to the process of institutionalization, specifically the challenges faced by the government, market forces, supporting industries, and those of sociocultural nature. A number of important recommendations were made, for example, the government should not only provide the regulatory framework but also work actively in its promotion and implementation. This should encompass the establishment of networks and training opportunities to improve SMEs knowledge regarding e-commerce, and continuous partnership between the various stakeholders involved in the e-commerce ecosystem in addressing the various environmental challenges. By conducting an investigation on the selected women-led SMEs in Mozambique, this study has extended knowledge of e-commerce research in the country. Additionally, it is an important contribution for the debate about e-commerce in developing countries, specifically a better understanding of SMEs that go beyond the initial adoption phase.

Problem: There is little amount of research focused on small and medium-sized enterprise’s (SMEs) and their work with sustainability. Most research on sustainability drivers has been developed on large organizations which makes this thesis provide a perspective on the most important sustainability drivers in SME’s and how they are embedded in SME’s. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to deepen and enrich knowledge of sustainability drivers in SME’s with the aspects internal and external drivers. Method: This thesis has a qualitative and quantitative research approach where the interview included qualitative questions and quantitative rankings of the internal and external drivers by the interviewed SMEs. Findings: The findings of the qualitative and quantitative research indicate that SMEs have embedded sustainability in their work by ranking the most important drivers. The highest ranked internal drivers are proactive leadership, company culture and moral and ethical obligations. The highest ranked external drivers are regulation and legislation, customer demands and expectations, society’s raising awareness and market demands. Conclusion: The main contribution of the thesis is presented by highlighting the most important drivers in SMEs, external stakeholders might have an idea of which driver influences SMEs to make them sustainable; if sustainability is not embedded in the SME. This thesis did not aim to generalize the findings about SMEs sustainability drivers, but to obtain a deeper insight by the interviewees experiences.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(経済学) / 甲第20653号 / 経博第553号 / 新制||経||282(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院経済学研究科経済学専攻 / (主査)教授 矢野 剛, 教授 劉 徳強, 教授 三重野 文晴, 准教授 高野 久紀 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Economics / Kyoto University / DFAM