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In Jordan around 98 percent of manufacturing and service sector firms are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), while around 80 percent of the Jordanian labour force is employed by S MEs. However, SMEs face considerable difficulties in obtaining sufficient funds, especially from external sources such as commercial banks. This has been recognized in Jordan by the establishment of a loan guarantee scheme in 1994. However, neither this nor any other similar scheme introduced by a developing country has b een fully evaluated to establish its impact and success. The purpose is to evaluate the effects of the Jordanian loan guarantee scheme to establish its role in improving the supply of funds to SMEs, and to suggest policies and procedures for the improvement of the scheme. The methodology for the study is based upon an interview questionnaire survey of 142 Jordanian firms receiving loans from the commercial banks backed by a guarantee. It covers firms in different types of business (manufacture, services, retail and agriculture) and in different locations (Amman, Zarqa, Irbid, Balqa and Aqaba). The study also utilizes interviews with the credit managers of commercial banks participating in the loan guarantee scheme. The thesis is organized around nine chapters including on the Jordanian economy, SMEs in Jordan, a literature review of loan guarantee schemes and the qualitative and quantitative results of the surveys. The main findings are that younger borrowers and newer SME firrns are more able to receive commercial bank ftinding under the scheme than they would otherwise obtain. The scheme also helps firms with uncertain profitability and projects that are traditionally viewed as 'low quality' (e. g. low level of education or female entrepreneurs) to obtain extra finance. These projects have low default rates and do not have high failure rates suggesting a substantial market failure. However, the study finds that the commercial banks tend to use the scheme as an additional source of security in their lending, and do not necessarily lend to riskier projects, as they require similar levels of collateral. Further, the study draws attention to the management of the scheme, so that it needs to be better marketed to the target group and there needs to be better monitoring and follow-up of projects. Lessons could also be leamt from other guarantee schemes, such as in the UK, including the introduction of a premium charge for firms.

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This thesis comprehensively explores the credit risk of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) using transactional characteristics, financial variables and market information. It contributes SMEs credit risk modelling by exploring a range of soft features, such as management capability, industrial sectors, entity type, etc. It is the first study of investigating the concept of management capability through quantitative transactional information. Firstly, models are proposed to assess the credit risk of SMEs by identifying the significant factors. To fulfill this, two studies are carried out. In the first study, logistic regression, survival analysis and ordinal regression are used to model the relationship between transformed financial variables and probability of default. Both the traditional AUROC measure and Hand Statistic are used to evaluate the performances of the models, and they both indicate that logistic regression on weights of evidence transformed data yields the best prediction. Survival model takes an extra element of the time dimension into consideration. Ordinal regression performs poorly possibly due to impact of sample sizes. The factors appeared with highest frequencies are ratios associated with liquidity and growth. The other study predicts the credit risk (‘good’ ‘bad’ and ‘indeterminate’) of the SMEs using transactional characteristics. 35000 SMEs are clustered by different clustering algorithms. It is notably found that most ‘indeterminate’ observations are clustered with ‘bad’ observation, which is different from industry habit of combining ‘indeterminate’ and ‘good’. Logistic regression performs better than ordinal regression according to AUROC measure. In addition, some key points raised in focus group interview with bank managers are seen in the modelling process as significant variables, such as sector belonging to, entity type, region/location, time associated with bank, and account conduct. Secondly, the informational bases of two major models, which are accounting based credit scoring models and Merton type models, are explored to figure out aspects which affect SMEs’ credit risk. 33 financial variables covering nine financial categories are considered. It employs other modelling frameworks rather than the often-used linear regression, which are linear regression with interactions and the Cox proportional hazard model. It is found that weak relationship exists between these two models. The two major models capture different aspects of corporate information, it is suggested that a hybrid model, which incorporate both sources of information, might be considered to predict SMEs financial health. Thirdly, management capability of SMEs is elicited by applying principal component analysis to their transactional characteristics. Management capability is a qualitative idea, and its manifestation in quantitative variables was not explored in previous research. This study indicates some success in determining management capability. It is found that financial measure (credit turnover and debit turnover) and the performance measure (number of days in excess of the account) could be considered as reflecting management capability. Good management can identify trends at a very early stage and take action to mitigate the issue.

<p><strong>Problem:</strong> There has been a limited amount of study in procurement within SMEs (Quayle, 2002). In general, for all sizes of organizations, the procurement function has often been regarded as a transactional based function and plays a supporting department to the value-adding process. These organizations view procurement as a simple function of the entire firm (Hutchins, 1992). It is more commonly found that procurement in SMEs tend to be fragmented and non-strategic (Zheng et al., 2007).</p><p><strong>Purpose:</strong> The purpose of this thesis is to investigate innovation in procurement in small and medium-sized enterprises</p><p><strong>Method:</strong> A qualitative research method with an abductive approach was used to conduct this research. A primary and secondary material was gathered from Sensys Traffic AB which was used as a case study in investigating into the innovation in procurement within small and medium-sized enterprises.</p><p><strong>Theories: </strong>The theoretical framework that was utilized in this investigation consisted of procurement processes, strategies, roles, and innovation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> An organization can compete for the present and the future by placing more emphasis and priority within procurement in SMEs, developing the procurement department and employment skills, coordinating and collaborating within both internal and external members, forming 'win-win' relationships with suppliers, and proactively looking for ways to innovate. Furthermore, by specifically looking to innovate within these areas the procurement function can leverage itself and its firm to be able to achieve reduced total cost of ownership and higher quality products/services. These special areas which were outlined by Spray (2009) are new sourcing ideas, new insights, new partnerships and new technologies.</p>

<p>Small and medium-sized enterprises play much more important roles in both domestic and international markets nowadays. The issue that factors influence their export performance (mainly the export sales and profits) also becomes much more attractive these years. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the factors which influence the SMEs’ export performance and how each factor influences the SMEs’ export performance. This study is built on a modified model of the factors influencing the SMEs’ export performance. The authors use case study to conduct this research, and one company’s (Company B’s) data is collected through the semi-structured interview. Some findings are obtained: the important factors which influence Company B’s export performance contain the trade shows, the expenses on getting the authentication, capital sources, export rebate, firm network, firm previous experience, firm competencies, personal network, international orientation and personal previous experience. In addition, the authors also find the effect of firm size is indirect. However, customs duty, transportation, as well as building up the brand do not play important impacts on export performance. Take the trade shows as an example, personal cards and product samples are sent to the customers, then the customers who are interested in the products will contact Company B. In this way, the customers are accumulated and the export sales increase. Thus, the export performance is enhanced.</p>

Small and medium-sized enterprises play much more important roles in both domestic and international markets nowadays. The issue that factors influence their export performance (mainly the export sales and profits) also becomes much more attractive these years. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the factors which influence the SMEs’ export performance and how each factor influences the SMEs’ export performance. This study is built on a modified model of the factors influencing the SMEs’ export performance. The authors use case study to conduct this research, and one company’s (Company B’s) data is collected through the semi-structured interview. Some findings are obtained: the important factors which influence Company B’s export performance contain the trade shows, the expenses on getting the authentication, capital sources, export rebate, firm network, firm previous experience, firm competencies, personal network, international orientation and personal previous experience. In addition, the authors also find the effect of firm size is indirect. However, customs duty, transportation, as well as building up the brand do not play important impacts on export performance. Take the trade shows as an example, personal cards and product samples are sent to the customers, then the customers who are interested in the products will contact Company B. In this way, the customers are accumulated and the export sales increase. Thus, the export performance is enhanced.

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Problem: There has been a limited amount of study in procurement within SMEs (Quayle, 2002). In general, for all sizes of organizations, the procurement function has often been regarded as a transactional based function and plays a supporting department to the value-adding process. These organizations view procurement as a simple function of the entire firm (Hutchins, 1992). It is more commonly found that procurement in SMEs tend to be fragmented and non-strategic (Zheng et al., 2007). Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to investigate innovation in procurement in small and medium-sized enterprises Method: A qualitative research method with an abductive approach was used to conduct this research. A primary and secondary material was gathered from Sensys Traffic AB which was used as a case study in investigating into the innovation in procurement within small and medium-sized enterprises. Theories: The theoretical framework that was utilized in this investigation consisted of procurement processes, strategies, roles, and innovation. Conclusion: An organization can compete for the present and the future by placing more emphasis and priority within procurement in SMEs, developing the procurement department and employment skills, coordinating and collaborating within both internal and external members, forming 'win-win' relationships with suppliers, and proactively looking for ways to innovate. Furthermore, by specifically looking to innovate within these areas the procurement function can leverage itself and its firm to be able to achieve reduced total cost of ownership and higher quality products/services. These special areas which were outlined by Spray (2009) are new sourcing ideas, new insights, new partnerships and new technologies.