To improve the performance of extended enterprises, SMEs must be integrated. This integration must be done on several levels, including the PLM level. PLM is underdeveloped in SMEs mainly because of their difficulties in implementing information systems. This work aims to provide a modelling framework to facilitate the implementation of PLM systems in mechanical SMEs. Our approach offers a gene...

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) play an increasingly important role in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). ICTs can affect an SME’s operational effectiveness, growth possibilities, competitive position, and overall firm performance. A major problem for SMEs is how to acquire appropriate software and hardware as well as how to develop or acquire capabilities to deploy IC...

The attention of software vendors has moved recently to Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) offering them a vast range of Enterprise Systems (ES) including ERP, CRM, SCM and E-Procurement systems, which were formerly adopted by large firms only. From reviewing the literature on the adoption and diffusion of Information Systems’ (IS) innovations, the question of ‘why some SMEs choose to ado...

This work aims to assess human resource factors and best practices in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The human resources (HR) components considered in this paper are organizational structure, personnel training and promotion, and organizational culture. To achieve the objective of this study a combination of inclusive literature review, visits, interviews, observations and a survey of 100...

Software as a Service (SaaS) can provide significant benefits to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) due to advantages like ease of access, 7*24 availability, and utility pricing. However, underlying the SaaS delivery model is often the assumption that SMEs will directly interact with the SaaS vendor and use a self-service approach. In practice, we see the rise of SaaS intermediaries who can su...

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the barriers that SMEs are experiencing when confronted with the need to implement e-commerce to sustain their competitiveness. E-commerce is the medium that leads to economic growth of a country. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play an important role in contributing to the Gross Domestic Product and reducing the unemployment. However, there ...

This paper conducts an in-depth analysis of the impacts of the global financial crisis on the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC’s) small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It also provides relevant policy suggestions at the end. First, this paper reviews the impacts of the 1997 Asian financial crisis on the PRC’s SMEs, evaluating the policy measures for coping with the crisis at that time and summa...

Although effective implementation of the Internet technologies has a great potential for improving efficiency and reducing wastage within the fresh produce supply chain. the situation of the Internet usage by SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises) in the fresh produce supply chain is still unclear in China. As the main players, SMEs haven’t been given enough attention from both academics and...

Public sector organisations are increasingly introducing eProcurement systems in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their procurement processes. This clearly has implications for their suppliers, who are being asked to adopt eProcurement. For many SMEs, particularly small and micro businesses, this is proving a difficult challenge given their lack of eProcurement knowledge, as...

This paper explores patterns of adoption and use of information and communications technology (ICT) by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the southwest London and Thames Valley region of England. The paper presents preliminary results of a survey of around 400 SMEs drawn from four economically significant sectors in the region: food processing, transport and logistics, media and Inter...