This study hoped to answer 2 main objectives. The first objective was to assess the level of e-readiness of SMEs in Northern Malaysia. The second objective was to investigate the factors contributing to the e-readiness of SMEs in Northern Malaysia. Questionnaires were distributed using a simple random sampling method to 300 SMEs in Penang, Kedah and Perlis. The findings of this study show that ...

Today's economic crisis has led to bankruptcy of many successful, but usually large-sized enterprises. This brought into question the future of large-sized enterprises. However, the only alternative to largesized enterprises (LEs) is networking of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into Regional Production Networks (RPNet). RPNet is non-hierarchical organizational form in which every SME...

Small firms (SMEs) are encouraged to embrace e-business. However, the mechanisms by which such business transformation occurs is not understood. IS transformation models suggest a single path, though, there is little evidence that SMEs follow it, and e-business transformation models are untested. Venkatraman’s business transformation model provides a means of determining IS development that has...

This article adds to the debate on internationalization competences of SMEs. After an examination of the most influential papers, we systematically discuss the role of individual and organizational competence gaps before and during the internationalization phase. In more detail, we raise the question what kinds of competences gaps hinder SMEs to go international and what competence gaps arise d...

There are concerns that despite government initiatives to promote adoption of electronic commerce, SMEs still fail to realise e-commerce related benefits. It may therefore, seem premature to discuss electronic marketplaces in the context of SMEs. However, if SMEs ignore e-marketplaces a number of problems can result. E-marketplaces present a significant threat to SMEs since they increase compet...

Today in order to stay in businesses and prosper, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are seeking higher electiveness and competitiveness across the entire cycle of marketing, product design, manufacture, test and sales. SMEs play an increasingly important role in all aspects of competitiveness: both products and production techniques, but also management methods, the organization of the firm a...

The use of Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) devices in a power system can potentially overcome limitations of the present mechanically controlled transmission system. Also, the advance of technology makes possible to include new energy storage devices in the electrical power system. The integration of Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) into Static Synchronous Compensator (STA...

Information Technology (IT) adoption is an important field of study in a number of areas, which include small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Due to the numerous advantages of IT, SMEs are trying to adopt IT applications to support their businesses. IT adoption by SMEs differs from larger organizations because of their specific characteristics, such as resources constraints. Therefore, thi...

The use of e-business in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has been recently received an enormous attention in information systems research by both academic and practitioners. With the adoption of new and efficient technologies to enhance businesses, Thai SMEs should be able to compete worldwide. Unfortunately, most of the owners are not used to new technologies. It is clear that most T...

Background: Today, the growth of major industries depends on their appropriate interaction with small and medium enterprises (SMEs). In Iran, SMEs have 49 or fewer employees. The present study was an attempt to present an overall view of the condition of professional health and safety in such industries in order to gain information regarding activities related to occupational health and safety....