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Business Sustainability for Smes Operating in High-Cost Regions.

紀錄類型:	書目-電子資源 : Monograph/item
正題名/作者:	Business Sustainability for Smes Operating in High-Cost Regions./
作者:	Munoz-Gonzalez, Jose.
出版者:	Ann Arbor : ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, : 2021,
面頁冊數:	205 p.
附註:	Source: Dissertations Abstracts International, Volume: 83-06, Section: A.
Contained By:	Dissertations Abstracts International83-06A.
標題:	Sustainability. -
電子資源:	http://pqdd.sinica.edu.tw/twdaoapp/servlet/advanced?query=28781422
ISBN:	9798494450104

Business Sustainability for Smes Operating in High-Cost Regions.
Munoz-Gonzalez, Jose.

Business Sustainability for Smes Operating in High-Cost Regions. - Ann Arbor : ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, 2021 - 205 p.

Source: Dissertations Abstracts International, Volume: 83-06, Section: A.

Thesis (D.B.A.)--The University of Liverpool (United Kingdom), 2021.

This item must not be sold to any third party vendors.

Globalization has provided opportunities for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) operating in high-cost regions. However, globalization also presents a risk to SME sustainability due to increased, worldwide competition. In an effort to reduce cost and grow their businesses, Multi-National Companies (MNCs) may decide to move their supply base to low-cost regions. SMEs in high-cost regions are therefore presented with a competitiveness challenge and how they address this challenge may define their sustainability. The aims of this study are to learn how SMEs select business sustainability approaches that successfully make it difficult for MNCs to transfer work from them and, also, identify why SMEs select specific approaches over other approaches, and how these approaches impact their ability to be financially sustainable. During the preparation of the thesis proposal, a preliminary literature review revealed that knowledge, resources, and innovation are relevant factors to SMEs' business sustainability. A conceptual model was created at the outset of the thesis work, presenting the relationships these factors and manufacturing business practices have on driving business sustainability. These factors then inspired the formulation of the research questions. This model was modified to include the seven factors (strategy, flexibility, cost reduction, knowledge, innovation, communication, and Supply Chain integration) identified through the systematic literature review, and then modified again to include the three essential practices (continuous improvement, lock-in, diversification) identified and influenced by the case studies field work. The methodology used during the study was the generation of a literature review, followed by a case study research approach. The literature review helped identify key factors that affect SMEs' business sustainability, and was used to craft the questionnaire used as a guideline during the case study interviews. The study was conducted in California, a high-cost region in the USA, and included visiting four companies, gaining consent for their participation in the research, interviewing four employees from the management team, including the highest-ranking person, and participating in a plant tour. Each company represents a case study. A questionnaire was designed and used to help guide the researcher during the interview process using a semi-structured approach, providing the participants with the freedom to share their operations and business sustainability experiences while also ensuring a consistent approach with each participant and case. After the visit to each company, a case study was written to document the participants' perspectives and responses to the posted questions, followed by an analysis of how they approach business sustainability. Each case revealed similarities and differences between participants. Furthermore, when a cross-case analysis was performed, various common themes were observed, including tactics the SMEs used to remain competitive and approaches to business sustainability. SMEs' tactics to remain competitive concerned the use of Lean Manufacturing techniques and material cost reduction through bidding processes. From a business sustainability standpoint, the main approaches related to locking-in business were ensuring SMEs' active participation in customers' new designs, customizing products, and gaining design co-ownership. In addition, diversification into other markets and industries was a common theme discussed as a long-term approach to business sustainability. Another key point from the research was that supply chain integration and collaboration initiatives, such as product customization and engaging in supply chain programs like Vendor Management Inventory (VMI), provided the SMEs with a lock-in mechanism to ensure business sustainability in the long-term. The new trend of reshoring or back shoring shows that the same factors identified during the literature review, particularly cost reduction, flexibility, knowledge and supply chain integration, continue to be important when companies decide on a location. In addition, continuous improvement practices and customization capabilities were important to MNCs when they decided with whom to partner during the reshoring or back shoring process.

ISBN: 9798494450104Subjects--Topical Terms:

1029978
Sustainability.

Business Sustainability for Smes Operating in High-Cost Regions.
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