Purpose Through social media technologies, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can communicate information and respond to competitors with minimal cost. The ability to share and access information can affect SMEs’ performance, but there is little research on the link between SMEs’ social media adoption and their performance. The purpose of this paper is to present a quantitative survey to explore factors that influenced social media adoption by SMEs in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and its impact on performance. Design/methodology/approach The study used a multi-perspective framework combining technological, organizational and environmental elements affecting SMEs. Survey questionnaires were used to collect data from a random sample of SMEs operating in the UAE. Using partial least squares and structural equation modeling techniques, 144 responses were analyzed. Findings Social media adoption had no effect on SMEs’ performance. These findings could help managers and decision makers in the SME sector to try to keep pace with research on social media innovations, and enable them to benefit from social commerce as it becomes more ubiquitous. Research limitations/implications This has implications for social media experts and anyone wishing to encourage social media use by SMEs. Originality/value The study developed a suitable multi-perspective framework covering various factors that may affect social media use. It also tested the framework empirically on a sample of SMEs from the UAE.

The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine determinants of e-commerce adoption among Malaysian small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This study tested eight hypotheses on determinants affecting e-commerce adoption with empirical data from several survey instruments: an online questionnaire-based survey, mailed survey and questionnaire collected in-person from a sample of 307 SMEs in Malaysia. The findings show that e-commerce adoption within Malaysian SMEs is affected by perceived relative advantage, perceived compatibility, managers/owner's knowledge and expertise, management characteristics and external change agents. This study contributes to enhancing the understanding of the determinants of adopting e-commerce in SMEs and provides some interesting perspective from Malaysia. Those parties interested in promoting their business online may find these results helpful in guiding their efforts.

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Purpose This paper aims to investigate the key drivers of social media adoption intention by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach It uses a multi-perspective framework combining technological, organizational and environmental elements affecting SMEs. Data were collected from a random sample of 1,700 SMEs operating in the UAE. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Findings The results showed that the technology construct had no significant effect on social media adoption, but both organization and environment constructs were significant. Research limitations/implications This has implications for social media experts and anyone wishing to encourage social media use by SMEs. Originality/value Conceptually, it develops a suitable multi-perspective framework covering various factors that may affect social media use. It also tests the framework empirically on a sample of SMEs from the UAE.

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Considerable research has been conducted on social media, yet the determinants of their adoption by organizations, especially small and medium‐size enterprises (SMEs), remain unclear. Previous studies have concentrated largely on the use of social media by individuals or in large organizations. Based on data from 144 SMEs in the United Arab Emirates, this analysis features a conceptual model that encompasses various technological, organizational, and environmental factors that may influence the adoption of social media. The results show that in terms of technological context, compatibility and observability are significant in an SME's decision to adopt social media. Additionally, organizational context, the level of top management support, and the overall environmental context also have an impact on SMEs leaders' use of social media in business. Though limited in scope, this study serves as a starting point for future research on social media adoption in the Middle East region, as well as in other developing countries.

Fugitive nature of disc brake squeal makes the problem even more difficult to tackle. The root cause of this nature is stili under investigation. There has been little quantitative research into this fugitive behaviour. This paper stud'ies the effect of brake pad surface topographies on the fugitive nature of squeal. A finite element model of a disc brake is developed and validated through modal analysis and contact analysis. The complex eigenvalue analysis available in a commercial software package is pertormed. A comparison in squeal generation is made for different pad surface topographies. The paper also simulates several structural modifications for squeal prevention. A plausible modification that results in reduced positive real parts of the eigenvalues is proposed. In the end, a root cause of fugitive nature of brake squeal is suggested.

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