The Strategic Behaviour of SMEs

Abstract

This paper analyses the strategic behaviour of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and identifies the entrepreneurial, technological, and administrative problems of the Miles and Snow typology (1978). This typology is applied to a sample of SMEs in the Canary Islands (Spain) by using a multi-item questionnaire. Then, the Rasch Measurement Theory is applied to obtain the results, with the linear continuum as a key tool. By applying the Rasch Measurement, there is a coherency between the data treatment and the new interpretation of the Miles and Snow typology (1978), which lists 4 types that are close to trends than to pure types (for example, Sollosy 2013). There are differences between the administrative and the technological problems, with their technological approach being more prospector and their administrative one, which is more defender. This shows an almost absence of enterprises with purely defender or prospector behaviours. These results show that SMEs do not follow any comprehensive framework in order to develop their strategies. Managers should analyse their strategic situation and consider the alignment of the three problems.

Strategic Behavior of E-Commerce Businesses in Online Industry of Electronics from a Customer Perspective

“…• The previous studies highlight the equal importance of factors of online shopping behavior when implementing successful e-commerce strategy (Akman et al 2015;Ke et al 2017;Prashant 2009;Kim et al 2018Kim et al , 2009Richard et al 2010;Wang et al 2010;Yanes-Estévez et al 2018). This hypothesis verification aims to support the findings of previous studies.…”

“…However, on the other hand, the third hypothesis verification confirmed all factors of online shopping behavior are not evaluated as equally important. However, the previous studies highlight the equal importance of factors of online shopping behavior when implementing successful e-commerce strategy (Akman et al 2015;Ke et al 2017;Prashant 2009;Kim et al 2009Kim et al , 2018Richard et al 2010;Wang et al 2010;Yanes-Estévez et al 2018). Based on the descriptive statistics and hypothesis verification the type of conservative financial strategy in e-commerce does not correspond to the balanced strategic position of e-commerce businesses, as discussed above.…”

“…Businesses in e-commerce that want to be successful in the long run must adapt their e-commerce strategy to the online shopping habits of their customers (Kim et al 2009;Martín and Camarero 2009;Roca et al 2009;Pereira et al 2016;Svatošová 2018Svatošová , 2019aWang et al 2010). The basis for successful e-commerce strategy creation and implementation is the consideration of current factors of online shopping behavior identified by previous studies (Akman et al 2015;Kim et al 2018;Ke et al 2017;Yanes-Estévez et al 2018). One of the key elements of a successful e-commerce strategy is the implementation of the needs and current online habits of potential and existing customers.…”

Impact of information technology innovation on firm performance in Kenya

“…The third stage (systemic stage) is the final stage and marks the point where fewer process and product innovations occur due to sluggish growth associated with the firm's maturity level (Lester & Parnell, 2005). At this stage, the low-cost strategy may be most appropriate because production systems are no longer sufficiently flexible to tolerate product changes, and thus technology helps support price-based competition since innovation is characterized by continuous transformation (Yanes-est, Mar, & Ram, 2018).…”

“…According to Rahim and Zainuddin (2016), the business environment is characterized by rapid technological and market changes that pose a risk to product or service development processes. Environmental changes include continuous technology changes, market demands, and stiff competition, which all affect business performance (Yanes-est et al, 2018;Zahra, 2011). Studies have developed three ecological perspectives (Akanni, 2015).…”