• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.12
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• pp.397-408
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• 2020

SMEs as an organization to succeed and to be sustainable must have the most essential and strategic capital, namely creativity, competitive advantage, and intellectual capital. This study aims to explore how creativity and intellectual capital determines SMEs' sustainability as well as examine the emerging role of competitive advantage in supporting this relationship. A quantitative method was applied to gain a better understanding of the relationship between variables undergoing Structural Equation Modeling with Partial Least Square (SEM-PLS). This study collected data from 123 SMEs in East Java of Indonesia using an online survey. The approach adopted in this study is a convenience random sampling method, which is widely used in entrepreneurship and SMEs' sustainability research. The findings showed that intellectual capital positively affects both competitive advantage and SMEs' sustainability. Additionally, the result of this study confirms a robust relationship between intellectual capital and SMEs' sustainability. However, partially, creativity failed in explaining SMEs' sustainability. Furthermore, this study confirmed that competitive advantage has successfully mediated both the influence of creativity and intellectual capital to SMEs' sustainability. Although this research only involved participants in East Java, this study can be the first step for relevant research of SMEs' sustainability, in particular, in Indonesia.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.84-99
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• 2022

Purpose - This study carried out an empirical study of the impact of sustainability - which has been gaining attention as challenges are arising in supply chains based on existing trade networks due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic - on SCM performance and financial performance of Korean SMEs. The study seeks to propose a measurement model to enhance the SCM performance and financial performance of Korean SMEs and to identify the relationship between sustainability, SCM performance and financial performance to suggest implications to SMEs, governments, and relevant organizations. Design/methodology - Our Analysis established hypotheses that economic sustainability, environmental sustainability, and other factors related to sustainability have a positive impact on SCM performance and financial performance as well as SCM performance has a positive impact on financial performance, making empirical validations by utilizing Structural Equation Modeling based on data collected through survey from Korean SMEs. Findings - According to an empirical study, although environmental sustainability and economic sustainability among factors of sustainability had a positive influence on SCM performance, social sustainability did not have a statistically significant influence. Furthermore, it was learned that only economic sustainability had a positive influence on financial performance while SCM performance has a positive influence on financial performance. Originality/value - This empirical study explored the relationship between SCM performance and financial performance of Korean SMEs with a high tendency to depend on specific supply chains when the international trade network is in confusion and/or the global supply chain has collapsed. If Korean SMEs allocate management resources to the factors deducted from this study, they would be able to build more efficient supply chains and improve financial performance to improve sustainability.

• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing-Green Technology
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.659-670
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• 2018

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) confronts industrial manufactures with economic, ecological, as well as social benefits and challenges, referring to the Triple Bottom Line of sustainability. So far, research has mainly investigated its dimensions in isolation or economic aspects have not been compared with ecological and social perspectives. Further, research misses studies that are devoted to the special characteristics and requirements of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). This study aims to contribute to close this research gap, providing a research context that encompasses all three dimensions of sustainability. The results are based on data obtained from 329 SMEs, 222 in Germany and 107 in China, therefore allowing for a comparison of the concepts "Industrie 4.0" and "Made in China 2025" in the context of SMEs. In general, German SMEs expect a lower impact through "Industrie 4.0", perceiving the concept as more beneficial for larger enterprises. We further find that Chinese SMEs foremost see social benefits. Challenges whilst introducing "Industrie 4.0"by German SMEs as well as several frame conditions are perceived more relevant than for "Made in China 2025", as seen by Chinese SMEs. The paper closes with implications for research and practice based on these findings.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.165-178
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to empirically analyze and provide implications for the impact on performance, focusing on Environmental Sustainability, innovation orientation, and integrated activities among the factors necessary for sustainable management of SMEs. 366 copies obtained from executives and representatives above the department head level of domestic manufacturing SMEs through professional research companies were used for the final analysis, and the research hypothesis was verified using SmartPLS 3.0 and SPSS 25. As a result of the analysis, it was confirmed that Environmental Sustainability had a significant effect on social integration and technology integration, and innovation orientation had a significant effect on social integration and technology integration. In addition, it was confirmed that social integration and technology integration factors had a significant effect on the sustainability performance of SMEs. Based on these research results, theoretical, practical, and future research directions could be presented. According to the results of this study, it can be expected that manufacturing SMEs will be able to receive help in establishing strategies related to innovation orientation, social integration, and technology integration to achieve sustainable performance.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.43-57
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• 2022

Purpose: This study discusses the phenomenon of the uncertain sustainability of SMEs in developing countries. SMEs face various challenges in the dynamics of a competitive environment, which threaten their growth and sustainability. This study aims to address a research gap between company's internal resources, in the form of absorptive capacity, and its business performance. By using product quality as a mediator, which has never been studied before, this research presents a novelty to answer the existing research gap using the Resource Based Theory (RBT) perspective. Research design, data and methodology: Using quantitative method, data are collected from 164 respondents, who are owners or managers of furniture manufacturing SMEs in Gerbangkertosusila Area, East Java, Indonesia. The data are analyzed using Partial Least Square (PLS) - Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Results: The findings show that absorptive capacity has a direct and significant effect on business performance and indirectly through product quality. Conclusion: Furniture manufacturing SMEs are advised to focus on developing absorptive capacity reflected in good product quality, in order to improve their business performance. This is especially important to survive the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Thus, the results of this study contribute to the development of RBT, and there are several suggestions for further research.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.83-120
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• 2008

Small and medium sized enterprises' (SMEs) environmental performance and activities have been often of great concern toward sustainability as they have been playing a critically important role in the economic and industrial development. Among many initiatives to engage SMEs into the sustainability framework, Supply Chain Environmental Management (SCEM) of large companies has a great potential to persuade SMEs to adopt environmentally improved activities. This study investigated the relationship between SCEM approaches of large companies and environmental activities of SMEs in the Korean electronics industry. A postal questionnaire survey was used as a data collection method, and factor analysis and regression analysis were applied to analyse the collected data. The empirical findings suggested that SCEM approaches of large companies have positive impacts on environmental activities of SMEs. Among SCEM approaches, the collaborative approach was more effective than the arm's-length approach. Additionally, this study found positive impacts of trans-national SCEM approaches on SMEs' environmental activities.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.355-362
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• 2021

Through the Korean version of the New Deal 2.0, manufacturing-oriented SMEs are facing a new environmental change called smart factory construction. In addition, SMEs are facing new security threats along with a contactless environment due to COVID-19. However, it is practically impossible to apply the previously researched and developed security management system to protect the core technology of manufacturing-oriented SMEs due to the lack of economic capacity of SMEs. Therefore, through research on security management systems suitable for SMEs, it is necessary to strengthen their business competitiveness and ensure sustainability through proactive responses to security threats faced by SMEs. The security management system presented in this study is a security management system to prevent technology leakage applicable to SMEs by deriving and reflecting the minimum security requirements in consideration of technology protection point of view, smart factory, and remote access in a non-contact environment. It is also designed in a modular form. The proposed security management system is standardized and can be selectively used by SMEs.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.7
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• pp.161-167
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• 2021

Nowadays, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are placed among the key components of the economy in both developed and developing countries. They are internationally known as the driving force based on their enormous contributions to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and generating new employment. They are generally presumed as the leader of environmental sustainability, economic prosperity, and innovation, particularly for the economy of developing countries such as Vietnam. However, SMEs have difficulty in raising capital, as well as access to credit. One of the reasons is that there are inadequacies in accounting information quality in SMEs as well as the provision of accounting information and accounting information confidentiality. The main objective of this study was to identify, evaluate, and measure the attributes of accounting information quality of SMEs in Hanoi. The study was based on a field survey using a semi-structured questionnaire on a sample of 150 accountants. The study has identified and measured six (6) attributes of accounting information quality of SMEs that have great effects on accountants. There is, statistically, no significant difference in the level of accounting information quality of SMEs in Hanoi from these different business areas. There is no, statistically, significant difference in the level of accounting information quality of SMEs in Hanoi between the mentioned three groups of the job description. Based on the findings, some recommendations are given for SMEs to improve accounting information quality.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.161-170
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• 2021

The study aims to investigate the mediating effect of strategic planning on the relationship between managerial skills and the performance of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Punjab, Pakistan. Stratified proportionate probability sample method was used to select the 265 SMEs. The study applied a structural equation model (SEM) to analyze the proposed research hypotheses by using PLS-SEM. This research examines the direct and indirect effects of strategic planning on the performance of SMEs using the SEM test. The results indicate the positive effect of managerial skills on SMEs' performance and also suggested that strategic planning mediates the relationship between managerial skills and SMEs' performance. In addition, the role of managerial skills on the usage of the company's resources is highly influential through strategic planning. Strategic planning has been found to impact significantly and positively on the relationship between managerial skills and performance of SMEs in Punjab, Pakistan. The findings suggested that, in devising appropriate strategies for SMEs, the effect of managerial skills on the utilization of the firm's resources can be more effective to the firm's performance. In short, the utilization of a firm's resources through a proper planning is more essential for the sustainability of SMEs.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.185-220
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to get a whole picture of financial conditions of the new and renewable energy sector which have been growing rapidly and predict bankruptcy risk quantitatively. There have been many researches on the methodologies for company failure prediction, such as financial ratios as predictors of failure, analysis of corporate governance, risk factors and survival analysis, and others. The research method for this study is Altman Z-score which has been widely used in the world. Data Set was composed of 121 companies with financial statements from KIS-Value. Covering period for the analysis of the data set is from the year 2006 to 2011. As a result of this study, we found that 38 percent of the data set belongs to "Distress" Zone (on alert) while 38% (on watch), summed into 76%, whose level could be interpreted to doubt about the sustainability. The average of the SMEs in wind energy sector was worse than that of SMEs in solar energy sector. And the average of the SMEs in the "Distress" Zone (on alert) was worse than that of the companies of large group in the "Distress" Zone (on alert). In conclusion, Altman Z-score was well proved to be effective for New & Renewable Energy Industry in Korea as a result of this study. The importance of this study lies on the result to demonstrate empirically that the majority of solar and wind enterprises are facing the risk of bankruptcy. And it is also meaningful to have studied the relationship between SMEs and large companies in addition to advancing research on new start-up companies.