1,721,413 research outputs found
Development of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Malaysia plans: Some insights
Get PDFThe development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia has been emphasized in the country's five-year development plans. Since the First Malaysia Plan (1966 to 1970), various policies, development plans and programmes have been introduced to help sustain the development as well as the growth of SMEs in the national economy.The literature review however indicates that the development of SMEs as featured in the ten Malaysia Plans has not received much attention. This paper attempts to provide some insights into the development of SMEs in the First Malaysia Plan (1966 to 1970) through the Tenth Malaysia Plan (2011-2015)
Regenerating interest in traditional musical styles through East/West compositions : a model for an integrated university music curriculum in Malaysia
No full textThe research that constitutes this thesis has several interrelated goals. In the broader context, it aims to contribute towards the fulfilment of a cultural policy in Malaysia towards unity between Malay, Chinese and Indian elements in society through the arts. More specifically, it responds to a problem that interest in the traditional musics of Malaysia is in decline, as the younger generations increasingly prefer pop music with a western flavour. The central part of the thesis involves the creation of a new kind of composition for Malaysia, East/West music, which is integral to a new curriculum now being implemented at the University of Malaya: its aims are to attract young students back to the arts and to propagate a spirit of intercultural cooperation. In the early part of the thesis, the background to the main issues is examined, and relevant aspects of traditional Malaysian music introduced. A method is then developed for integrating the various traditional musics into a new compositional style with western influences and impetus, including a modernised notation. Four examples of original East/West compositions are included in the thesis, together with a description of how and why they were created, the scores and supporting compact discs. To facilitate a fuller understanding of the compositions and the traditional instruments employed in them, the eastern ensemble styles they incorporate are described and documented, either in the main text or in the appendices. Digital samples of all the instruments have been carefully collected and are included on the supporting compact discs; there is the discussion of how timbers of particular instruments can be blended, and how the extensive inventory of sounds can be utilised both as a library resource for students on university courses and as material for future compositional work. The last major element in the thesis is a detailed description of the new music curriculum that is being implemented under the author’s direction at the University of Malaya.</p
Seven practices for sustaining human resources in small and medium-sized enterprises
No full textSmall and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)need to develop and sustain their human resources in order to improve their competitiveness.Although human resources are essential to SMEs, the small business literature indicates studies
that examined how these firms manage their human resource have not received much attention, particularly in Malaysia.This has resulted in limited knowledge on human resources practices among the local SMEs.The purpose of this paper is to address this issue.Based on the review of the literature and the evidence obtained from the findings of past studies, This paper identifies and seeks to provide owners and managers of SMEs some insights into seven human resource practices that can assist them to not only sustain their human resources but also help them to become more competitive
Developing small and medium-sized enterprises as learning organisations
Get PDFSmall and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) need to develop and sustain their competitive advantage is through upgrading their skills and knowledge. Small and medium-sized enterprises can acquire the skills and knowledge that can make them become more competitive as well as innovative by becoming learning organizations. However, the literature indicates that limited attempts have been made to use the concept of learning organization as a way of developing SMEs. This paper initiates an attempt to describe and explain how SMEs can be developed as learning organizations
Business best practices: Lessons for small and medium-sized enterprises
Get PDFFindings of past studies suggest that business best practices can help companies to become successful. Nevertheless, a review of the management literature reveals that questions have been raised as to whether the best practices identified in the earlier studies are applicable and relevant to all kinds of companies, including the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).Based on the review of five most documented studies on business best practices, this paper attempts to examine and compare the best practices promoted and prescribed in the management literature.The evidence from the review of the studies indicates that successful companies not only adopted
different best business practices but these practices varied from study to study as well as contradicted each other
Adoption of the marketing mix in small and medium-sized enterprises: Some suggestions
No full textThe marketing concept is relevant and applicable to all types of organizations. Although marketing is important to both large and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the literature appear to indicate that previous studies on marketing practices and activities have mainly emphasized examining large firms.The review of the literature shows the focus on marketing in the context of SMEs remained limited and neglected.This paper attempts to provide some insights into the relevance and applicability of the marketing mix to SMEs.More precisely, the paper seeks to show how the concept as well as the tools of the marketing mix can be applied in SMEs
Issues and research agenda for Malaysian SMEs revisited
Get PDFSmall and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) represent an important part of the Malaysian business system. Notwithstanding their economic importance, research on SMEs is still limited and neglected. The literature review indicates SML in Malaysia have attracted minimal theoretical as well as empirical research attention from researchers as a field of study.Based on the review of the small business literature, this paper initiates an
attempt to provide a research agenda for studying SMEs in Malaysia stressing the shortcomings of past studies as well as well as highlighting the major issues and research areas that have yet to be explored and benefited by future researchers
Exploring the effectiveness of export assistance programs on Malaysian SMEs
Get PDFThis article reports a research that focused on export assistance programs. More specifically, the study attempted to evaluate the effectiveness of 38 export assistance programs offered to Malaysian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The data for the study was collected from 76 SMEs in the manufacturing sector. The findings of the study indicated that the SMEs were not only aware of the programs, but they also found the export assistance programs to be helpful, and that they had benefited from using the programs
Franchisers, franchisees and success factors in international franchising
Get PDFInternational franchising plays an essential role in the global business system.International franchising has been considered as one of the most successful methods of entering international markets. Despite this fact,studies focusing on international franchising appear to have been not only limited but also neglected, particularly in the Malaysian context. The review of the literature suggests international franchising has attracted much theoretical as well as empirical attention from researchers as a serious field of study. Based on the authors' personal experiences and findings of previous studies, the present paper initiates an attempt to provide some insights into international franchising - focusing specifically on franchisers, franchisees and success factors in international franchising that have yet to be rigorously investigated - that could be both exploited and benefited
by prospective franchisers, franchisees and future researchers
Government financial assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises in Malaysia
Get PDFSmall and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) need adequate financial resources to sustain their business operations as well as to jnance their expansion programmes.The review of the small business literature indicates that financial constraints continue to be a major problem among the small firms, particularly in the Malaysian context. Despite the importance of financing SMEs, limited studies have attempted to examine the alternative sources of financing available to SMEs.This paper initiates an attempt to address this issue by highlighting the various government sources of financing available to Malaysian SMEs
- …
