The Transnational Activities of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

1998
ISBN: 978-0-7923-8123-5
Verlag: Springer US

Buch, Englisch, 257 Seiten, Format (B × H): 160 mm x 241 mm, Gewicht: 1260 g

measure of the rate of innovation --research-and-development (R&D) expenditure per employee compared to new patents received per employee -- does not adequately capture a unique feature of SMEs, namely that owners and managers are often themselves innovators. For example, in Japan 52 per cent of SMEs' innovations reported in 1986 were created by employers, whereas in large firms 72 per cent of innovations were created by research technicians. Nevertheless, patchy evidence from Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States indicates that SMEs at least hold their own in terms of innovation compared to large firms. Perhaps most significantly, a recent study indicates that, while the total number of innovations is positively related to R&D expenditures, skilled labour and the degree to which large firms comprise the industry, in innovative industries innovative activity tends to emanate more from SMEs than large firms. This is probably because in industries where large firms dominate, SMEs need to be innovative to survive. There is much information to suggest that in technologies such as micro-electronics, new materials and biotechnology SMEs tend to be in the vanguard of innovation. Small and medium-sized enterprises as exporters. The contribution of SMEs to a national economy from exporting is generally small; for example, in Japan SMEs accounted for only 13 per cent of merchandise exports in 1990.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Fujita, Masataka

Fachgebiete

• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Betriebswirtschaft Organisationstheorie, Organisationssoziologie, Organisationspsychologie
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Betriebswirtschaft Management Unternehmensführung
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Betriebswirtschaft Management Internationales Management
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Betriebswirtschaft Bereichsspezifisches Management Außenhandel

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Executive Summary.- Definition of Small and Medium-Sized Transnational Corporations.- The Author’s Survey.- I. Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Domestic Economies.- A. The importance of small and medium-sized enterprises in the domestic economy.- B. The role of small and medium-sized enterprises.- C. Conclusions.- II. The Transnationalization Theory and Evidence of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.- A. Theoretical framework.- B. The transnationalization process.- C. Transnationalization factors.- D. Conclusions.- III. Trends and Patterns of Foreign Direct Investment by Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.- A. Global trends, patterns and characteristics of foreign direct investment.- B. Japan.- C. United States.- D. European countries.- E. Conclusions.- III. Trends and Patterns of Foreign Direct Investment by Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.- A. General characteristics of small and medium-sized transnational corporations.- B. Competitive advantages of small and medium-sized transnational corporations.- C. Strategies of small and medium-sized transnational corporations.- D. Conclusions.- V. Impact on Host Developing Countries of Foreign Direct Investment by Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.- A. Technology transfer.- B. Balance-of-payment effects.- C. Linkages with the local economy.- D. Human resource development.- E. Market structure and other effects.- F. Conclusions.- VI. Problems in the Transnationalization Process of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.- A. Problems related to size.- B. Problems related to the nature of small and medium-sized enterprises.- C. Problems related to partners of small and medium-sized enterprises in host countries.- D. Problems related to host countries.- E. Conclusions.- VII. Measures to Promote Foreign Direct Investment bySmall and Medium-Sized Enterprises.- A. Initiatives and programmes in developed countries.- B. Initiatives and programmes in developing countries.- C. Initiatives and programmes in international organizations.- D. Conclusions.- VIII. Policy Suggestions to Promote Foreign Direct Investment by Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises into Developing Countries.- A. Policies to encourage the transnationalization of small and medium-sized enterprises.- B. Concrete programmes and mechanisms.- C. Basic criteria to orient policy decisions.- D. Conclusions.- Concluding Remarks.- References.- Annex A. Questionnaire.- 1. Questionnaire sent to parent firms of small and medium-sized transnational corporations.- 2. Questionnaire sent to foreign affiliates of transnational corporations.- 3. Questionnaire sent to indigenous firms in developing countries.- 4. Questionnaire used for interviews with public institutions in developed countries.- Annex B. Profile of the Sample.

Über Autor(innen)

Masataka Fujita has published probably the two most important articles on the subject of TNC's recently in (SBEJ). He has been involved in research on the subject at the United Nations for a number of years and is one of the leading authorities on the subject as well as on foreign direct investment and transnational corporations in general.