Do Demographic Variables Make a Difference in Entrepreneurial Leadership Style?

Industry 4.0 brings a challenge in terms of labor reduction. However, there is an opportunity in job creation for the creative industry/economy. The creative economy in Indonesia shows an increasingly contribution to the Indonesian economy in recent years, and it is also predicted to continue increasing in the future. Leadership for the entrepreneur is needed to make their business entity (Micro Small Medium Enterprises) to survive and succeed. This research aims to find out whether there is a difference in entrepreneurial leadership style with four demographic variables, i.e., gender, age, education level, and marital status.

Do Demographic Variables Make Difference in Entrepreneurial Leadership Style?

Industry 4.0 brings a challenge in terms of labor reduction. However, there is an opportunity in job creation for the creative industry/economy. The creative economy in Indonesia shows an increasingly contribution to the Indonesian economy in recent years, and it is also predicted to continue increasing in the future. Leadership for the entrepreneur is needed to make their business entity (Micro Small Medium Enterprises) to survive and succeed. This research aims to find out whether there is a difference in entrepreneurial leadership style with four demographic variables, i.e., gender, age, education level, and marital status.

Architectural Holarchy of the Next Generation Manufacturing System

Nowadays, the global energy network can generate and transmit, between any two points belonging to it, high quantity of energy. During recent years, a global information network, able to process, store, and transmit huge amounts of information, has been developed as well. These networks entirely cover the industrial space, already giving the opportunity to make permanently available, in any of its points, at any time, as much as needed, both energy and information. On the other hand, the mass customization trend has led to the pronounced increase of “manufacturing to order” (MTO) production, taking place in a higher and higher number of small & medium enterprises. At this level, a given manufacturing system cannot be quickly and appropriately configured to a given product, due to production high variability in range. As consequence, the manufacturing system is, quite always, more or less unadjusted to the manufactured product, its performance being significantly affected. Starting from here, the challenge is to make a conceptual rebuilding of the manufacturing system, aiming to increase its degree of appropriateness to products, by taking advantage from the opportunities brought by the existence of global energy & information networks. This paper approach is to see the next generation manufacturing system as holonic modular cyber-physical system. System architecture permanently accords to the manufactured product requirements. The function, procedure, topology and holarchy model of the system are presented. The main features of the system are also revealed.

Implementing strategic responses in the COVID-19 market crisis: a study of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in India

Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic presents unprecedented challenges for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in emerging economies. This paper aims to examine how India's SMEs implement their strategic responses in this crisis. Design/methodology/approach The study uses dynamic capability theory to explore the strategic responses of SMEs. Strategy implementation theory helps to explain how they implement innovative practices for outcomes. A research model defines the COVID-19 challenges, strategic responses and performance outcomes. The study reports the findings of an initial pilot study of 75 firms and follow-up case study results in the context of COVID-19. Findings Firms choose their approaches according to their perceived market risks. Case studies illustrate that firms display diverse attitudes depending on their strategic direction, leadership vision and organizational culture. They achieve different outcomes by implementing specific styles of risk management practices (e.g. risk-averting, risk-taking and risk-thriving). Research limitations/implications Although the study context is Indian SMEs, the findings suggest meaningful lessons for other emerging economies in similar crisis events. The propositions may be extended to future research in broad contexts. Practical implications Even in the extraordinary COVID-19 market crisis, SMEs with limited resources display their strategic potential by recognizing their unique capabilities, translating them into effective actions and achieving desirable outcomes. Social implications In the COVID-19 pandemic, top leaders' mental attitude, strategic perspective and routine practices are contagious. Positive leadership motivates both internal and external stakeholders with an enormous level of collaboration. Originality/value This rare study of Indian SMEs provides a theoretical framework for designing a pilot survey and conducting a case study of multiple firms. Based on these findings, testable propositions are articulated for future research in diverse organizational and national contexts.

Segmenting Umrah performers based on outcomes behaviors: a cluster analysis perspective

Purpose Umrah is a religious ritual that takes place inside the Holy Mosque in Makkah. Umrah can be performed any time during the year; however, performing Umrah in the month of Ramadan is much rewarded. Although the kingdom of Saudi Arabia is hosting this event each year, studies that focus on exploring the Holy Mosque visitor segments are scarce. This study aims to explore and describe the marketing segments of Umrah performers relative to their Umrah experience inside the Holy Mosque of Makkah. Most specifically, this study aims to explore segments of Umrah performers based on their perception of servicescape, hedonic and convenience value and the visitors’ outcome behaviors [i.e. intention to revisit and positive word of mouth (PWOM)]. Design/methodology/approach Mixed-method techniques of data collection [i.e. self-administered questionnaires (n = 278) and short discussions (n = 10)] were used. Findings Cluster analysis is used for data analysis. The findings revealed four clusters of Umrah performers: real, occasional, rational and passionate performers. Research limitations/implications This study is a first attempt to target pilgrims based on their experience with the servicescape during the organized religious event; despite its exploratory nature, it reveals interesting insights that will be useful for managers and scholars. Although the study helps to enrich the existing knowledge on visitors’ experience and proposes some implications for practitioners, it does have some limitations. First, convenience sampling was used, and hence the findings cannot be generalized. Second, the limited period of observation did not allow the authors to provide a complete picture of the pilgrims’ behavior; for this reason, the study findings partially describe the phenomenon. Another limitation is related to the difficulty of approaching respondents from Asia or South East Asia although they constitute a significant percentage of the total Umrah performers every year; this is because of the language barrier as data was collected from only English and Arabic speakers. Hence, to overcome these limitations, it is suggested that future studies could be expanded to target Asian respondents and perhaps other nationalities; and could be undertaken in other religious contexts. Moreover, an interesting future study could be carried out to compare the same model during other religious events. Added to that, another growing area of research could be approached by researchers, such as the impact of pilgrims sharing their experiences on influencing E-PWOM. Practical implications The findings reveal several implications for policymakers and stakeholders. The segmentation of Umrah performers assists destination managers, policymakers and local firms involved in managing this mass event to identify effective marketing decision-makers, business strategies and policymakers to satisfy the needs of these visitors (Disegna et al., 2011). Particularly, the identification of the key characteristics of these visitors can help destination marketers to develop a marketing mix that suits the needs of each cluster (Smith et al., 2014). Despite that the performers’ main motivation is the religious purpose, marketing strategists can attract the attention of these visitors to visit other religious, cultural and heritage sites in the country. Social implications Encouraging the visit to other tourist spots in Saudi has several impacts on nourishing the economy and the community. Tourism in Saudi could encourage entrepreneurs to start new ventures to satisfy the need of visitors to the country. Small-medium enterprises could benefit from tourism as they could target market niches in which leader companies are not serving. For instance, hand-made souvenirs are one of these industries that could grow to satisfy the need of visitors. Originality/value The results contribute to the literature of event segmentation by identifying visitors’ profiles to rarely investigated destinations. The findings reveal several implications for policymakers and stakeholders.

The trends of export activities development of small and medium enterprises: world experience and russian practice

The article analyzes the peculiarities of export activities of small and medium-sized businesses, shows the high involvement of companies belonging to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in the high-tech sector. The contribution of SMEs to the creation of the value of a product/service through the introduction of innovations and their adaptation to different contexts by providing new or niche products that meet the diverse needs of customers is noted. Based on the analysis of the world practice of export activities of SMEs, the author concludes that SMEs can contribute to economic diversification and economic sustainability. This is especially true for resource-rich countries that are particularly sensitive to fluctuations in raw material prices. The emphasis is placed on the analysis of the export activity of Russian SMEs, an insignificant share of SMEs in the total volume of exports in comparison with other countries is highlighted. It is concluded that Russian small and medium-sized businesses are in the process of formation, which makes them vulnerable to the influence of both external and internal threats. It is shown what impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on SMEs. It was emphasized that the main problems for such companies were non-fulfillment of contractual obligations and a sharp decline in demand.

An Empirical Study on Determinants of Loan Repayment Behaviour of SMEs Towards Commercial Banks

India, as a developing economy even after five decades of planning, still has a long way to catch up with the advanced economies of the globe. The goal may be distant, but surely, the time needed to reach can be reduced by accelerating the pace of development. One way of doing this is by the development of industrial and business ventures. There exists a positive relationship between the growth of an economy and the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). SMEs play a vibrant role in the development of an economy. Access to the formal source of credit by entrepreneurs is essential in a growing economy. Lending to SMEs is a risky activity for the banks as repayment of these loans are less guaranteed. The research article attempts to analyse the factors influencing the loan repayment behaviour of SMEs towards commercial banks. Data are collected using the convenience method of sampling from 80 registered SMEs belonging to the manufacturing and service sectors in the Bangalore region, and data are analysed using statistical tools such as correlation and logit regression analysis, conclusions are drawn based on these findings. The study reveals that characteristics of loan and lender influence the repayment to the maximum extent. The findings are helpful for commercial banks in redesigning suitable policies and schemes to reduce loan defaults.

KONDISI SOSIAL EKONOMI PARA PELAKU USAHA MIKRO, KECIL DAN MENENGAH (UMKM) PADA MASA PANDEMI COVID-19 DI KELURAHAN HELVETIA TIMUR

Based on the results of the research conducted, even though the Covid pandemic condition which caused a decrease in the income of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises players, they were still able to survive and were still sufficient to meet their needs. The education of the children of UMKM actors is fulfilled up to the informal sector. Adequate living conditions because it is already a permanent home. All MSME actors and their family members are registered in the BPJS program, as well as their employees are registered in the BPJS manpower program. Social interactions with family are harmonious, as well as with fellow business actors. Apart from the ability of MSMEs to maintain their economy during the COVID-19 pandemic, the authors suggest that the government be able to provide assistance that can be distributed evenly so that new and old MSMEs can compete in the future