Due to the increasing pace of technological change and in order to remain competitive, planning gains more importance in all companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, existing planning tools do not correspond to SME-specific needs; restricted resources often render their implementation difficult. The research is proposes a novel concept: the Opportunity Landscape. Its main purpose will be to make relevant technological information available to decision-makers in order to anticipate future developments and to act accordingly. The concept is develop and describe in detail and then illustrate by means of a case study conducted in a mid-sized company.
Table of Content
Abstractii
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1
Outline of the Study1
Problem Statement1
Rationale1
Aims and Objectives2
Significance2
Research Question/Hypothesis2
Theoretical Frame work3
Limitation of the Study4
Ethical Concern5
Validity6
Reliability7
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW8
Barriers to the implementation of CP in British SMEs11
Methodology for prioritizing the CP barriers - analytic hierarchy process14
Focusing on current CP strategies15
Exporting and the link with entrepreneurship18
Export problems and the link to withdrawal from overseas activities22
Stage 1: Summary of the quantitative findings used as a basis for the interviews25
Stage 2: Summary of the qualitative findings28
Export readiness and information gathering28
Export readiness and the link with knowledge on procedural factors30
Export readiness and the impact of competitive issues32
Assistance requirements33
Product development planning and process34
Analysis of market requirements36
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY39
Research Design39
Primary or secondary / Qualitative or Quantitative39
Mix Research40
Case Study42
Data Collection Method44
Data Analysis44
CHAPTER 04: DISCUSSION46
Background: Manufacturing improvement programs for better strategic actions on the part of SMEs48
Goals52
Concept52
Definition of relevant strategic fields and issues52
Definition of focus53
Visualization53
Definition of gatekeepers54
Gatekeepers' tasks and reporting55
Taking action from insights and updating the opportunity landscape55
Strengths and weaknesses56
CASE STUDY57
Implementation project60
Continuation61
Lessons learned63
CHAPTER 05: CONCLUSIONS65
References68
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Outline of the Study
Today, emerging small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) find themselves in an environment of constant technological change (Tschirky, 2008: p. 67). These changes may become a significant threat when ignored by the company, but they may as well become valuable opportunities in case of anticipation. The growing awareness and the will to take advantage of this has led to a broader interest in the field of Technology Intelligence (TI).
Problem Statement
The concept of the Role, Scope and Importance of Promotion Strategy in SMEs develop and describe in detail and then illustrate by means of a case study that will be conducted in a mid-sized company. Results will be provide by this study are extremely important for improving public promotion of manufacturing programs.
Rationale
According to Kohler (2008: p. 557), Technology Management as an integrated task of general management leads to more innovative SMEs. For such companies, technological expertise in administrative management, due to controlling interest in production or development, leads to optimal employment of technology. Corporations additionally have the opportunity for acquiring external knowledge to support their decision-making by getting specialists to join the Board of Directors. Even though basic approaches in the field of TI exist, and the above-mentioned opportunities are being turned to account, technology goals and appropriate planning are still not common on the strategic level. For example, there is a need to present these practices not only in terms of their ...