Comparison of the Small and Medium Enterprises in UK and Denmark

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ABSTRACT

Industrialisation refers to the economic growth and processes occurring at any geographical scale, ranging from a metropolitan region to an entire country. Historically, these processes entail the initiation and development of a manufacturing sector that first specializes in basic activities that include the production of commodity-type goods. SMEs considerably add to business, financial, technical and local growth in all financial systems, whether they are developed or developing. Small and Medium scale Enterprises need to be encouraged to achieve competitive edge and long-term development under new world business policies and rapid scientific transformations. The main objective for conducting this research is to compare the business culture and management and leadership styles in the small and medium sized business organisation.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACTII

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Research Background1

Aims and Objectives2

Structure of the thesis2

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW4

Significance of Small and Medium Enterprises4

Business Culture and Management styles5

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY7

Data Collection7

REFERENCES9

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this chapter is to provide the reader a brief overview about the research topic and provides the main purpose and aim behind this research study. It comprises of the background of the problem, which provides a brief overview of the topic of the research and the problem.

Research Background

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are now operating more and more in globally. International trade and parallel global competitiveness exert double stress on organisations (Fletcher 2004, 289). They must to sustain competitive edge in order to face the complications of global business.

The main objective for conducting this research is to compare the business culture and management and leadership styles in the small and medium sized business organisation. Danish business culture is characterized by small-sized, family-owned organisations. The streamlined corporate culture, which the world's biggest industrialized nations have built, has only spread to limited Danish companies. Danish business culture is characterized by a flat structure and an open dialogue between management and employees. Denmark's most important competition parameter is knowledge, and this is reflected both in the working facilities and the view of staff development. Danish companies offer excellent working conditions, modern facilities and technical equipment of high quality. Skills development is a priority and most workplaces offer continuing education to their employees.

On the other hand, the fundamental principles of corporate culture in the United Kingdom are courtesy, discipline and punctuality. The British can be very formal and often prefer working with people and companies that they know. Younger generations are quite different. They do not need long-term relationships before doing business with other people and do not require intermediaries to make business presentations. However, building networks and relationships is often the key to a successful business long term. Most Britons want to maintain long term relationships with people they do business.

Aims and Objectives

The main reason for conducting this research is to compare the business culture and management and leadership styles in the small and medium sized business organisation. The research objectives are stated below:

To understand the concept of small and medium business ...