A research collaboration between ITRC and Oxford Brookes University's School of Hospitality and Tourism (UK)
This project investigated the relationship between successful implementations of business strategy and Small and Medium Sized Enterprise (SME) growth. SME owners in Macau were invited to participate in the research to share their view on the subject. IFT and OBU held the seminar "Strategic marketing for SMEs related to retail, hospitality and tourism" in November 2013 speaking on how to stimulating SME Growth in Macao under different market conditions, as well as to provide managerial and strategic implications for SME owners.
Background
Response to the call from Macau government for research on sustainable development of SMEs in Macau and their competitiveness in the global market, the best way is to understand what strategic orientations serve as facilitators / barriers to SME growth and performance from the perspective of SMEs. Building on the earlier research on the interface between entrepreneurial orientation and firm growth, this study aims to establish the extent to which different strategic orientations; namely market, entrepreneurial and technology orientations and learning capability influence SME growth in Macau under different market conditions. Data was collected through one-on-one in-depth interviews with 10 SMEs in Macau in late 2013 / early 2014. The research sample consists of SMEs operating in a range of tourism-related business sectors including retailing, professional services, and hospitality in Macau. The study reveals that SMEs in Macau were under distinct market conditions of high market growth, changing consumer behaviour and competition within the industry. There was market growth for all kinds of products and services due to the continuous prosperity of the locals benefited from increasing tourism revenue and demand from increasing influx of mainland Chinese tourists. The study provides practical information to entrepreneurs/SME owners and policy makers to improve SMEs managerial skills, training and learning, in turn to enhance their competitiveness and thus contributes to the economy and social well-being of Macau.
This developmental paper presents preliminary findings from a research study that examines the development of franchisor and franchisee relationships from the franchisees’ perspective. The study was conducted in Macau, a Special Economic Area within China that is witnessing a growth in franchising. The study identifies the importance of both competence and attitudinal related antecedents of trust to franchisee/franchisor relationship development. Furthermore, it identifies that communication mediates the relationship between the competence and attitudinal antecedents of trust and its different components; benevolence, honesty and competence.
Publications
Yeung R. M. W., Altinay, L. and Brookes, M. (2014), ‘Stimulating SME growth in Macau under different market conditions’, Proceedings of 12th APacCHRIE Conference 2014 - Breaking Barriers Shifting Gears, May 21-24, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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