Virtual R&D teams and SMEs growth: A comparative study between Iranian and Malaysian SMEs

Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed and Zahari Taha

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: This paper explores potential advantages of using virtual teams for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a comprehensive review on various aspects of virtual teams. Based on the standing of the pertinent literature, attempt has been made to study the aspects by online survey method in Iran and Malaysia. In both countries, SMEs play an important role in their economies, employments, and capacity building. Virtual R&D team can be one of the means to increase SMEs efficiency and competitiveness in their local as well as global markets. In this context, surveys have been conducted to evaluate the effects of virtuality to the growth of SMEs. The study addresses some differences between two countries in engaging virtual research and development (R&D) teams in their SMEs. It is observed that there is a significant difference between the SMEs turnover that employed virtual team and that did not employ the virtual team. The way for further studies and recommend improvements are proposed.

Keywords: Virtual R&D team; small and medium enterprises; survey; developing countries. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O47 F23 O32 L2 M11 M1 O43 M54 R11 O3 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cse, nep-cwa, nep-ino and nep-sea
Date: 2010-07-01, Revised 2010-07-13
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Published in African Journal of Business Management 11.4(2010): pp. 2368-2379

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Persistent link: http://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pra:mprapa:26983

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