Information Technology and SMEs in Pakistan

Ahmed, Irfan; Shahzad, Akmal; Umar, Muhammad; Khilji, Bashir Ahmed

doi:10.5539/ibr.v3n4p237

Cited by 19 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 18 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Miller and Wurzburg (1995) and (Fayyaz et al, 2009;Memon et al, 2010). Ahmed et al, (2010) argued that in Pakistan, SMEs were struggling to find well trained and skilled employees to run their businesses. Even if there were training centers nearby, there was a lack of professional competency to run them.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nearly 3.2 million SMEs operate in the business sector. The contribution of SMEs to the country's GDP is approximately 40%, providing 80% of the total employment and 30% of total exports (Ahmed et al, 2010;Rohra & Panhwar, 2009;SMEDA, 2005SMEDA, , 2010. SMEs perform a vital role for national innovation, improving social status, and uplifting lifestyle (Ahmed et al, 2010;Rohra & Panhwar, 2009;SMEDA, 2005SMEDA, , 2010.…”

Section: Small and Medium Enterprisesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The contribution of SMEs to the country's GDP is approximately 40%, providing 80% of the total employment and 30% of total exports (Ahmed et al, 2010;Rohra & Panhwar, 2009;SMEDA, 2005SMEDA, , 2010. SMEs perform a vital role for national innovation, improving social status, and uplifting lifestyle (Ahmed et al, 2010;Rohra & Panhwar, 2009;SMEDA, 2005SMEDA, , 2010. Therefore, SMEs play a significant role in the stability of the economy in Pakistan and are usually considered as shock-absorbers during times of unrest or economic uncertainty.…”

Section: Small and Medium Enterprisesmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Intellectual capital in small and medium enterprises in Pakistan

Khalique

Bontis

Shaari

et al. 2015

Journal of Intellectual Capital

210

208

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the links between intellectual capital sub-components and organizational performance in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operating in the electrical and electronics manufacturing sector in Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach -Data were collected through structured questionnaires from a sample of 247 respondents from Pakistani SMEs in Gujranwala and Gujarat. Several tests were used to examine the reliability and validity of the research instrument. Finally, multiple regression analysis was used to test the proposed research hypotheses. Findings -The findings of this study demonstrate that the overall regression model of intellectual capital shows goodness of fit while one component of intellectual capital -namely human capital -appeared insignificant. Subsequently, six out of seven research hypotheses was accepted. Practical implications -This study will provide a valuable framework for entrepreneurs, executives, managers and policy makers in managing intellectual capital within the Pakistani context. Originality/value -To the best knowledge of the authors, this is the first empirical study that has been conducted on SMEs operating in the electrical and electronics manufacturing sector in Pakistan.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Small and Medium Enterprisesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Small and Medium Enterprisesmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Intellectual capital in small and medium enterprises in Pakistan

Khalique

Bontis

Shaari

et al. 2015

Journal of Intellectual Capital

210

208

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Although countries are increasingly stressing on the economic potential of ICT-enabled services through their policies, providing tax and export relaxations, developing 'IT Parks' and establishing technical training and development centers, the isolatory nature of tech-based SMEs remains an issue (Ahmed, Shahzad & Umar , 2010). Tech start-ups (usually SMEs) struggle to sustain businesses due to lack of adequate infrastructure, lack of local demand for IT goods and services, and lack of financing facilities from banks and DFIs.…”

Section: Potential For Employmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The tech-startup world manifests hundreds of thousands of freelancers offering several web and mobile services to offshore clients, offering services ranging from web design and development to social and search engine marketing (Ahmed, Shahzad & Umar, 2010). Hence, governments in developing countries are fast facilitating an enabling ICT environment through policy initiatives such as provision and development of technical training centers, mega IT parks, and co-working spaces and incubators.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Potential of Ict Smes in Pakistan

Mustafa

Arshad

Moin

2018

ABR

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Pakistan has been registering increasing growth rates in its Information Communication and Technology (ICT) sector, with IT exports crossing $2.5 billion mark and registered IT companies surpassing 2000 in number. The growth is mainly powered by service-sector small and medium enterprises (SMEs) of the country, which are subject to little or no regulatory requirements and a lucrative tax amnesty up to June 2019. The information and communication technologies (ICT) sector of Pakistan employs thousands of micro and small firms and self-employed individuals producing various ICT related products and services for domestic and foreign consumption. These small business units may comprise of just an individual, a group of individuals, micro enterprises up to 10 employees and medium sized companies up to 200 employees. The present paper seeks to present, first, the heterogeneous nature of the sector, classifying and comparing enterprises working in it against the prevalent definitions of SMEs. Next, the size and of this SME subset is identified in terms of its consumers, producers, business units and business volumes, with a particular focus on how these together stimulate the economy of the country through increased ICT-based consumption, employment and exports. The paper then analyses some of the challenges and limitations faced by small ICT firms of Pakistan and evaluates whether appropriate measures and initiatives are reflected by ICT and SME stakeholders of Pakistan such as Pakistan Software Exports Board, Pakistan Telecommunications Authority, and SME Development Authority,. The research is exploratory and descriptive in nature. Extensive literature is sought from reputed journals, books, surveys, reports, publications and authoritative web sources targeting service-sector SMEs. The findings of this research hint at major areas of concern and improvement in ICT-based SMEs of Pakistan. They offer great significance for owners, partners, workers and individuals of ICT SMEs as well as government authorities, policymakers and academicians aspiring to strengthen the SME sector.

show abstract