Growth challenges of SMEs: empirical evidence in Sabah, Malaysia / Sylvia Nabila Azwa Ambad, Jasmine Vivienne Andrew and Dayang Haryani Diana Awang Amit

Ambad, Sylvia Nabila Azwa and Andrew, Jasmine Vivienne and Awang Amit, Dayang Haryani Diana (2020) Growth challenges of SMEs: empirical evidence in Sabah, Malaysia / Sylvia Nabila Azwa Ambad, Jasmine Vivienne Andrew and Dayang Haryani Diana Awang Amit. ASEAN Entrepreneurship Journal (AEJ), 6 (1). pp. 8-14. ISSN 2637-0301 (e-ISSN)

Abstract

Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are currently facing a more challenging business environment due to the fast-changing customer preferences, globalization, stiff competition, limited resources, and human resources issues, among others. The failure rate of SMEs in Malaysia is alarming, whereby 60% of the new SMEs fail within five years of establishment. Additionally, only 4 out of 10 SMEs are able to successfully meet the challenges associated with growth. The SMEs barriers to growth have been a long-unsolved problem in this country. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the barriers to business growth among SMEs. Face-to-face interviews with the founders of the businesses were conducted. Eleven entrepreneurs were interviewed in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. It was found that there are five main barriers to business growth namely; financial issues, human resources problems, marketing strategies, facilities, appliances and layout and problems with suppliers. This paper offers recommendations to SMEs to overcome the barriers to growth.

Metadata

Item Type: Article
Creators:
Creators
Email / ID Num.
Ambad, Sylvia Nabila Azwa
nabila1793@uitm.edu.my
Andrew, Jasmine Vivienne
jasmineva@uitm.edu.my
Awang Amit, Dayang Haryani Diana
dayan457@uitm.edu.my
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Small business. Medium-sized business
H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Management. Industrial Management > Planning. Business planning. Strategic planning
Divisions: Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam > Malaysian Academy of SME and Entrepreneurship Development (MASMED)
Journal or Publication Title: ASEAN Entrepreneurship Journal (AEJ)
UiTM Journal Collections: UiTM Journal > ASEAN Entrepreneurship Journal (AEJ)
ISSN: 2637-0301 (e-ISSN)
Volume: 6
Number: 1
Page Range: pp. 8-14
Keywords: SMEs, Micro business, Entrepreneurship
Date: 2020
URI: https://ir.uitm.edu.my/id/eprint/43932
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