Asian Small and Medium Enterprises: Challenges in the 21 Century

This book discusses and reviews issues and challenges, as well as prospects on the growth and development potential of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the 21 century. Part one is an introduction that presents the overall scenario of SMEs in the era of globalisation. Part two examines regional perspectives, including: small and medium enterprises in regional development; globalisation and the changing role of East Asian SMEs in the electronic industry; the Asian economic crisis and lessons for SMEs; and government intervention and small industries. Part three refers to the challenges in selected countries including, print advertisements of service firms; the globalised economy and the strategic importance of SMEs Malaysia; survival in global crisis for small businesses in Indonesia; total productivity in Malaysian SMEs; and quality approaches and human resource practices.