Skip to main content
View expanded cover

Economy, Finance and Business in Southeastern and Central Europe pp 497–512Cite as

The Impact of the External Environment on the Functioning of SMEs - Results of Own Studies

  • 1054 Accesses

Part of the Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics book series (SPBE)

Abstract

The sector of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is the main group of enterprises impacting the economic development. High degree of flexibility and ability to adapt to new markets allow small- and medium-sized enterprises to develop as a result of their capability of effective use of resources in the economy. The SME sector contributes to job creation, increase in the number of enterprises, and growth of the level of entrepreneurship. However, this group of companies is exposed to a negative impact of the environment, both the macro- and microenvironment, which significantly influences the fundamental strength of an organization. Macroenvironment is in most cases beyond the control of an enterprise, whereas an enterprise has a real impact on its relations with the microenvironment. Turbulence of the environment is one of the most characteristic features of the modern conditions of management; therefore, it is important to be able to manage an enterprise subjected to constant changes. The sector of small- and medium-sized enterprises is especially exposed to the impact of the external environment. This susceptibility results, among other things, from the size of companies, limited possibilities of obtaining external financing, and low level of knowledge among company owners on management of an enterprise.

The aim of the paper is to identify elements of micro- and macroenvironment that impact this development among SMEs carrying out business activity in Southern Poland. The survey conducted in 2016 on a group of 250 enterprises classified, based on the size of employment, as small- and medium-sized enterprises allowed to indicate factors determining the development of enterprises, which are both external in character and represent stimuli from the macroenvironment and microenvironment of an enterprise.

Keywords

  • Development companies
  • Macroenvironment
  • Microenvironment
  • SME sector

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-70377-0_34
  • Chapter length: 16 pages
  • Instant PDF download
  • Readable on all devices
  • Own it forever
  • Exclusive offer for individuals only
  • Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout
eBook
USD   189.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • ISBN: 978-3-319-70377-0
  • Instant PDF download
  • Readable on all devices
  • Own it forever
  • Exclusive offer for individuals only
  • Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout
Softcover Book
USD   249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
Hardcover Book
USD   249.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
Learn about institutional subscriptions
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

References

  • Annual Report on European SMEs 2014/2015. SMEs start hiring again. (2015). Available online: http://ec.europa.eu/growth/smes/business-friendly-environment/performance-review/index_en.htm [01-04-2016].

  • Betakova, J., et al. (2014). Social capital and safety perception as aspect of improving regional competitiveness of territory. In Y. Zhang (Ed.) 2nd international conference on management innovation and business innovation (ICMIBI 2014), Book Series: Lecture notes in management science, Vol. 44, pp. 68–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Casalino, N., et al. (2015). Performance management and innovative human resource training through flexible production systems aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs. Journal of Knowledge Management, 13(4), 29–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chi, T. (2009). Measurement of business environment characteristics in the US technical textile industry: An empirical study. Journal of the Textile Institute, 100(6), 546–548.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, A. (2007). Public relations. Warszawa: PWE.

    Google Scholar 

  • Džafić, Z. (2014). Business environment—The case of Western Balkan countries. Economic review. Journal of Economics & Business/Ekonomska Revija: Casopis za Ekonomiju i Biznis, 12(2), 73–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiates, G. G., et al. (2010). Innovation environment in small technology-based companies. Journal of Technology Management & Innovation, 5(3), 81–95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeman, E. R. (1994). The politics of stakeholder theory: Some future directions. Business Ethics Quarterly, 4(4), 409–421.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Freeman, E. R. (2010). Strategic management: A stakeholder approach. Edinburgh, UK: Cambridge University Press.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Ivanová, E. (2011). Interconnectivity of factors of competitiveness at the microeconomic and macroeconomic levels in Slovakia. In Economic policy in the European Union member countries. Dolní Moravice, Czech Republic, pp. 154–166.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kieżel, E. (1999). Konsument jako obiekt badań marketingowych. In E. Kieżel (Ed.), Rynkowe zachowania konsumentów. Wydawnictwo Uczelniane Akademii Ekonomicznej im. Karola Adamieckiego w Katowicach, Katowice, p. 256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kot, S., et al. (2014). Identification of information systems application in road transport companies in Silesia region. Communications in Computer and Information Science, 471, 273–283.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Krasniqi, B. (2007). Barriers to entrepreneurship and SME growth in transition: The case of Kosova. Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship, 12(1), 71–94.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Kruger, F. N. (2000). The cognitive infrastructure of opportunities emergence, entrepreneurship. Theory & Practice, 24(3), 9–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lachiewicz, S. (2013). Formy i uwarunkowania sukcesu w małym biznesie. Zarządzanie i Finanse, 4(1), 149–161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, S. M., et al. (2012). Co-innovation: Convergenomics, collaboration, and co-creation for organizational values. Management Decision, 5, 817–831.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Lemańska-Majdzik, A., & Okręglicka, M. (2015). Determinants and areas of an organisation’s success—Literature review. In International academic conference on management, economics and marketing. Proceedings of IAC-MEM in Vienna, Austria, pp. 32–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lemańska-Majdzik, A., et al. (2015). The determinants of the client’s choices of companies providing services on the real estate market. In The CD of participants’ reviewed papers from 17th international conference MEKON 2015. Ostrava, Czech Republic, pp. 661–669.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matejun, M. (2007). Analiza zewnętrznych prawno-podatkowych barier rozwoju firm sektora MŚP, Zeszyty Naukowe Politechniki Łódzkiej nr 43, Wydawnictwo Politechniki Łódzkiej, Łódź.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matejun, M. (2010). Zewnętrzne bariery rozwoju w cyklu życia małych i średnich przedsiębiorstw. Research Papers of the Wroclaw University of Economics/Prace Naukowe Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego we Wroclawiu, 116, 243–254.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mikołajewicz, G. (2014). Determinanty siły fundamentalnej przedsiębiorstwa. Research Papers of the Wroclaw University of Economics/Prace Naukowe Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego we Wroclawiu, 365, 173–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nduati, L. N., et al. (2015). Factors affecting ICT adoption in small and medium enterprises in Thika Town, Kenya. European Journals of Business Management, 2(3), 395–414.

    Google Scholar 

  • Okręglicka, M. (2014). Adoption and use of ICT as a factor of development of small and medium-sized enterprises in Poland. Przedsiębiorczość i Zarządzanie, 15(7), 393–405.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petkovska, T. (2015). The role and importance of innovation in business of small and medium enterprises. Economic Development/Ekonomiski Razvoj, 17(1/2), 55–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reśko, D. (2006). Funkcjonowanie małych i średnich przedsiębiorstw w otoczeniu międzynarodowym. In Prace Komisji Geografii Przemysłu, no. 8, Warszawa-Kraków, pp. 115–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Safdar, K., & Siddiqi, M. (2011). Determinants of firm growth: An empirical examination of SMEs in Gujranwala, Gujarat and Sialkot district. Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Research in Business, 3(1), 1389–1409.

    Google Scholar 

  • Setiowati, R., et al. (2015). The effects of ICT adoption on marketing capabilities and business performance of Indonesian SMEs in the fashion industry. Journal of Business & Retail Management Research, 10(1), 100–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sipa, M. (2013). Preferencje nabywców nieruchomości mieszkaniowych a inwestycje na rynku nieruchomości. In O. Ławińska & M. Sitek (Eds.), Działalność inwestycyjna na rynku nieruchomości (pp. 72–84). Częstochowa: Sekcja Wydawnictw Wydziału Zarządzania Politechniki Częstochowskiej.

    Google Scholar 

  • Szajt, M. (2014). Przestrzeń w badaniach ekonomicznych. Częstochowa: Sekcja Wydawnictw Wydziału Zarządzania Politechniki Częstochowskiej.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomski, P. (2011). Paradygmat hiperdynamiki otoczenia a współdziałanie gospodarcze współczesnych przedsiębiorstw. In Zeszyty Naukowe Politechniki Częstochowskiej, Zarządzanie no. 1, pp. 7–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woolley, J. L., & Rottner, R. M. (2008). Innovation policy and nanotechnology entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 32(5), 791–811.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Ziółkowska, B. (2013). Zarządzanie procesami tworzenia wartości w przedsiębiorstwie. Perspektywa wirtualizacji. Częstochowa: Wydawnictwo Politechniki Częstochowskiej.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Czestochowa University of Technology, Czestochowa, Poland

    Anna Lemańska-Majdzik, Monika Sipa & Andrzej Skibiński

Authors
  1. Anna Lemańska-Majdzik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Monika Sipa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Andrzej Skibiński
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anna Lemańska-Majdzik .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Institute of Technology, Kavala, Greece

    Prof. Anastasios Karasavvoglou

  2. Faculty of Economics, University of Split, Split, Croatia

    Prof. Srećko Goić

  3. Central Macedonia, Institute of Technology, Serres, Greece

    Prof. Persefoni Polychronidou

  4. Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Institute of Technology, Kavala, Greece

    Prof. Pavlos Delias

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

About this paper

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Lemańska-Majdzik, A., Sipa, M., Skibiński, A. (2018). The Impact of the External Environment on the Functioning of SMEs - Results of Own Studies. In: Karasavvoglou, A., Goić, S., Polychronidou, P., Delias, P. (eds) Economy, Finance and Business in Southeastern and Central Europe. Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70377-0_34

Download citation