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Virtual R & D teams in small and medium enterprises: A literature review

Author

Listed:
  • Nader Ale Ebrahim

    (UM - University of Malaya = Universiti Malaya [Kuala Lumpur, Malaisie])

  • Shamsuddin Ahmed

    (UM - University of Malaya = Universiti Malaya [Kuala Lumpur, Malaisie])

  • Zahari Taha

    (UM - University of Malaya = Universiti Malaya [Kuala Lumpur, Malaisie])

Abstract

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the driving engine behind economic growth. While SMEs play a critical role in generating employment and supporting trade, they face numerous challenges, the prominent among them are the need to respond to fasting time-to-market, low-cost and rapid solutions to complex organizational problems. Towards that end, research and development (R & D) aspect deserves particular attention to promote and facilitate the operations of SMEs. Virtual R & D team could be a viable option. However, literature shows that virtual R & D teaming in SMEs is still at its infancy. This article provides a comprehensive literature review on different aspects of virtual R & D teams collected from the reputed publications. The purpose of the state-of-the-art literature review is to provide an overview on the structure and dynamics of R & D collaboration in SMEs. Specifying the foundation and importance of virtual teams, the relationship between virtual R & D team and SMEs has been examined. It concludes with the identification of the gaps in the existing literature's and calls for future research. It is argued that setting-up an infrastructure for virtual R & D team in SMEs still requires a large amount of engineering efforts and deserves consideration at top level management.

Suggested Citation

  • Nader Ale Ebrahim & Shamsuddin Ahmed & Zahari Taha, 2009. "Virtual R & D teams in small and medium enterprises: A literature review," Post-Print hal-00593358, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-00593358
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-00593358
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    Cited by:

    1. Nader Ale Ebrahim & Shamsuddin Ahmed & Zahari Taha, 2010. "Critical Factors for New Product Developments in SMEs Virtual Team," Post-Print hal-00593363, HAL.
    2. Marina Papanastassiou & Robert Pearce & Antonello Zanfei, 2020. "Changing perspectives on the internationalization of R&D and innovation by multinational enterprises: A review of the literature," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(4), pages 623-664, June.
    3. Ale Ebrahim, Nader & Ahmed Shamsuddin & Abdul Rashid, Salwa Hanim & Taha, Zahari, 2012. "Effective Virtual Teams for New Product Development," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 7(21), pages 1971-1985.
    4. Huynh Thi Minh Chau & Nguyen Manh Tuan, 2018. "A conceptual framework of virtual team effectiveness from the socio-technical perspective," HO CHI MINH CITY OPEN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE - ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, HO CHI MINH CITY OPEN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, HO CHI MINH CITY OPEN UNIVERSITY, vol. 8(2), pages 65-94.
    5. Davaei, Mahboobeh & Gunkel, Marjaana & Veglio, Valerio & Taras, Vas, 2022. "The influence of cultural intelligence and emotional intelligence on conflict occurrence and performance in global virtual teams," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(4).
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    7. Gilli, Katharina & Veglio, Valerio & Gunkel, Marjaana & Taras, Vas, 2022. "In search of the Holy Grail in global virtual teams: The mediating role of satisfaction on performance outcomes," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 325-337.
    8. Mattarelli, Elisa & Tagliaventi, Maria Rita & Carli, Giacomo & Gupta, Amar, 2017. "The Role of Brokers and Social Identities in the Development of Capabilities in Global Virtual Teams," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 23(4), pages 382-398.
    9. Marina van Geenhuizen & Peter Nijkamp, 2011. "Knowledge Virtualization and Local Connectedness among Smart High-tech Companies," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 11-119/3, Tinbergen Institute.
    10. Sema Nur Batırlık & Yasin Galip Gencer & Ulas Akkucuk, 2022. "Global Virtual Team Leadership Scale (GVTLS) Development in Multinational Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-20, January.
    11. Ale Ebrahim, Nader & Ahmed, Shamsuddin & Abdul Rashid, Salwa Hanim & Taha, Zahari, 2010. "Virtual R&D Teams: A potential growth of education-industry collaboration," MPRA Paper 27414, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 28 Jul 2010.
    12. Nader Ale Ebrahim & Shamsuddin Ahmed & Zahari Taha, 2010. "Virtual R&D Teams and SMEs Growth: A Comparative Study Between Iranian and Malaysian SMEs," Post-Print hal-00593364, HAL.
    13. Ale Ebrahim, Nader & Ahmed, Shamsuddin & Abdul Rashid, Salwa Hanim & Taha, Zahari, 2010. "Virtual Teams: A New Opportunity to Develop a Business," MPRA Paper 26934, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2010.
    14. Linden, Erik, 2021. "Pandemics and environmental shocks: What aviation managers should learn from COVID-19 for long-term planning," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    15. Sylvaine Castellano & Philippe Davidson & Insaf Khelladi, 2017. "Creativity techniques to enhance knowledge transfer within global virtual teams in the context of knowledge-intensive enterprises," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 42(2), pages 253-266, April.
    16. Naz Abdulkareem Arif & Moha Asri Bin Abdullah, 2020. "Problems and Global Challenges of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Iran," International Journal of Science and Business, IJSAB International, vol. 4(12), pages 80-92.
    17. Ale Ebrahim, Nader & Ahmed, Shamsuddin & Abdul Rashid, Salwa Hanim & Taha, Zahari, 2010. "The Effectiveness of Virtual R&D Teams in SMEs: Experiences of Malaysian SMEs," MPRA Paper 27368, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised Nov 2010.
    18. Caputo, Francesco & Soto-Acosta, Pedro & Chiacchierini, Claudio & Mazzoleni, Alberto & Passaro, Pierluigi, 2021. "Smashing local boundaries for sustain companies’ innovativeness: The role of international R&D teams," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 641-649.
    19. Jasper R. De Vries & Séverine Van Bommel & Karin Peters, 2018. "Trust at a Distance—Trust in Online Communication in Environmental and Global Health Research Projects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-14, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Virtual teams; small and medium enterprises; literature review;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L6 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing
    • L17 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Open Source Products and Markets
    • M12 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Personnel Management; Executives; Executive Compensation
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • M11 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Production Management
    • P42 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - Productive Enterprises; Factor and Product Markets; Prices
    • P23 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - Factor and Product Markets; Industry Studies; Population
    • L15 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Information and Product Quality
    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights

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