期刊名称：Asian Journal of Business and Management Sciences
电子版ISSN：2047-2528
出版年度：2014
卷号：3
期号：10
页码：24-30
出版社：Society for Business Research Promotion
摘要：The fact that business environments is becoming complex cannot be ignored and numerous numbers of companies are tirelessly exploring business plans to adopt for their survival most especially Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This study intended to explore how SMEs can achieve advantage in respect to competition in Malaysia setting. The key target of this study was to establish the type of business`strategies that are most suitable in the context of northern part of Malaysia. This study`s sample covered SMEs in the northern part of Malaysia which consists of the states like Penang, Perlis and Kedah. This study`s population was obtained from SMEs directory via SMEs` website. A purposive sampling was used and a cross sectional study was conducted whereby collection of data was carried out over a period of weeks with the use of questionnaires which were mailed to respondents and administered individually. This study`s result advocates that most business strategies were essential to SMEs. In addition, it is equally pointed out that most SMEs utilize combination of Porter`s generic strategies or hybrid whereby below half of the sampled population focusing on one type of strategy (focus and differentiation and cost leadership). This study finds out that in order to retain competitive status in the business, SMEs should adopt the use of combined business strategies. For this reason, it is strongly indicated that Porter Generic Strategies are still appropriate for carrying out SMEs in the northern parts of Malaysia; the setting of this study. Full Text
