@phdthesis{Rohde2014, author = {Rohde, Christina S.}, title = {Potential, challenges and operation performance analysis of small business : with special reference to telecommunication components sector of the United States of America}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-31927}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The problems of small companies in the telecommunication components sector (signal processing components) have been and are the subject of many discussions and publications. In many cases, such companies have been started based on past results of "experiments" and failed, amongst other things, because of bad location. Poor location and poor operation management along with strong competition resulting in low sales are some reasons of the failures of small firms. In global markets, small firms are additionally forced to compete with their large counterparts and many other small ones. The newcomer to this field has to consider that it is useful to start with an elaborate strategy and to carefully implement this. Within the scope of this work the existing literature has been researched to find out successful methods to survive in the global market, which should be possible if there are clear ideas regarding the potential and challenges of small firms. The relevant literature is referenced and commented upon. Amongst others we found "Michael Porter's Competitive Strategy" (1980, The Free Press, New York). However his theory has only been applied to companies larger than 500 employees. He has identified two models we will use, the value chain model and the market forces model. In order to support these models, several performance indicators were tested, like market share, return on in investment (ROI), revenue per employee (RPE), value added (VA), value added at each stage of progressing will be equal to the total value of the product) and return on management (total revenue less total cost divided by total revenue). It is obvious from the literature review that individual performance measures not always need to convey the real performance of the firm. Objectives of the Study: From the foregoing discussion it is evident that the present study addresses itself to this task. To be more specific, the major objectives of the study are the following: 1. To analyze challenges and potential of small businesses regarding the industrial development of the U.S. 2. To analyze the factors influencing firm performance with special reference to the small telecommunication components companies of the U.S. In this context, organizational and financial factors, value chain factors and market forces are important. Research Questions of the Study: 1. To determine the opinions of the respondents on the impact of the operational and financial factors on the performance of small telecommunication components companies 2. Based on the opinions, determine whether the value chain factors play any role on the performance of small telecommunication components companies 3. Based on the opinions, determine whether the market forces have any impact on performance of small telecommunication components companies Conclusion: The main objective of the study was to examine the relationship between performances on the one hand and organizational and financial factors as well as value chain factors and market forces on the other hand. It is apparent from the above analysis that company performance is directly related to several organizational and financial factors. The relationship between small firm's performance and value chain factors is also evident from the analysis. Besides, small performance and market forces are closely related. This study empirically tested the application of Porter's market forces and value chain models in analyzing the influence of market forces and value chain factors on small firm performance. It was originally developed by Porter to analyze the influence of market forces and value chain factors on the performance of large businesses. The empirical analysis shows that these models can also be applied to small U.S. companies in the telecommunication components sector. Results of the study also indicate that composite performance index developed is a better measure than individual performance indicators.}, subject = {Small companies; Telecommunication USA; Porter Model; KMU; Porter Modell; Telekommunikation USA; USA; Telekommunikationsindustrie; Klein- und Mittelbetrieb; Wettbewerb; Unternehmenserfolg; Leistungsbewertung; Erfolgsfaktor}, language = {en} }