This paper presents the results of empirical research conducted during March to
September 2009. The study focused on the influence of virtual research and development (R&D)
teams within Malaysian manufacturing small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The specific
objective of the study is better understanding of the application of collaborative technologies in
business, to find the effective factors to assist SMEs to remain competitive in the future. The paper
stresses to find an answer for a question “Is there any relationship between company size, Internet
connection facility and virtuality?”. The survey data shows SMEs are now technologically capable
of performing the virtual collaborative team, but the infrastructure usage is less. SMEs now have
the necessary technology to begin the implementation process of collaboration tools to reduce
research and development (R&D) time, costs and increase productivity. So, the manager of R&D
should take the potentials of virtual teams into account.
Nader
Ale Ebrahim holds a PhD degree in Technology Management from the Department of
Engineering Design and Manufacture, Faculty of Engineering, University of
Malaya. He holds a Master of Science in the Mechanical Engineering from the
University of Tehran with distinguished honors. He also has over 19 years of
experience in the establishment of the R&D departments in different
companies, heading projects as the project director and project coordinator and
implementing knowledge based system in the R&D department. His current
research interest focuses on E-skills, Research Tools, Bibliometrics and
managing virtual NPD teams in SMEs’ R&D centers. His papers/articles have
published and presented in the several journals and conferences.
Small and medium enterprises
Collaborative tools
Questionnaires,
Virtual teams
17.6
k
Patents
6.6
k
Conferences
1.9
k
Events
3.3
k
Jobs
6.7
k
Notes
3.4
k
Authors
253
Publishers
2.7
k
Users
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