Conducting Research in South Asian Small and Medium Enterprises:
Questions about Methods
Wijesinghe J.C.
jcabraalwijesinghe@swin.edu.au
Foreman J.
jforeman@swin.edu.au
Elijido-Ten E.
Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
eelijidoten@swin.edu.au
Abstract
South Asia, comprising of more than eight emerging economies, is the second poorest region
in the world. Among the many challenges commonly found within this region, poverty is one of
the biggest. The literature reveals that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play a
significant role in achieving economic development. Recognising the importance of this
sector, the governments of the South Asian region, attempt to provide more SME support in
their quest to secure a sustainable growth particularly during this turbulent time.
Consequently, more researchers are studying the practices and activities of these enterprises.
The main objective of this paper is to propose suitable research methods for SME related
research projects based on Sri Lankan experience. Our study reveals that face-to-face surveys
are more suitable for collecting quantitative data while in-depth-interviews-based case studies
provide a useful way to capture qualitative data which help to improve the reliability and
validity of research.
Key words:
Case studies, Face-to-face surveys, Research Methods, SMEs, South Asian
Economies
Introduction
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) form the backbone of South Asian economies as they
have the power to generate more opportunities when these economies are faced with critical
challenges. Many researchers (e.g. Moktan, 2007; Agarwal, 2006; Bala Subramanya, 2005;
Mintoo, 2004; Amaratunge, 2003; Gamage, 2003) have revealed that the future economic
developments of these emerging economies depend mainly on improvement to their countries‟
SME sector. Therefore the governments of the emerging economies in the South Asian region
often provide more support in an attempt to secure sustainable growth during this current era
(e.g. Mahinda Chinthanaya in Sri Lanka).
Research into SMEs has grown during the last decade (Islam, Khan, Obaidullah, & Alam,
2011) especially in the emerging economies (e.g. Huang, 2009). Researchers are studying the
practices and activities of these enterprises with the aim of generating new knowledge and
enhancing the SMEs through economic policy changes. Such research needs to adopt the best
methodology and methods best suited to achieve the research objectives and capture important
insights from relevant data.
Even though there is no commonly accepted definition for SMEs in the South Asian region
(Gamage, 2003), such businesses so described show certain similarities (SAARC Chamber of
Commerce & Industry) generated through their similar macro environmental factors: political,
economic, socio-cultural and technology.
The main objective of this paper is to propose suitable research methods in conducting
research in South Asian SMEs based on our Sri Lankan experience. Our experience shows that
majority of the respondents in the SMEs-related research projects are owner-managers. South
Asian entrepreneurs and enterprises have similar characteristics that are not necessarily the
same as in the developed economies. Our study reveals that face-to-face surveys are more
suitable and reliable for collecting quantitative data, while in-depth interviews based case
studies provide a useful way to capture qualitative data. These methods help to get both the
researchers and the participants together thereby minimising crucial problems associated with
other research methods. Further as mixed method triangulation has increasingly become the
preferred method in social research (Johnson & Onwuegbuzie, 2004; Creswell, Vicki, &
Clark, 2007; & Bryman and Bell, 2007), the combination of these two data collection methods
enables researchers to improve the validity of research findings and outcomes.
Literature Review and Background to the Study
South Asian Economies
South Asia is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises eight core countries
namely: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.
According to the World Bank, it is home to well over one fifth of the world‟s population and is
considered as the second poorest region on earth (Agarwal, 2008). Almost all the South Asian
countries were once under direct or indirect European Colonial subjugation (Malik, Kennedy,
Oberst, Kapur, Lawoti, & Rahman, 2009). After the independence around 1947, South Asian
countries have struggled to overcome many challenges such as illiteracy, poor productivity and
inefficient use of resources thereby generating unsustainable growth. Consequently, considerable
attempts are made to improve education, health, trade and other important sectors of their
economies both individually and collectively. As a result an official body called the South Asian
Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established in 1985 (Dash, 1996).
Importance of SMEs
SMEs play important roles in achieving economic development in countries all over the world
(OECD 2004). They provide emerging economies some relief from the vicious circle of poverty
(Hussain, Si & Wang, 2010; Amaratunge, 2003; Mintoo, 2004). This is because SMEs not only
provide employment opportunities to abundant labour forces but they also help to generate
dynamism by realising entrepreneurial capability (Hussain, Si, & Ahmed, 2010).
SMEs
normally use locally made raw materials (Amaratunge, 2003). Thus they have the ability to give
value especially for neglected resources like coir and clay. Further, Davidson and Griffin (2003)
pointed out that small businesses have contributed many innovative ideas and technological
breakthroughs to society. Therefore, a strong SME sector is considered to be the „backbone‟,
„lifeblood‟ or the „engine‟ of all economies irrespective of their level of development.
Recognising this importance, governments around the world increasingly promote and support
SMEs as part of their overall national development strategies (Abdullah & bin Bakar, 2000). For
example, current national development strategies in Sri Lanka, underpinning the „Mahinda
Chinthanaya (Mahinda Vision)” were introduced in 2005 by the current President Mahinda
Rajapaksha as his first election initiative. In this document, it was clearly mentioned that the Sri
Lankan government will be taking important decisions to strengthen the country‟s SME sector.
Similarly, Agarwal (2006), Bala Subramanya (2005), Mintoo (2004) & Moktan (2007), revealed
that SMEs occupy a priority space in the industrial policies in Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan
as well as Bhutan respectively and several measures have been in place to promote and support
this important sector of the economy.
Unfortunately, there is no commonly accepted definition for SMEs either universally or
regionally. Different countries use different parameters to define SMEs such as the number of
employees, amount of capital invested, amount of turnover or nature of the business (Cooray &
De Silva, 2007; Sumanasena, 2005; Gamage, 2003). For example, the most commonly used
definition for SMEs in Sri Lanka is that small-scaled enterprises are those consisting of 5 to 49
regular employees whilst medium-scaled enterprise have 50 to149 regular employees (Cooray &
De Silva, 2007; Sumanasena, 2005). But the Nepalese definition indicates that enterprises whose
fixed assets are worth less than Nepal Rs 30 million are small firms and those with fixed assets
worth between NRs 30 million and 100 million are medium enterprises (Nepal industrial
enterprises act 1992 cited in Agarwal, 2006).
Despite the absence of a commonly accepted definition, the contribution of SMEs to overall
economic growth and Gross Domestic Production (GDP) is immensely significant in all the
countries in this region (Moktan, 2007). For example according to the economic survey of
Pakistan 2008-09, SMEs have contributed the most significant rate to the economic growth in
that year. It is estimated that SMEs contribute 50% of Bangladesh‟s industrial GDP and provide
employment to 82% of the total industrial sector employment. In Nepal, SMEs constitute more
than 98% of all establishments and contribute 63% of the value-added segment. In India, SMEs'
contribution to GDP is 30% (Economic Survey of Pakistan 2008-09). The globalisation of trade
and commerce, rapid technological changes, proliferation of new technologies and emergence of
a knowledge economy are bringing forth new challenges around the world in general, and in
South Asian region and their SMEs, in particular. Therefore, the SAARC Chamber of Commerce
& Industry has introduced SMEs policy to enhance and integrate SMEs in South Asia.
Growth of Research Interests in SMEs
Contemporary social researchers in the South Asia (like Kureshi, Qureshi, & Sajid, 2010;
Moktan, 2007; Sharma & Bhagwat, 2006; Hussain, Si, & Ahmed, 2010) are seeking to study and
understand SMEs practices and activities to add new expertise to the existing body of knowledge
by filling the existing gaps. This is important for policy makers who need information based on
empirical investigations in order to formulate appropriate policies to support SMEs in their
economies. As a result, there has been a strong emergence of a range of academic journals
concentrating specifically on small business‟ research agenda (Hill & McGowan, 1999). These
include Journal of Small Business Management, The International Small Business Journal,
Journal of Information Systems and Small Business. In addition, there has been a significant
growth in the international conferences enabling the sharing of research findings from research
projects focusing on SMEs. Some of these conferences include the Annual International
Conference on Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, The Internationalisation of SMEsInternational Conference and many more.
SMEs Research in South Asian Economies-Why Special?
While SMEs in many parts of the globe have showed increasing financial capabilities (Kakati,
2010),
South
Asian
SMEs
still
seem
to
continue
seeking
support
from
their
governments/government agencies. Therefore research projects are needed to explore how this
important sector can be strengthened in order to minimise, if not totally eradicate, poverty in the
region. Having understood that SMEs in the region share similar characteristics, the SAARC
Chamber of Commerce has announced their intention to propose SMEs policy for South Asia
(Pakistan Observer, 7/12/2010). These similarities in regional characteristics may have been the
result of their similar macro environmental factors such as educational and political background,
economic factors, socio-cultural behaviours (Agarwal, 2008) and inability to access up-to-date
technology.
As noted earlier, South Asian entrepreneurs and enterprises are not the same as their counterparts
in the developed economies. For example, Matlay & Addis (2003) state that information
technology and e-commerce developments have taken place in the late 1990‟s among European
and British SMEs. As such, they are more capable with related technologies. Many of the
countries studied, particularly in the USA, UK, Sweden, Canada and to a lesser degree Northern
Italy, have cultural similarities and high level of education and these have a big impact on their
entrepreneurial activities (Dodd & Patra, 2000). These identified South Asian macro
environmental factors can hinder the collection of important information that researchers are
intending to investigate. It is in this regard that SMEs-related research projects in South Asian
countries must be designed in a manner that takes these factors into consideration.
According to Collis & Hussey (2009), research can be developed and improved by adopting a
suitable methodological approach that enhances the methodological rigour of the research
project. The appropriateness and intellectual soundness of the research design is dependent upon
the systematic application of the methods used. Thus, SMEs-related research projects have to be
designed more carefully in order to achieve reliable and valid results.
Methodology and Methods
In our attempt to find the suitable methods for collecting the much needed information for our
research, two methods (mixed method) are employed. Due to the exploratory nature of this
study, first, a qualitative analysis on previous researchers‟ methodology (secondary data) is
applied and then the experience gained from our SMEs management related research project
undertaken in Sri Lanka is used. As earlier mentioned, this paper aims to propose appropriate
research methods that can be applied to investigate SMEs management practices or
entrepreneurship related research projects in South Asian countries. Business research does not
exist in a vacuum. It is shaped by the perceptions of the researcher and the respondents about
what is going on in the real world of business and management. As such, different world views
and philosophical underpinnings can affect the way research is conducted. In this regard, it is
important for the researcher to consider various methodological research paradigms while
deciding on the methods to be used in the study.
Research Paradigms
The examination of the research paradigms can be viewed as a good starting point (Creswell, Vicki, &
Clark, 2007) in identifying the appropriate methodology for a research project. This is because a research
philosophy or paradigm incorporates assumptions and stances about the social world and our ability to
know it. A paradigm also frames and guides (Collins & Hussey, 2009) a particular orientation to social
inquiry, including what questions to ask, what methods to use, what knowledge claims to strive for, and
what defines high-quality work (Patton, 1990). Since a philosophical paradigm influences the selection of
research methodology or research enquiry approach, it is crucial to identify which philosophical research
paradigm is more suitable for SMEs-related research projects in South Asian economies taking into
consideration their inherent characteristics. Although there is a continuum of paradigms (Morgan &
Smircich, 1980 cited in Collins & Hussey, 2009), positivism and interpretivism are the two main world
views and these are discussed next.
Positivism Paradigm
Positivism is a paradigm that originated in the natural sciences. It is based on the assumption that
social reality is objective and is not affected by the investigator. Positivistic research involves a
deductive process with a view to providing explanatory theories to understand social phenomena
(Collins & Hussey, 2009). This paradigm is typified by data collection using quantitative
techniques such as experiments, surveys and mathematical proof. As noted by Hill & McGowan
(1999), many researchers have entered the management arena or have approached management
research from a background in the traditional sciences, economics, and sociology. As such, they
tend to apply the same positivistic methodology for disciplines such as management, marketing
and entrepreneurship. The scientific methods which are associated with quantitative techniques
are widely used in social science research because these methods are useful to seek facts or
causal relationships (Denzin & Lincoln, 2000) between variables of interest. With the help of
computer packages, such as SPSS, the results can be presented using numbers, tables or
attractive graphs quickly. Therefore traditional researchers in small business management and
related disciplines have commonly used quantitative methods (Hill & McGowan, 1999). They
have mainly depended on large-scale or small-scale surveys with self administered structured
questionnaires.
Interpretivism Paradigm
Interpretivism or phenomenological paradigm is underpinned by the belief that social reality is
highly subjective because it is shaped by our perceptions. This method involves an inductive
process with a view to providing interpretive understanding of social phenomena within a
particular context. This paradigm is normally associated with qualitative research methods
namely action research, case studies and ethnography. These qualitative research methods help
researchers to capture detailed and complex form of data (Sarantakos, 2005) enabling an in-depth
examination of a social phenomenon that requires an understanding of human social behaviours
(Ching-Wei, 2006). Consequently, the methods used seek to describe, translate and come to
terms with the meaning not the frequency of certain more or less naturally occurring phenomena
in the social world (Green, 2002; Neuman, 2006; Collis & Hussey, 2009).
Pragmatism: A Middle Ground?
While positivism focuses on measuring social phenomena, interpretivism focuses on exploring
the complexity of social phenomena with a view to gaining a more in-depth understanding. As
argued by many recent writers, researchers and advocates (Creswell, 2003; Curran & Blackburn,
2001; Dzisi, 2008), pragmatism is the key factor in determining the methodology. Rather than be
„constrained‟ by a single paradigm, pragmatists advocate that researchers should be „free‟ to mix
methods from different paradigms, choosing them on the basis of usefulness for answering the
research questions (Collis & Hussey, 2009).
Mixed methods research combines both quantitative and qualitative research techniques with
their associated methods, approaches, languages or concepts in a single study (Creswell, Vicki,
& Clark, 2007). Johnson, Onwuegbuzie and Turner (2007) define mixed methods research as
“an intellectual and practical synthesis based on qualitative and quantitative research. Many
authors (for example, Johnson & Onwuegbuzie, 2004; Creswell, Vicki & Clark, 2007; Bryman
& Bell, 2007) point out that the mixed methods approach, otherwise referred to as
methodological triangulation (Denzin, 1978; Easterby-Smith, Thorpe, & Lowe, 1991), has
increasingly become the preferred paradigm among contemporary social researchers. This is
because these researchers hold increasingly diverse world views to deal with complex issues that
inevitably require a blending of different data collection methods. Further, with this design,
„words, pictures, and narratives (generally considered as qualitative data) can be used to add
meaning to numbers (quantitative data)‟ (Johnson & Onwuegbuzie 2004, p.21). Therefore, this
research approach improves the accuracy of research findings by collecting different kinds of
data bearing on the same phenomena (Nagy & Biber, 2010).
Many traditional researchers have tried to adopt positivistic/quantitative methodologies to SMEsrelated research in South Asian countries. However, there have been slow changes in the
research methods that can be identified from the last few years as shown in Table 1 below.
Table 1: Selected SMEs-Related Research Projects Undertaken in South Asia
Country Research Title
India
Pakistan
Targeted Number
Usable
In-depth
Sample
of
Response Interviews/
respondents rate
case
studies /other
Practice
of
information210
147
70%
2 case studies
systems: Evidence from
with in-depth
selected Indian SMEs
interviews have
Sharma & Bhagwat 2006
been used
375
37
9.8%
Strategy development by
Indian SMEs in
plastic sector: an empirical
study
Deshamukh, S.G. 2006
Current health of quality370
management practices in
service sector SME:A case
study of Pakistan
Kureshi, Qureshi, & Sajid,
-
139
19.1%
Personal
interviews
also been used
(2010)
BangladeshEffect of Entrepreneur and 300
Firm Characteristics on
theBusinessSuccess of
Small and Medium
Enterprises (SMEs) in
Bangladesh
Islam, Khan,
Obaidullah,,& Alam, S.
(2011).
Sri Lanka SME‟s
in
Developing625
Countries Face Challenges in
Adopting
e-commerce
Technologies:
An Exploratory Study In Sri
Lanka.
Kapurubandara, M & Lawson,
R (2006)
Nepal
Bhutan
89
29%
-
150
19%
17 Pilot
interviews
and 6
interviews with
intermediary
organisations
have been used
A study on ProcurementSample frame 150 and the sample
Function of Supply
was 33
Chain Management in SMEs
in Pokhara
Valley. Thagurathi
R.K.
(2007)
Development of small and200
168
84%
medium enterprises
in
Bhutan:
Analysing
constraints to growth.
Moktan, S. (2007).
Personal
discussions
have been used
Have distributed
most of
questionnaires
personally
Table 1 presents a number of SMEs-related research projects undertaken in the South Asian
economies in the recent years. By perusing the above studies, it is clear that while all the
researchers have taken the necessary effort to contact non respondents in order to increase their
response rate, their usable response rates are mostly less than 30% for those who used survey
method via mail or e-mail. Additionally, some researchers have used case studies with in-depth
interviews to support the validity and reliability of their studies. Therefore, whether research
techniques such as e-mail/telephone/postal-based surveys are appropriate for SMEs-related
research projects is a crucial question for contemporary social researchers in South Asia.
Discussion of Sri Lankan Research Experience
As in other countries in the region, the manufacturing SMEs in Sri Lanka have a slow growth
rate for various reasons. A research project was undertaken to identify the challenges faced by
SMEs in relation to their management practices with the aim of making a significant contribution
to improve their sustainability via government policy changes.
It is important that the methodology and methods adopted are designed while considering the
context and the attributes of the intended participants. As such, our research does not reject the
offerings of the positivistic paradigm and its corresponding quantitative methods but we are open
to consider how contemporary SMEs‟ management or entrepreneurship related research projects
in a South Asian country can be enhanced through the use of other appropriate methods
applicable to the Sri Lankan context. This is because, as mentioned earlier, the people in this
region have similar background and are affected by similar macro environmental forces.
When designing the methodology and methods for the Sri Lankan study three main challenges
have been addressed: (1) to cover a wide range of variables in order to investigate insights of
SMEs management practice; (2) to reduce the risk of not achieving the targeted sample and the
response rate (150 SMEs) in a short time frame; and (3) to minimise the impacts of the
participant‟s inherent weaknesses such as low level of education, technological illiteracy and fear
of giving out information. Hill & McGowan (1999) mentioned that it is important for researchers
to recognise the individuality, personality and attributes of the participants involved in the
research process instead of concentrating only on the quality of their own empirical
investigation. Therefore, considering the investigative nature of the current study, a mixed
methods research approach (methodological triangulation) is applied in order to discover
management practices of the targeted group. The subsequent sections discuss the factors
impacting the findings of the pilot test of our Sri Lankan study.
Entrepreneurs’ Educational Background
Majority of the targeted SMEs management representatives are the owner-manager/s. The
educational background of these entrepreneurs is very basic. Many can only speak their own
language (Singhalese or Tamil). Because of this, many entrepreneurs lack sophisticated
knowledge about management, marketing and other business expertise. Unless researchers
consider this issue seriously and address it strategically, it would have a negative impact on the
research project and thereby affecting the validity of research findings.
Cultural Background
As in other South Asian countries, Sri Lanka has various religions, languages and a myriad of
ethnic and cultural heritage. Different ethnic and religious groups have different sub cultures.
Sub cultural values, beliefs and customs constitute the national culture of each country but, in a
broader sense, many similarities can also be found across countries and regions too. Sri Lankans
are by nature very hospitable and generous in their day to day life (a trait which is common in
South Asia). Once they realise the importance of an undertaking, they feel obliged to give their
fullest support. Therefore, when designing a research project and the corresponding instruments,
it is important to consider this cultural background to gain the support of the targeted
respondents.
Political and Economic Influences
There is a high relationship between political and economic activities in Sri Lanka as also
commonly visible in the region. Politicians are the main actors of all economic activities and
corruption is the invisible hand. Although the government makes a huge effort to support the
SME sector, these entrepreneurs are scared to provide relevant information for fear of being
caught by the tax department or other politicians‟ supporters. As a result, it is crucial to assure
confidentiality. It is also important that the researcher is seen to be independent (not connected or
linked to any political party) to obtain reliable data from the respondents. Confidentiality and
independence are difficult to establish unless the researcher is present in person.
Technological Barriers
Low technological capabilities are one of the major constraints (Hussain, Si, & Wang, 2010) in
SMEs development in developing countries in South Asia and Sri Lanka is no exception.
Consequently, high technology- based research methods, such as online surveys, would not help
to gain good response rate or acceptable results.
Recognising the importance of meeting all the challenges mentioned above as well as the
characteristics of the targeted group, the methodology and methods employed should aim to
minimise the distance between the researcher and the participants of the study. Fairoz, Hirobumi
and Tanaka (2010) suggest that interviewing method is the appropriate primary data collection
method due to the unwillingness of SMEs to provide information through other methods.
Quantitative or positivistic research methodologies are associated with experimental studies,
surveys, cross-sectional studies, longitudinal studies. Out of them surveys are more useful to
collect data from a sample with a view to analysing them statistically and generalising the results
to a population. There are several methods for collecting survey data in a positivistic study
including postal questionnaires, internet or e-mail questionnaires as well as telephone interviews,
and face-to-face interviews with a structured questionnaire (Creswell, Vicki & Clark, 2007).
On the other hand, qualitative or interpretivist research methodologies include hermeneutics,
ethnography, participative inquiry or observation, action research, grounded theory, in-depth
interviews and case studies (Creswell, Vicki, & Clark, 2007; Hill, & McGowan 1999).
In our Sri Lankan study, we use a structured survey method; the most commonly used
quantitative data collection technique. However, in order to achieve the target response rate and
minimise the problems associated with other survey methods, the survey was conducted via faceto-face interviews with the aid of a structured questionnaire.
As mentioned by Kapuge & Smith (2007), scaled responses (structured questionnaires) do not
permit the receipt of detailed answers from the SMEs respondents, and therefore it might be
necessary to address this in subsequent follow-up interviews. Bryman and Bell (2007) confirm
this idea by pointing out that quantitative research along with its epistemological and ontological
foundations has been criticised over the years. Therefore, in addition to scaled or quantitative
data collection method, another qualitative method is needed in contemporary social research in
order to gather detailed answers from respondents. Some scholars (for example Wijewardena, De
Zoysa, Fonseka, & Perera, 2004) have suggested in-depth case studies of individual firms to
investigate and explore SMEs related issues. Following this suggestion, case study method is
used in many SMEs research projects in recent years (e.g. Sharma, & Bhagwat 2006; Huang,
2009).
Yin (1984, p. 23) defines the case study research method as „an empirical inquiry that
investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context; when the boundaries
between the phenomenon and its context are not clearly evident; and in which multiple sources
of evidence are used‟. However, using case studies for research purposes remains one of the
most challenging methods in all social science endeavours. According to Yin (2009), welldesigned case studies help researchers to collect detailed information enabling more reliable
outcomes. In our study, eight firms are selected from the surveyed sample in the study and these
are used as the focus for the eight case studies. The information from these case studies are based
on the in-depth interviews conducted.
In an our attempt to minimise the distance between the researchers and the participants and in
consideration of the identified macro environmental factors, we have determined that face-toface interviews based survey and in-depth interview based case studies methods are the two most
effective methods to capture relevant information to enhance the validity and reliability of the
study. As a result, these two methods are successfully employed to investigate the management
practices of the Sri Lankan SMEs particularly in the manufacturing sector.
As noted in the literature review (also see Table 1), when traditional research techniques such as
mail surveys or very latest methods such as online surveys are used, only 30% response rate or
less in SMEs related research projects in the South Asian context are achieved. Using these
methods, there is no opportunity to check whether the respondents have understood the question
properly or whether the information provided is correct. Therefore the proposed methodology
and methods based on the Sri Lankan experience would help future researchers to gain more
valid information.
Finally, although some researchers argue that mixed methods research approach is time
consuming (Wood, Daly, Miller, & Roper, 1998), our Sri Lankan research experience suggest
that face-to face surveys help in establishing good rapport with the intended respondents who are
more willing to introduce other prospective participants for our survey as well as our case
studies. As such, we are able to conduct our data collection for both the quantitative and
qualitative analysis fairly quickly. It should, however, important to ensure that thorough
preparation is done in designing the structured and semi-structured questionnaire for both the
survey and in-depth interviews. The solicited answers can only be as good as the questions
asked. Having a good question guide and utilising sound interviewing skills are important prerequisites in conducting sound research.
Conclusion
A vibrant SME sector plays a pivotal role in the growth of South Asian economies. It is no
wonder that SMEs and SMEs related research projects have proliferated in the past decade or so.
Given this, it is important that research on this sector is conducted at a high level to gain more
benefits for the sector as well as economies. South Asian SMEs are faced with similar macro
environmental factors and as such, they have many similar characteristics and attributes. For
example, the educational background of the majority of small business entrepreneurs is at a very
basic level. This low level of education together with their socio-cultural behaviour and their
limited exposure to technology can act as a barrier to their willingness to provide correct and
reliable information to prospective researchers. Therefore in SMEs related research projects, it is
important that the methodology and methods are designed to minimise the possible negative
impacts of the participants‟ lack of education, technological illiteracy and socio-cultural
behaviours, among others. The aim of this paper is to suggest appropriate research methods that
can help to overcome these possible barriers in order to capture more valid and reliable data from
target respondents.
Our study indicates that face-to-face-interview-based surveys and in-depth-interview-based case
studies can be successfully employed to investigate SMEs‟ management or entrepreneurship
research projects in South Asian economies. These proposed mixed methods approach, derived
from the pragmatism research paradigm, has the potential to successfully meet the challenges of
South Asian SMEs-related studies.
As shown in our Sri Lankan research experience, developing good rapport and minimising the
distance between the researchers and the intended participants help to increase the response rate
and the quality of the data. Despite the inherent attributes among the Sri Lankan entrepreneurs,
they are very hospitable by nature. Since the literature suggests that many of these inherent
qualities are also common in the South Asian region and, by extension, among the South Asian
entrepreneurs, it appeals to intuition that our Sri Lankan SMEs related research experience can
be applied to the other neighbouring countries in the region.
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