Virtual Collaborative R&D Teams in Malaysia Manufacturing SMEs

TL;DR

This study investigates how Malaysian manufacturing SMEs utilize virtual R&D teams, highlighting their technological readiness and the potential benefits for competitiveness, despite limited infrastructure usage.

Contribution

It provides empirical insights into the adoption of virtual collaboration technologies in Malaysian SMEs and explores factors influencing their implementation.

Findings

SMEs are technologically capable of virtual collaboration.

Infrastructure usage for virtual teams is currently low.

Virtual teams can reduce R&D time and costs.

Abstract

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 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 time, costs and increase productivity. So, the manager of R and D should take the potentials of virtual teams into account.