The usage of financial services among Malaysian SMEs: an exploratory study
The present qualitative investigation explores in depth the way in which financial services are utilized by SMEs in Malaysia. Financial services are economic packages utilized by SMEs in their routine financial operation. While prior research has reasonably documented the types of financial services...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Social Sciences and Humanities Open |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291125004516 |
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| author | Humberto Ramirez Thien Sang Lim |
| author_facet | Humberto Ramirez Thien Sang Lim |
| author_sort | Humberto Ramirez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The present qualitative investigation explores in depth the way in which financial services are utilized by SMEs in Malaysia. Financial services are economic packages utilized by SMEs in their routine financial operation. While prior research has reasonably documented the types of financial services used by SMEs, little is known about the precise mechanisms and decision-making processes of how those services are employed. An exploratory qualitative study was conducted to interview 13 SMEs owners in Sabah, Malaysia. Through connectivity and categorical analysis, the results derived 134 different codes and nine categorized themes, which reveal in detail managerial practices of how precisely financial services are put into the financial administration of SMEs. The findings have theoretical implications for the field of financial management. They constitute conceptual grounded insights that expand our understanding of how SMEs behave financially, and how those practices can directly improve their efficiency and performance. The results have also relevant implications for practice. SMEs managers can replicate the qualitative insights to improve their financial operation. Banks and policy makers can use the feedback from SMEs to improve the development of financial services. The categorized qualitative themes represent a starting point for future qualitative and quantitative research as potential constructs to amplify them and test their impact on SMEs performance. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5badddc2c90c467ea2b1de3f8cde1a62 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2590-2911 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Sciences and Humanities Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-5badddc2c90c467ea2b1de3f8cde1a622025-08-20T02:38:41ZengElsevierSocial Sciences and Humanities Open2590-29112025-01-011210172310.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101723The usage of financial services among Malaysian SMEs: an exploratory studyHumberto Ramirez0Thien Sang Lim1Corresponding author. House 3, Lorong Pokok Merbau 2, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, 88300, Malaysia.; Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, MalaysiaUniversiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, MalaysiaThe present qualitative investigation explores in depth the way in which financial services are utilized by SMEs in Malaysia. Financial services are economic packages utilized by SMEs in their routine financial operation. While prior research has reasonably documented the types of financial services used by SMEs, little is known about the precise mechanisms and decision-making processes of how those services are employed. An exploratory qualitative study was conducted to interview 13 SMEs owners in Sabah, Malaysia. Through connectivity and categorical analysis, the results derived 134 different codes and nine categorized themes, which reveal in detail managerial practices of how precisely financial services are put into the financial administration of SMEs. The findings have theoretical implications for the field of financial management. They constitute conceptual grounded insights that expand our understanding of how SMEs behave financially, and how those practices can directly improve their efficiency and performance. The results have also relevant implications for practice. SMEs managers can replicate the qualitative insights to improve their financial operation. Banks and policy makers can use the feedback from SMEs to improve the development of financial services. The categorized qualitative themes represent a starting point for future qualitative and quantitative research as potential constructs to amplify them and test their impact on SMEs performance.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291125004516Financial servicesSMEs financeSMEs performanceLending to SMEsFinancial managementUsage of financial services |
| spellingShingle | Humberto Ramirez Thien Sang Lim The usage of financial services among Malaysian SMEs: an exploratory study Social Sciences and Humanities Open Financial services SMEs finance SMEs performance Lending to SMEs Financial management Usage of financial services |
| title | The usage of financial services among Malaysian SMEs: an exploratory study |
| title_full | The usage of financial services among Malaysian SMEs: an exploratory study |
| title_fullStr | The usage of financial services among Malaysian SMEs: an exploratory study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The usage of financial services among Malaysian SMEs: an exploratory study |
| title_short | The usage of financial services among Malaysian SMEs: an exploratory study |
| title_sort | usage of financial services among malaysian smes an exploratory study |
| topic | Financial services SMEs finance SMEs performance Lending to SMEs Financial management Usage of financial services |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291125004516 |
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