Title: Risk management in Scottish, Chinese and German small and medium-sized enterprises: a country comparison

Authors: Thomas Henschel; Susanne Durst

Addresses: Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin, Business School, Fakultät Wirtschafts- und Rechtswissenschaften, Treskowallee 8, 10318 Berlin, Germany ' University of Skövde, School of Business, Högskolan i Skövde, Högskolevägen, Box 408, 541 28 Skövde, Sweden

Abstract: Even though the study of risk management (RM) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has increased recently, there have been few cross-country studies. Therefore, the present research project can be considered as one of the first of its kind drawing upon an extensive empirical study into the status of RM in SMEs. More precisely, the cross-country study, involving SMEs from China, Germany and Scotland, investigates differences in their RM practices. The findings, which were based on a web-based survey, provide a clearer understanding of the personal and organisational factors that have influenced the RM practices of SMEs in these countries. This study also sheds light on the influence that the perception of environmental uncertainty has on the RM efforts in SMEs.

Keywords: risk management; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; China; Germany; Scotland; country comparison; personal factors; organisational factors; environmental uncertainty.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2016.078048

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2016 Vol.29 No.1, pp.112 - 132

Received: 30 May 2015
Accepted: 14 Nov 2015
Published online: 31 Jul 2016 *

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