Bachelor Thesis: The Case Study of Indonesia
Bachelor Thesis: The Case Study of Indonesia
Bachelor Thesis: The Case Study of Indonesia
Submitted: -
Aditya Nugraha
A. Roles of SMEs
Many studies have been conducted that have investigated the SMEs role in the countrys
economic development. These studies have included the correlation between the size of the
SME sector and economic growth, pattern growth and policies. As shown by Wignarajas
(2003) study, SMEs are the largest group of industrial units in most developing countries and
make a significant contribution to manufacturing output and employment. SMEs also have the
potential to become a powerful engine of manufacturing export growth and upgrading in the
developing world. According to Wignaraja (2003), SME associations, governments and donors
need to translate the export potential of SMEs into a development reality (Wignaraja, Ganeshan:
2003).
The importance of governments role is also indicated in the Smallbone and Welters
(2001) study for the mature market economies, such as in the European countries. This study
showed that the Government plays important roles in maintaining the sustainability of SME
development however its role is limited to creating conditions that are conducive for the growth.
This is supported data from the survey in Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine. As Smallbone and
Welter (2001) said, that the creativity of individual and flexibility to adapt to the environments
have been dominated factors for the SMEs growth (Smallbone et.al.: (2001).
In countries where market improvement is at a higher stage, for example Poland, the role
of government would mostly be in bringing the development environment - such as legislation
and regulations - in line with European Union (EU) standards. These include helping the banking
system to adapt and encouraging the SME sector as a prospective market for a diverse range of
financial products, supporting the development of project capital funds, and building an effective
partnership with the private sector to set up an efficient support infrastructure. In any case,
Smallbone and Welter (2001) concluded that direct support measures are not the main position
for government in either case (Smallbone & Welter, 2001).
In many developing countries such as Indonesia, direct government support is necessary,
as SMEs will help countries to utilize the social benefits from bigger competition and
entrepreneurship. Pro-SME policy argues that SMEs increase competition and entrepreneurship,
as well as having external benefits on innovation, and being able to aggregate productivity
growth and economy efficiency. Also, SMEs are more productive than large firms and labor
intensive, thus SME expansion will boost employment; therefore financing SMEs may
correspond to a poverty alleviation tool. However, as the World Banks studies showed the
financial market and other institutional failures have impeded SME development (World Bank,
1994, 2002, 2004).
According to BPS (Biro Pusat Statistik/ Central Bureau of Statistics) in Indonesia, the
proportion of SME exports to total non-oil and gas exports after the Asian financial crisis varied
between 4.6 to 7.5 per cent, although a study conducted for the Asian Development Bank (ADB)
estimates that the contribution of SMEs to total exports is higher, almost 11 per cent (ADB:
2004). Since the economic crisis SMEs in Indonesia have received renewed attention, as many
of these SMEs turned out to be more resilient than the highly indebted conglomerates.
Moreover, in their study Beck, et. al (2005) investigated the relationship between SME
and GDPs growth and poverty alleviation. Beck et al. (2005) concluded that there is a positive
correlation between the SMEs and growth of GDP per capita. They drew the conclusion by
comparing the labor force in SMEs to the total manufacturing labor forces share from a sample
of 45 developing and developed countries. The data did not, however, carry the conclusion that
SMEs cause a causal impact on growth or that SMEs increase competition and entrepreneurship.
The study, however, found no proof that SMEs alleviate poverty or reduce income inequality.
Hence, the results do not provide empirical evidence for a government policy to subsidize SME
development to accelerate growth for reducing poverty.
It is noted that Beck et al.s (2005) study only observed cross-country regressions and as
a result did not trace the experience of every single country in depth. For example, of the 45
countries, the study covered only data from four Asian countries (Japan, Korea, China and
Thailand). Thus, the outcome of the study may not represent newly developed countries in South
East Asia. Also, the individual countries may have different experiences from the aggregate
outcome.
A. Clustering Concept
Industry clustering is becoming a common feature in todays economy, and is described
as the geographic deliberation of interrelated businesses or firms operating in the same sector.
While the definition may vary from country to country, in general, clusters can be defined as a
geographic concentration of organized businesses, including suppliers, manufactures and other
supporting industries, and its purpose is to increase the productivity of each company within the
cluster, so their product can compete in national and international markets. Clustering contains
various SMEs operating in similar or related industries strongly associated with each other to
produce goods and services. Government usually acts as facilitator to support clustering
through initiate help and promote SMEs to reach the concept of industry cluster.
The concept of cluster development provides a means to structure the business
environment and facilitate more effective interactions between stakeholders, including private
sector firms and agencies in the public sector, that are integral to innovative systems.
Accordingly, industrial clustering and networking can be of great importance to SMEs operating
in environments that are industrial and where the infrastructures are underdeveloped. The role
that industrial clusters have in strengthening competitiveness has been generally accepted. Many
countries are making efforts to create new industrial clusters and improve their performance.
Clusters offer SMEs, at the very least, external economic advantages, including economies of
scale and of scope.
Historically, clusters began in traditional industries. In the United Kingdom, for instance,
the clustering phenomenon dates back in the industrial revolution (cotton industry) (Kuah, 2002).
Today, business clusters have become of central importance in competitive strategy. Many
economic policy makers have recognized the strategic importance of clusters in economy
development planning.
Michael E Porter introduced the concept of industrial clustering in 1990 in his book
entitled Competitive Advantages of Nations (Porter, 1990). Porter identified industry clustering
as a geographically proximate group of businesses and related institutions in a particular field,
associated by commonalities and complementarities. The goals of clustering are dependent on
the general importance of firms and are characteristic of collaboration within clusters
(Sureephong et al., 2006). Based on this definition, clustering includes both suppliers of
resources, manufacturing and sales.
Furthermore, according to Porter (1990), there are two types of cluster, namely vertical
and horizontal clusters. While the vertical clusters are essentially supply chains, the horizontal
clusters use technology or labor skills, or require similar natural resources. As quoted by
Sureephong et al. (2006), Porter (1990) claimed that the competition between rival firms has
driven cluster development. In order to stay ahead in the competition, the firm must be
innovative in improving and creating new technologies for the benefit for customers. Vertical
clustering occurs when new technology is applied, which in turn will require labor skills
(Sureephong et al., 2006).
Many studies have reported the success of cluster development in many regions,
including Indonesia. By clustering, the SMEs benefit as they can share information on the
product and market size. Common clusters consist of small enterprises that produce for nearby
markets. Collaboration within the cluster will play an important role, as the majority of clusters
consist of small enterprises that produce for similar products and for nearby markets. As stated
by Sandee et al. (2002), in Indonesia SME clusters have been spread out over several villages
and have created jobs for many people. Their wage systems are rather flexible and can be
adjusted whenever the demand is low (Sandee et al., 2002).
Cluster development provides benefits to the members of the cluster through
collaboration. Hence, supporting collaboration within a cluster plays a very important role in the
development of a cluster (Rosenfield, 1997). For example, an industrial cluster will be formed
around an anchor firm, in the manufacturing industry this is the company that will assemble the
parts and components that will be supplied by other firms, such as the automobile industry
clusters in Detroit (USA), Japan, and Guangzhou (China). This is shown in Kuchikis (2007)
study for automobile clustering in Guangzhou (China), in which he showed that in the
automobile manufacturing industry, a cluster will be formed around the automobile
manufacturing plant, and the firms that supply the automobiles parts and components will move
into an industrial zone where the automobile manufacturing company is located. This geographic
concentration of industries will help the economic growth in the region (Kuchiki, 2007).
B. Clusters Competitive Advantage
Many studies have been written and reported on the critical success factors and benefits
of clustering. For instance, a cluster may gain advantage through cooperation among the SMEs
in a cluster; they may take the advantage of external economies, such as the supply of raw
materials and specific skilled workers. In Indonesia, a cluster has attracted many traders from
overseas to buy the products and to export to their home market. The clustering would facilitate
the access for the government and other industries to provide services (Tambunan: 1997).
Given the above background, the obvious question would be as to what would be the
benefit of locating in the cluster. For assessing relative competitive strength of a nation or
country, Porter proposed a diamond model (Porter: 1990). Porter used a diamond shaped
diagram as the foundation of framework to show the determinants (conditions) of national
advantage. According to Porter (1990), a country becomes competitive if four conditions are
satisfied and these are:
Production Factors required for a given industry, e.g. skilled labor, land, natural
resources, technology resources, capital resources and infrastructure.
Demand Factors concerning the extent and nature of demand inside the nation (product or
service). The nature of the differences could be productivity or the scale of production.
Related and Support Industries Factors, including the existence of external economies
such as existence of international competitive advantage of other industries in the domestic
country that support the industry in question.
Corporate Strategy, Structure and Rivalry Factors, namely the circumstances in the home
and international markets.
Figure 1 is a diagram showing the Porters Diamond Model for the Competitive
Advantage of Nations (Porter: 1990). While it sounds similar to standard economy theory, these
key factors of production or specialization are not inherited. Instead they are created by
innovation and supported by investment. Porter argues (1990) that a nation can create new
advanced factor endowments such as skilled labor, a strong technology and knowledge base,
government support and culture. The diamond shape shows the countrys requirement to
establish their industries.
Figure 1
Note that the Porters (1990) theory can be considered as a management framework to
identify competitive advantage. The tool should be taught as a tool for analyzing the countrys
competitive weakness and strength, as part of the process to create value. The use of Porters
Diamond Model for the competitive advantage of clusters offers a model that can help
understand the comparative position of a cluster in global competition. As Kuchiki (2007) said,
Porters Diamond Model may also be applicable to cluster development (Kuchiki, 2007).
In his study for the automobile industry in Guangzhou (China), Kuchiki developed a flow
chart approach to industrial cluster policy, based on Porters Diamond Model. According to
Kuchiki (2007), there are a number of main components that are important in the establishment
of a cluster, namely the establishment of an industrial zone to be followed by building the
capacity and inviting the anchor firms (see Figure 2). The capacity building involves
infrastructure and living conditions, institutions and human resources (Kuchiki, 2007).
The flow chart model will obviously be different for each segment of industry. For
example, the cluster for Information Technology (IT) should be close to universities, which may
be supported with research. Also, as shown in Guangzhou (China), in order to be effective the
industrial cluster policy would require partnership between the central and municipal
government (Kuchiki, 2007). As illustrated below, this is applicable in the case of Indonesia.
Figure 2
Kuchikis Flow Chart Model