Abstract:This study aims to analyze the role of digitalization and financial inclusion of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as business sustainability strategies. Digital transformation and inclusive financial access are…
re important factors in increasing the competitiveness of MSMEs in the digital economy era. This research uses a qualitative approach with a case study method on MSMEs in the food and beverage sector. Data collection was carried out through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation, while data analysis used thematic analysis techniques. The results show that digitalization contributes to improving operational efficiency, expanding market access through digital platforms, and strengthening relationships with customers. On the other hand, financial inclusion facilitates access to formal financial services, such as financing and digital payment systems, thereby supporting more professional business management. The synergy between digitalization and financial inclusion has proven to be able to increase the innovation capacity and productivity of MSMEs, which ultimately encourages business transformation towards a higher scale. However, there are several obstacles faced, such as low digital and financial literacy and limited access to infrastructure. Therefore, support from various parties is needed through training, mentoring, and policies that support the empowerment of MSMEs in a sustainable manner
Abstract:The rapid proliferation of AI-powered marketing technologies in emerging markets poses a fundamental challenge to culturally-grounded micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs): how can algorithmic imperatives be reconciled…
ciled with indigenous value systems that define not only business practice but collective identity? Despite growing research on both AI adoption in SMEs and indigenous knowledge preservation, scholarship rarely examines how traditional values actively mediate rather than merely moderate commercial technology adoption. This study addresses that gap by investigating how MSMEs in Makassar City, Indonesia, negotiate AI marketing integration while preserving siri’ na pacce, the Bugis-Makassar philosophical framework centred on dignity (siri’) and solidarity (pacce). Employing interpretive phenomenology integrated with Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), the study conducted 23 in-depth interviews and three focus group discussions with 44 MSME owners and key personnel across traditional culinary, artisan craft, ethnic fashion, and digital service sectors. Template analysis generated four overarching themes: (1) value-based technology discernment, wherein siri’ na pacce operates as an active epistemological filter for evaluating AI tools; (2) strategic selective adoption, wherein enterprises accept algorithmically aligned functions while rejecting culturally incompatible features; (3) cultural indigenization of technology, wherein AI systems are actively reoriented toward communal rather than individualistic ends; and (4) constrained agency under platform power, wherein algorithmic visibility systems penalise cultural non-conformity with market exclusion. These findings challenge technological determinism and advance decolonial computing theory by demonstrating that indigenous values simultaneously enable epistemological agency and are constrained by structural power asymmetries, a duality insufficiently theorised in prior technology adoption frameworks. The study calls for regulatory frameworks establishing indigenous data sovereignty, participatory AI co-design with local communities, and cooperative digital infrastructure as conditions for authentic, rather than performative, cultural integration.
Abstract:The persistent gap between theoretical instruction and real-world practice remains a critical challenge in business education, particularly in contexts involving Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Experiential…
learning has been promoted as a pedagogical response to this challenge; however, many initiatives lack structured frameworks that integrate student learning with meaningful community engagement. This study examines the implementation of the BRIDGE model (Build, Reach, Discover, Grow, and Elevate) as a structured business mentoring approach grounded in experiential learning principles. Using a qualitative participatory action research design, the study involved 15 undergraduate business students and five MSMEs in Semarang City, Indonesia. Data were collected through participant observation, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, reflective journals, and program documentation, and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that the BRIDGE model facilitates deep experiential learning by enabling students to connect theoretical concepts with contextual business realities, while simultaneously generating instrumental and symbolic benefits for MSME partners. Despite limitations related to program duration, the model demonstrates strong potential as a feasible and transferable framework for experiential business education in emerging economy contexts.
Abstract:The fast food industry continues to grow as the public's need for practical products, including Kamumu Kimpul chips, increases. However, small business actors such as UD. Sona in Gunungsitoli Idanoi faces obstacles in production…
oduction due to the use of traditional methods, limited equipment, and lack of optimal management. This condition has an impact on delays in meeting demand, increasing production costs, and declining competitiveness. Therefore, a production optimization strategy is needed to improve product capacity, efficiency, and quality. This study aims to analyze the production optimization strategy implemented by UD. Sona, formulate a capacity building strategy, as well as identify obstacles and solutions that can be done. The results of the research are expected to be practically useful for business actors in production management, as well as make a theoretical contribution to the development of production management science in MSMEs. The research method uses a descriptive qualitative approach. Data was obtained through interviews with owners, employees, and customers, supplemented by observation and documentation. Data analysis is carried out through reduction, presentation, and inductive conclusions, so as to be able to describe the real conditions of the business and develop the right optimization strategy. The results of the study show that UD. Sona has made efforts such as setting up production flows and scheduling planning. However, limited machinery, unstable supply of raw materials, and marketing that has not been maximized are still obstacles. Consumers rate the product as good quality, but its availability has not been consistent. Suggested strategies include the implementation of lean production, improvement of inventory management, and the use of production technology
Abstract:The development of Islamic microfinance institutions requires the implementation of financing schemes that are not only compliant with Sharia principles but also capable of maintaining financing quality and sustainability.…
y. One of the most widely applied contracts is murabahah financing, particularly in supporting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). This study aims to analyze the implementation of murabahah financing and the risk mitigation strategies applied at BMT Alif Mandiri Makassar. This research employs a qualitative approach with a descriptive-analytical method. Data were collected through field observations, in-depth interviews with management and financing officers, and documentation studies. The findings indicate that murabahah financing at BMT Alif Mandiri Makassar is implemented regularly through several stages, including application submission, feasibility analysis, financing approval, contract realization, and post-disbursement monitoring. The financing analysis emphasizes repayment capacity, members' character, and the suitability of financed goods for productive business needs. Risk mitigation strategies are conducted through careful customer character assessment, direct business verification, proportional margin determination, the use of collateral as a financing safeguard, and continuous monitoring. This study concludes that productive murabahah financing supported by integrated risk management practices is an effective and sustainable financing instrument for the development of MSMEs within Islamic microfinance institutions
Abstract:The focus of research shifts from the dominance of positivism to a non-positivistic approach that places meaning, interpretation, and social construction at the center of analysis. One of the main approaches within this…
paradigm is Grounded Theory Research (GTR), a qualitative method developed by Glaser and Strauss (1967) to build empirically data-based theory through a rigorous inductive process. In the accounting context, GTR becomes increasingly relevant because reporting practices, accountability, and financial decision-making cannot be understood solely through objective measurements, but rather through social interactions, organizational values, and the interpretations of the actors involved (Ahrens & Chapman, 2006). This article aims to examine the role and relevance of GTR in modern accounting research by highlighting its philosophical foundations, methodological procedures, and contributions to the development of practice-based accounting theory. Through a systematic literature review, it is found that GTR has the ability to uncover the social dynamics that shape accounting practices such as accountability, ethics, managerial control, and institutional legitimacy that have previously been overlooked by positivistic approaches (Charmaz, 2006; Bryant & Charmaz, 2007). GTR has also proven relevant in the context of changing reporting systems, accounting digitalization, and the integration of sustainability principles such as ESG, where meaning, professional identity, and interpretive processes are dominant elements (Adams & Larrinaga, 2019). The study's findings confirm that GTR not only offers a systematic method for data collection and analysis, but also provides a more reflective, context-sensitive epistemological framework capable of generating substantive theory that is truly rooted in organizational reality. Thus, GTR is a powerful methodological alternative in enriching accounting knowledge, while providing a deeper understanding of how accounting practices are executed, negotiated, and interpreted in everyday organizational life.
Abstract:This study examines the development of creative industry-based Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Ulunoyo District, South Nias Regency, with a focus on four main sectors: culinary, crafts, fashion, and music.…
. The purpose of this study is to describe the condition of creative MSMEs in Ulunoyo, identify the obstacles faced, and analyze the development strategies implemented by business actors to increase competitiveness. The method used is descriptive qualitative with data collection techniques through interviews, field observations, and documentation of 21 MSME actors in five villages. Data analysis was carried out through reduction, presentation, and verification of findings. The results show that the development of creative MSMEs in Ulunoyo is supported by the potential of community creativity, strategic location, and the existence of traditional markets as distribution centers. Development strategies include improving product quality, business diversification, design innovation, and the use of digital technology for promotion and marketing. However, a number of major obstacles are still encountered, including limited business capital, rising raw material prices, low managerial skills, lack of product innovation, limited market access, and high levels of competition. To overcome these obstacles, business actors carry out creative promotions, expand their collaboration networks, and utilize social media to reach a wider consumer base.
Abstract:This study aims to improve the internal capacity of Malabar MSMEs in managing digital marketing through an internal training program designed based on the SMART Framework approach. The main problem faced by Malabar is the…
e lack of staff understanding in managing social media, especially Instagram, which impacts weak brand awareness and brand identity. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach with a project-based learning method, in which researchers are actively involved in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the training program. Data were collected through participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentation during the training process. The training objectives were formulated specifically, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-limited, in accordance with the SMART principles. The results showed a significant increase in staff understanding of content planning, creating visual materials consistent with brand identity, and using Instagram analytics features. The post-test showed an increase in the average score of participants, and the MSMEs' digital activities became more structured. These findings indicate that internal training designed with the SMART approach is effective in building staff digital competencies and supporting brand image strengthening on social media. Overall, this study shows that improving internal digital literacy is a strategic step that can strengthen the competitiveness of MSMEs in the ever-evolving digital ecosystem
Abstract:Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in developing countries like Indonesia are highly vulnerable to financial risks yet often lack formal risk-management practices, relying instead on personal experience, intuition,…
ion, and culturally rooted local practices to navigate financial uncertainty. This study aimed to identify MSME owners' perceptions of financial risks, explore informal mitigation strategies based on local experience and community practices, analyze the influence of cultural norms and social networks, and propose a contextually grounded problem-solving framework. Employing a qualitative research design, the study used in-depth semi-structured interviews, direct observations, and document analysis with MSME owners, and analyzed the data using thematic analysis and triangulation to ensure credibility. The results revealed three primary financial risk-mitigation strategies: adaptive cash-flow management, reliance on social capital and local economic networks, and experiential diversification driven by local market knowledge. The findings demonstrate that MSMEs develop resilience through culturally embedded practices and social structures, confirming that interventions should leverage existing informal mechanisms and integrate culturally compatible tools rather than imposing rigid formal frameworks.
Abstract:Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play a vital role in Indonesia's economy, yet many face challenges such as limited capital, inadequate financial literacy, and restricted access to financial services, which hinder…
inder their growth and competitiveness. This study aims to analyze the influence of financial literacy and financial inclusion on MSME performance in Kediri City, focusing on entrepreneurs who received government capital assistance in 2024. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from 100 MSME owners through purposive sampling, with questionnaires as the primary instrument. Statistical analyses, including multiple linear regression, t-tests, F-tests, and classical assumption tests, were conducted using SPSS 24. The results reveal that both financial literacy and financial inclusion have positive and significant effects on MSME performance, with the two variables jointly explaining 71% of performance variation. These findings indicate that improving financial knowledge and expanding access to financial services can substantially enhance MSME productivity, competitiveness, and sustainability. The study highlights the importance of targeted financial education and inclusive financial policies to strengthen the resilience and long-term growth of MSMEs in regional economies