Offshoring practices of Danish and Swedish SMEs: Effects on operations configuration

The paper examines how small-to-medium size enterprises (SMEs) configure their operations on the global scale. Seeking to relate SMEs’ value chain position to their operations configuration attributes, we draw on the operations networks literature and use mixed methods of enquiry, including case studies and survey techniques. The study highlights characteristics and practices of SMEs that are prompt to offshoring. Furthermore, it identifies a set of key challenges that SMEs need to overcome in order to succeed in offshoring. By incorporating the perspectives of SMEs, the paper provides a more complete view on the global dispersion of operations.