Navigating Risks in SMEs: Requirements, Challenges, and Strategic Solutions
Menavigasi Risiko di UKM: Persyaratan, Tantangan, dan Solusi Strategis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21070/ups.9629Keywords:
Risk Assessment, SMEs, Risk Management, Systematic Literature ReviewAbstract
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) face various threats that require a systematic risk assessment to ensure business sustainability. This study aims to analyze the research landscape on risk assessment in SMEs through a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) to identify its importance, challenges, requirements, and available solutions. The research method employed is an SLR analysis of 61 systematically selected Scopus-indexed articles, supported by bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer. The findings indicate that risk assessment is a strategic element for sustainability and innovation, yet its implementation is hindered by internal resource limitations and external market uncertainty. Key requirements include enhancing managerial capabilities and adopting adaptive frameworks. The most prominent solutions involve the utilization of digital technologies like machine learning and structured policy support. This research contributes by synthesizing fragmented research clusters into a holistic view of the risk assessment model in SMEs.
Downloads
References
K. Grondys, O. Ślusarczyk, H. I. Hussain, and A. Androniceanu, “Risk assessment of the sme sector operations during the covid-19 pandemic,” Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, vol. 18, no. 8, Apr. 2021, doi: 10.3390/ijerph18084183.
R. Gengatharan, “Effect of Firm Size on Risk and Return: Evidences from Sultanate of Oman,” Eur. J. Bus. Manag., vol. 12, no. 9, pp. 62–71, 2020, doi: 10.7176/ejbm/12-9-08.
B. Urban, “An integrated approach to SME risk assessment: A focus on endogenous and exogenous risk factors,” African Rev. Econ. Financ. , vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 142–177, 2019, [Online]. Available: https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/EJC-167f17bd34
M. Botha, J. J. Van Vuuren, and T. Kunene, “An integrated entrepreneurial performance model focusing on the importance and proficiency of competencies for start-up and established SMEs,” South African J. Bus. Manag., vol. 46, no. 3, pp. 55–66, 2015, doi: 10.4102/sajbm.v46i3.101.
E. Van Burg and A. G. L. Romme, “Creating the Future Together: Toward a Framework for Research Synthesis in Entrepreneurship,” Entrep. Theory Pract., vol. 38, no. 2, pp. 369–397, 2014, doi: 10.1111/etap.12092.
C. Albulescu, “Coronavirus and Financial Volatility: 40 Days of Fasting and Fear,” SSRN Electron. J., pp. 1–7, 2020, doi: 10.2139/ssrn.3550630.
A. Levashenko and A. Koval, “Measures of Financial and Non-Financial Support to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the Wake of COVID-19,” SSRN Electron. J., pp. 7–10, 2020, doi: 10.2139/ssrn.3629597.
J. Alves, L. Tan Cheng, L. YuBo, and H. Wei, “Crisis Management for Small Business during the COVID-19 Outbreak: Survival, Resilience and Renewal Strategies of Firms in Macau,” Res. Sq., pp. 1–29, 2020.
J. Fontrodona, “Reforzar la integridad empresarial ante la crisis del COVID-19,” IESE Bus. Sch. Navarra, vol. 67, pp. 1–12, 2020, [Online]. Available: https://media.iese.edu/research/pdfs/OP-0333.pdf
N. W. Rustiarini, N. P. N. Anggraini, and N. P. S. Dewi, “Does Risk Management and Intellectual Capital Improving SME’s Performance during Covid-19 Outbreak?,” Montenegrin J. Econ., vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 149–159, 2023, doi: 10.14254/1800-5845/2023.19-3.12.
M. Bolesnikov et al., “Development of a business model by introducing sustainable and tailor-made value proposition for SME clients,” Sustain., vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 1–16, 2019, doi: 10.3390/su11041157.
H. Karadag, “The Role and Challenges of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (Smes) in Emerging Economies: An Analysis from Turkey,” Bus. Manag. Stud., vol. 1, no. 2, p. 179, 2015, doi: 10.11114/bms.v1i2.1049.
U. Rathore and S. Khanna, “From slowdown to lockdown: Effects of the COVID-19 crisis on small firms in India,” SSRN Electron. J., 2020, doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3615339.
Akinwale M. Oteniya and M. Sadiku and S. Musa, “Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises,” Int. J. Sci. Res. Publ., 2019, doi: 10.29322/ijsrp.9.12.2019.p9632.
L. Kociu and A. Korbi, “The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic Situation on the Perception of the Type of Risks Albanian SMEs Face (Case Study – SME’s in the Southern Region of Albania),” WSEAS Trans. Bus. Econ., vol. 20, pp. 318–327, 2023, doi: 10.37394/23207.2023.20.30.
A. Jurado, M. Sánchez-Oro Sánchez, R. Robina-Ramirez, and H. V. Jimenez-Naranjo, “Personal factors as determinants of the risk rating for SME investment,” Small Enterp. Res., 2023, doi: 10.1080/13215906.2023.2288569.
C. European, “Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs): The Engine of Economic Growth through Investments and Innovation,” Sustain., vol. 12, no. 1, 2019.
A. Gökmen, “Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Development Prospects,” Int. J. Appl. Manag. Sci. Eng., 2021, doi: 10.4018/IJAMSE.2021070102.
Darko Popadić and Vlada Živanović and Nada Živanovic, “The Importance of Small and Medium Enterprise Development for Efficient Global Market Environment,” Chinese Bus. Rev., 2022, doi: 10.17265/1537-1506/2022.03.003.
Priscila Ferreira de Araújo Lima and M. Crema and C. Verbano, “Risk management in SMEs: A systematic literature review and future directions,” Eur. Manag. J., vol. 38, pp. 78–94, 2020, doi: 10.1016/J.EMJ.2019.06.005.
A. Asgary and A. Ozdemir and Hale Özyürek, “Small and Medium Enterprises and Global Risks: Evidence from Manufacturing SMEs in Turkey,” Int. J. Disaster Risk Sci., vol. 11, pp. 59–73, 2020, doi: 10.1007/s13753-020-00247-0.
J. Oláh and Zuzana Virglerová and J. Popp and J. Kliestikova and S. Kovács, “The Assessment of Non-Financial Risk Sources of SMES in the V4 Countries and Serbia,” Sustain., 2019, doi: 10.3390/su11174806.
Chiara Crovini and G. Ossola and B. Britzelmaier, “How to reconsider risk management in SMEs? An Advanced, Reasoned and Organised Literature Review,” Eur. Manag. J., 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.emj.2020.11.002.
J. Bélas and B. Gavurová and M. Kubák and Andrea Novotná, “RISK MANAGEMENT LEVEL DETERMINANTS IN VISEGRAD COUNTRIES – SECTORAL ANALYSIS,” Technol. Econ. Dev. Econ., 2023, doi: 10.3846/tede.2023.18415.
E. E. Hodgson et al., “Integrated Risk Assessment for the Blue Economy,” vol. 6, no. September, pp. 1–14, 2019, doi: 10.3389/fmars.2019.00609.
T. Sakurahara, S. Reihani, E. Kee, and Z. Mohaghegh, “Global importance measure methodology for integrated probabilistic risk assessment,” Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng. Part O J. Risk Reliab., vol. 234, pp. 377–396, 2019, doi: 10.1177/1748006X19879316.
M. G. Cains and D. Henshel, “Parameterization Framework and Quanti fi cation Approach for Integrated Risk and Resilience Assessments,” vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 131–146, 2021, doi: 10.1002/ieam.4331.
D. R. Johnson, “Integrated Risk Assessment and Management Methods are Necessary for Effective Implementation of Natural Hazards Policy,” Risk Anal., vol. 41, 2019, doi: 10.1111/risa.13268.
M. Wafiy, A. Ramli, N. E. Alias, H. M. Yusof, and Z. Yusop, “Development of a Local , Integrated Disaster Risk Assessment Framework for Malaysia,” 2021.
Q. Yang, L. Zhang, H. Yang, Y. Liu, N. Hu, and J. Zhang, “Probabilistic Risk Assessment and Its Application in Complex Integrated Task Risk Assessment,” Proc. 2023 13th Int. Work. Comput. Sci. Eng., no. Wcse, pp. 978–981, 2023, doi: 10.18178/wcse.2023.06.056.
A. Fayshal, R. Ullah, H. M. F. Adnan, and S. M. A. Rahman, “Evaluating Multidisciplinary Approaches within an Integrated Framework for Human Health Risk Assessment,” J. Environ. Eng. Stud., vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 30–41, 2023.
D. Fitria, A. Husaeni, A. Bayu, and D. Nandiyanto, “Bibliometric Using Vosviewer with Publish or Perish (using Google Scholar data): From Step-by-step Processing for Users to the Practical Examples in the Analysis of Digital Learning Articles in Pre and Post Covid-19 Pandemic,” ASEAN J. Sci. Eng., vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 19–46, 2022.
H. Soegoto, E. S. Soegoto, S. Luckyardi, and A. A. Rafdhi, “A Bibliometric Analysis of Management Bioenergy Research Using Vosviewer Application,” Indones. J. Sci. Technol., vol. 7, pp. 89–104, 2022, doi: http://doi.org/10.17509/ijost.v7i1.
O. Kaya, “Determinants and consequences of SME insolvency risk during the pandemic,” Econ. Model., vol. 115, Oct. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.econmod.2022.105958.
F. Shihadeh, S. K. Naradda Gamage, and A. Hannoon, “The causal relationship between SME sustainability and banks’ risk,” Econ. Res. Istraz. , vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 2743–2760, Jan. 2019, doi: 10.1080/1331677X.2019.1655465.
V. Süsi and O. Lukason, “Corporate governance and failure risk: evidence from Estonian SME population,” Manag. Res. Rev., vol. 42, no. 6, pp. 703–720, Jun. 2019, doi: 10.1108/MRR-03-2018-0105.
J. Dvorsky, L. Kozubikova, A. Ključnikov, and E. Ivanova, “Owners Vs. Managers. Disparities of Attitudes on The Business Risk in Sme Segment,” Amfiteatru Econ., vol. 24, no. 59, pp. 174–193, 2022, doi: 10.24818/EA/2022/59/174.
S. Soman and P. K. Pareek, “AN EMPIRICAL STUDY TO IDENTIFY AND WEIGH THE RISK ATTRIBUTES THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF FMEA IN THE SOFTWARE INDUSTRY WITH FOCUS ON MSME AND SME IT FIRMS IN BENGALURU REGION,” ASEAN Eng. J., vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 223–227, Mar. 2024, doi: 10.11113/aej.V14.20553.
F. T. DeZoort, A. Wilkins, and S. E. Justice, “The effect of SME reporting framework and credit risk on lenders’ judgments and decisions,” J. Account. Public Policy, vol. 36, no. 4, pp. 302–315, Jul. 2017, doi: 10.1016/j.jaccpubpol.2017.05.003.
J. Yan, “How the use of alternative information in risk management fintech platforms influences SME lending: a qualitative case study,” Qual. Res. Financ. Mark., 2024, doi: 10.1108/QRFM-08-2023-0198.
M. Habachi and S. El Haddad, “Impact of covid-19 on sme portfolios in morocco: Evaluation of banking risk costs and the effectiveness of state support measures,” Invest. Manag. Financ. Innov., vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 260–276, 2021, doi: 10.21511/imfi.18(3).2021.23.
Y. Zhu, C. Xie, G. J. Wang, and X. G. Yan, “Comparison of individual, ensemble and integrated ensemble machine learning methods to predict China’s SME credit risk in supply chain finance,” Neural Comput. Appl., vol. 28, pp. 41–50, Dec. 2017, doi: 10.1007/s00521-016-2304-x.
N. S. Al-Nassar and B. Makram, “The COVID-19 Outbreak and Risk–Return Spillovers between Main and SME Stock Markets in the MENA Region,” Int. J. Financ. Stud., vol. 10, no. 1, Mar. 2022, doi: 10.3390/IJFS10010006.
A. U. Rehman and M. Anwar, “Mediating role of enterprise risk management practices between business strategy and SME performance,” Small Enterp. Res., vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 207–227, 2019, doi: 10.1080/13215906.2019.1624385.
P. M. Kreiser, L. D. Marino, D. F. Kuratko, and K. M. Weaver, “Disaggregating entrepreneurial orientation: The non-linear impact of innovativeness, proactiveness and risk-taking on SME performance,” Small Bus. Econ., vol. 40, no. 2, pp. 273–291, Feb. 2013, doi: 10.1007/s11187-012-9460-x.
M. Castillo-Vergara and D. García-Pérez-de-Lema, “Product innovation and performance in SME’s: the role of the creative process and risk taking,” Innov. Organ. Manag., vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 470–488, 2021, doi: 10.1080/14479338.2020.1811097.
M. Kuděj, M. Civelek, M. Erben, J. Masárová, and J. Kubálek, “Navigating global markets: The role of enterprise risk management and human resource management in SME international expansions,” Equilibrium. Q. J. Econ. Econ. Policy, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 1075–1103, Dec. 2023, doi: 10.24136/eq.2023.034.
J. Vavřina and D. Martinovičová, “Economic performance of SME agricultural producers in the context of risk management: Focus on Visegrad 4 member countries,” Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun., vol. 62, no. 4, pp. 777–782, 2014, doi: 10.11118/actaun201462040777.
L. Van Scheers, “‘Managing the risk of the community engagement project: SME managerial skills transfer project at UNISA’ NUMBER OF REFERENCES 0 NUMBER OF FIGURES 0 NUMBER OF TABLES 0,” Probl. Perspect. Manag., 2016, doi: 10.21511/ppm.14(4).
K. Vichova, P. Taraba, and T. Belantova, “Risk management of the project and the use of software in sme,” WSEAS Trans. Bus. Econ., vol. 17, pp. 551–559, 2020, doi: 10.37394/23207.2020.17.54.
H. Sulistianingsih and F. Santi, “Does SME’s financing decisions follow pecking order pattern? The role of financial literacy, risk preference, and home bias in SME financing decisions,” Cogent Bus. Manag., vol. 10, no. 1, 2023, doi: 10.1080/23311975.2023.2174477.
J. Marriott and G. Robinson, “To score and to protect? Big data (and privacy) meet SME credit risk in the UK.” [Online]. Available: https://academic.oup.com/idpl/article-abstract/7/1/48/3192387
O. Chakabva and R. K. Tengeh, “The relationship between SME owner-manager characteristics and risk management strategies,” Sep. 01, 2023, Elsevier B.V. doi: 10.1016/j.joitmc.2023.100112.
L. Kozubíková, J. Belás, Y. Bilan, and P. Bartoš, “Personal characteristics of entrepreneurs in the context of perception and management of business risk in the SME segment,” Econ. Sociol., vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 41–54, Jul. 2015, doi: 10.14254/2071-789X.2015/8-1/4.
R. P. Handrito, H. Slabbinck, and J. Vanderstraeten, “Enjoying or refraining from risk? The impact of implicit need for achievement and risk perception on SME internationalization,” Cross Cult. Strateg. Manag., vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 317–342, Sep. 2020, doi: 10.1108/CCSM-03-2019-0068.
Yeniaras & Kaya, “Performance risk factors in SME strategic planning: Investigating the impacts of business and political ties in Turkey’s private sector,” Nov. 15, 2021, Emerald Group Holdings Ltd. doi: 10.1108/SD-09-2021-0095.
Z. Virglerova, E. Ivanova, J. Dvorsky, J. Belas, and T. Krulický, “Selected factors of internationalisation and their impact on the SME perception of the market risk,” Oeconomia Copernicana, vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 1011–1032, Dec. 2021, doi: 10.24136/oc.2021.033.
B. Ślusarczyk and K. Grondys, “Parametric conditions of high financial risk in the SME sector,” Risks, vol. 7, no. 3, Sep. 2019, doi: 10.3390/risks7030084.
E. Y. Lopatina, “Problems of SME risks’ identification and systematization,” World Appl. Sci. J., vol. 23, no. 11, pp. 1548–1554, 2013, doi: 10.5829/idosi.wasj.2013.23.11.13166.
J. Belás, A. Ključnikov, S. Vojtovič, and M. Sobeková-Májková, “APPROACH OF THE SME ENTREPRENEURS TO FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT IN RELATION TO GENDER AND LEVEL OF EDUCATION,” Sociol., vol. 8, 2015, doi: 10.14254/2071.
Y. Xia, T. Xu, M. X. Wei, Z. K. Wei, and L. J. Tang, “Predicting Chain’s Manufacturing SME Credit Risk in Supply Chain Finance Based on Machine Learning Methods,” Sustain. , vol. 15, no. 2, Jan. 2023, doi: 10.3390/su15021087.
Q. Peng, C. Xie, J. Li, Y. Zhu, and G. J. Wang, “Impact of Enterprises Relationship on Ml’s Ability to Forecast SME’s Credit Risk in SCF: A Research Based on Complex Network,” Emerg. Mark. Financ. Trade, 2024, doi: 10.1080/1540496X.2024.2324195.
J. Belas, L. Smrcka, B. Gavurova, and J. Dvorsky, “The impact of social and economic factors in the credit risk management of sme,” Technol. Econ. Dev. Econ., vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 1215–1230, 2018, doi: 10.3846/tede.2018.1968.
J. Dvorský, J. Schönfeld, A. Kotásková, and Z. Petráková, “Evaluation of important credit risk factors in the SME segment,” J. Int. Stud., vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 204–216, 2018, doi: 10.14254/2071-8330.2018/11-3/17.
J. Belás, J. Dvorský, J. Kubálek, and L. Smrčka, “Important factors of financial risk in the SME segment,” J. Int. Stud., vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 80–92, 2018, doi: 10.14254/2071-8330.2018/11-1/6.
K. Kamei and L. P. Dana, “Examining the impact of new policy facilitating SME succession in Japan: From a viewpoint of risk management in family business,” Int. J. Entrep. Small Bus., vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 60–70, 2012, doi: 10.1504/IJESB.2012.046917.
A. A. Muthiah, M. Vikram, and H. Narashiman, “An empirical study on environment risk management in small and medium enterprises (SME)’, Progress in Industrial Ecology,” 2017.
X. Li, K. Chen, G. X. Yuan, and H. Wang, “The decision-making of optimal equity and capital structure based on dynamical risk profiles: A Langevin system framework for SME growth,” Int. J. Intell. Syst., vol. 36, no. 7, pp. 3500–3523, Jul. 2021, doi: 10.1002/int.22424.
S. Abdullah, Z. Othman, and R. Mohamad, “Predicting the Risk of SME Loan Repayment using AI Technology-Machine Learning Techniques: A Perspective of Malaysian Financing Institutions,” J. Adv. Res. Appl. Sci. Eng. Technol., vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 320–326, Jul. 2023, doi: 10.37934/araset.31.2.320326.
I. Wahyudin, T. Djatna, and W. A. Kusuma, “Cluster Analysis for SME Risk Analysis Documents Based on Pillar K-Means,” TELKOMNIKA, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 1693–6930, 2016, doi: 10.12928/TELKOMNIKA.v14i1.2385.
Y. Zhu, C. Xie, B. Sun, G. J. Wang, and X. G. Yan, “Predicting China’s SME credit risk in supply chain financing by logistic regression, artificial neural network and hybrid models,” Sustain., vol. 8, no. 5, p. 433, 2016, doi: 10.3390/su8050433.
P. Chowdhury, K. H. Lau, and S. Pittayachawan, “Operational supply risk mitigation of SME and its impact on operational performance: A social capital perspective,” Int. J. Oper. Prod. Manag., vol. 39, no. 4, pp. 478–502, Apr. 2019, doi: 10.1108/IJOPM-09-2017-0561.
Ö. T. Doruk, “Does Islamic banking reduce the risks of COVID-19 for SMEs? Novel evidence for SME financing in the pandemic period for an emerging market,” Int. J. Disaster Risk Reduct., vol. 91, Jun. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103664.
E. Cipovová, G. Dlasková, and I. E. Cipovová, “Comparison of Different Methods of Credit Risk Management of the Commercial Bank to Accelerate Lending Activities for SME Segment Comparison of Different Methods of Credit Risk Management of the Commercial Bank to Accelerate Lending Activities for SME Segment 18,” 2016.
N. Yoshino, F. Taghizadeh-Hesary, P. Charoensivakorn, and B. Niraula, “Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) Credit Risk Analysis Using Bank Lending Data: An Analysis of Thai SMEs,” J. Comp. Asian Dev., vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 383–406, Sep. 2016, doi: 10.1080/15339114.2016.1233821.
A. Ellen and I. Beate, “Tech SME strategies to attract open innovation growth partners: Limiting risk by creating trusted relationships with large companies,” 2018, Emerald Group Publishing Ltd. doi: 10.1108/SD-01-2018-0012.
F. Taghizadeh-Hesary, H. Phoumin, and E. Rasoulinezhad, “COVID-19 and regional solutions for mitigating the risk of SME finance in selected ASEAN member states,” Econ. Anal. Policy, vol. 74, pp. 506–525, Jun. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.eap.2022.03.012.
Downloads
Additional Files
Posted
License
Copyright (c) 2025 UMSIDA Preprints Server

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
