Selected aspects of quality of business environment in segment SME. A case study from Slovakia

Abstract

SMEs play an important role in the economic system of Slovakia. In this context it is considered to be important to examine the factors that create the quality of the business environment. The aim of this article is to define, quantify and compare the significant attributes of quality of the business environment for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in selected regions of Slovakia. Within this stated objective, relevant factors and business relationships between entrepreneurs and the socio-economic system were analysed. The entrepreneurs' perception of their environment (motivation to start a business, the most important characteristics of entrepreneur, society, state, universities, etc.) was evaluated. The data was collected through a questionnaire. We compared important factors of business environment in the most economically developed region of the Slovak capital to the average regions of Trencin and Zilina. On the basis of the results of our research, we can conclude that the most important motive for starting a business in all these regions of Slovakia was money. It was found that there were no differences between the individual regions. In the entrepreneurs' point of view, the most important characteristic of an entrepreneur is not being afraid to take risks. Other frequently chosen qualities were expertise, responsibility and persistence. We found no statistically significant differences in the perception of the importance of not being afraid to take risks among the selected regions. Only 6.70% of entrepreneurs in the Zilina region think that society perceives them positively. The numbers in the other regions were even lower. Since more than 60% of entrepreneurs in all the selected regions stated that the State should support them financially. Our research confirmed that entrepreneurs evaluate the level of higher education rather primly.