Abstract
This systematic literature review evaluates the impact of global open data policies on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in different economic levels. Six case studies were analyzed to provide insights into the utilization of open data in the private sector. The review followed the PRISMA 2020 checklist and selected studies based on specific criteria, including high quality, strong methodology, and published by a valid publisher. The findings suggest that open data promotion can bring significant benefits to SMEs in terms of innovation, efficiency, and competitiveness. However, SMEs also face significant challenges in accessing and utilizing open data due to technical, legal, and cultural barriers. Therefore, practical aspects should be taken into account when implementing open data initiatives for SMEs. A framework is needed to measure the impact of open data policies on SMEs, and governments and policymakers should support open data initiatives in their countries, especially for SMEs whose valuable data can contribute to society’s development. Using the GRADE approach, the certainty of evidence was rated as moderate according to limitations in study design and inconsistency across studies. Overall, this systematic literature review highlights the potential for open data policies to drive growth and development in small businesses while acknowledging the challenges that must be addressed for these policies to be effective. The review provides a guide for SMEs on measures to take prior to releasing their data and whether to release their data from an economic aspect. Moreover, this paper emphasizes the importance of practical aspects when implementing open data initiatives for SMEs and proposes a framework for measuring their impact. Finally, it highlights the need for government policies and support to facilitate SME adoption of open data initiatives.
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Data Availability
The data included in this study comprise secondary data collected from the included research papers and primary data collected from the databases used in the proposed framework of this paper. The primary data were directly obtained from the mentioned online databases, while the secondary data, specific open data initiatives, were collected from the included research papers following the filtration process outlined in the methodology section. Both primary and secondary data were analyzed and compared on an individual basis and across countries to derive meaningful conclusions.
The data collected in this study will be made publicly available upon publication in subscription format in this journal. The data will be provided in a format that facilitates easy reuse and analysis.
The intended audience for this research comprises SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), policy makers and government officials, as well as researchers with an interest in open data and technology within the field of economics. The intended audience for this research comprises SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), policy makers and government officials, as well as researchers with an interest in open data and technology within the field of economics.
Ethical considerations have been taken into account throughout this study. The purpose of the research, as stated in the methodology section, is to address the research question and benefit SMEs and future research endeavors. The type of collected data and the methodology of data collection have been clearly described in this statement and the methodology section of the paper. As this study does not involve any participants or access to closed information, privacy concerns related to participants are not applicable.
By adhering to these data availability and ethical considerations, this research aims to contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the addressed topics while ensuring transparency and accessibility for the intended audience.
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Acknowledgements
I would like to sincerely appreciate Mr. Aziz Shamsi, phd, Faculty member in Urmia University of medical sciences, for his comprehensive constant guidance’s which led to the conducting of this systematic review based on PRISMA 2020 systematic review checklist.
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Moghadasi, A. Do SMEs Consider Open Data as a Vital Intellectual Asset? a Systematic Literature Review. J Knowl Econ (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-023-01518-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-023-01518-z