Key success factors for small and medium size enterprises in a context of global supply chains

Abstract

Being considered as the main engine of recovery in many financial and economic crises devastated regions, small and medium size enterprises are facing challenges due to developments in global supply chains. They are dominated by an important bargaining power of global supply chains, in cases they are seeking for cooperation within these global chains, they can remain marginal in these supply chains or develop their business activities in areas not covered by global supply chains. In that context small and medium size enterprises’ success depends on some specific key factors providing them with competitive advantage. These enterprises, having little of bargaining power, can be pushed towards beginnings of global supply chains, benefit rather little from advantages created by accessing to global supply chains. There is a set of key success factors for small and medium size enterprises and that for success in global supply chains. The comparison between these two sets is made in the document in order to find out the potential possibilities for small and medium size enterprises and to map guidelines for their business development success.