Structural Change Management for Sustainable SME Development

Abstract

This chapter addresses several approaches in investigation of the SME life cycles, particularly in respect to the structure, functions and behavior of these businesses. Once SMEs have been established they start to change both their structure and behavior. In fact, it could be stated that SMEs operate in a permanently changing environment. There are a lot of factors which influence these changes and optimizing their management is a great challenge for most SMEs. As a result of these factors and suboptimal SME management practices survival rate of new established SMEs is low. For researchers and practitioners it is therefore crucial to discover how to increase long-term survival chances of SMEs through relevant structural change. In order to contribute to this goal the chapter will consider the conceptual and research framework of the structure and practical management behavior of SMEs in change management processes. The chapter also provides suggestions on how to use practical management tools such as the PEST, SWOT and TOWS matrices and ways of their analysis.