Success factors of small- and medium-sized enterprises in Taiwan: An analysis of cases

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have contributed significantly to the economic growth of Taiwan, and insight into how they prosper is worthy of investigation. Based on a framework of structure, technology, and people, a case survey was conducted to reveal the success factors of 43 SMEs in Taiwan, Major findings include the following: (1) "people"-related issues are more emphasized than those of "structure" and "technology", (2) business founders' management skills, customer focus, and resource creation are more important than their technical sk ills; and (3) case companies show more concern for "soft" attitudes, skills, and operating methods than for "hard" equipment. This study relates statistically the complex, qualitative phenomena that could only be described conceptually in the past.