Abstract:
This article explores two of the five major factors that determine success in high-growth small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Research has shown that the internal characteristics of SMEs such as technology strategy and the demographics of the management team are critical and related to the organisational success. High-growth SMEs have been defined as innovative technology companies that introduce new products or services, opening new channels of distribution, pioneering novel production methods and management approaches. A sectorial classification* of “high technology” industries developed at the Department of Trade and Industry was used as a basis for selecting the sample in the study. This embraces the communications, IT, computing, biotechnology, electronics, and medical / life sciences industries.