Forgotten effects: an analysis tool in the production of industrial SMEs in Cuenca

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the support for the promotion of development through the production and sale of their products. The aspect to be studied is the decrease in production, a consequence of the slow economic reactivation of these firms since the events related to the pandemic in the year 2020. The research seeks to recognize the measures and consequences in order to address and solve the identified problem. This will be achieved through the application of the Theory of Neglected Effects (TEO), which are not always captured by the scholars of the subject, to reduce hesitations and decide in a more accurate way. Methodologically, the research has a mixed descriptive approach, where the synthetic analytical method is implemented. Surveys were applied to subjects with production expertise, using the endecadary scale and fuzzy logic to develop a square matrix of forgotten effects, thus identifying the underlying variable. The results reveal changes in the form of behavior from synergy, which positively impacts increased productivity by decreasing costs. Finally, by applying the guidelines of the scholars and obtaining a matrix that relates qualitative variables, based on cause and effect links, a criterion is obtained that facilitates decisions and the possibility for companies to arrange production increases for the fortune of the company.