Critical Success Factors and Barriers for Saudi Small and Medium Enterprises

This study aimed to produce and empirically tested a comprehensive framework of critical success factors and barriers to SME success with the goal of identifying such factors at individual, organisational, and environmental levels. A sample of 391 SME owners and managers produced the data for the study. A structural equation modelling analysis identified the influence of the following factors: leadership, motivations to succeed, and business experience at individual level; financial resources, motivated workforce, and business networking at organisational levels, and favourable economic and technology environment at business environment level. Bureaucracy and lack of financing options were the identified critical barriers to success. The results of study were consistent after the introduction of control variables at individual (age, gender), and organisational (size, age of business) levels. Practical implications of the study are discussed and future research directions are proposed.