What about the little guys? : How SMEs can benefit from the balanced scorecard approach

Purpose – the paper aims to reviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach – This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings – The paper finds that, as always with new business phenomena or trends, all the talk “in the literature” focuses on the experience of Blue Chip companies or high profile industries such as automotive manufacturing or IT, while small to medium‐sized companies (SMEs) are often left in the shadows. However much of the interesting innovation occurs in these companies, and ignoring them often misses out key aspects of these trends, as well as the different dynamics that operate within them. Practical implications – The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations. Originality/value – The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy‐to‐digest format.