Project Management Tools and Techniques in High-Tech SMEs in Ireland

In Ireland today and across Europe, Small-to-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) account for 99% of activity on the market (European Communities 2003). However, with particular emphasis on manufacturing in Ireland, it is widely accepted that economic changes are leading to increased international competition from Asia and Eastern Europe. This fact added to issues of increasing globalisation and customer demands changing ever more rapidly has resulted in increased pressure on the SME. Organisations need the ability to manage projects on time, within budget and to specification in order to remain competitive and survive. Project management is a well-established discipline defining in considerable detail the tools and techniques that are required to define, plan and implement any project. However, while many researchers have addressed the issues surrounding the management of projects within large firms (White and Fortune (2002); Bryde (2003)) there has not been a lot published to date about the management of projects in SMEs. This paper examines previous empirical studies on Project Management implementation in various industry sectors and the criteria and factors most frequently adopted. The paper also examines the results of a survey distributed to over 100 Owner / Managers of High- Tech SMEs in Ireland that attempts to recognise the general characteristics of projects undertaken by SMEs, the issues they encounter and their opinions on how SMEs can achieve greater efficiency and competitiveness. The results will contribute to the development of a simplified process of Project Management suited to the needs of the SME.