The Biggest Winners are Small: Understanding Sustainability and Future Readiness of Global Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

“An essential read for grasping and harnessing the competitive advantages, collaborative strength, and positive societal influence wielded by SMEs. This book covers, in particular, the concept of ‘future readiness’ which should be part of any business strategy in today’s volatile world, especially for SMEs.” Julia Devos Head, New Champions Community World Economic Forum If the past few years have taught us anything, it is that the only thing we can predict about the future is: It is unpredictable. How do businesses - in particular smaller companies - ready themselves for this future? This general management book serves as an introductory reading for academics, practitioners, and graduate (MBA) students interested in understanding future readiness and the significance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in driving the global economy and sustainability agenda. Covering topics like societal impact, technology, change management, talent, and leadership, this book highlights unique strategies for SMEs to be more future-ready. Featuring case studies of companies of different sizes from various industries around the globe, this book explores how founders, entrepreneurs, and decision makers of future-ready SMEs achieve long-term financial growth while having a positive impact on stakeholders and society. Despite forming more than 90 percent of all businesses, SMEs have not received much attention when it comes to research on driving positive change. Yet, due to their ability to be nimbler and more agile to adapt to the evolving needs and demands in the environment, SMEs are in a better position to gain from the market and increase their competitiveness for the future. The hope is for readers to feel empowered and realize that the company may be small, but it can win big.