Globalization, increased complexity of customer needs, increased impact of information technology and the economy based on intellectual capital are phenomena that present new challenges for both large companies and SME’s. To survive in the globalized economy, companies must improve their performance, which requires a new approach to organizational performance in a new business environment and quantify the combined effects of human factors, strategy, structure, technology and the environmental performance of companies, especially for SME’s. Also of particular importance is identifying management practices likely to help improve business performance. Increased complexity of the new business environment (high level of uncertainty and risk) generates new approaches in terms of business performance in general and, in particular, small and medium enterprises concerned with achieving levels of efficiency, productivity, efficiency and competitiveness to classify them in the category of "world class". Important changes in the business environment should be equally assumed by public and private bodies which represent the "development infrastructure" for firms (universities, research centers, government agencies, consultants) and support the activities of firms through policies, programs, methods, tools and knowledge transfer.
