Pathology of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Practical Strategies to Support them (Semnan Province Case Study)

This study tries to pathologize small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Seman province as well as to explain practical them. A researcher-made questionnaire was administered to supplement empirical and library research which included making interviews with the Semnan province managers of organizations concerned and SMEs on the problems and challenges of SMEs. The statistical population of the research was industrial SMEs managers established in Semnan province composed of 1609 units. The statistical sample was made of 310 persons from among them، selected through stratified-random sampling method. The results of statistical surveys showed that Semnan province SMEs face a variety of internal and external difficulties and challenges. Moreover، financial and non-financial facilities and supports were not sufficient to help them out of such problems. Ranking the governmental support from the viewpoints of SMEs managers demonstrated that that government''s financial support of such enterprises was the highest priority followed by other priorities such as managerial، marketing and technical supports.