Project management practice in SMEs: A comparative study of the Portuguese and Danish economic context

Abstract

The project management practice by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is an urgent demand and a clear concern of European countries for economic reasons in recent years. One major problem in traditional management practices is the focus on efficiency rather than innovation and control rather than empowerment. Several authors mention the existence of a “gap” between the theory and the actual use of project management by SMEs that increasingly require government support. This paper aims to analyze the economic scenario in the context of Portuguese and Danish SMEs that promotes innovation and project management practice through literature review and economic reports. The measures and initiatives adopted to minimize the factors that hinder the realization of businesses highlight the efforts of each country to encourage organizations to adapt to a dynamic and competitive context. The perspective is that the economic scenario presented points favorable aspects for SMEs and serve as parameters for future work and development of management practices appropriate to the size and maturity of SME organizations. Furthermore, the paper strengths the role of SMEs in innovation and the importance of using project management practices.