Performance Management in Innovative SMEs: the Key Role of the Social Media

Recent research outline the relevant impact of new global trends in performance measurement and the poor adoption of performance measurement practices able to face the new organizational environment, particularly in manufacturing small and medium enterprises. Few leading SMEs are introducing innovative practices, but they are still few unstructured and unawareness experiences. The literature highlights the need for identifying innovative PM model able to guide these organizations in facing the new competitive context. In order to contribute to this gap, this research aims to identify the key factors affecting performance management in innovative SMEs. To carry out this investigation, we adopt a qualitative research methodology based on action research The empirical evidence highlights the huge influence of the change generation, organizational learning and social system in performance measurement practices. Moreover, it emerge clearly the key role of social media and the relevance of connective network, rather than repetitive network to increase the effectiveness of performance management.