-BALANCED SCORECARD PROPOSAL FOR A SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISE - “FORATO S.p.A”

This Master Final Work (MFW) proposes an application of the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) as a strategic performance measurement tool for Forato S.p.A., a Small Medium Enterprise (SME), operating in the fruit and vegetable wholesale sector in Northern Italy. SME face several challenges, such as limited resources, low innovation, and highly competitive pressure. The BSC can be a useful management tool for this type of companies because it forces them to formalize their strategy in the long and short-run, to develop specific strategic objectives (financial and non-financial), to identify performance indicators related to those objectives, to set targets, and to design initiatives that will facilitate the achievement of those targets. Using company documents and interviews with managers and shareholders at Forato S.p.A as sources of data, this MFW develops a BSC proposal with a strategy map, strategic objectives, performance indicators, targets and initiatives. Therefore, this study provides a roadmap for the company to balance short-term profitability with long-term growth and innovation, ensuring the company’s competitive positioning in an evolving market.