POOR management plays a big part in the failure of more than half the small and medium sized enterprises that go under in Scotland, research has found. Analysis of official figures for the Chartered Management Institute, Chartered Association of Business Schools and The Supper Club organisation for entrepreneurs showed more than two in five (42%) of businesses founded in Scotland in 2011 had failed by 2014. Incompetence and bad management were to blame for 56 per cent of the failures. Only 16 per cent of all new Scottish SMEs were found to be fast-growing, with annual employment growth of more than 20 per cent. Ann Francke, chief executive of the Chartered Management Institute, said: “Small businesses are a vital part of our economy, yet as our report shows their growth is being held back by poor management and leadership.”