Many studies in recent years have investigated the role of government in facilitating the growth of manufacturing sector throughout the world. However, little attention has been paid to policies and mechanisms for providing assistance to small manufacturing firms, particularly in the developing world. The primary objectives of this research are to identify the key strategies and methods adopted to support small manufacturing firms and to assess the effectiveness of government support policies in Iran. It also suggests a decision-making framework for future government policies regarding small firms. The findings show clear differences between small manufacturing firms’ expected supports and what was delivered by the government to the extent that only 5 out of 19 cases of support factors received adequate government assistance.

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