The Management Enterprise Network

Final Report : executive summary html version - Pdf version

1. Objectives of the Project

• Increase the awareness of ICT so that SME Managers can relate this to their own businesses
• Give SME Managers the confidence to explore the use of ICT and look at internal changes to their businesses
• Give Business Advisors the awareness and confidence to support SME Managers through the process of firstly the ‘IT WORK Agreement’ and then onto the ‘IT Action Plan’

2. Needs Identified by research done:

• SME managers need to be aware of and understand the impact of ICT’s on their business - ‘Crawford and Whitely (1991) Research paper for LSE
• Short and dedicated training with human support would improve the potential for cross-fertilisation of business to business contacts , networking of distributor/supplier chain - ‘Scott and Bramley (1996) Int’l Small Business Journal
• High level of scepticism to offer information about company using ICT’s because of fear of loss of commercial advantage ; except where it was deemed to be of overt commercial benefit ‘Oakley and Farrell’ (1997) Int’l Small Business Journal

3. Geographical areas of work

• Birmingham - Central Greater Manchester - North West
• Kent (SE) - South Bristol - South West

4. Delivery Partners

• Management Development Advisors (Regional Officers) of MCI = 8
• Business Development Advisors and Personal Councillors =10

- Regional Training and Enterprise Councils

• National Training Organisation IT - NTO
• IBM, HP, ICL, Microsoft
• Dept. for Trade and Industry ISI and Dep’t. for Education and Employment
• Small Business Bureau, IOD, CBI
• Inst. of Business Counsellors, Institute of Business Management

5. Proposed services

• Train the Trainer seminars for Business Advisors / Councillors
• Blanket mailing to all SME’s about project
• SME’s sign up to undertake ‘ IT Work Agreement’ a work schedule between SME Manager and Business Advisors/ Councillors over the duration of the project
• SME’s also undertake ‘IT Action Plan’ an implementation schedule for work to be carried out in the business itself

6. European Dimension

• Links with partners in other EU regions as ‘Observers’
• Coopers and Lybrand with their own expertise I management development and adaptation processes

7. Anticipated Impact

• An increased level of awareness about ICT’s within a greater number of SME managers across UK
• An increased level of confidence with Business Advisors to support SME Managers in their searches and queries
• An interactive CD-ROM which may be used as an additional tool for Business Advisors ..or even SME Managers with some supervision
• A greater networking and communication level between SME Managers of similar or related business type

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