Purpose: This study reviewed the context, organisational arrangements and institutional changes for the operation of a smallholder dairy development project, comprising multi-stakeholders in three locales. The objective was to have a comparative assessment of the project dynamics and to draw lessons for improving its performance.…

Purpose: This article explores the perceptions of professionals on the implementation and impact of Dual Vocational Training (Dual VET) in the Spanish education system. Design/methodology/approach: The study involves interviews with various professionals in the education and employment sectors and two discussion groups. Findings: Results reveal…

Mobile Learning (mLearning) is becoming popular in several parts of education. The increasing availability of mobile technology and devices is an important fact, which fosters this trend. However, even if it attracts more and more attention at huge enterprises it is not clear what small and medium enterprises (SMEs) think about Mobile Learning.…

From the perspective of industrial small and medium size enterprises (SMEs), this study explores the implementation of performance measurement practices and challenges in university-industry innovation networks. In this research, two single-case studies were conducted to explore the implementation practices and challenges of performance…

A survey of over 2,000 small and midsized enterprises in the West Midlands, England, found employers had relatively high awareness of and interest in National Vocational Qualifications but low actual implementation. Causes included negative experiences, high cost, inflexibility, and mismatch with needs. (SK)

Three important elements of a South African vision for high skills must be spreading skills improvements across the population in general, creating policy coherence and constructing new institutions. This article examines these issues through an investigation of the micro and small enterprise (MSE) sector and, in particular, through an analysis of…

As part of a study to test the feasibility of expanding computer use within the Montana business community, computer systems were field tested in four Montana small businesses. The four businesses were a newspaper, an advertising agency, a sheep and cattle ranch, and a private investment company. The companies employed from 3 to 20 persons. Three…

The following papers are included: "The Visionary Entrepreneur" (Sidney J. Parnes); "Creative Discipline: Entrepreneurial Objective or Oxymoron" (Arthur Lipper III); "Wowing Your Customers" (Stew Leonard); "Results of Recent Studies Examining the Effect of Need for Achievement and Other Variables upon…

This book examines how quality management is implemented in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Germany, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. It presents the survey results as two sector studies. Competitive and specialization tendencies of the sectors and company concepts of "quality" and…

The Washington State Self-Employment and Enterprise Demonstration (SEED) was the first federally sponsored self-employment demonstration program for unemployed workers in the United States. Its primary purpose was to determine the viability of self-employment as a reemployment option for recipients of Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits who do…

The following papers are included: "Defining the Win and Thereby Lessening the Losses for Successful Entrepreneurs" (Arthur Lipper III); "It Can Be Done" (Anthony Lemme); "A Self-Portrait of Entrepreneurs" (George T. Solomon, Erik K. Winslow); "Software Entrepreneurship: Lessons Learned" (John Coyne);…

The main parameters of state self-employment assistance (SEA) programs for unemployed workers were tested in two experimental demonstrations authorized by the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act. The Washington State and Massachusetts Unemployment Insurance (UI) Self-Employment Demonstrations evaluated the ability of the…

An 18-month, 3-phase study examined formal employer-sponsored basic skills instruction in small- and medium-sized firms. Data were gathered through the following methods: in-depth case studies of 72 small and medium firms in 5 states, a series of linked national surveys of 11,000 randomly selected firms, follow-up telephone surveys of 4,317 of…

Among the papers presented at this conference are the following: "Keynote Address," (Parish); "Small Business in the Year 2000," (Lichtenstein); "Making America Work Again," (Rennie); "U.S./Canadian Free Trade Negotiations," (Swed); "Ethical Considerations for Entrepreneurs and the Need for Preparing Entrepreneurs for Disappointment," (Lipper);…

A British project explored ways further education colleges could help meet training needs of small businesses, specifically the small plant and tool hire industry. The industry's leading organization, the Hire Association of Europe (HAE), provided a list of members; responsibility for making contact rested with the colleges. The most effective…