Surveys (n=6,000), interviews (n=600), and case studies (n=60) of organizational learning in British small businesses indicated that nearly all claimed to be learning organizations, but learning was largely incidental and sporadic and only a fraction of it was communicated to others. Few were using knowledge management strategically. (SK)

Discusses the findings of a study that investigated how the learning of innovative practices might best proceed in small businesses. The recent implementation of the Goods and Service Tax (GST) in Australia presented an opportunity for understanding how small business operatives learned to implement a new practice. The procedures comprised…

A survey of 144 small businesses in Taiwan used a comprehensive measure of training including organization, expenditure, duration, process, and delivery methods. Findings show that firms with sophisticated training systems and strong management support for training are most successful at maximizing their training programs. (Contains 14…

Interest in successful small businesses continues to grow, but is influenced by the different ways in which small businesses are categorised and the difficulty of defining ?success?. There is a range of criteria associated with success in terms of individual owner characteristics, organisational values and performance measures. However, few…

Discusses basic skills as an element of competitiveness. Applies market and system failure models to the level of basic skills training offered by small businesses. Examines recent British policy documents and recommendations for more small business investment in basic skills. (Contains 42 references.) (SK)

A telephone survey of nearly 2,000 small businesses in Britain showed employers had positive attitudes about training but 85% had not provided any for at least a year. Interviews with 200 cited market position, economic conditions, and lack of training availability as causes. They felt national training policies lacked focus, coherence, and…

A study of British business owners and employees who were trained in business applications of the Internet found it raised awareness of information/communication technologies. Connecting the training to National Vocational Qualifications proved unpopular. The need for business centers offering the training was clear and ways to improve the program…

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)

The current business climate enables small businesses to grow faster, creating more advancement opportunities. Business graduates should consider small and medium-sized employers with good growth prospects and work environments satisfying their preferences, but should have realistic expectations of working in small companies. (SK)

Secondary analysis of data from a study of skill needs in the British independent retail sector suggests there is justification for focusing on higher-level training in three areas: building and sustaining competitive advantage, e-commerce, and retail operations. These areas are the core modules in a distance learning initiative that resulted from…

A longitudinal study focused on the training needs of 6,000 small and medium-sized businesses in 6 formerly communist countries. Results showed owner/managers had positive attitudes to training, but the vast majority had provided no training in the past year. Difficulties included economic conditions and availability of relevant training.…

Small businesses dominate the tourism and hospitality industry worldwide and are of critical importance for the competitiveness of destinations. Small family hotel businesses are characterised by a number of specific business processes which generate particular training and educational needs. It is increasingly clear that small businesses are not…

In the late 1990s, the Czech government implemented policies to enhance the role of small/medium-sized enterprises in innovation, including grants, subsidies, and tax credits. Education and training have focused on information/communications technologies. Future policy developments must be guided by trends in the global knowledge-based economy as…

Two approaches to training for small/medium-sized enterprises were compared: a British distance learning program and an Irish program offering face-to-face training for micro-enterprises. Both used constructivist, collaborative, and reflective methods. Advantages and disadvantages of each approach were identified. (SK)

Marketing students' action research projects in small businesses demonstrated that small business sustainability is enhanced by increased understanding of marketing and business students' employment potential is enhanced by exposure to small businesses. Such projects also provide material for case studies on specific marketing problems. (SK)