Presents recent data on 2,700 manufacturing plants that employ fewer than 500 employees. Suggests that low-road shops (i.e., those that are not very systematic, modern, or distinctive) outperform high-road shops. Argues that community colleges currently provide training geared toward low-road plants, but that they should shift their focus toward…

Presents Edna Bonacich's views on the social costs of Korean immigrant entrepreneurship in Los Angeles (California), for both the immigrants and society. Discusses the inadequacies of her arguments concerning these negative consequences. Considers the policy implications of Bonacich's interpretation for immigrants. (JS)

As a group, entrepreneurs and small business managers require training which is specific to their skills gaps, and takes into account that they are geographically dispersed with limited time available for such activities. They also require training which is integrated with their business activities and sufficiently flexible to incorporate into…

Two major initiatives are in place in Wales that aim to create a strong and internationally competitive small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector. These are the Technology Exploitation Programme (TEP) and the Centres of Excellence for Technology and Industrial Collaboration (CETIC) programme. The Materials Centre of Excellence at the…

It is widely accepted that employees in small business suffer from a lack of knowledge and skills. This lack of skills means that small companies will miss out on new business opportunities. This is even more evident with respect to the adoption of Internet marketing in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This paper reports a pilot research…

This report of the Child Care Action Committee's National Advisory Panel profiles 29 small businesses employing under 250 workers in 15 states which offer child care benefits to their employees. These businesses do not constitute a representative sample of small businesses. A series of factors for small businesses to consider when planning a child…

A study ascertained training, retraining, consulting, and technical support needs of small manufacturing companies in Ohio. Data were obtained from nine service areas of Ohio's two-year educational institutions to determine what human, technical, and physical assets campuses should make available. A survey instrument was designed to provide…

Women-owned nonfarm sole proprietorships increased 62.5% between 1980 and 1986 (from 2.5 to 4.1 million). Women's share of total nonfarm sole proprietorships increased from 26.1% percent in 1980 to 29.9% in 1986. Compared with male-owned businesses, women-owned businesses are more likely to be home based, not have any paid employees, provide no…

This guide is designed to orient vocational education and training (VET) providers and adult educators to one approach to work-based learning in small business training and development used in Australia. Chapter 1, "About this Guide" (Merilyn Childs), provides an overview of the key players and conceptual frameworks involved in the small…

This paper discusses the REAL (Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning) model as a necessary component of rural school-to-work (STW) programs. In rural areas where opportunities for traditional STW approaches (such as apprenticeships) are limited, entrepreneurial education teaches students to be job creators, not just job applicants. This…

School-based enterprise (SBE) is a hands-on educational program in which students create and manage a business in their community. SBE programs address two general concerns about education today--lack of student motivation and the need for schools to teach students the skills to survive in and contribute to their communities. SBE makes the…

This document provides a summary of the proceedings of a conference on business start-ups and creation in the 12 member states of the European Community (EC). Section I discusses the current relevance of the issue. Major topics are the explosion of interest in business creation as a means of creating more stable employment and political concern…

The National Workplace Literacy Program forges dynamic partnerships among businesses, workers, and educators facilitating the transition from yesterday's work environment to tomorrow's. The program's success is indicated by high retention rates, organizational acceptance, and intense grants competition. Valid and reliable measures are needed that…

This instructor guide for a unit on pricing strategy in the PACE (Program for Acquiring Competence in Entrepreneurship) curriculum includes the full text of the student module and lesson plans, instructional suggestions, and other teacher resources. The competencies that are incorporated into this module are at Level 1 of learning--understanding…

This instructor guide for a unit on marketing analysis in the PACE (Program for Acquiring Competence in Entrepreneurship) curriculum includes the full text of the student module and lesson plans, instructional suggestions, and other teacher resources. The competencies that are incorporated into this module are at Level 2 of learning--planning for…