Corpus of IT Training Strategy reports for SMEs

- Analysis of “IT training strategies”-Recommendations to set-up

Regional IT Training strategy reports for SMEs

Author : Marc Sahraoui Consultant marc@sahraoui.info

Analysis of “IT training strategies” in 10 selected countries

1. Identification of 10 countries where the penetration rate of ICT in SMEs is the most important

2. Census and analysis of the “best applied” IT Training initiatives used in these countries to accompany SMEs

Analysis of IT penetration rate in SMEs in different countries

We have crossed four international indicators :

Global Information Technology Report (2008-2009) – Key indicator1 : “the use of Internet in the commercial relations”

i2010 classification of the European Union – Key indicator2 : “Integration of the ICT in business relation of SMEs

with suppliers and/or customers”

OECD ICT database and Eurostat, Community Survey on ICT use in enterprises (May 2009)– Key indicator3 : “Internet penetration by size class”– Key indicator4 : “Internet selling and purchasing by industry”

ClassificationClassification An average notation from the 4 key indicators

The complementarity of these four indicators neutralize the induced possible deformations by each specific methodology.

Corrective measuresa) some countries do not supply their results for all the indicators.

• For reasons of quality of the data, we only retain the 11 countries for which this average is obtained by at least 3 indicators.

b) according to information available on the initiatives of accompaniment of SME we have selected 10 countries in this list.

List of selected countries

• 1- United States• 2- Switzerland• 3- Denmark• 4- Korea• 5- Netherlands• 6- Norway• 7- Sweden• 8- Canada• 9- Australia• 10-Ireland

Identification of “IT training strategies” used in selected countries

• These strategies have as objective to develop the use of ICT by SMEs on the given territory.

• These strategies– Are specific “SME IT training” in order to help SMEs on IT – Focus on the use of e-learning by regions or governments– Can be: instruments / tools / techniques / methodologies– Have been evaluated as “best applied”– Fits to the profile to our beneficiary regions

14 initiatives selected in 7 countries

United States - Switzerland - Denmark Netherlands - Canada - Australia -Ireland

Countries INITIATIVES Strategies

USASBTN Small Business Training Network Self-Training Resources, Internet-based training

site

USASCORE In-depth workshops and seminars, Self-Training

Resources

Switzerland i-CH Cooperative venture ICT skills&Tools

Switzerland eXperience, case studies on e-commerce Self-Training Resources

Denmark Innotour Collaborative learning

NetherlandsDigital initiative IT Awareness campaign, In-depth workshops and

seminars, Self-Training Resources

Canada e-business Tutorial Self-Training Resources

Canada Guidelines and roadmaps Self-Training Resources

Australia SBO Small Business Online In-depth workshops and seminars

Australia Skills for Growth In-depth workshops and seminars

Australia TAFE VirtualCampus ICT skills&Tools

IrelandeBMI The eBusiness Management Initiative

In-depth workshops and seminars

IrelandSCMI Supply chain management initiative In-depth workshops and seminars

Ireland eBSAT eBusiness Self Assessment Tool Interactive assessment tools

2 main axes to analyse 6 main IT Training Strategies

1- The IT relevance for the user (SME) 2- The public support

IT Awareness campaign

To help SMEs to go onlineMethod

• IT Information disseminationBrochures, Step-by-step Guidelines, Websites

• IT SeminarsIndependent advice to companies

Support • Public support, free of charge for users• In partnership with Industry associations

In-depth workshops & seminars

To improve productivity and business performance Method

• Training courses for small-business managers • Audit from accredited experts• Development of an ad-hoc training plan for the company

Support • Public support to deliver these services free of charge

– Selection of agreed training and audit consultants– Agreement of a non-profit organisation

Self-Training Resources

Training resources to optimize the use of ITMethod

• Online courses• E-library of guidelines, tutorials, road-maps, case-studies• On-line interactive assessment to fit the appropriate training courses.

Support • Public internet-based training site to collect and promote free resources• Active involvement of Universities

Collaborative learning

To improve IT innovation in companiesMethod

• To bring closer sectoral Business, Research and Education actors

• Web2.0 platform based on content created by the users

Support • Public support to universities to facilitate the network of users

Interactive assessment tools

To automatically generate advice tailored to the needs of the company and based on answers submitted

Method • Analysis and benchmark of business needs and IT capabilities

based on case studies• Setting-up an easy to use and structured system to assess to

companies’ business activities and their development planSupport

• Public support to set-up and disseminate the tool free of charge• Selection of agreed training and audit consultants to answer to

questions from users of the interactive assessment tool.

ICT skills

To facilitate and to develop the use of e-learning toolsMethod

• Organisation of the offer of e-learning– Structuration and modularization of IT competencies and resources– Virtual learning platform

Support • Public support of a Virtual learning platform• Public qualification and accreditation of trainers and experts

Nearly all programs facilitate rather than stimulate– Financial instruments are not the main instruments – Implementation involves collaboration with sector organisations and

clusters as well as consultants, research org° and universities.

IT is more than implementing one systemFor transition issues, awareness & info programs are not effective. More can be expected from programs :

- that improve the overall skills, - schemes that allow researchers and students to work with SMEs, - and programs that provide financial support for SMEs to hire consultants that work closely with individual SMEs and business partners.

Recommendations from examples

To combine 6 kind of actions :

- to accompany SMEs at the different level of IT-maturityFrom awareness to optimization

of the IT implementation- to obtain a synergy of training

resources and competencies- to spread and amortize

investments on long period- to fit market needs with training

plans more flexibles

Recommendations for an e-Learning region strategy

To combine 6 kind of actions :

- to accompany SMEs at the different level of IT-maturityFrom awareness to optimization

of the IT implementation- to obtain a synergy of training

resources and competencies- to spread and amortize

investments on long period- to fit market needs with training

plans more flexibles

Recommendations for an e-Learning region strategy

Regional IT Training Strategy report

1. Identification of segments (group of users)2. Objectives to attain for each segment3. Selection of target actions 4. Determination of the action plan

1. Key actions2. Accompanying measures 3. Dissemination and awareness

5. Budget and resources to mobilize6. Partnership