BETTER EQUIPPED FOR THE FUTURE

Transcription

1 BETTER EQUIPPED FOR THE FUTURE 1. CHANGE IS CERTAIN Europe s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the motor of the European economy and the main drivers for achieving sustainable growth, and more and better jobs. For example, in Italy, 95% of companies have less than ten employees; in Poland, there are 2.5 million microenterprises; and, in Germany, one third of employees living in the Neckar-Alb region work in companies of less than 20 workers. : Inglês (Reino Unido) The European economy at large is subject to the effects of global economic change, but SMEs and micro-enterprises are especially vulnerable to the pressure of international competition compared with other companies. Textiles and clothing, mechanics, footwear, wood and furniture are all sectors that have to face challenges relating to a range of factors such as: the modernisation of production processes; the lack of human and organisational resources; and weak marketing strategies. Small companies find it particularly difficult to face the challenges of having to keep up with an increasingly competitive market, as their capacity to adapt is limited in comparison with larger companies who typically possess more advanced Human Resource departments and organisational resources. In order to successfully face the competitive challenges outlined above, SMEs and microenterprises need tailor-made support systems designed to address their specific needs and help them face restructuring. The mission of E.N.T.E.R.P.R.I.S.E. for Europe - a project based on transnational cooperation with partners in Finland, Germany, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain - is to support micro, small and medium-sized companies through a range of innovative and effective interventions. This includes enhancing their skills base, improving their competitiveness, and ensuring that their workers and managers have the abilities needed to meet current and future needs. All sectors and SMEs are targeted by the partnership. This exceptionally active partnership has produced a large range of tools - adapted to the specific needs of SMEs and micro-enterprises. Together the partners developed six sustainable tools that are available and open to all; working in partnership so closely stimulated a real transfer of experience. In the field of e-learning for instance, Germany, Finland and Italy shared their 15 years of experience in e-learning and blended learning with their Polish partners. The transnational partnership (TP) was efficiently coordinated by the German partner WIR Neckar-Alb and constantly monitored by the Finnish partner ArtCraftMetal, who was fully in charge of the evaluation process. This approach also worked well thanks to the use of the selfevaluation tool EFQM Excellence Model. 1 Additionally, an extranet set up for the TP facilitated communication and coordination between the partners. Finally, the TP benefited from the expertise and enthusiasm of their committed chairman from the Italian partner organisation. Eliminado: products Eliminado: five : Tipo de letra: Itálico 2. DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS TOGETHER The six countries in the partnership face similar problems in relation to SMEs and microenterprises: these companies find it particularly difficult to keep up with an increasingly competitive market; they also often lack the essential adaptation and innovation capacities, which are vital to business competitiveness and survival. The partners therefore had a common objective: to help these companies to tackle organisational and strategic restructuring in order to maintain their competitiveness by providing tailored tools and support structures. 1 EFQM Excellence Model is a framework for organisational management systems, promoted by the European Foundation for Quality Management

2 The transnational work was focused on the exchange and development of innovative training methods, which predominately make use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), as well as training methods based on distance learning. The reason for such a strong emphasis on the use of ICT was to increase ease of access to services supporting self-learning and training in the work place. Furthermore, e-learning is one of the most promising solutions to the challenges currently facing SMEs. But there is still much to be learnt in applying these solutions effectively! For example, offering part-time, flexible, distance and work-based e-learning was the objective of the Entrepreneurship in the Web partner, which created a net of 400 micro-enterprises from a variety of branches in Poland. However, they learnt from their transnational partners that meeting people face-to-face remains essential - e-learning alone does not work. The German partner WIR for instance developed blended learning methods: combining classroom training and workshops with e-learning and tele-coaching. The most difficult thing is to convince companies that we are working for them, explained Jola Religa from Entrepreneurship in the Web, when talking about the work of the partners at the local level. Establishing trust and convincing these companies to take part in an EQUAL project is indeed a real challenge largely due to their very limited staff and resources. Three years is a very long time for these companies, agrees Peter Rienhardt from WIR. A lot of time and energy must be invested into building positive relations and confidence, In the long term, the results are very promising, as the TP s story illustrates. As one of the main activities of the TP, the study visits coordinated by the Spanish partner ESPIRAL were the ideal means for exchanging experiences and knowledge. The added value of these visits was the opportunity to observe best practice on site, discuss common problems and possible solutions. The visits were open to trainers, employees, entrepreneurs or managers of any SME, micro-company or company dedicated to designing e-learning courses or interested in innovation and benchmarking who would like to develop their knowledge in this area. Four visits have been organised so far and three more are already planned in Finland, Poland and Portugal. Commenting on a visit to a German company in Baden-Württemberg, a Polish participant highlighted the benefits of such an experience: I think a greater awareness of the approach on training and the use of innovation technologies will increase competitiveness within Polish companies in the long term. Eliminado: Dieter Gust Eliminado: two Eliminado: and 3. SOLUTIONS IN ACTION All the tools developed by the TP were designed and developed through partnership working. The Virtual SME Network directory, for example, was coordinated by the Italian partner C.R.E.S.C.E.R.E. and is an online directory which provides entrepreneurs with a free, self updateable web brochure. Considering that 75% of all European companies have their own website, it is essential that even the smallest companies are accessible on the Internet giving them access to thousands of potential customers in 27 EU Member States. This tool enhances the national and international networking of SMEs and allows them to locate business partners to create transnational clustering. Indeed, the originality of this directory is that companies have to express their field of interest when registering for the first time; they can then use the search engine to find partners matching their interests. The site was marketed vigorously by the transnational partners, and it now contains 150 companies from the six countries plus Estonia, and in Finland the network is also promoted by the Chambers of Commerce. The Polish partners have already offered to maintain the site for the next two years, to ensure the sustainability of the work achieved so far. The directory will continue running in the future, and the network will further expand in terms of the companies and countries represented. Another tool is a website called the Argumentary on Professional Training coordinated by the Portuguese partner Novos Rumos a strategic approach to raise awareness among SME managers on the need for professional training. The website s aim is to debunk commonly cited disadvantages of training and to promote the importance of planning the proper development of the workforce in SMEs. It does this by presenting a set of arguments in favour of professional training, hence the name argumentary. It can also be used by training experts, workers, media and the public. The tool is highly interactive and collects comments and arguments from voluntary contributors; it also contains a section on good and bad practices collected across countries. As the partners highlighted, including bad experiences was a conscious choice: We Eliminado: products Eliminado: product Eliminado: product Eliminado: a Eliminado: be

3 thought it was important to include bad practices because we learn more from them than good practices! All the tools developed by E.N.T.E.R.P.R.I.S.E. for Europe have been designed with their transferability and sustainability in mind. The Portuguese partner Novos Rumos is currently testing the Benchmarking tool developed by the German partner WIR Neckar-Alb on two companies which underwent restructuring in Portugal. Based on a structured questionnaire with 30 variables, it allows SMEs to benchmark their performance and obtain a report including recommendations. Results from the Portuguese benchmarking reports will soon will available. A satisfactory experience will certainly mean that more companies will be interested in using this tool equipping them well for the future. Eliminado: products : Tipo de letra: Itálico

4 4. PRODUCT SHEET TEMPLATE 1. TITLE SME Toolbox 2. DESCRIPTION The transnational partnership E.N.T.E.R.P.R.I.S.E. for Europe developed a comprehensive SME Toolbox containing a set of complementary online tools aimed at supporting the process of enterprise management and adaptation to change. It offers managers a range of tools that they can use flexibly. The SME Toolbox consists of six different kinds of innovative tools which are intended to support micro-entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in maintaining and improving their competitiveness, in restructuring their companies successfully, as well as in coping with the challenges they face. The different tools are: Online-Checks: to self-assess the performance of the company regarding its general fitness (Fitness Check), innovativeness (Innovation Check), production processes and competitiveness (Production Check). Recommendations to improve performance are provided. Eliminado: ( Eliminado: ) Transnational Benchmarking: based on a structured questionnaire with around 30 variables, SMEs can benchmark their performance. Managers get a benchmarking-report, indicating how they can improve their company performance further. Manual on e-learning: a handbook with a collection of examples of both good and bad practices in the implementation of innovative information technologies aimed at increasing the qualifications of SME employees. Argumentary on Professional Training: a strategic and interactive tool created to raise awareness among SME managers of the need for training, and promote the importance of planning professional training in SMEs. SME Virtual Network: an online directory of over 150 enterprises representing seven EU countries, to find business or benchmarking partners and to cooperate all over Europe. E.N.T.E.R.P.R.I.S.E. Handbook with further management tools used in the six participating countries. The tools provided can be used in steps. In a first step the performance of the enterprise can be assessed by using the Online-Checks or the Transnational Benchmarking. Depending on the results further steps can be either (1) to look for business partners abroad in order to develop a new market by using the Virtual SME-Network or (2) to learn from other companies from their experiences in training and e-learning by referring to the Manual on e-learning and the Argumentary on Professional Training. Based on this information it is possible to decide which way to go to enhance the skills set of workers and management. Finally, if all this was not helpful one can reach for the E.N.T.E.R.P.R.I.S.E. Handbook as a reference in order to find the appropriate instruments or measures to stay competitive and improve innovativeness. If further information and/or help is needed, the micro-entrepreneur or SME always finds contact details. Eliminado: 100 Eliminado: six 3. JUSTIFICATION/CONTEXT Competitive pressures, globalisation and constantly changing economic conditions increase the pressure on enterprises to find ways of improving their processes and of increasing their output. The members of the transnational partnership E.N.T.E.R.P.R.I.S.E. for Europe (representing six countries: Finland, Germany, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain) realised that the problems and barriers faced by SMEs and micro-enterprises are similar in their six countries. Small enterprises are facing the effects of accelerating environmental, social, demographic and global economic

5 change. They need to tackle organisational and strategic restructuring in order to maintain their competitiveness, but they lack the adequate tools and support. Textiles and clothing, mechanics, footwear, wood and furniture are all sectors that have to address the challenges of the modernisation of production processes, the lack of human and organisational resources, or weak marketing strategies. In Italy, the manufacturing sector, which is mostly made up of SMEs, is going through a severe crisis due to the loss of competitiveness. These companies find it difficult to acquire innovative approaches and adapt to rapid changes, both at the management and workers level. In Portugal, restructuring particularly affects entrepreneurs in the footwear sector. Companies facing risks posed by restructuring are not sufficiently aware of the benefits of anticipatory decisionmaking process, based on indicators that point out the right moment to implement change. In Germany, the Neckar-Alb region has been in the grip of a rapid structural change for more than ten years. Between 1989 and 2002, jobs in manufacturing decreased by 23%. SMEs, which operate mainly in manufacturing, face the challenge of having to keep up with an increasingly competitive market. SMEs face similar challenges in Finland, Spain and Poland. The transnational partners agreed that one of the main issues to address was the lack of awareness and knowledge about the benefits of training and the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Despite the huge number of training companies offering e- learning approaches for instance, entrepreneurs do not have sufficient knowledge of the potential profits resulting from e-learning and many do not trust this method. The objective of E.N.T.E.R.P.R.I.S.E. for Europe is to equip small companies with the tools to face accelerating change. By providing SMEs and micro-enterprises with tailor-made support systems, the SME Toolbox strengthens their capacity to manage and benefit from this change. To manage companies successfully, many tools can be used a lot of companies and organisations offer such tools. However, it is not easy to identify the most useful for the actual challenges of an individual company. The reason could be that one tool is developed for bigger companies or for companies operating in a specific branch. The SME Toolbox helps SMEs to identify the most useful tool for their actual demand. All the tools have been tested successfully in the six cooperating countries. They are all free of charge, easily accessible via the Internet and directed especially at micro-enterprises and SMEs which do not have an extra budget or much additional time to spend on company development. The SME Toolbox includes a comprehensive set of tools, addressing the different stages of the process from initial self-assessment to information on solutions and how to implement them. This multi-faceted approach reflects the philosophy of the partnership: the complexity of the problems faced by SMEs and micro-entrepreneurs today can only be successfully addressed by combining a set of complementary methods and approaches. It is by following this step-by-step process that companies will be adequately equipped to face future needs and challenges. 4. COUNTRIES DE, ES, FI, IT, PL, PT. : Inglês (Reino Unido) 5. CONTACT DETAILS OF THE PRODUCER Transnational Cooperation Agreement No: TCA Id code: 4051 E.N.T.E.R.P.R.I.S.E. for Europe Development Partnerships: Name of DP WIR Wesentliche Ideen Realisieren - Wandlungskompetenz in der Region Neckar- Alb ESPIRAL ECDB Code DE-XB BW/209 ES-ES

6 ArtCraftMetal C.R.E.S.C.E.R.E. Cambiamento e Riorganizzazione Economica in Settori Critici Entrepreneurship in the Web, Internet the Opportunity for Growth of Competitiveness Novos Rumos - Reconversão de Activos do Sector do Calçado para Novas Profissões Finland Contact name: Katri Salonen Organisation: Turku University of Applied Sciences Address: Sepänkatu Turku Tel: (0) Katri.Salonen@turkuamk.fi FI-84 IT-IT-G2-EMI-037 PL-81 PT Germany Contact name: Dr. Bertram Lohmüller Organisation: GiMA consult Gesellschaft für integriertes Management mbh Address: Waldhörnlestrasse Tübingen Tel: +49 (0) bertram.lohmueller@gimaconsult.com Italy Contact name: Laura Menchi Organisation: CONSORZIO FOR.P.IN. Formazione Professionale Industria Address: Viale Sant Ambrogio, Piacenza Tel: laura.menchi@forpin.it Portugal Contact name: Rita Souto Organisation: Centro Tecnológico do Calçado (CTC) Address: Rua de Fundões - Devesa Velha, S. João da Madeira P SÃO JOÃO DA MADEIRA São João da Madeira Tel: Rita@ctcp.pt Poland Contact name: Jola Religa Organisation: Institute for Sustainable Technologies- National Research Institute (ITeE) Address: Pułaskiego 6/ Radom Tel: jola.religa@itee.radom.pl Spain Contact name: Cinta Flores Organisation: Diputación Provincial de Huelva Address: Huelva Tel: cflores@diphuelva.org 6. TYPE OF PRODUCT All the tools are on-line products. The Manual is also available as a hard copy (135 pages). : Italiano (Itália)... [1]... [2]... [3]... [4]... [5] : Francês (França) Eliminado: 1. Online Checks... [6]... [7]... [8] Eliminado:.... [9]... [10] Eliminado: Fax: +49 (0)... [11] Eliminado: Web:... [12]... [13] Eliminado: 2. SME Virtual... [14]... [15]... [16] : Italiano (Itália) Eliminado: VIa IV Novembre : Italiano (Itália) Eliminado: 130 : Italiano (Itália) : Italiano (Itália) Eliminado:. : Italiano (Itália) Eliminado:. : Italiano (Itália) Eliminado: Fax: [17] Eliminado: Web:... [18] Eliminado: 3. Argumentary... [19]... [20] Eliminado: Fax: [21] Código de campo alterado... [22]... [23] Eliminado: Web:... [24]... [25]... [26]... [27]... [28]... [29]... [30] Eliminado: Fax: [31] Eliminado: Web:... [32]... [33]... [34]... [35]

7 All the tools are available in English. The online checks are also available in German and Spanish. 7. SAMPLE ATTACHMENT Online checks available at 8. HYPERLINK The SME Toolbox can be accessed through the German partner s website

8 Página 6: [1] Claudia Leinauer 7/27/ :08:00 PM Português (Portugal) Página 6: [2] Claudia Leinauer 7/30/ :45:00 AM Tipo de letra: Não Negrito Página 6: [3] Claudia Leinauer 7/30/ :41:00 AM Espaço Antes: 0 pto, Depois: 0 pto Página 6: [4] Claudia Leinauer 7/30/ :45:00 AM Tipo de letra: Não Negrito Página 6: [5] Claudia Leinauer 7/30/ :45:00 AM Tipo de letra: Não Negrito, Francês (França) Página 6: [6] Eliminado Claudia Leinauer 7/30/ :40:00 AM 1. Online Checks and Transnational Benchmarking Página 6: [7] Claudia Leinauer 7/27/2007 4:31:00 PM Página 6: [8] Claudia Leinauer 7/27/2007 4:31:00 PM Página 6: [9] Claudia Leinauer 7/27/2007 4:31:00 PM Página 6: [10] Claudia Leinauer 7/27/2007 4:31:00 PM Página 6: [11] Eliminado Claudia Leinauer 7/30/ :41:00 AM Fax: +49 (0) Página 6: [12] Eliminado Claudia Leinauer 7/30/ :41:00 AM

9 Web: Página 6: [13] Claudia Leinauer 7/27/2007 4:31:00 PM Página 6: [14] Eliminado Claudia Leinauer 7/30/ :43:00 AM 2. SME Virtual Network Página 6: [15] Claudia Leinauer 7/27/2007 4:31:00 PM Página 6: [16] Claudia Leinauer 7/27/2007 4:31:00 PM Página 6: [17] Eliminado Claudia Leinauer 7/30/ :44:00 AM Fax: Página 6: [18] Eliminado Claudia Leinauer 7/30/ :44:00 AM Web: Página 6: [19] Eliminado Claudia Leinauer 7/30/ :44:00 AM 3. Argumentary on Professional Training Página 6: [20] Claudia Leinauer 7/27/ :08:00 PM Português (Portugal) Página 6: [21] Eliminado Claudia Leinauer 7/30/ :44:00 AM Fax: Página 6: [22] Claudia Leinauer 7/27/ :08:00 PM Hiperligação, Português (Portugal) Página 6: [23] Claudia Leinauer 7/27/ :08:00 PM Português (Portugal) Página 6: [24] Eliminado Claudia Leinauer 7/30/ :44:00 AM

10 Web: 4. Manual Página 6: [25] Claudia Leinauer 7/30/ :45:00 AM Tipo de letra: Negrito, Português (Portugal) Página 6: [26] Claudia Leinauer 7/30/ :45:00 AM Tipo de letra: Negrito Página 6: [27] Claudia Leinauer 7/30/ :45:00 AM Tipo de letra: Negrito, Português (Portugal) Página 6: [28] Claudia Leinauer 7/30/ :45:00 AM Português (Portugal) Página 6: [29] Claudia Leinauer 7/30/ :45:00 AM Tipo de letra: Negrito Página 6: [30] Claudia Leinauer 7/30/ :45:00 AM Português (Portugal) Página 6: [31] Eliminado Claudia Leinauer 7/30/ :46:00 AM Fax: Página 6: [32] Eliminado Claudia Leinauer 7/30/ :46:00 AM Web: Página 6: [33] Claudia Leinauer 7/30/ :46:00 AM Tipo de letra: Negrito, Espanhol (Espanha-ordenação moderna) Página 6: [34] Claudia Leinauer 7/30/ :46:00 AM Espanhol (Espanha-ordenação moderna) Página 6: [35] Claudia Leinauer 7/30/ :46:00 AM Espanhol (Espanha-ordenação moderna)

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