Survey of current demands for entrepreneurship and SMEs training in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Transcription

1 SME TRAINING AND CONSULTANCY PROJECT Survey of current demands for entrepreneurship and SMEs training in Bosnia and Herzegovina Prepared by EDA Banja Luka EU TAC Project CARDS 2005 EU Support for Regional Economic Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina Fund IV WP 2: Demand in the Regions

2 Table of contents: Introduction... 3 Survey methodology... 3 Questionnaire... 3 Analysis of data collected... 4 Conclusions... 5 Annex I Questionnaire and Instructions... 7 Annex II List of interviewed companies, institutions, and associations by economic regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina

3 Introduction The objective of this survey is to provide actual information on entrepreneurship and SMEs training demands of key stakeholders (regional development agencies, SMEs with special attention to micro and small enterprises, employment bureaus, entrepreneurs associations, chambers of commerce, etc.) in five economic regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina that can assist institutions and individuals active in the area of entrepreneurial education to adjust existing consultant and training resources. Survey methodology The survey was held in April 2006, in cooperation with our consortium partners, Izbor Plus Sarajevo and CEFE Association Banja Luka. The survey of current demand for entrepreneurship and SMEs training was one of activities within the Work Package 2 Demand in the Regions, aimed to provide actual information on most important subjects needed and demands of SMEs where the project could be of help, missing skills; topics and training methodologies characteristics; profiles preferences, and training experiences of interviewed persons. The Enterprise Development Agency (EDA) Banja Luka prepared a survey methodology, questionnaires, and instructions. Direct interviews were organized with total of 30 relevant institutions and enterprises (a group of relevant institutions and enterprises in each of five economic regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina). Izbor Plus Sarajevo was in charge for Sarajevo, Zenica and Mostar economic regions, while CEFE Association Banja Luka was in charge for Banja Luka and Tuzla economic regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Overall, the interview was held with the following 30 institutions and companies: 6 non governmental organization (NGO) 19 small and medium enterprises 3 associations of employers 2 employment bureaus Questionnaire The questionnaire for companies, institutions, and associations on needs and quality of trainings for entrepreneurs, small and medium enterprises in Bosnia and Herzegovina used for the field interviews is consisted of the following five segments: 1 General information (full name, short name, organizational shape), 2 Address information (post address, municipality, entity/canton, phone, fax, web address, , contact person, position), 3 Activity (most important services (products), number of employees), 4 Position towards the current training courses for entrepreneurs: list of trainings attended within the last two years (kind of training/title, date, organized by, place, methodologies, number of attendants), short description of training related experiences, awareness on available trainings, trainings to be recommended 3

4 5 Position towards missing training courses for entrepreneurs (proposals for the project actions, suitable timing, position towards training courses planed within the project, available funds, expected training outcomes, training areas to be improved Annex I Additional form for specification of training courses for entrepreneurs attended by employees Analysis of data collected Analyzing the data collected, one can notice that most of interviewees are not well informed about the training possibilities available. In average, those employed in interviewed institutions attended three courses. On the other hand the number of training courses attended, if any, by those employed in small and medium enterprises is quite small, 2-3 the maximum. Exceptions of the rule mentioned above are the Association for entrepreneurship and business LINK Mostar, and Association of citizens for local development initiatives - TALDi Tuzla, both NGOs active as training providers, as well as the Agency for local development ALORG Gradiška. A majority of the training courses attended is from the area of accounting, other business related subjects, and improving of related professional skills, with the average size of 15 to 20 participants per training course. Smaller or even larger groups of participants are rather exceptional. It is an overall perception that the major reason for such a low level of participation in training courses for entrepreneurs is the lack of suitable training courses, which means that the training courses available at the market are not tailored for the needs of entrepreneurs, small and medium enterprises. Expectations of entrepreneurs in regard to the outcomes of training efforts are mostly related to the future business results, i.e. a growth of business profit. However, it is encouraging that a good number of institutions and small and medium enterprises interviewed have some financial resources ready for the training purposes. Those financial resources are up to 10,000 KM. That means that beside the bad lack with the previous training experience, entrepreneurs understand necessity of additional training for improvement of their businesses. Interviewed institutions and enterprises do not have any special requirements regarding the training methodologies characteristics. In regard to the course timing, a majority of interviewed entrepreneurs prefer equally afternoon training courses organized in the working time or in the weekend time. However, they are all interested in the training courses planned within the project, especially for the courses supposed to improve skills of entrepreneurs, with duration of 15 days. 4

5 It is important to highlight, that analyzing side by side questionnaires filed by representatives of different institutions (Association of Employers, Employment Bureaus, Chambers of Commerce, and Development Agencies) and entrepreneurs, one can get an impression that the voices of entrepreneurs are not properly heard in those institutions. Actually, interests expressed by the enterprises are different to those given by mentioned institutions. And last but not least, most of interviewed SMEs secluded both marketing management and business strategies and decisioning, as two areas with the highest necessity for improvement. Conclusions Unfortunately, it seems that the worries towards the lack of information exchange between employers and their associations were justified. Actually, there is a huge gap between the training needs expressed by the interviewed enterprises and those presented by the professional institutions, irrespective of five economic regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina surveyed (Northeast Economic Region - Tuzla, Northwest Economic Region - Banja Luka, Sarajevo Economic Region, Central Economic Region Zenica, and Herzegovina Economic Region Mostar). Information on training providers and training programs is not well presented to entrepreneurs, small and medium enterprises. In general, entrepreneurs do not have quite positive attitude towards the training courses already attended. Actually, they were not in position to recognize any positive improvements in their business results. Most of the training courses were attended due to the requests of positive legislation, especially in the area of accounting. Beside the fact that the entrepreneurs had a bad lack with the previous training experience, they are ready, in majority, to invest some financial resources, up to 10,000 KM, for the future trainings. Entrepreneurs do not have any special requests towards the training methodologies. They are interested in the after training results, meaning that training courses have to have a positive impact on the future entrepreneurs business results. Majority of interviewed entrepreneurs are supporting afternoon training courses organized in working days or during weekends, probably due to the business obligations within the working time. Some of the areas highlighted by entrepreneurs, where the significant improvement of training practices is of great importance, are marketing management, communication and team work, financial management, business planning, etc. The following findings could be derived from the survey results: 5

6 1. Communication between relevant training providers and entrepreneurs, small and medium enterprises, has to be improved. Entrepreneurs have to be properly informed about the available training resources in the respective area; 2. Training courses provided have to fit, in a right direction, needs of entrepreneurs and SMEs, and to generate visible business results afterwards; 3. Real educational and training needs, as well as other business related issues of entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises have to be properly addressed to professional organization. Without such coordination, professional business associations are not going to be able to properly advocate the business community. 6

7 Annex I Questionnaire and Instructions Questionnaire WP2eng.xls Instructions for filling in questionnaire for companies, institutions, and associations on needs and quality of trainings for entrepreneurs, small and medium enterprises in BiH Surveying of companies, institutions, and associations on needs and quality of trainings for entrepreneurs is an activity within the Work Package 2 Demand in the Regions, held with the aim to get information on scope of trainings necessary for entrepreneurs in craftworks, small and medium enterprises, as well as on their needs which could be fulfilled by this project, in regard to missing skills, training courses characteristics and methodologies, bearing in mind educational profiles, wishes, and previous training experience of interviewed subjects. In line with the previous agreed dynamics of carrying out this part of the project (interviews (face to face), consortium partners Option Plus (3 regions Sarajevo, Mostar i Zenica), and CEFE Association (2 regions Banja Luka, Tuzla), would within the time period April 3 April 12, 2006, interview respectively Regional Development Agencies, up to 10 small and medium enterprises (with a special attention paid to micro and small enterprises, e.g. enterprises with maximum 50 employees), employment bureaus (RS and FBiH), chambers of commerce, etc. Chosen interviewees (companies, institutions, etc.) should be relevant for and interested in the training for entrepreneurs issues. Before the organization of field interviews, it is of great importance to pre contact potential interviewees, providing them suitable information on the project, its organization, scope of work (entrepreneurs, small and medium enterprises), geographical coverage, and project objectives. It is necessary (just before the interview) to timely inform interviewees on the fact that the survey is related to the training courses given to the entrepreneurs, in other words those employed with craftworks, small and medium enterprises, and that the activities in the last two calendar years are relevant for the survey (roughly ), as well as current needs, and possibly the training of entrepreneurs future issues. Also, it is necessary to highlight the fact that information collected would be used for the project purposes only. 7

8 Because of the fact that the information collected would be processed afterwards, it is necessary to take care that the questionnaire should be filled orderly, with pen and in print letters, if possible. For each interviewee one questionnaire should be filed. During the interview, it is important to highlight the necessity for accurate and up to date data. I GENERAL INFORMATION Precise information on full and short name of the firm, as well as the organizational shape is expected. II ADDRESS INFORMATION During the filling of this part of the questionnaire, it is necessary to highlight the importance of both quality and accuracy of information for possible establishing of future business relations. III ACTIVITY In question (table) 1Most important products/services and markets, please provide (6 at the most) most important products/services and markets relevant to the interviewees (e.g. local, county, BiH, region, EU, etc.) IV POSITION TOWARDS THE CURRENT TRAINING COURSES FOR ENTREPRENEURS Question (table) 1 collects information on trainings attended by the employees in the last two years, or for those filed within the interviewed institution. (If there is a need for more space, please use the additional table, in the Annex I) Question 2 collects overall positions of interviewees in regard to trainings for entrepreneurs in BiH. Question 3 Interviewees are expected to choose only one of given options, and if the option d) is chosen to provide additional information on the training attended. Question 4 Interviewees are expected, if they have a positive previous experience, to recommend some firms or training programs for entrepreneurs. V POSITION TOWARDS MISSING TRAINING COURSES FOR ENTREPRENEURS In question (table) 1 it is expected that an interviewee provides, if his/her opinion is that trainings for entrepreneurs could improve businesses, areas (kinds) of trainings needed (bookkeeping, marketing, using of computers, foreign languages, etc.), as well as the desirable organization (in the company, outside the company, step-by-step training, etc.). Question 2 Answers are expected for both under questions in regard to training courses timing (daily a) or b), weekly a) or b)). Question 3 Is related to the training courses to be provided within the project, so each of presented options could be chosen (not necessarily only one). Question 4 It is necessary to choose only one of answers provided. The yearly amount is requested. 8

9 Question 5 An open question (free answer) expects positions towards the expected training outcomes. Question 6 Interviewee opinions related to possibilities to significantly improve training courses in particular areas, of interest for entrepreneurs businesses. It is possible to choose three answer options at most, having in mind that in the case that i) other please specify is chosen, we expects an area, not specified above, which is important for the interviewee. ANNEX I Additional form for specification of training courses for entrepreneurs attended by employees REMARK: Bearing in mind that we are combining close questions (questions with answer options provided) and open questions (questions without answer options provided) please read each question carefully, and discuss it with interviewee before filling in the questionnaire. For all inconsistencies or additional information please do not hesitate to contact B.Sc. in Economics, Donald Prohaska, phone or

10 Annex II List of interviewed companies, institutions, and associations by economic regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina Nr. Name Location Contact Position Tel/fax Web site Person Herzegovina Economic Region - Mostar 1 Association for entrepreneurship and business LiNK Mostar Adema Buća 32, Mostar Amela Bećirović Executive Director link.center@linkmost ar.org 2 Maxline d.o.o Mostar 3 Softing d.o.o. Mostar Trg Ivana Krndelja 1, Mostar Trg Ivana Krndelja 1, Mostar Sarajevo Economic Region 4 Canton Sarajevo Employment Bureau Đoke Mazalića 3, Sarajevo 5 Association of employers of F BiH Zmaja od Bosne 4, Sarajevo 6 Tomašević d.o.o. Vojvode Radomira Samir Sefo Director Predrag Mandelbau m Zamira Velić, Aida Bubalo- Bejtula Alija Bakšić, Mersiha Kurspahić Slavica Subotić, Technical Director Head of employment sector, Head of employment intermediation sector Director, Secretary / / maxline@maxline.ba info@eu-softing.ba juszzks@bih.net.ba upfbih@bih.net.ba townshop@teol.net

11 7 ZUR Restaurant Curry - Via del Corso 8 ZEPTER PASSPORT D.O.O., branch Sarajevo Putnika 38, Istočno Novo Sarajevo Kolodvorsk a 11, Sarajevo Kolodvorsk a 11a, Sarajevo Central Economic Region - Zenica 9 Multiteh engineering d.o.o. Envera Čerkeza 2, Zenica 10 ITC S. Mahala 35, Zenica Northwest Economic Region Banja Luka 11 City Development Agency Banja Luka Cara Lazara 42, Banja Luka 12 Association of metal-workers - Prijedor 13 Company for metal processing TOMEKS Radnička b.b., Prijedor Vožda Karađorđa 7, Prijedor Svjetlan Močević Srđan Jovanović, Bajrović Damir Sead Krupalija Husein Karamuja Suad Isaković Vladimir Damjanović Branislav Vujasin Stojan Baltić Owners Executive Director / Director / Owner / Marketing Manager / Coordinator Director info@viadelcorso.co m sead@zepterpassport. com itc@bih.net.ba info@cidea.org metalpd@prijedor.com 14 VITOR Prijedor Kralja Petra Vladimir Director topicv@prijedor.com

12 15 Agency for local development ALORG Gradiška 16 Accredited regional development Agency NW BiH ARDA 17 Braća Stjepanović d.o.o - company for production, trade, and services 18 Association of wood processors DRVO-PD Prijedor 19 Grossist d.o.o. company for production, trade, and services 20 Grubiša d.o.o. - company for production, trade, and services 21 Carpenter s workshop Tošić Zdravko Oslobodioca bb, Prijedor Kozarskih ustanika bb, Gradiška Krfska 74, Banja Luka Skendera Kulenovića bb, Novi Grad Zanatska bb, Prijedor Branislava Nušića 33, Prijedor Veljka Mlađenović a bb, Banja Luka Branislava Nušića bb, Prijedor Topić Nenad Kesić Goran Janković Stevo Meničanin Goran Rodić Ratko Macanović Draško Grubiša Vladimir Tošić Director Manager for planning and project implementatio n Head of exploitation / / Coordinator Director/ Owner Director Head of production Republika Srpska Vidovdansk Gordana Business alorg@rskoming.net kontak@ardanw.org drvopd@prijedor.com grossist@prijedor.co m grubisa@inecco.net

13 Employment Bureau, Gradiška Office 23 Chamber of Commerce Banja Luka Region a bb, Gradiška Đure Daničića 1, Banja Luka Northeast Economic Region - Tuzla 24 Elektro-Agent d.o.o. Bukinje b.b., Tuzla 25 DOO FERO-LES Maršala Tita bb, 26 Cantonal Chamber of Commerce Tuzla 27 DOO PETROPROJEK T 28 Craftworks shop SUVENIR Srebrenica 29 Association of citizens for local development initiatives - TALDi 30 Agency for economic development of Srebrenica Trg Slobode bb, Tuzla Drinska bb, Bratunac Maršala Tita bb, Srebrenica Stupine b13, Tuzla Karakaj bb, Zvornik Latinović organizer / Nada Budiša Ibtrahim Ibrahimagić Mirko Vasić, Nedret Kikanović Janko Petrović Milenko Žarković Senior Expert in education Owner/ Director Owner/ Director / / Director / Director / Director / Indira Prljača Director / Ph.D. Mitar Perušić Director / nadab@bl.komorars.b a komora@kpktz.ba petro@teol.net suvenir@rstel.net taldi@taldi.ba breda@rstel.net et

14 Birač Region BALEGEM d.o.o. VI bataljona bb, Gradačac Jasna i Nermin Mešanović Financial Manager, Owner/ Director 32 ALMASTER d.o.o. Svetog Save 242, Bratunac Nedeljko Četković Director/ Owner / balegem@bih.net.ba nedc@teol.net 14