Effective Strategic Planning
By Joan Fahey, May 7, 2009
Effective Strategic Planning is regarded as an important way to introduce innovation and innovative thinking into small businesses that can impact right across the company. On this basis the development of suitable approaches and techniques to assist with effective strategic planning are important in order to develop sustainable SMEs in today’s modern environment.
In this regard, and supported by the Leonardo da Vinci Programme, WESTBIC is working with several European Partners to develop the pilot Strategy-Train project http://www.strategy-train.eu This project seeks to improve the competitiveness of small and micro enterprises by raising awareness about and supporting management and staff in strategic planning. A recent survey of almost 200 small enterprises across Europe has shown that small businesses generally do not have sufficient skills to undertake strategic planning or development activities, and do not undertake sufficient strategic management training. There is considerable scope for improving the level of strategic and general management competence in small businesses but a huge gap exists for the “customisation” of training which is appropriate to their particular circumstances – a gap which the Strategy Train Project, http://www.strategy-train.eu hopes to address.
Barriers to strategic management training and development can be addressed by supporting owner/managers in recognising their deficiencies in the area of strategic management and, based on this audit process, deliver more customised or tailored training which is relevant to small business. 70% of respondents said that on-line training in strategic management could be beneficial to small enterprises, with potential advantages being savings in terms of time and cost, accessibility and flexibility, facilitating of up-to-date information and potential customisation of training.
For further information contact Ultan Faherty at ++ 353 74 9186073 or email ufaherty@westbic.ie or visit http://www.strategy-train.eu
Find more news items in our news archives.