Training Program Outline

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ICT-111E

ICTs FOR SMEs

Description

A 5-day Training Program to provide participants with the necessary tools in order to enhance the capacity of Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) to use ICTs efficiently. Participants will develop an understanding of the role of SMEs in development, the issues that SMEs face in adopting new technologies and management practices, as well as some of the ways to enhance the capacity of SMEs to make beneficial use of ICTs.

Objectives

• Present issues affecting ICT uptake among SMEs
• Examine policies and programs designed to promote ICT uptake among SMEs as well as the capacity of SMEs to take advantage of ICTs
• Explain the steps that the private sector in general, and SMEs in particular, can take to enhance their use of ICTs for comparative and competitive advantage locally, regionally and internationally
• Present the application of ICTs for SMEs in different sectors
• Provide an understanding of the information economy and the role played by ICTs in national development
• Review the factors affecting SMEs in general
• Present the benefits of e-business and e-commerce for national development in general, and for SMEs in particular
• Show how governments can develop appropriate policies to encourage e-business uptake by SMEs
• Examine success stories documenting ICT adoption
• Provide participants with the knowledge and skills to develop appropriate strategies and plans to enhance ICT and e-commerce uptake by SMEs
• Present how policy-makers can develop strategies and plans that benefit SMEs and their clients

Topics

• Nature and importance of SMEs and Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs)
• Definition and importance of SME/SMI/SMME
• Power of innovation and entrepreneurship
• Types of SMEs

• ICTs for SMEs
• Impact of ICT use on productivity
• Key ICTs: wireless, high speed internet
• Sector specific applications

• Business success factors affecting the success of SMEs
• Poverty and level of national development
• Government, the private sector and pro-business policies
• Innovation, education, science and technology
• Integration with the global information economy
• ICTs for pro-poor growth: a major role for SMEs
• Competitiveness indexes and rankings

• Importance of e-commerce for SMEs and business development
• Global information economy
• ICT indicators of development
• ICTs for business and economic development
• E-business, e-commerce and e-government
• Electronic marketplaces and supply chains: how can SMEs take advantage
• Legal and regulatory issues: digital signatures and contracts
• Impact of new Web-based services on business: Web 2.0, service-oriented architecture, mashups, etc.
• International action: programs supporting SME capacity development

• Security and trust: essential for success
• Relevance to SMEs
• Concepts, approaches and international and national policy developments
• Security technologies
• Cybercrime

• Developing a strategy to enhance the e-business and e-commerce capacity of SMEs
• Assessing the capacity of SMEs to use ICTs: SWOT analysis and market studies
• Understanding the economy at the local as well as regional, national and international levels
• Consulting with the private sector in general and SMEs in particular
• Assessing payment systems and banking services, including e-banking
• Credit policies
• Government policies and national development priorities
• Setting the vision, goals and objectives of an e-SME development strategy
• Developing the strategy
• Implementing the strategy
• Measuring results using Results-Based Management (RBM)

• Using Community Access Facilities (CAFs)
• Special considerations for rural SMEs and markets
• SMEs, CAFs and promotions
• The CAF as an SME
• Case studies and examples
• Policy implications

• Developing the capacity of SMEs in the agriculture and rural development sector
• The small scale farmer is a SME
• Technologies, trends, applications
• Enhancing agricultural markets and supply chains for SMEs
• Wireless applications
• Case studies

• Developing the capacity of SMEs in the ICT sector
• Case studies, best practices and lessons learned

• Developing the capacity of SMEs in other sectors
• The service sector in general
• E-tourism opportunities

• Incubators for enhancing the use of ICTs by SMEs
• Function of incubators
• Integrating ICTs in business incubators: lessons learned
• SME incubation strategies

Target Audience

• Government officials, planners and decision-makers responsible for promoting economic development at all levels and in all sectors
• Representatives of associations of business people: Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Employers Association, Associations of SMEs
• Entrepreneurs and business people with an interest in ICTs
• Program staff of development organizations involved or interested in ICTs for SMEs
• Professionals with an interest in international development looking to complement their skill set by gaining a good understanding of ICTs for SMEs

Methodology

Our Training Programs combine expert presentations, workshops, case studies and discussions based on real-life situations faced by participants. Emphasis is placed on examining issues of local importance and looking at ways in which the material discussed during the program can be used by participants in the context of their own realities or work situation. Complete training material is provided to all participants for future reference and follow-up action plans.

Location

Our Training Programs are held at regular intervals in selected cities around the world. Upon request, our expert trainers can lead Training Programs at the location of your choice. If interested, please contact us at training@neotelis.com.

Expertise

Neotelis provides consulting and training services to telecommunications organizations worldwide. Its team of experts has trained thousands of executives and managers working for operators, regulators, policy-makers and governments in over 100 countries around the world.