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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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”.
3.
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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
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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.
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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:
ƒ
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.
ƒ
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.
ƒ
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.
ƒ
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.
ƒ
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.
ƒ
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.
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
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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 elearning 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
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DE, ES, FI, IT, PL, PT.
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
ECDB Code
WIR Wesentliche Ideen Realisieren Wandlungskompetenz in der Region NeckarAlb
DE-XB4-76051-20-BW/209
ESPIRAL
ES-ES20040334
ArtCraftMetal
FI-84
C.R.E.S.C.E.R.E.
Cambiamento
e
Riorganizzazione Economica in Settori Critici
IT-IT-G2-EMI-037
Entrepreneurship in the Web, Internet – the
Opportunity for Growth of Competitiveness
PL-81
Novos Rumos - Reconversão de Activos do
Sector do Calçado para Novas Profissões
PT-2004-201
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Finland
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Contact name: Katri Salonen
Organisation: Turku University of Applied Sciences
Address: Sepänkatu 3 - 20700 Turku
Tel: + 358 (0) 10 5535 678
Email: [email protected]
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Germany
Contact name: Dr. Bertram Lohmüller
Organisation: GiMA consult Gesellschaft für integriertes Management mbH
Address: Waldhörnlestrasse 18 - 72072 Tübingen
Tel: +49 (0) 70719425530
Email: [email protected]
Italy
Contact name: Laura Menchi
Organisation: CONSORZIO FOR.P.IN. Formazione Professionale Industria
Address: Viale Sant’Ambrogio, 23 - 29100 Piacenza
Tel: +39 0523 335825
Email: [email protected]
Portugal
Contact name: Rita Souto
Organisation: Centro Tecnológico do Calçado (CTC)
Address: Rua de Fundões - Devesa Velha, S. João da Madeira
P-3700-121-SÃO JOÃO DA MADEIRA São João da Madeira
Tel: +351 256830950
Email: [email protected]
Poland
Contact name: Jola Religa
Organisation: Institute for Sustainable Technologies- National Research Institute (ITeE)
Address: Pułaskiego 6/10 - 26-600 Radom
Tel: +4848 36-442-41
Email: [email protected]
Spain
Contact name: Cinta Flores
Organisation: Diputación Provincial de Huelva
Address: 21006 Huelva
Tel: +34 959494783
Email: [email protected]
6. TYPE OF PRODUCT
All the tools are on-line products. The Manual is also available as a hard copy (135 pages).
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All the tools are available in English.
The online checks are also available in German and Spanish.
7. SAMPLE ATTACHMENT
Online checks available at www.wir-neckar-alb.de/online-checks
8. HYPERLINK
The SME Toolbox can be accessed through the German partner’s website www.wir-neckaralb.de/tools-checks-en/toolbox
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Fax: +49 (0) 70719425555
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Web: www.gimaconsult.com
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Fax:+39.0523.334923
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Web: www.forpin.it
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3. Argumentary on Professional Training
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4. Manual
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