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This work is aimed at establishing key organizational strategies that push small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the information and communication technologies (ICT) services sector to be more innovative. Following an input and output approach, a theoretical model is built that helps determine such key factors. Then the model is validated with fieldwork carried out on a representative sample in Castile-Leon region (Spain). According to this model, the decision to innovate (and the trigger for research and development [R&D] activities in SMEs in the ICT services sector) is the result of needs that are presented by customers (public or private sector) in tailored projects. All the same, the factors leading to innovation are in order of importance, the technological level of the company, the effort made by the company in R&D, and finally, systems of incentives.

This article describes how to develop and implement a tool that enables engineering students to acquire soft-skills taking advantage of the purely technical engineering educational tasks. Delphi Learning Package (DLP) tool is based on a Delphi strategic consulting method. Generally, this method is used to obtain long-term forecasts from knowledge of groups of experts. Some adjustments have been made to Delphi method in order to apply it to learning and acquiring soft-skills in engineering. For instance, this tool can be used to guide students toward obtaining key parameters for a technical matter or to find the best solutions to an intricate multiple-solution problem. Thus, students will have to use not only knowledge learned on the subject of engineering, but also knowledge resulting from handling-related documentation. By tackling a multiplesolution problem, students develop different soft skills such as critical thinking, synthesis ability, inference, and argumentation. In order to judge the value of this tool, two pilot projects have been developed involving fourth year students with a major in Telecommunications Engineering. This tool can be used freely by contacting the authors of this article. ß

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Nowadays, there is no doubt that information technology (IT) is an essential driving force for the company’s development, unquestionably aiding the same in improving its competitiveness. However, small and medium-sized enterprises have difficulties in deciding on the best strategy to implement the aforementioned technologies. The present article proposes a strategic model based on the gradual implementation of technologies within the companies. The model was put into practice successfully within agro-food companies.