Can higher education match the information systems learning needs of SMEs?

Abstract

Discusses the problems of trying to match the information systems learning needs of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to what higher education can offer. Most higher education institutions are directly trying to address the training needs of SMEs, spurred on by various Government initiatives. Much of the available funding is targeted at the introduction and development of new technologies in SMEs. The information systems education and training requirements of SMEs are reviewed and examined against the changing face of Higher Education. A series of studies was undertaken to examine the information systems learning needs of a small number of diverse SMEs. The results of these studies are discussed and compared with the outcomes of previous research into learning in SMEs and similarities and dissonances highlighted. The paper concludes with a discussion as to whether higher education can meet some of the information systems learning needs of SMEs.

The Development of Intelligent Local Clusters to Increase Global Competitiveness and Local Cohesion: The Case of Small Businesses in the Creative Industries

“…There are some problems with the adoption of information and communication technologies in the creative industries. This study con rms the results of previous research (Meldrum and de Berranger, 1999;de Berranger, 1999) that small businesses in general and those in the creative industries in particular need external support to take advantage of these new technologies. It is clear that the physical networking involved in the initial development of the site was important in further developing local cohesion but that the loss of the local project of ce and the two project of cers has led to a loss of momentum from those companies who lacked the resources to continue developing their use of ICTs.…”

“…-They have a tendency to rely on informal social networks for information gathering (Meldrum and de Berranger, 1999). -They face high training costs compared with larger organisations (Fariselli et al, 1999).…”

Problematising “education” and “training” in the Scottish sport and fitness, play and outdoor sectors

“…They also demonstrate the continuing discontinuity between those “doing” and those “thinking”, reinforcing the ideological divide noted earlier by Marks (1999). Whereas Meldrum and De Berranger (1999) believe UK business acknowledges the need for high order skills, this appears largely absent in parts of the SPRITO sectors. As Matlay and Addis (2002) note, the perception that non‐managerial staff have low competency needs further compounds this, with little incentive to provide employees with an understanding of the sector or even the organisation as a whole.…”

Cooperation between universities and SMEs: A systematic literature review

“…Cooperation benefits SMEs because it enables solutions to particular problems, access to specific knowledge and opportunities for competitive advantage (Garcia-Perez-de-Lema et al, 2017). According to Meldrum and Berranger (1999) SMEs find in universities a means of keeping their employees up to date with the technology necessary for business development, and partnerships are established in light of the low cost of fulfilling a project. Similar results were highlighted by Gordon (2013) and Gordon and Jack (2010) with SME owner-managers.…”