Fresh Thinking About Management Skills for Small and Micro Businesses
IBSA is exploring ways in which engaging in skill development activities might be made more relevant and appealing to small businesses. Part of the current work will involve the development of a mentoring program that will connect small businesses with skilling opportunities. The starting point has been the identification of skills sets for effective mentors for small businesses, which include both skill in facilitation of individual learning and small business expertise. The project will also produce information on a range of opportunities for skill development for various types of small businesses and for various stages of the business life cycle.
The Ithaca Group headed by Professor Rod McDonald has been engaged to lead this work.
IBSA gets fresh with Skills for Small Business
The top ten factors leading to small business failure (according to CPA Australia) could all be avoided with better business and management skills. The small business sector, however, has traditionally been very reluctant to participate in formal skill development. Research tells us that those who work in
small business seem to find the existing vocational education system less likely to meet their needs and are less likely to expend funds on skill development than those who work in larger enterprises.
Following investigations into this phenomenon over the past couple of years, IBSA is setting out to develop mechanisms for connecting with small businesses in more relevant ways and better assisting them to acquire the skills and capabilities that will bring them business success.
One of the key findings of the report, Fresh Thinking about Management Skills for Small and Micro Businesses, launched by IBSA in 2007, was that the way in which information about learning opportunities received by small businesses is just as important, or perhaps even more important, than what’s on offer. IBSA is therefore setting out to tackle both the product and the promotion side of the issue.
Fresh thinking about skills
As a way of making relevant skills available in the most useful way, IBSA has identified small ‘chunks’ of skills that are appropriate to different types of small business at different stages of their life cycles. These skill sets are detailed in the new Business Services Training Package (BSB07) and include skills for home-based businesses, those preparing to commence a small or micro business, Indigenous small businesses, and small business practitioners focusing on finance or marketing.
IBSA also recognises that the capacity to be flexible, innovative and adaptable forms a vital part of success for all businesses and will therefore be an important part of skill development for the small business sector.
Fresh thinking about connecting
Attending courses and gaining qualifications are not high on the list of priorities for small business owners. The Fresh Thinking report identified that what is important to them is the availability of advice and support from people they trust and respect, and opportunities to learn that fit in with their unique business world. Combined with IBSA’s broader recognition of a need to move away from prescriptive notions of training and skills to a focus on the connections between people and organisations, this creates a strong imperative to find new ways for small business to access skill development opportunities.
IBSA is exploring ways in which engaging in skill development activities might be made more relevant and appealing to small businesses. Part of the
current work will involve the development of a mentoring program that will connect small businesses with skilling opportunities. The starting point has been the identification of skills sets for effective mentors for small businesses, which include both skill in facilitation of individual learning and small business expertise. The project will also produce information on a range of opportunities for skill development for various types of small businesses and for various stages of the business life cycle.
Mentor Skill Sets
Mentor for a Commencing or Recently Established Small Business
Skill Set
|
Target Group
|
This skill set is for established business
practitioners who wish to act as mentors for start-up or recently
established small business practitioners.
A mentor is an independent person engaged in a
two-way communication relationship with a mentee. Their
primary role is to provide constant encouragement and assistance
that enhances the mentee’s attainment of personal and/or work
related needs.
|
|
Units
|
TAADEL403B
|
Facilitate individual learning
|
|
Specialist vocational competencies
|
Select specific vocational units of competency
and/or small business Skill Set/s based on the needs of
mentees.
Note that the small business
Skill Set/s chosen are limited to those identified below.
|
Small Business Contracting Skill Set
|
Target Group
|
This skill set is for small business
practitioners who are pursuing contracted business opportunities.
It may relate to people who operate a small business on a day‑to‑d
ay basis either as an owner–operator or as an employed
operator/manager.
|
|
Units
|
BSBSMB401A
|
Establish legal and risk management
requirements of small business
|
|
BSBSMB402A
|
Plan small business finances
|
|
PSPGOV407B
|
Provide a quotation
|
Small Business Financial Management Skill Set
|
Target Group
|
This skill set is for small business
practitioners who are managing finances for a small business.
It may relate to people who are establishing or operating a micro
business providing for self employment.
|
|
Units
|
BSBSMB304A
|
Determine resource requirements for the micro
business
|
|
BSBSMB402A
|
Plan small business finances
|
|
BSBSMB406A
|
Manage small business finances
|
Small Business Home‑Based Business Skill Set
|
Target Group
|
This skill set is for people who are
establishing or operating a micro business providing for self
employment.
|
|
Units
|
BSBSMB304A
|
Determine resource requirements for the micro
business
|
|
BSBSMB306A
|
Plan a home‑based business
|
|
BSBSMB307A
|
Set up information and communications
technology for the micro business
|
Small Business Indigenous Corporate Governance Skill Set
|
Target Group
|
This skill set is for small business
practitioners who are involved in Indigenous corporate governance.
It may relate to people who manage a small business on a day‑to‑day
basis for Indigenous organisations.
|
|
Units
|
BSBATSI406A
|
Oversee business planning
|
|
BSBGOV401A
|
Implement Board member responsibilities
|
|
BSBGOV402A
|
Work within organisational structure
|
Small Business Marketing Skill Set
|
Target Group
|
This skill set is for small business
practitioners who are conducting marketing activities. It may
relate to people who operate a small business on a day‑to‑day basis
either as an owner–operator or as an employed operator/manager.
|
|
Units
|
BSBMKG401B
|
Profile the market
|
|
BSBMKG402B
|
Analyse consumer behaviour for specific
markets
|
|
BSBMKG414A
|
Undertake marketing activities
|
|
BSBSMB403A
|
Market the small business
|
|
BSBSMB301A
|
Investigate micro business opportunities
|
Small Business Operations Preparatory Skill Set
|
Target Group
|
This skill set is for people who are assisting
with small business operations or are intending to start a small
business. It may relate to people working in a micro/small business
or to people examining the potential for establishing a micro
business.
|
|
Units
|
BSBIND201A
|
Work effectively in a business environment
|
|
BSBSMB201A
|
Identify suitability for micro business
|
|
BSBWOR204A
|
Use business technology
|
|
FNSFLIT203A
|
Develop understanding of debt and consumer
credit
|
Small Business Preparatory Skill Set
|
Target Group
|
This skill set is for people preparing for work
in a micro/small business.
|
|
Units
|
BSBADM101A
|
Use business equipment and resources
|
|
BSBITU101A
|
Operate a personal computer
|
|
FNSFLIT201A
|
Develop and use a personal budget
|
Mentor for a Growing Small Business Skill Set
|
Target Group
|
This skill set is for established business
practitioners who wish to act as mentors for developing the
capabilities of small business practitioners who are seeking to
grow their businessoperation.
A mentor is an independent person engaged in a
two-way communication relationship with a mentee. Their
primary role is to provide constant encouragement and assistance
that enhances the mentee’s attainment of personal and/or work
related needs.
|
|
Units
|
TAADEL403B
|
Facilitate individual learning
|
|
Specialist vocational competencies
|
Select specific vocational units of competency
and/or small business Skill Set/s based on the needs of mentees.
Note that the small business
Skill Set/s chosen are limited to those identified below.
|
Small Business Contracting Skill Set
|
Target Group
|
This skill set is for small business
practitioners who are pursuing contracted business opportunities.
It may relate to people who operate a small business on a day‑to‑d
ay basis either as an owner–operator or as an employed
operator/manager.
|
|
Units
|
BSBSMB401A
|
Establish legal and risk management
requirements of small business
|
|
BSBSMB402A
|
Plan small business finances
|
|
PSPGOV407B
|
Provide a quotation
|
Small Business Financial Management Skill Set
|
Target Group
|
This skill set is for small business
practitioners who are managing finances for a small business.
It may relate to people who are establishing or operating a micro
business providing for self employment.
|
|
Units
|
BSBSMB304A
|
Determine resource requirements for the micro
business
|
|
BSBSMB402A
|
Plan small business finances
|
|
BSBSMB406A
|
Manage small business finances
|
Small Business Indigenous Corporate Governance Skill Set
|
Target Group
|
This skill set is for small business
practitioners who are involved in Indigenous corporate governance.
It may relate to people who manage a small business on a day‑to‑day
basis for Indigenous organisations.
|
|
Units
|
BSBATSI406A
|
Oversee business planning
|
|
BSBGOV401A
|
Implement Board member responsibilities
|
|
BSBGOV402A
|
Work within organisational structure
|
Small Business Marketing Skill Set
|
Target Group
|
This skill set is for small business
practitioners who are conducting marketing activities. It may
relate to people who operate a small business on a day‑to‑day basis
either as an owner–operator or as an employed operator/manager.
|
|
Units
|
BSBMKG401B
|
Profile the market
|
|
BSBMKG402B
|
Analyse consumer behaviour for specific
markets
|
|
BSBMKG414A
|
Undertake marketing activities
|
|
BSBSMB403A
|
Market the small business
|
|
BSBSMB301A
|
Investigate micro business opportunities
|
