The Smart Technology for a Smarter Business Program is a highly practical training curriculum that enables small business owners and managers to build smarter businesses with technology. Unlike traditional training experiences that focus on either technology or business, the program targets the integration of both. Multi-faceted, innovative, and experiential, the program addresses 19 different business topics, in 5 different languages, and includes case scenarios, virtual entrepreneurs, technology demos and activities, facilitated discussions, and computer-based simulations. It introduces up-to-date technologies in the marketplace that are accessible worldwide.
Micro- and small business owners worldwide share many of the same benefits and challenges, and this proved to be the case in Bahrain and Morocco – two countries where Smarter Seminar Workshops were recently conducted. In these workshops, participants noted that as small business owners, they enjoyed the flexibility of their schedules and the exhilaration of pursuing one’s own dreams. They also face similar issues. For example, participants noted the difficulty of having to deal with multiple business challenges at once (finances, unskilled employees, competition, market expansion, etc.) while having fewer people to rely on compared to managers in larger companies. Therefore, they expressed the need to become more self-sufficient and organized and the desire to become more technologically savvy.
Each workshop held was one day-long in duration and was delivered three times in consecutive days to a total of 50 to 60 participants in each country. The goals of the workshops were:
To introduce small business owners to more advanced software tools that can help their businesses
To facilitate networking and knowledge sharing among participants
The workshops addressed three of the curriculum’s nineteen business topics: expense tracking, project management, marketing, and customer relationship management. The participants, who had varied levels of PC experience, were engaged in group discussion, exploration, and hands-on simulation-based activities. They learned how to use MS Excel, budget tracking pivot tables, customer relationship management techniques, and participated in hands-on business case scenarios. The participants were equipped to instantly put technology to use in their businesses.
The most exciting topic of the day in both Bahrain and Morocco was that of Customer Relationship Management (CRM). Attendees worked through a simulation of CRM software and learned the advantages it offers in client relations and the sales process. Attendees expressed their realization for more efficiency and organization in both areas. A few days after the workshop, one Bahraini participant in Bahrain said “I told my company we need CRM software and we are going to research it immediately!”
The workshop was highly commended by the participants, especially for its interactivity, enjoyment, length, practicality, and relevance to their businesses. Attendees also appreciated the many networking opportunities that the workshops provided. In addition, participants in Bahrain pointed to the role-play marketing session as another highlight of the workshop. In both countries, attendees expressed their desire to research training and purchasing options for the technologies presented in the workshop and their eagerness to apply their new skills to improve their businesses.
These Smarter Seminars Workshops are a part of the larger export and trade training programs provided by IESC. The Smart Technology for a Smarter Business Program was developed by the Making Cents Consortium which includes IESC Geekcorps, Making Cents International, and MediaSpark. The Program is sponsored by HP.
Micro- and small business owners worldwide share many of the same benefits and challenges, and this proved to be the case in Bahrain and Morocco – two countries where Smarter Seminar Workshops were recently conducted. In these workshops, participants noted that as small business owners, they enjoyed the flexibility of their schedules and the exhilaration of pursuing one’s own dreams. They also face similar issues. For example, participants noted the difficulty of having to deal with multiple business challenges at once (finances, unskilled employees, competition, market expansion, etc.) while having fewer people to rely on compared to managers in larger companies. Therefore, they expressed the need to become more self-sufficient and organized and the desire to become more technologically savvy.
Each workshop held was one day-long in duration and was delivered three times in consecutive days to a total of 50 to 60 participants in each country. The goals of the workshops were:
To introduce small business owners to more advanced software tools that can help their businesses
To facilitate networking and knowledge sharing among participants
The workshops addressed three of the curriculum’s nineteen business topics: expense tracking, project management, marketing, and customer relationship management. The participants, who had varied levels of PC experience, were engaged in group discussion, exploration, and hands-on simulation-based activities. They learned how to use MS Excel, budget tracking pivot tables, customer relationship management techniques, and participated in hands-on business case scenarios. The participants were equipped to instantly put technology to use in their businesses.
The most exciting topic of the day in both Bahrain and Morocco was that of Customer Relationship Management (CRM). Attendees worked through a simulation of CRM software and learned the advantages it offers in client relations and the sales process. Attendees expressed their realization for more efficiency and organization in both areas. A few days after the workshop, one Bahraini participant in Bahrain said “I told my company we need CRM software and we are going to research it immediately!”
The workshop was highly commended by the participants, especially for its interactivity, enjoyment, length, practicality, and relevance to their businesses. Attendees also appreciated the many networking opportunities that the workshops provided. In addition, participants in Bahrain pointed to the role-play marketing session as another highlight of the workshop. In both countries, attendees expressed their desire to research training and purchasing options for the technologies presented in the workshop and their eagerness to apply their new skills to improve their businesses.
These Smarter Seminars Workshops are a part of the larger export and trade training programs provided by IESC. The Smart Technology for a Smarter Business Program was developed by the Making Cents Consortium which includes IESC Geekcorps, Making Cents International, and MediaSpark. The Program is sponsored by HP.
0 comments:
Post a Comment