Download - Merit Event - Does "Technology Mean Business" Mean Business

Technology Means Business (TMB)

Mary CunninghamTraining Director

About IT Ltd

20/6/01 About IT Ltd

What is Technology Means Business?

It is a new scheme designed to improve UK small and medium

sized enterprise competitiveness through the effective use of

information and communications technology


The purpose of TMB

Under-performance of UK SME’s 40% of firms experiencing

problems finding the right kind of expert IT advice

UK’s SME’s are behind those in rest of Europe and Far East

Does Technology Mean Business (IoM Sep 2000)


How? …

Establish an accreditation scheme for those providing small businesses with ICT advice

Create a national network of accredited advisers

Establish a recognisable ICT advice channel for small and medium sized businesses


Value - WIIFM factor

enhance our status and help to clarify for our clients our

approach, abilities and credibility.

Initially observed Technology Means Business (TMB) in October 2000 and identified it as being a valuable accreditation which would:


Bridging the Skills Gap

ICT

Business Advice

Technology Means Business


TMB & the Accreditation Process

Competence-based qualification delivered through approved centres using web-based tools and an assessment system.

It assesses both knowledge (in 3 areas) and performance (skills of the adviser).


Performance – Adviser Skills

Unit 1 Establish and maintain the capacity to act as an ICT adviser to SME’s

Unit 2 Enable clients to identify the potential of ICT to contribute to the competitiveness of the business

Plus evidence for one of the following:

Unit 3 Enable the client to plan an ICT intervention Unit 4 Enable the client to implement an ICT

intervention Unit 5 Evaluate and review the outcomes of an

ICT intervention

Candidates are required to demonstrate their ability against three units of performance:


The 3 Knowledge Areas

ICT Knowledge

and Orientatio

n

SME Knowledge

Business Application of ICT


Knowledge is assessed in two ways:

A knowledge test (which has to be retaken every year) – the Standard changes every year – need to get 60% to pass.

ICT Knowledge and

Orientation

SME Knowledg

e


Knowledge is assessed in two ways:

Evidenced in the candidates work – through observation, questions and answers in interview, written work produced, personal statements.

Business Application of ICT


What Quality measures are in

place?


Each TMB Centre must have:

Qualified Tutor/Assessors (with appropriate awards)

Centre Verifiers (with Verifier awards)

An Agency Verifier who approves all TMB Advisers against the national Standard

Internal Quality Control measures


All evidence will be assessed to ensure that it

is: Valid – relevant to the standard being

assessed Authentic – the work of the candidate

and not somebody else’s Current – candidate is demonstrating

competence now and in the future Sufficient – quantity of evidence or

frequency is checked for Reliable – same judgements are reached

by different tutors/assessors


Re-accreditation Process

Each year the adviser has to re-sit the Knowledge Test for the current Standard

Each year the adviser has to submit a case-study questionnaire on one client from that year


The Audience

ICT Adviser

ICT Adviser General Business Adviser

Business Adviser

Advisers who want

accreditation


How long does it take

A period of 3 to 6 months is usually sufficient – it depends on your day to day opportunities to provide advice to SME’s. Some have achieved it in a much shorter time frame – some longer.


So how do I begin?


Beginning Stage

Register with a centre Invited to an Induction Day – introduced to the TMB

Standard – the website - the way the assessment will be conducted

Review your current work, client base and accomplishments – Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) built in to the programme

Initial Diagnostic – Contract drawn up between adviser and assessor detailing all the elements of the Standard and the evidence in existence and assessment methods to be used. Option will be registered here.

Personal Development Plan with timescales drawn up from the gaps in knowledge / performance sections – learning blocks identified and signposted to


Working Stage

Candidate prepares portfolio of evidence – can be paper-based and online

Attend learning blocks (optional) Candidate sits knowledge exam at centre Tutor/Assessor – contacts candidate to assist if

necessary and arrange observation Candidate observed (at least once) Candidate submits final portfolio to tutor/assessor

at centre


Final Stage

Candidate presents portfolio to tutor/assessor at a final interview (approx 2 hours).

Tutor/Assessor submits portfolio for accreditation Centre Verifier verifies the assessment process to

ensure that tutors are assessing properly and consistently

Agency Verifier verifies Centre Verifiers – once all this has been completed the Tutor/Assessor can inform the candidate of the achievement of the accreditation.


Costs

Initial Registration = £650.00 Includes attendance at TMB Induction Cost of TMB Registration £150 – access to

the website Training Needs Analysis for knowledge areas Initial Diagnostic for Performance areas One to one mentoring and signposting to

relevant resources Personal Development Plan Introduction to Web site tools One Knowledge Test


Costs

Final Stage Costs = £495.00 One to One support Observations in the field Access to TMB E-group Assessment of portfolio of evidence Final Interview (approx 2 hours) Verification of evidence

Total Cost of TMB accreditation= £1145.00


Our Centre’s Added Value


Adviser Personal Skills

Self-Development Interpersonal Skills to be Applied to all situations

Assessing your own knowledge and skills base

Supportiveness and Assertiveness

Setting individual SMART objectives and action planning

Listening and Questioning

Invitation of feedback Confrontation and dealing with conflict

Application of Continuous Professional Development

Management style and group process

Preliminary Consultancy Skills Engagement and Implementation

Contracting with the client: negotiating wants, coping with mixed motivation, dealing with concerns about exposure and loss of control, balance of responsibility

Engagement over installation – methods to be used

The call to action

Leadership development

Authentic and ethical behaviour

Business first, service second?

Discovery requirements: surfacing layers of analysis, dealing with the political climate, resisting the urge for complete data, seeing it as an intervention.

Technical Skills

Feedback: funnelling data, identifying and working with different forms of resistance, presenting personal and organisational data

A balanced approach between interpersonal and technical skills

Decision-making: focusing on here and now and future choices, not taking it personally.

Linkage to self-development – where do I go from here?

Continuous Professional Development


A Framework for Integrated Business Interventions in

SME’sThe background of the company Change Management

Identifying the size, sector, product, stakeholders

Standard stages of growth for SME’s & vulnerabilities

Resources – no of staff, budgets, appropriate allocation of roles and responsibilities

Principles of change management and stages in the cycle

Type of company – legal structure and responsibilities, systems

Stakeholder empowerment and engagement

Leadership Styles, Culture of Business, communication methods

Management Tools – SWOT, PEST, Flowcharting, Input/Output Analysis, Critical Incident Analysis, Pareto Analysis, Fishbone Cause & Effect, Force Field Analysis, etc.

The importance of a strategic plan Communication

The strategic cycle Communication structures within SME’s – difficulties faced

Components of a strategic plan – vision, mission, values, SMART Objectives, non-financial and financial targets.

Communication between functions of the business

Key performance measures Networking – a strategic approach – key stakeholders, i.e. staff, suppliers, professionals, customers, public sector, etc.

Skills Integration – the SME as an organism


Financial Management of SME’s

The Fundamentals of Business Finance Managing Cash The Core Principles

cost, profit and break-even ~ what they are and how they work

constructing and controlling budgets 'real costs' versus expenditure (eg time and staff costs, opportunity costs)

The Benefits of a Cash Flow - Constructing a Cash Flow

Statement

Understanding Financial Statements interpreting financial accounts and

structures

Planning against shortages

The Jargon Explained Margins Monitoring and analysis of variances Flexible pricing

Using Financial Information for Management Decisions

The Bigger Picture

The Costs of Action Recognising and calculating costs Calculating break-even

This section will be aimed at advising SME’s on the 'reason for being' in the sense of linking effective financial management to corporate vision, mission, values, etc - and ultimately, profitability.

The Costs of Inaction

Costs associated with delay

Depending on the outputs available we would also insert here the meaning and management use/types of decisions relevant for each of the outputs

When to Budget Understanding and budgeting for

profit Improving profitability Key Factors for liquidity


The role of ICT in the workplace

Computer Hardware and Operating Systems Business Applications Software Key components of a personal

computer – costs and functions e.g CPU, disks, memory

Key office software packages and their business benefits e.g. word processing, database, accounting, customer relationship management, etc.

Leading operating systems and their function e.g Windows 98, Windows 2000, MAC OS, Linux

Software used to aid sales and marketing functions e.g. contact management (Act, Goldmine), relational databases, project management software

Alternatives to a desktop PC e.g. laptops, palmtops and their relationship to business

Other business software technologies e.g. voice recognition, technical software, anti-virus

SME working models Additional Hardware Components ICT Issues for SMEs

Function and benefits of optional peripheral and add-in devices e.g. scanners, digital cameras, modems, sound cards

Issues and considerations in relation to hardware and software purchase decisions e.g compatibility, expandibility, training, upgradability, cost of ownership

Printer types and their benefits e.g. dot matrix, laser, inkjet

Software licensing

Data Protection


Networks and their uses in SME’s

Purpose, value and features of networking Networking software Types of network – LANs, MANs

and WANs Strengths of different industry

standard product types, e.g. Novell, NT, Linux, Unix

Main components of a simple network – server, workstations, cables, hubs, routers, bridges, NOS, NIC, UPS

Main software used with networks – email, calendaring, messaging, Groupware, Contact Management software, Databases, Utilities - PC troubleshooting and maintenance – main features of the above

Main features of a simple network – advantages and disadvantages

Backup devices and software

Ways that computers can be networked together

Networks and Telecommunications

Peer to Peer – advantages & disadvantages to SME’s

Impact on work – opportunities for transforming performance

Client Server networks – advantages and disadvantages to SME’s

Main features of Intranets & Extranets and benefits to business


Internet Technologies, E-commerce and

TelecommunicationsInternet Applications for SMEs Website Development and E-commerce

Functions that can be performed with Internet access and benefits to business e.g. promotion, trading, communication, research

Features and issues of e-commerce e.g. security, supply chain management, managing return of goods

Key features and purposes of a website e.g. hyperlinks, links to databases,

Website hosting and development options e.g. internal versus hosted

Internet Technology Attracting traffic to a website e.g. search engines, links, banners

Components of connecting to the Internet e.g. ISP, browser, modem, routers, proxy servers

Telecommunications

Internet Service Providers and range of services e.g. internet connection, email accounts, web space

Applications of telecommunications technology – Computer Telephone Integration, Audio Conferencing

Features of ISDN and Broadband communications e.g speed, cost

Telecommunications providers and hardware – advantages and disadvantages of different services


Course Outlines

Course Outlines are available to take away

Cost on all About IT TMB courses is £100 per delegate per day

Timetable of dates for courses also available


What are the long-term benefits to a TMB Adviser?


Benefits to Advisers

Tools for use with SME clients Materials and resources to assist

you to become accredited Latest product news and

developments in business advice Networking with other advisers Regular member updates


Benefits to Advisers

Hot links to key organisations Inclusion in the online register of

accredited advisers Use of TMB brand Continuous development

programme


Value to SME’s

Quality of advice – Client is aware that our knowledge is current, i.e. upgraded and tested for yearly

Consistent – application of knowledge to improving SME performance is assessed yearly

Increasing the understanding of the role of ICT in an SME – accreditation that matches business knowledge with ICT knowledge.


Values to SME’s

A full awareness of ICT integration rather than just adoption of ICT – being able to plan and implement an ICT solution, e.g. utilising telecommunications and desktop applications to control and improve business processes - “You shouldn’t be saying ‘buy a computer’ but asking what the business needs”.

Identify future potential of full integration and utilization of ICT to develop the business further.


Value to SME’s

Being part of a network of expert advisers

Assisting the business to manage the process of change – ‘quick fix’, tinkering, radical, incremental

Strengthening business sustainability Improving competitiveness of SME’s


What to do now?

If you are interested in the TMB programme I invite you to share questions with About IT on any aspect of the TMB programme.

10 minutes

Download - Merit Event - Does "Technology Mean Business" Mean Business

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