SABBATICAL SUMMARY

The objective of this sabbatical is to develop, deliver, and disseminate a training package for developing world small business entrepreneurs to help them adapt to the complexity and rapid changes in the global business environment. Most of these entrepreneurs are poor and many of their businesses are failing.  Initially this package will be developed for sari weavers in India, and a group of these entrepreneurs will undergo training in their hometown.  The program will then be evaluated, improved, delivered to other entrepreneurs, and disseminated to a wider audience. The results and implications will be published.

The training content is strategic in nature and will focus on three general topics. First trainees will acquire skills in environmental analysis, more specifically market analysis and supply chain analysis.  Second, they will learn to identify the relative value of competencies necessary to survive and thrive in the more modern business environment. There are two kinds of competencies for concentration.  The first kind consists of competencies in which the entrepreneur is very skilled and which are adaptable to the more modern environment.  The second are business skills necessary for success in today’s business world, such and financial skills, information systems skills, and planning.  Finally training will focus on learning to network, with like minded entities, for knowledge transfer, resource sharing, and advocacy, and with other entities such as supply chain partners, service providers, potential investors, and governments.