Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Reviews a recently completed survey, undertaken by the Centre for Knowledge Management, Robert Gordon University, Scotland, in collaboration with BusinessLab, of the skills requirements for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), in Scotland, in selected aspects of the knowledge economy. The project investigated the skills requirements of knowledge workers and considered strategies for delivering appropriate training. Questionnaires were circulated to companies yielding a total of 38 responses (29.7% response rate). General information about the respondent companies showed that, in company size, there was an almost even split between companies of fewer than and more than 50employees. The manufacturing/processing sector was best represented in the survey with 76.3% of all businesses having an annual turnover of over one million pounds. The survey investigated present use of technology and the attitudes of the respondents to the potential of World WideWebbased technologies. Most respondents (71.1%) indicated that their existing information technology (IT) systems did connect them to the collections of information they needed for their work. Examples given of IT systems currently in use are listed. The majority use the Internet (89.5%), mostly for research and information. Other results of the survey are reported and commented on.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

[1] Ikujiro Nonaka and Hirotaka Takeuchi (1995) The Knowledge-Creating Company: How Japanese Companies Create the Dynamics of Innovation. New York, Oxford University Press , p.49-49.

[2] Scottish Enterprise (1997) Scottish Labour Market and Skill Trends. Glasgow, Scottish Enterprise .

[3] Scottish Executive (2000) Digital Scotland Task Force Report. Available at www.scotland.gov.uk/digitalscotland/report.htm (accessed 31 May 2000).

[4] ibid.

[5] Moving into the Information Age: An International Benchmarking Study(1999). London, DTI . Available at: www.isi.gov.uk/isi/bench/International99.htm (accessed 31 May 2000).

[6] Connecting Scotland – Priority Action Plan: Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Minister Launches Scottish Enterprise Plan To Drive Scotland Ahead In The ERevolution,21 February 2000. Available at: www.ecommerce-scotland.org/html/projects.cfm?menu_ID=1 (accessed 31 May 2000).

[7] Digital Advantage, 4 February 2000. Available at: www.ecommerce-scotland.org/html/projects.cfm?menu_ID=13 (accessed 31 May 2000).

[8] Connecting Scotland – Priority Action Plan: Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Minister Launches Scottish Enterprise Plan to Drive Scotland Ahead in the E-Revolution – 21 February 2000. Available at: www.ecommerce-scotland.org/html/projects.cfm?menu_ID=1 (accessed 31 May 2000).

The knowledge economy and SMEs: a survey of skills requirements

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References